Article in today’s The Nation, In sunny Bangkok, 14% deficient in vitamin D – could it be from skin whitening cream commercials? 

I can believe the problem, and think that the number may actually be higher.  I also think they get the main reason wrong. Urban Lifestyle or Skin Whitening Commercials?

Skin Whitening

Now, this is another article in The Nation that just has sentences for paragraphs, and no real flow, no continuity, and in some places, makes no sense. See if you think the problem is skin whitening creams.

Here is a quote from the article discussing Bangkokians:

“They have rarely been exposed to sunlight. Women are more prone to develop this condition than men,” Dr Boonsong Ongphiphadhanakul said yesterday. The urban lifestyle is to blame, he said.

Now, I am not sure exactly what “urban lifestyle” means.  But, I can tell you why most women in Thailand are deficient in Vitamin D.  They are bombarded daily/nightly by TV/Radio/Billboards/Product Placements/Banners/Posters/etc. that tells them that having white skin is beautiful.

Bazillions of Baht are spent by these women, including my wife, on skin whitening creams and lotions. TV commercials show young women afraid to walk out of their office building into the sun.  Women constantly carry umbrellas to block the sun.  Upcountry folks in Khon Kaen and the rest of Isaan wear hats, long sleeve shirts, and face wraps to keep the sun off of them.

TV, Movie, and Pop Stars all have white skin (and usually big noses).  Most of the BIG stars are only half Thai and thus have lighter skin.  They also have more money and can afford skin treatments above and beyond the lotions sold at the local BIG C.

The next paragraph in the article has me totally confused:

Citing a survey of 2,500 people across the country, he told an academic conference that Vitamin D deficiency was detected in just 57 per cent of people outside the capital.

I am guessing that the 14% number of Bangkokians suffering white skin disease comes from this survey. Since this was a country-wide survey, I can’t see where a sampling of only 2,500 people can be used to make any kind of claim. After all, there are about 15 million people in Bangkok alone.

Back to the above paragraph – if “just” 57% outside the capital were detected with white skin syndrome, wouldn’t it make sense that 43% inside the capital suffer from the same ailment?  I just don’t get the math. And, I don’t get why they used “just 57 %” – why use the word “just”?  Or, did The Nation screw up the numbers and forget another dash?  Should it read 5-7 percent?

If The Nation ever hires someone to proofread, I may just apply.  Such is the reporting of The Nation.

The article goes on to identify the risk of diseases as one gets older without Vitamin D – osteoporosis, broken bones, diabetes and hypertension.  Tell this to any young Thai lady in Bangkok (or elsewhere in Thailand) and they will just laugh and say “mai pen rari” – never mind.  They want to look beautiful today and don’t care a lick about tomorrow.

Now, the good doctor has a recommendation that I disagree with.

To prevent Vitamin D deficiency, city people should get some sun for about 1015 minutes a few times each week.

“The exposure, without any sunblock, should be between 10am and 2pm,” he said.

I am 100% sure that the article is missing a ‘dash/hyphen” between 10 and 15 and the doctor is not recommending exposure to the sun for 1015 minutes.  Should read: 10-15.

But, going out during the sun’s peak hot hours without sun block is bordering on insane.  I realize he said only for 10 to 15 minutes a couple of times per week, but it is very easy to misjudge time and you wind up being in the sun for 1/2 hour or longer.

Then their precious white skin would turn an awful shade of red and may even peel.  Heaven Forbid!

The following makes more sense, but I still have to laugh:

People can also acquire Vitamin D from their diet.

“We’re doing research to determine which plants in Thailand are rich in Vitamin D. Studies conducted in foreign countries show mushrooms have a lot of Vitamin D.”

I am pretty sure that studies can be found simply by doing a Google search and finding out what foods have Vitamin D.  Let me open a new window and check.  Hang on a sec.

Okay, back.

For veggies, it is mushrooms – period.  So, no additional research is required (unless a big, fat grant is involved).  There are a bunch of other foods that have Vitamin D, but I didn’t see somtam or sticky rice on the list.

This is nothing new.  When I was a kid, we had it pounded in our heads to drink milk to build strong bones.  But, the hi-so Bangkokians will shun milk and now have an excuse to eat caviar.

So, about all the doc can hope for is that the Thai women eat a few more hot dogs, because they definitely are NOT going to go out in the sun between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M.   He could also try to get the skin whitening cream commercials banned but would probably wind up dead.

Or, maybe convince one of the BIG movie/pop/soap opera stars to get a sun tan and show Thailand that white skin ain’t all that pretty.  The skin whitening companies would probably put out a contract on her though.

Oh well, the payoff will be in 30-40-50 years when these women can’t stand up straight and have broken hip bones and suffer from other ailments.  Thanks to skin whitening cream and their urban lifestyle (whatever that is).

Tags: cream deficiency lotion movie pop star skin whitening tv vitamin d