# Vitamin D thru glass? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363 "2003-03-22T14:45:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/1 "2003-03-22T14:45:31Z")
Vitamin D from sunlight. Is it possible (at British latitudes) to get enough thru double glazed windows? ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/2 "2003-03-22T14:51:25Z")
Probably not- here is Cecil’s [answer](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_163b.html) You would probably need Californian sunshine to get through double glazing, not our pathetic english sun ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/3 "2003-03-22T16:02:20Z")
Yeah, I read that a little while ago, **eburacum45** , perhaps that is what got me to thinking about the vit D thing. Rickets, here I come then ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/4 "2003-03-22T16:46:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by English Cid \* > \*\*Yeah, I read that a little while ago, **eburacum45** , perhaps that is what got me to thinking about the vit D thing. Rickets, here I come then ☹ \*\* In the nicest possible way: perhaps you should get out more? You can also buy in-home UV lights for SAD treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/5 "2003-03-22T17:26:47Z")
**jjimm** , In the nicest possible way … I’m not S.A.D. I’m livid! ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/6 "2003-03-22T18:08:02Z")
😕 I’m confused. What is it you’re livid (furious) about? Or, are you merely saying you’re livid (pale)? Vitamin D isn’t going to give you a tan. You may _get_ a tan, while attempting to increase your level of Vitamin D production through exposure to sunlight, but there’s no causal relationship, there. IIRC, Ultraviolet light in the B range (UVB) triggers a reaction in the skin, which produces Vitamin D3. D3 is a proto-vitamin which, when allowed to react with other elements in the body (calcium and phosphorous, I think?), produces normal bone growth. It takes only about five minutes of exposure to produce all the D3 you need, although the time may depend on the intensity of the UVB. How about opening a window for a few minutes, if you can’t get out? You could just take a vitamin supplement, too. They’re less effective, but sufficient to stave off ricketts, I believe. Tanning is also a reaction to UVA and UVB in the skin, but unrelated to vitamin production. I’m sure one of the resident doctors will be along to correct me where my memory has gone astray. But, I’m still confused. ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/7 "2003-03-22T18:17:09Z")
Hello **Davebear** , I’m furious that fibromyalgia has made my legs pack-up so I can’t get about, especially outside. The 5 min exposure will work if fully clothed? What does IIRC mean, please? I have oft wondered that. Thanx. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/8 "2003-03-22T19:03:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by English Cid \* > \*\*I’m furious that fibromyalgia has made my legs pack-up so I can’t get about, especially outside. \*\* Sorry, **English Cid** - I wasn’t aware of this. My jibe was inappropriate. IIRC means “If I recall correctly” - i.e. this is from memory, and therefore may be slightly off. ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/9 "2003-03-22T19:21:15Z")
Hey, no probs, **jjimm** 🙂 I’m from the misistry of silly walks. ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-d-thru-glass/163363/10 "2003-03-22T19:23:24Z")
I meant miNistry.