How can artificial light be produced to give Vitamin D like the sun?

You need UV light, whether from the sun or from an artificial light source, for the body to produce Vitamin D. Unfortunately, UV light, whether from the sun or from artificial light sources, also promotes skin aging and increases your risk of skin cancer. Another way to get vitamin D is to drink fortified dairy products or take vitamin D supplements.

@njnyjobs can one make Vitamin D directly from the sun, in a lab, and then take it as a supplement? How would a college teacher introduce the process of making Vitamin D in the lab?

Experts and researchers believe that Vitamin D supplements and foods that have a natural or fortified occurence of Vitamin D are good substitutes. One cup of vitamin D fortified milk supplies about one-fourth of the estimated daily need for this vitamin for adults. Although milk is fortified with vitamin D, dairy products made from milk such as cheese, yogurt, and ice cream are generally not fortified with vitamin D.

Selected Food Sources of Vitamin D Food, (International Units), [%DV*]

Cod Liver Oil, 1 Tbs. (1,360 IU) [340]
Salmon, cooked, 31/2 oz (360 IU) [90]
Mackerel, cooked, 3½ oz (345 IU) [90]
Sardines, canned in oil, drained,3½ oz (270 IU) [70]
Eel, cooked, 3½ oz (200 IU) [50]
Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D fortified, 1 c (98 IU) [25]
Margarine, fortified, 1 Tbs. (60 IU) [15]
Cereal grain bars, fortified w/ 10% of the DV, 1 each (50 IU) [10]
Pudding, ½ c prepared from mix and made with vitamin D fortified milk (50 IU) [10]
Dry cereal, Vit D fortified w/10%* of DV, ¾ c (40–50 IU) [10]
* Other cereals may be fortified with more or less vitamin D
Liver, beef, cooked, 3½ oz (30 IU) [8]
Egg, 1 whole (vitamin D is present in the yolk) (25 IU) [6]

* DV = Daily Value. DVs are reference numbers based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). They were developed to help consumers determine if a food contains very much of a specific nutrient. The DV for vitamin D is 400 IU. The percent DV (%DV) listed on the nutrition facts panel of food labels tells adults what percentage of the DV is provided by one serving. Percent DVs are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Foods that provide lower percentages of the DV will contribute to a healthful diet.

There is vitamin D orange juice, too, an alternative to milk.

Sorry I can’t answer the question about light.

@talljasperman but how do you make Vitamin D in a lab?

@jaytkay thats O.K. I will have to search my provinces university library system… Its high end univeristy level stuff that’s most likely patented and hidden

Our body has the ability to make Vitamin D after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or artificial UV light. Vitamin D exists in several forms, each with a different activity. Some forms are relatively inactive in the body, and have limited ability to function as a vitamin. The liver and kidney help convert vitamin D to its active hormone form.

There is also a high health risk associated with consuming too much vitamin D. Vitamin D toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. It can also raise blood levels of calcium , causing mental status changes such as confusion. High blood levels of calcium also can cause heart rhythm abnormalities. Calcinosis, the deposition of calcium and phosphate in soft tissues like the kidney can be caused by vitamin D toxicity.

Consuming too much vitamin D through diet alone is not likely unless you routinely consume large amounts of cod liver oil. It is much more likely to occur from high intakes of vitamin D in supplements.

Ott Light and Vita-Light are two of several brands of full spectrum fluorescent lights.

They are useful for alleviating Seasonable Affective Disorder.

Long enough exposure can help your body produce Vitamin D
The less you wear and the closer you stand, the better it works!

Here is a good explaination of how your body makes Vit D
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1999-11/941643292.Bc.r.html

Unless I’m mistaken – a possibility, since I’m pretty right-brained – UV radiation powers the process that makes vitamin D more than anything else.