And you can get enough from twenty minutes sunshine.

Only thing to put a spanner in the theory is the fact that the country where people are most affected by colds is Saudi Arabia, which hardly suffers from a deficiency of sunlight!

Point out to the bearded wonders that you do have to take some clothes off (and it helps not to smoke).

Do they spend most time inside with air conditioning or something? Or maybe the dust aggravates things. And when outside, people cover up rather than go with shorts and shirtless, could that be contributing?

Being spread through ACs would be a possible explanation if it weren't for the fact that they are just as prevalent in the three or four months when the ACs are off.

You tend to avoid the sun but you certainly get more than your twenty minutes a day of English sunshine the article talks about. Or at least men do.

I presume the explanation is simply that there are more cold viruses going around.

Or it could be the kissing.

The sun does actually have to hit the skin before vitamin D can get made. Traditional Arab dress is designed to completely avoid the sun hitting the skin: http://www.traderscity.com/abcg/pic1.htm

Plus, when I was in Abu Dhabi the locals thought the whole concept of going outside in the sun was insane; when I opted to do so they grouped me together with mad dogs and Englishmen (of which I am one, so they weren't far wrong).

... the article talks about.....

link?

Men will get sun on the face and hands which is enough to counter vitamin D deficiency.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article2447662.ece

I wonder how they separate out the increased closeness and exposure during winter from vitamin D deficiency? Not to mention the decreased immune system response from SAD.

But, but, isn't Vitamin D fattening?