Medical experts have long been aware that vitamin D has its benefits. Known to prevent rickets and osteoporosis, it is added to the bulk of the U.S. milk supply to help the public maintain healthy bones.
An abundance of new research suggests that the valuable vitamin is much more important than once thought – and that many of us are not getting enough of it.
Recent studies have shown that a vitamin D deficiency can predispose a person to heart attacks. Breast and colon cancer patients with low levels of it are much more likely to die from their disease, while sufficient levels of the vitamin may actually help prevent some cases of breast cancer. Children with a deficiency have higher rates of diabetes. And several studies have even indicated that having lower vitamin D levels doubles the risk of dying prematurely of any cause.
No wonder then that some people are now calling vitamin D a “wonder drug.”
With new research coming out on vitamin D nearly every month, experts have begun to question whether the recommended daily levels of it are too low. Federal health officials are now looking into this.
Unfortunately, many Americans just aren’t getting enough vitamin D. If you’re not drinking much milk, and avoiding direct sunlight, you might fall into this camp.
Natural vitamin D is limited in our diet, only appearing in some fish, such as salmon and sardines, as well as egg yolks and cod liver oil. Fortified foods, as a source of vitamin D, include milk and some orange juices. The bulk of the vitamin D circulating in our blood comes from exposure to the sun. Studies suggest that people living in sunny, southern locales have more vitamin D – and less disease risk – than people living to the north.
Even in the most sun-kissed parts of the United States, though, vitamin D deficiency can still be an issue. Many Americans now slather on sunscreen, don protective clothing, or even shun the great outdoors altogether in an effort to reduce their risk of skin cancer. While this will do just that, it also lowers vitamin D levels. Researchers believe that more than one-third of healthy, young American adults now have low vitamin D levels, while in black women and ill seniors it’s nearly half.
While no one is suggesting people sunbathe for hours at a time to boost their vitamin D levels, it may be prudent to get 10 to 15 minutes of sun many days of the week. It may also be worth considering asking your physician to get a simple blood test to determine your vitamin D level.
The good news is that a vitamin D deficiency is easily treated. Those with low levels of the vitamin are usually encouraged to take vitamin D tablets, sometimes in conjunction with calcium pills. The supplements are available at local supermarkets and pharmacies. Prescription doses of vitamin D are also available for those with major deficiencies. Note, however, that there are also dangers of too much vitamin D, which can actually harm your bones and cause kidney stones.
In summary, vitamin D seems to be a key component of disease prevention. If you have an elevated risk for heart disease, colon cancer, or breast cancer on the Navigenics Health Compass, you may want to be particularly careful about responding to your vitamin D level and intake. But there are probably many other conditions that merit this as well.
Daryl Saari Oct 7, 2008
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