People who use SPF50+ sunscreen daily more likely to be vitamin D deficient, study finds

A study has found that people who used SPF50+ sunscreen daily were more likely to have lower vitamin D levels than those who used it less frequently.

While researchers urge people not to stop using sunscreen, the QIMR Berghofer Sun-D trial found vitamin D supplementation was a safe, effective and cheap way for people to maintain healthy levels.

"Sunscreen remains a cornerstone of skin cancer prevention, backed by decades of robust evidence," Professor Rachel Neale, lead investigator of the Sun-D trial, said.

READ MORE: One dead, several injured including police officers after gas leak at Sydney restaurant

The study was made up of 639 people who did not use sunscreen regularly.

Half applied SPF50+ daily for a year, except for winter in southern regions, while the other half was a control group.

After a year, 46 per cent of the first group were vitamin D deficient in comparison to 37 per cent of the control group.

"There's no evidence that sun exposure is more effective than supplementation for maintaining vitamin D," Neale said.

"Given the risks of skin cancer, especially in Australia, we strongly advise people not to change their sunscreen habits."

Vitamin D plays a key role in bone health and immune function, and deficiency can be treated safely through supplements and diet.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.