Vitamin D should be considered a super vitamin. Research findings over the last few years have put this inexpensive nutritional supplement in the superstar spotlight. Taking vitamin D, a very safe vitamin supplement, can dramatically reduce your chances of getting a major disease and or chronic health condition.

It was only a few years ago that scientists finally figured out why we tend to come down with colds and flu’s more often in the winter than at any other time of the year. They found out that our blood levels of vitamin D drop in the winter as a result of less exposure to sunlight.

Researchers also found out that vitamin D plays an extremely critical role in the immune system and that the incidence of disease prevalence increased the farther north one lived. Those findings led to increased studies and the realization that the value of vitamin D in disease prevention cannot be underestimated.

What Vitamin D protects against….

Colds and flu, prostate cancer, heart and artery disease, Parkinson’s disease, breast cancer, organ health, diabetes, prenatal dental health (link below), depression, cognitive health, diabetes, kidney disease, colon cancer, high blood pressure, chronic pain, osteoporosis and cancer in general

Who is Vitamin D deficient and how much should I take?

The research has shown that most of us are vitamin D deficient. Chances of deficiency are greater if you don’t get enough sunlight, live in northern latitudes or don’t eat the right foods. Combine all of those factors and you can be sure you are deficient. Current RDA guidelines are way behind the times recommending a measly 200 IU’s per day for children and 400 IU’s for adults. The current research suggests an supplemental dose of 2000 to 3000 IU’s per day for teens and adults. Those with chronic conditions of compromised immune systems can consider 5000 to 10,000 per day. The Vitamin D council sells vitamin d blood monitoring kits for those interested in more precision.

Dosages of up to 10,000 IU’s are considered safe without a doctors supervision, but not recommended for extended periods without blood level monitoring. Vitamin D toxicity is extremely rare. One would need to take about 40,000 IU’s daily over a period of months if not years  to develop health problems as a result.

Testing is available for those who want to be sure of their precise vitamin D blood levels. Otherwise 2000 IU’s per day day is commonly recommended by health professionals for disease prevention and optimal health. Those of you with family histories of disease and chronic health condition should consider testing in order to make sure you have optimal levels of vitamin D in your system.

Womens health and Vitamin D

Pregnant women with low levels of vitamin D will adversely affect the dental health of their children.

Low vitamin D in pregnant women is also linked to Schizophrenia.

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in irregular menstruation cycles and infertility.

Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with breast cancer incidence and osteoporosis.

Young Children, Teens and Vitamin D

Teenage children should be getting up ten times the amount of current RDA levels or about 2000 IU’s daily.

Researchers have also found that Vitamin D insufficiency in pediatric patients is implicated in low bone density and may predispose one to osteoporosis in later life.

It seems that one type of diabetes is less common in those who received extra vitamin D as children.

Infants who are breast fed should get additional supplementation as breast milk tends to be low in Vitamin D. The article goes on to suggest that all toddlers and young children receive vitamin D supplementation.

Learn More

For more information on Vitamin D check out The Vitamin D Council.