Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences.
Michael F Holick and Tai C Chen
ABSTRACT
Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic. The major cause of vitamin D deficiency is the lack of appreciation that sun exposure in moderation is the major source of vitamin D for most humans. Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D are often inadequate to satisfy either a child’s or an adult’s vitamin D requirement. Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and will precipitate and exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in adults. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of common cancers, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, and infectious diseases. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87(suppl):1080S–6S.
Link to full article at American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Take home message: Chances are you and your loved ones are VitD deficient...unless you are supplementing with the right type of VitD.
