It seems lately that most people you talk to are being diagnosed with " vitamin D deficiency".  By some reports, 60% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D.  This is a staggering statistic, when vitamin D is extremely important for bone, heart, breast, prostate and immune health.

Known to most as the sun vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sunlight.  It occurs naturally in foods such as fish, fish oils, egg yolks, fortified dairy and grain products.  Recent studies show that vitamin D is important in bone strength, prevention and treatment of diabetes both type 1 and 2, hypertension, and most auto-immune disorders.

So what are the causes of vitamin D deficiency?  Dark skinned individuals have increased risk because of the melanin in the skin that limits the ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight.  This leads to older adults with darker skin, a higher risk factor for this deficiency.  Those who live in climates with limited sun exposure are at risk.  Because vitamin D is produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight, those who live in northern climates or who are home bound or who just don't like to be in the sun are in the higher risk group.  Obese people are also at risk.  Vitamin D is extracted from the fat cells in the blood.  Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, often have low levels of vitamin D.  Vegan diets can lead to this deficiency as well  because most of the natural vitamin D sources are animal based, such as fish, fish oils, egg yolks and cheese. The health of your digestive tract plays a major role in the absorption of vitamin D.  Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis and celiac disease affect the way your intestines absorb vitamin D from the food we eat.  According to some theories, vitamin D deficiency may be the cause of multiple sclerosis and other immune disorders.

 So what can you do to find out if you are deficient in vitamin D?  First, contact your health care professional and request a blood test.  Treatment of vitamin D deficiency is determined based on the level of vitamin D in your blood.  Once you know this, the three places to get vitamin D are:  food, sunlight and supplements.  As mentioned earlier, fatty fish (like salmon), fish oils, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, cereals and milk that is fortified with vitamin D are a good start.  If supplements are needed, talk to your health care professional about the best supplemental form of vitamin D to take.  Your best source will always be from sunlight.  Just 15 minutes a day, exposing your hands and face, is all that is necessary.

 Until next time, eat healthy, speak with your health care provider about vitamin D, and get out and enjoy some sunlight!  And, as always, live life to the fullest!