Scotland's poor health record could be directly linked to a lack of sunshine, a scientist has said.
Dr Oliver Gillie linked the "extreme" weather to vitamin D deficiency, which is caused by low exposure to sunlight.

He has called for "urgent" government action to encourage people to take a daily dose of vitamin D to help tackle diseases such as cancer and MS.
Scotland's chief medical officer said the Scottish Government was already considering the evidence on vitamin D.
Dr Gillie's research involved examining vitamin D levels across Europe and mortality rates from certain diseases.

Medics have already established a lack of the vitamin as a factor in conditions like heart disease and cancer, of which Scotland has some of the highest levels in Europe.

In his study, Dr Gillie called for "urgent action" by the Scottish Government.
This, he said, could include a campaign to encourage people to take a daily dose of the vitamin.
If vitamin D supplements can be shown to contribute to that agenda then we will make the appropriate recommendations Dr Harry Burns
Chief medical officer
He also suggested that doctors should be able to prescribe stronger doses and that "megadoses" containing up to 50 times the current daily dose could be taken.

"Scotland has an extreme climate characterised by very little sunshine - it gets as little sunshine as some places in the Arctic Circle," he said.
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Published: 15/09/2008/