Mar 25 2009
Americans are not getting enough Vitamin D!
About 75 percent of adult Americans are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency, the findings of a new study reveals. The study led by by Dr. Adit Ginde from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine found that three out of four Americans have lower Vitamin D than the optimal level of 30 to 40 nanograms per milliliter of blood.
This is really strange because Vitamin D is naturally present in many foods and one can easily get Vitamin D by a few minutes of sun exposure. Also there are many dietary supplements of vitamin D available in the market. Then, why Americans are not getting enough Vitamin D?
The researchers believes that changes in outdoors behaviors of American people is one of the main reason. Nowadays people are spending lesser time in outdoor activities and are also protecting their skin from sun exposure because of skin cancer risk.
Vitamin D is essential for a good health. It promotes calcium absorption and helps in modulation of neuromuscular and immune function of our body. And recent studies have shown that it can protect us from cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. Deficiency of Vitamin D directly affects bone development and it may result in soft bones and skeletal deformities. Rickets and osteomalacia are the diseases that occurs due to vitamin D deficiency.
So, the researchers noted that their findings have important implications for both health disparities and public health. To address the deficiency the current recommended dosage of Vitamin D supplements (200 IU to 600 IU depending on the age) are not adequate. The researchers thinks that it must be increased to 1000 IU and people must get more sun exposure.
What about you? Are you getting enough Vitamin D?
runjun,
great post and well researched.
Our blogs discuss topics regarding good health, healthy lifestyles, and others. I’d like more people to known about your blog. Would you link to exchange links?…let me know
gazal
http://healthnbeauty.today.com/