Vitamin D

by Doc | Dec 20, 2012 | Adult Medical Sense, Child Medical Sense

The 1997 Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) values for vitamin D is too low, as are many of the recommendation from that year. Remember a vitamin is something your body needs but can not make. Emerging research supports the possible role of vitamin D in protecting against cancer, heart disease, fractures and falls, autoimmune diseases, influenza, type 2 diabetes, and depression.

Ultraviolet B rays from sun can allow our body to make Vitamin D from cholesterol! Need to get at least 15 minutes a day of direct sunlight, those of us that are dark skinned, obese or living north of the line from San Francisco to Philadelphia (latitude) need more sun exposure and/or Vit. D3 supplements. Most important function of this Vitamin is to maintain a balance in Calcium and Phosphorous -guessed it for bone health! Adults ages 50-70 were told to take 400 IU daily, but today a dose of over 1,000 IU is recommended.Doctors for a long time have been telling patients to take much more than the DRI. Number watchers believe over 1 billion people worldwide, (all ethnicities/ages), have a vitamin D deficiency. Very much a routine blood test, find out if you are deficient.