'Sunlight Robbery' by Oliver Gillie 'The battle over sunshine and health -'Health benefits of sunlight are denied by current public health policy in the UK' Oliver Gillie, freelance medical researcher, writer's theories about how much sunlight and vitamin D are needed for optimum health. Formerly medical correspondent of The Sunday Times, then medical editor and later special correspondent of The Independent newspaper. BSc and PhD degrees from Edinburgh University; studied genetics and developmental biology Research at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, under Sir Peter Medawar - human beings need regular exposure to sunlight on their skin so that they can make vitamin D British government advises the public to 'cover up, keep in the shade'. Mistakenly modelled on a programme developed in Australia where a tropical to Mediter-ranean type of climate provides much more vitamin D. casual exposure does not provide enough vitamin D in the British Isles Majority of people in the UK have an insufficient level of vitamin D in the blood, particularly in winter. risk of skin cancer from sun exposure is much smaller than the public has been led to be-lieve Risks of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency are known to be very substantial. Insufficient vitamin D appears to increase the risk of: several cancers, including breast and bowel cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis many other chronic diseases - including even tooth decay. UK government campaign for prevention of skin cancer, led by Cancer Research UK, has been a campaign against sunbathing. Perhaps most misleading aspect the slogan: "There is no such thing as a healthy tan"? Ignores evidence that people who have a deep tan are less likely to get melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Gillie's report, Sunlight Robbery, explains government policy has gone badly wrong and urges people to sunbathe whenever they can, wearing as few clothes as possible, taking care not to bake or burn. Most over the counter vitamin D supplements available in the UK - too low in D to be effective in preventing disease. New government advice on daily requirements of vitamin D - urgently needed Holland and Barrett: sells a vitamin D tablet - 1000 IUs; Boots sells a 500 IUs tablet. In the US a dose up to 2000 IUs per day is considered safe Commonly recommended by knowledgeable doctors and scientists as basis for optimal health Meta-analysis by the International Agency for Research in Cancer in Lyons found: taking vitamin D regularly likely to reduce deaths by at least 10%.