Several recent studies have found a surprisingly high number of Americans to be deficient in vitamin D, which is important not only for strong bones but for protection against many cancers, including those of the breast and prostate. Two recent studies indicate that the average blood level of vitamin D in Americans is significantly lower than it was 10 to 15 years ago.
Possible reasons include less exposure to the sun, lower consumption of milk (which is fortified with vitamin D) and excess body fat (which reduces blood levels of the vitamin). With 10 to 15 minutes of daily exposure to the sun, the skin manufactures all the vitamin D the body needs. The vitamin can also be obtained through food or supplements.
For more information regarding vitamin deficiencies, please visit the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Health Information Library online.
[SOURCE: “Wellness Facts,” University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, June, 2009]