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Comment by dade_ | Hacker News Reader

Mushrooms could be a great source of Vitamin D, but they need to be exposed to UV light and are usually grown in the dark. This has been known for years, but no one seems to be acting on it. Studies such as this one should create urgency on the matter.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213178/

https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400525/Articles/AICR...

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> This has been known for years, but no one seems to be acting on it. Studies such as this one should create urgency on the matter.

Nobody seems to be acting on it because the alternative (ie. taking a 5 cent pill) is already pretty good. Having to buy vitamin D enhanced mushrooms and working it into my diet every day of the week sounds like a nightmare to me.

> but no one seems to be acting on it

They've been widely available in the UK for a few years now and are also being looked at by the Government as part of a wider Vitamin D program.

https://www.tescoplc.com/news/2016/mushrooms-vitamin-d/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-61392698

Humans can synthesize vitamin D on their own, but they also need to be exposed to UV light (most commonly administered as a part of daylight) in order to be able to do it...

That also increases the risk of skin cancer, so it's not all positive.

But decreases the risk of dying from skin cancer:

> Melanoma? True, the sun worshippers had a higher incidence of it—but they were eight times less likely to die from it.[1]

1. https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/sunscreen-sun-...

I wonder how much that is because of increased screening. Both of my parents have had melanoma, but my primary care provider won't refer me to a dermatologist because I don't spend much time outdoors. If I were tanned, I'd be at a dermatologist annually.

There is no reliable evidence that moderate daily sunlight exposure increases the risk of skin cancer.

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