A new study has revealed women in Scotland are being kept in the dark when it comes fighting illness.

Volunteers living in Aberdeen and Surrey were asked to wear a badge that detected the amount of UVB rays they were exposed to daily.

The research found that those living north of the border were exposed to half the amount of sunlight needed to make vitamin D than their English counterparts.

Scientists say their findings highlight the need for better public advice on ways to boost vitamin D during the summer months

Dr Helen Macdonald, from the University of Aberdeen’s institute of medical sciences who led the study said: “Vitamin D is highly important in the prevention of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, helping our bodies absorb more calcium through our diet.

“Studies have also suggested those who are deficient of vitamin D may be more at risk of diseases including heart disease, cancer and muscular sclerosis.

“Vitamin D is only found naturally in a small number of foods – namely egg yolks and oily fish. In the UK we obtain the majority of our vitamin D intake from the short wavelengths, called ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, found in sunlight."

They assessed over 500 women between the ages of 55 and 70 in Aberdeen and Surrey who were asked to wear a badge with a film that detected the amount of UVB rays they were exposed to daily. The results showed Caucasian women in the north of the country were significantly more deprived of UVB rays, than in the south.

Dr Macdonald says the findings indicate the need for guidelines on how the vitamin D level ‘gap’ can be bridged during the winter months.

She said: “We cannot assume that winter requirements of vitamin D are met by the stores accumulated over summer if people do not get enough sunlight to make sufficient vitamin D.

“Dietary sources of vitamin D are important but the vitamin D status in the current diet of women in the UK is unlikely to be adequate.

“We need to look at appropriate guidelines regarding safe sunlight exposure, to strike the balance between ensuring adequate protection from the sun and obtaining vitamin D from UVB rays.

She said people need to consider advice on taking supplements or eating foods which are fortified with vitamin D – which currently include some breakfast cereals and margarine. We would not recommend increasing margarine intake as it conflicts with dietary advice to decrease our fat intakes.

She also reiterated there is a significant need for more research into understanding the health repercussions of vitamin D deficiency.