Sun-fearing woman breaks rib in bed due to extreme vitamin D deficiency

The woman, whose name was not disclosed, fractured her rib while rolling over in bed and was subsequently taken to XinDu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine by her husband, Long Shuang, an attending doctor at the hospital, said on May 14, according to Sina.

The patient had avoided sunlight since childhood, rarely wore short sleeves outdoors, and always used sunscreen. Tests revealed her vitamin D level was extremely low at 7.8 ng/ml (normal levels are 20–25 ng/ml or 50–125 nmol/L). Her bone density was dangerously low, indicating osteoporosis.

Doctor Long explained that sunlight plays a crucial role in synthesizing vitamin D, which is essential for bone strength and calcium absorption. People who consistently avoid the sun are at increased risk of developing osteoporosis and weakened immunity.

Jiang Xiaobing, head of the spine orthopedic department at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, warned about the dangers of extreme sun avoidance in a social media video.

"All the bones in our body regenerate every 10 years, but from age 30, we begin to lose bone mass at a rate of 0.5 to 1% per year. Low calcium intake, lack of sun exposure, and vitamin D deficiency all hinder calcium absorption. A sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive drinking also compromise bone health," he told the South China Morning Post.

Jiang recommended adequate calcium intake, regular exercise, and limiting smoking and alcohol consumption. He specifically advised drinking no more than two cans of beer with 5% alcohol content per day, noting postmenopausal women should be particularly cautious with alcohol.