PEOPLE with fair skin who burn quickly in the sun should take vitamin D supplements to protect against major diseases such as cancer, according to new research.

Scientists funded by Cancer Research UK said people with freckles were among those who may not get enough vitamin D from the sun, putting them at greater risk of heart disease. Low levels of the vitamin have also been linked with poorer survival rates from breast cancer and conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

The researchers from the University of Leeds said people with very pale skin who have to avoid the sun to escape being burnt may be missing out on the right amount of vitamin D and they suggested taking supplements to ensure levels are correct.

Professor Julia Newton-Bishop, lead author of the study based in the Cancer Research UK Centre at the University of Leeds, said: “Fair-skinned individuals who burn easily are not able to make enough vitamin D from sunlight and so may need to take vitamin D supplements.

“This should be considered for fair-skinned people living in a mild climate like the UK and melanoma patients in particular.”

The researchers studied vitamin D levels of around 1200 people and found that 730 did not have the right amount in their system. Those with fair skin had significantly lower levels than the rest of the group.

Taking high doses of vitamin D has previously been linked to reducing the risk of developing some common cancers, such as breast, ovarian and colon, by as much as 50%.