Vitamin D: Are You Getting Enough?

How much vitamin D do we need? The short answer is: much more than we thought!

For many years, our understanding of vitamin D was pretty simple: We knew it was a fat-soluble vitamin needed for healthy bones. Research conducted over the past 15 years has deepened that understanding dramatically. Today we know that vitamin D plays a vital role in many aspects of health.

Scientists have found that besides being a vitamin, D is also a hormone with many jobs: It helps regulate bone health, muscle health, skeletal and heart muscle health, immune response, insulin and blood sugar and calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Such a workload demands greater levels of vitamin D then once thought necessary. Although definitive evidence is not available currently, SUPPLEMENTS of at least 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D may be warranted. Researchers agree that vitamin D, is the best form for supplementation.

Vitamin D deficiency is more common than you might expect. People, who don't get enough sun, particularly those living in northern latitudes, are especially at risk. Vitamins D deficiency occurs even in sunny climates, possibly because people are staying indoors more, covering up when outside, or using sunscreens consistently to reduce skin cancer risk.

Most health experts recognize the importance of vitamin D in the prevention of osteoporosis. The US FDA allows an acceptable health claim for foods that contain calcium: "A healthy diet with adequate calcium, vitamin D, and regular exercise, helps to achieve strong bones and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis."

If you think you might need more vitamin D, ask your doctor for a blood test. The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the most accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is in your body. Make sure your supplement is Vitamin D3, and always consult with your doctor before adding any supplementary vitamins to your diet.

Source: American Fitness. Article by: Meg Jordan, PhD, RN

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