Vitamin D deficiency more common, serious, than thought
{{date|November 2, 2007}}
[[Image:Cornflakes with milk pouring in.jpg|thumb|200px|[[w:Milk|Milk]] and [[w:cereal grain|cereal grain]]s are often fortified with Vitamin D. {{Image source|[[w:User:Fir0002|Fir0002]]}}]]
Two scientists working at [[w:McGill University|McGill University]] in [[Canada]], reporting on their research and the research of other scientists, state in [[w:Scientific American|Scientific American]] that [[w:Vitamin D|Vitamin D]] may have many uses in the human body besides building strong bones.

According to the scientists, Luz E. Tavera-Mendoza and John H. White, Vitamin D intake may also be beneficial in the prevention of [[w:Cancer|cancer]], [[w:Multiple sclerosis|multiple sclerosis]], [[w:Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]], and fighting [[w:Tuberculosis|tuberculosis]], [[w:Influenza|influenza]] and [[w:Inflammatory bowel disease|inflammatory bowel disease]]. The researchers say that there is an emerging "widespread consensus" among experts that a large part of the population has levels of Vitamin D in their bodies that is well below optimal concentrations for health, particularly in temperate regions, due to decreased [[w:sunlight|sunlight]] and or less time outdoors, and during or just after the winter months. One study indicated that as many as 92% of adolescent girls in Northern Europe may have deficient levels of Vitamin D and 37% have severely deficient levels. 

The problem is far worse among [[w:African American|African-Americans]] than Americans with lighter skin. Almost half of African-American women may be seriously Vitamin D deficient, with presumably still another fraction deficient. Furthermore, the authors say researchers at [[w:Harvard University|Harvard University]] and elsewhere believe the [[w:Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] minimum recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D is far too low. The [[w:Dietary Reference Intake|Recommended Dietary Allowance]] (RDA) ranges from 200 to 600 [[w:International unit|International Units]] (IU). In fact, the authors themselves take Vitamin D supplements. The first author takes 1000 IU during wintertime and the second author takes 5,000 IU in wintertime. They do caution, however, that there is a level at which Vitamin D becomes toxic.

Similar research has also been recently performed by researchers at the [[w:Queensland University of Technology|Queensland University of Technology]] who found that many elderly were likely not getting sufficient Vitamin D due in part to insufficient exposure to the [[w:sun|sun]]. 

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.sciam.com/
|title=Cell Defenses and the Sunshine Vitamin
|author=Luz E. Tavera-Mendoza and John H. White
|pub=Scientific American
|date=November 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2007/oct/30/older-residents-may-not-be-getting-enough-sun/
|title=Older residents not getting enough sun
|author=Mark Furler
|pub=Sunshine Coast Daily
|date=October 30, 2007}}

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[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Quebec]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Queensland]]
Milk and cereal grains are often fortified with Vitamin D. 
Two scientists working at McGill University in Canada, reporting on their research and the research of other scientists, state in Scientific American that Vitamin D may have many uses in the human body besides building strong bones.

According to the scientists, Luz E. Tavera-Mendoza and John H. White, Vitamin D intake may also be beneficial in the prevention of cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and fighting tuberculosis, influenza and inflammatory bowel disease. The researchers say that there is an emerging "widespread consensus" among experts that a large part of the population has levels of Vitamin D in their bodies that is well below optimal concentrations for health, particularly in temperate regions, due to decreased sunlight and or less time outdoors, and during or just after the winter months. One study indicated that as many as 92% of adolescent girls in Northern Europe may have deficient levels of Vitamin D and 37% have severely deficient levels. 

The problem is far worse among African-Americans than Americans with lighter skin. Almost half of African-American women may be seriously Vitamin D deficient, with presumably still another fraction deficient. Furthermore, the authors say researchers at Harvard University and elsewhere believe the FDA minimum recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D is far too low. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) ranges from 200 to 600 International Units (IU). In fact, the authors themselves take Vitamin D supplements. The first author takes 1000 IU during wintertime and the second author takes 5,000 IU in wintertime. They do caution, however, that there is a level at which Vitamin D becomes toxic.

Similar research has also been recently performed by researchers at the Queensland University of Technology who found that many elderly were likely not getting sufficient Vitamin D due in part to insufficient exposure to the sun.
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