What Vitamin D means to you and your family
A vitamin D deficiency can occur when usual intake is lower than recommended levels over time, exposure to sunlight is limited, the kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to its active form, or absorption of vitamin D from the digestive tract is inadequate. Vitamin D deficient diets are associated with milk allergy, lactose intolerance, and strict vegetarianism.
Studies show that people with low levels of vitamin D have lower bone density or bone mass. Vitamin D is important for managing osteoporosis and joint health especially for those over 50.
Exclusively breast fed infants
Breast milk does not have enough vitamin D to meet an infant’s needs. Studies indicate that breast milk only provides approximately 25 IU/L.
Darker skinned individuals
Melanin, the pigment that makes skin dark, also protects darker skin from the sunlight. In doing this, it decreases the amount of sunlight absorbed by skin and utilized to produce vitamin D. Studies have also found that rickets is more prevalent in immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East and that African Americans are at risk for low serum levels of vitamin D. If you have darker skin, you need to spend more time outside in the sunlight in order to produce enough vitamin D in comparison to a lighter-skinned individual’s exposure. Keep in mind that although darker skin protects skin from the damaging effects of sun exposure, darker-skinned individuals are still at risk for skin cancer.
Older individuals
As people age, the body’s synthesis of vitamin D is decreased as is the kidney’s ability to convert vitamin D to its active hormone form. Those who are 50 years of age or older are considered at risk for developing vitamin D deficiency.
People exposed to little sunlight
If you live where the sun rarely shines or diligently wear sunscreen and cover up most of your body in clothing, your skin is not obtaining enough sun exposure to manufacture adequate amounts of vitamin D.
People with fat malabsorption
As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D requires some dietary fat for proper absorption. Fat malabsorption is associated with pancreatic enzyme deficiency, Crohn’s disease,
cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestines, and some forms of liver disease.
Obese individuals
Obesity/excess body fat increases the risk for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is stored in fat tissue and the more fat tissue a person has the less available their vitamin D is for circulation.
In addition to the groups mentioned above, individuals with kidney disease , gastrointestinal and liver disease , and primary hyperparathyroidism are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.
Aside from bone pain and muscle weakness, there may be little indication that someone has inadequate circulating levels of vitamin D. To learn your vitamin D levels, ask your doctor about a rapid vitamin D test that measures your blood levels of the vitamin.
Because it is difficult to get enough vitamin D from diet and sunlight, taking vitamin D supplements is recommended. A liquid vitamin D supplement is a great way for the whole family to get the vitamin D they need without having to swallow large pills.
References:
Gartner LM, Greer FR, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. Prevention of rickets and vitamin D deficiency: new guidelines for vitamin D intake. Pediatrics 2003:111:908-10
Alsafwah S, Laguardia SP, Nelson MD et al. Hypovitaminosis D in African Americans residing in Memphis, Tennessee with and without heart failure. Am J Med Sci 2008;335(4):292-7.
Holick MF. Vitamin D: the underappreciated D-lightful hormone that is important for skeletal and cellular health. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes 2002;9:87-98
Glerup H, Mikkelsen K, Poulsen L, et al. Commonly recommended daily intake of vitamin D is not sufficient if sunlight exposure is limited. J Intern Med 2000;247(2):260-268
Lo CW, Paris PW, Clemens TL et al. Vitamin D absorption in healthy subjects and in patients with intestinal malabsorption syndromes. Am J Clin Nutr 1985;42:644-49.
Arunabh S, Pollack S, Yeh J, Aloia JF. Body fat content and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003;88(1):157-161
Gal-Moscovici A, Sprague SM. Role of vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease. J Bone Miner Res 2007;22 Suppl 2:V91-4.
Pappa HM, Bern E, Kamin D, Grand RJ. Vitamin D status in gastrointestinal and liver disease. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2008;24(2):176-83.
Silverberg SJ. Vitamin D deficiency and primary hyperparathyroidism. J Bone Miner Res 2007;22 Suppl 2:V100-4.
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