UPDATE ON VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

Vitamin D Update:

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS IN DIFFERENT RACES.                     

(July 10, JAMA) 

This study, conducted over 8.5 years by Dr.  Cassianne Robinson Cohen of the University of Washington in Seattle, showed a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in white and Chinese patients who had a lower level of Vitamin D.  There was no such association found in the Hispanic study subjects, and a slightly reduced risk in blacks.

If anything, this study confirmed the association between vitamin D deficiency and a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases, but it doesn’t prove a cause and effect relationship for any race or ethnicity.                                                                                            

VITAMIN D AND AGING PROBLEMS

(Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism)

In this study, led by Dr. Evelien Sohl of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, 725 men and women aged 55 to 65, and 1,237 older than 65, were asked to do simple daily tasks such as walking up or down a 15 step staircase, getting dressed or undressed, standing up from a sitting position, cutting their own toenails, or walking outside without help for five minutes.  Their blood tests for vitamin D were then obtained. 

With controlling for several factors such as age and chronic diseases, the researchers found that a level of vitamin D below 20 ng/ml was consistently linked to an increased number of disabilities compared with those with normal vitamin D level, making them unable to perform many ordinary tasks of daily life. The author concluded that taking vitamin D might be of benefit.

OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY:  multiple sclerosis (MS), Type 1 and 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer (colon, lung, possibly breast), depression, bone and skeletal problems (osteoporosis, rickets)

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR VIT D LEVEL. SOME RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THAT AS MANY AS 85% OF NORTHEAST U.S. RESIDENTS HAVE VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY.  FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SUN (WITH YOUR HEAD COVERED!) THREE TIMES A WEEK IS GOOD FOR YOU !