Vitamin D Deficiency: A Silent Epidemic

A deficiency of Vitamin D is something that plagues up to 40% of Americans over 50. While Vitamin D is plentiful in many dairy products, and our own bodies manufacture it while exposed to sunlight, decreased consumption of milk and lack of exposure to sunlight as we age has led to an increased deficiency in adults.

Vitamin D is Calcium’s little buddy. It helps your body absorb calcium in the blood stream, which is vital to maintaining bone strength and tooth health. Calcium without Vitamin D is insoluble, and cannot be absorbed by the body. Vitamin D develops strong bones and teeth, and if we suffer from a deficiency of it we are more prone to fractures and cavities.

Geography and weight also play a role in your body’s level of Vitamin D. Even if with normal sun exposure you do make enough Vitamin D, in the fall and winter months you might not be making enough because of lack of sunlight. There’s an enzyme under the skin that is converted by sunlight to manufacture Vitamin D--much like a plant that already contains chlorophyll, but needs sunlight to help convert it into food.

People who are medically obese are also at a risk for Vitamin D deficiencies. Because of the extra fat beneath the skin, the enzymes that sunlight converts are not as easily reached. For this reason, people who are 20% heavier than their normal weight range should supplement their diet with Vitamin D to make sure their body is receiving enough of this essential nutrient. The recommended level which adult men and women should receive is 400 IU a day.