CESifo Working Paper No. 2850
The Relationship between Stature and Insolation:
Evidence from Soldiers and Prisoners
Abstract
Nineteenth century white US statures varied with nutrition, disease exposure, and the physical
environment. An additional explanation for stature growth is vitamin D production. Vitamin
D is produced internally by the synthesis of cholesterol and sunlight in the epidermis.
However, studies that link stature to insolation and vitamin D production rely on only one
comprehensive data set. To test the relationship between insolation and stature further, this
study broadens the sample to include both 19th century white Civil War recruits and
prisoners, and illustrates that the relationship between stature and insolation was remarkably
similar between white soldiers and prisoners, adding to the evidence that there is a positive
relationship between stature and insolation.
JEL Code: I10.
Keywords: stature, insolation vitamin D.
Scott Alan Carson
University of Texas, Permian Basin
4901 East University
Odessa, TX 79762
USA
[email protected]
Please do not cite without permission from the author.
I appreciate comments from Paul Hodges, Larry Wimmer, and Tom Maloney. Owen Wallace-
Servera, Sandy Triepke and Anita Voorhies provided excellent research assistance. All errors
are my own.