A recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that men who were deficient in Vitamin D were 2 1/2 times more likely to have a heart attack than those with normal levels. The study involved 1,354 men, 454 of which had histories of heart problems, with the rest having no history of cardiovascular disease. Results of this study confirmed the conclusions on Vitamin D in another Harvard study by Dr. Thomas Wang which came out in January.
Vitamin D has long been known to be essential for bone health since it is needed by the body to absorb calcium. Older people who are deficient in Vitamin D are at a higher risk for osteoporosis.
You can get Vitamin D in several ways. Getting 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine exposure each day helps the body to produce Vitamin D. That’s why it’s been called the “Sunshine Vitamin”. The other way to get it is by consuming foods such as fortified milk, soy milk, alfalfa, watercress, and salmon.
Research is increasingly finding that Vitamin D is critical for other areas of health. But, the exact reasons why are not totally known. Some recent studies point toward the protective effects of Vitamin D for diseases like tuberculosis, colon and breast cancer, and peripheral artery disease.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital showed that up to 93 percent of people coming into the hospital were deficient in Vitamin D! This points toward the fact that most people are either not getting much, if any, sun exposure, AND simply are not getting enough Vitamin D in their diets.
Experts in nutrition supplementation are now recommending that each person get 400 to 800 IU (international units) of Vitamin D each day for optimal health. The exact amount taken will depend on the person’s state of health. Older people who’s bodies can’t produce as much Vitamin D anymore and are at risk for osteoporosis, should be taking more.
Nutrition expert and author Dr. Ray Strand cautions that people need to be taking the active form of Vitamin D, called D3. Otherwise, the body can’t use it to absorb calcium and help with other important functions. So, check your vitamin labels carefully.
The bottom line here, is that most people should use a multi-pronged approach and 1) get the recommended 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight each day - on the face and arms preferably, while protecting the eyes, 2) eat a diet having foods with vitamin D, and 3) taking a multi-vitamin with at least 400 IU of vitamin D3 in it.
