Seniors need more sun to reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes

Spending more time in the sunshine could help older people to reduce their risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

Researchers at the University of Warwick have shown vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome, a combination of medical and metabolic disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Exposure to sunlight stimulates vitamin D in the skin and older people are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency due to the natural aging process and changes in lifestyle.