Do seed oils block cholesterol to vitamin D? Vitamin D as sunscreen Sunburn resistance of people who don’t eat seed oils
Summary by Google's LLM
In this video clip from Low Carb Down Under, Dr. Paul Mason presents a theory linking the consumption of industrial seed oils to a higher susceptibility to sunburn
Key Arguments and Claims:
- Vitamin D as Natural Sunscreen: Dr. Mason states that the body naturally vitamin D as a protective shield against UV/UVB radiation damage to DNA, rather than strictly for bone health
- The Cholesterol Connection: He references Ancel Keys’ historical “Seven Countries Study”, highlighting a data point that individuals with higher sun exposure had lower blood cholesterol levels. He explains this occurs because the body uses cholesterol to synthesize vitamin D
- Interference by Plant Sterols: He argues that plant sterols (phytosterols) absorbed from dietary seed oils interfere with normal cholesterol chemistry, specifically disrupting the skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D
- Anecdotal Evidence: While acknowledging the evidence is largely anecdotal, he points out that a vast number of individuals on ketogenic internet forums report a noticeable resistance to sunburn after completely eliminating seed oils from their diet.
Citation please.
The body is all about homeostasis - Carnivores report not getting sunburned after long term adaptation, we don’t know the exact mechanisms actually. There is lots of speculation about photosensitizing chemicals, cholesterol function, etc. Regardless of the exact mechanism the thesis is simple: modern eating has a impact on our ability to endure sun exposure and repair damage.
I read on healthline that it’s almost impossible to get too much vitamin D from the sun. So I thought the body has to reduce the rate of production at some point when it has enough.
Interesting. Hope they uncover the mechanism soon.
healthline is not a primary source.
No money in nutritional approaches to health, so don’t hold your breath!
There is a possible mechanism. Since melanin increases UV absorption, as you darken due to exposure you will need more exposure to produce the same amount of vitamin D.