Vitamin D

Eight Important

Reasons To Ensure

U

ntil most recently, the general consensus

Sufficient Intake

among health researchers and practitioners

By Harry Monell

held that the primary function of vitamin

D was in helping the body to maintain a healthy

level of calcium in the blood, primarily for proper

bone health throughout an individual's lifetime.

But, more and more, research is showing that this

important vitamin is playing a much larger role in

the overall health of the body. The following issues

are eight of the top reasons to ensure adequate

bodily concentrations.

1. Increases bone density

6. Reduced risk of MS

It defends against osteoporosis by triggering the absorption of

Incidences of Multiple Sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases

calcium into bone cells.

tend to be rare near the equator, where ultraviolet light from

the sun is intense and people produce an abundance of

2. Lower risk of all forms of cancer

vitamin D. In a recent study, women getting at least 400 IU of

A large number of studies have shown positive results

vitamin D per day showed only a 60 percent risk of developing

indicating that with adequate vitamin D, risks for most forms

MS compared to women getting less of the vitamin.

of cancer can be reduced. The American Journal of Clinical

7. Tooth and gum health

Nutrition suggests that vitamin D supplements may lower risk

by 77 percent. In fact, in many of the clinical studies,

Low blood concentrations of vitamin D were linked to gum

indications are that the disease may be prevented entirely.

disease in a study involving both men and women taking part

Benefits have been especially promising in clinical studies on

in the federally sponsored National Health and Nutrition

cancers related to: Breast, Colon/Rectal, Pancreas, Prostate,

Examination Survey. The rate of loss in tooth-gum attachment

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the Lungs.

was 25 percent higher among those participants with the least

vitamin D.

3. Preserves Muscle strength

8. Prevention of Diabetes

A common symptom of severe vitamin D deficiency is leg

University of Pittsburgh researchers reported that a vitamin D

weakness. Senior citizens typically suffer from an inexorable

deficiency affects the pancreas's release of insulin and found

muscle wasting that begins by age 40. In recent group studies

the risk of diabetes to be one-third lower in people with the

Vitamin D blood levels were measured in elderly men and

highest concentrations of the vitamin.

women and found that individuals who had higher readings

also had greater thigh strength, concluding that blood

So, how much of the vitamin do we really need?

concentration of vitamin D directly correlated with leg strength

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies in

and function in these people. Another important result of the

Washington, D.C., currently recommends that people from infancy

study showed that with a daily vitamin D intake of 800 units or

through age 50 get 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day,

more, falls were reduced to half of their pre-study level.

that those ages 51 through 70 receive 400 IU daily, and that anyone

4. Energy metabolism

over 70 get a net of 600 IU. Sources include exposure to the sun,

One of the newest identified functions of the hormonal form

foods, especially dairy products and the meat of oily fish, such as

of vitamin D, known as 1,25-D, is its role in determining how

tuna, salmon and mackerel, as well as, a variety of supplements.

the body manages energy. In other words, it means that

But, no matter what the source, we now understand the

without sufficient intake of vitamin D and calcium, cells burn

importance of maintaining sufficient concentrations of vitamin D,

fewer calories and store more of them as fat. And, it turns out

as it contributes to the overall health and quality of life for each of

that dairy products are more effective than plain calcium at

us. For additional information and important resources, please visit

inhibiting fat synthesis and actually augmenting fat

newdaynutrients.com

breakdown.

Editor's note: The Institute of Medicine's report on Dietary Intakes

5. Strengthen Immune System

of vitamin D through food consumption for both older and younger

Vitamin D appears to send a signal the cells triggering

women revealed that levels were below the recommendation. It is

production of specific proteins needed to fight off disease and

estimated that 50% of women are not consuming enough vitamin

other conditions in which the immune system attacks the

D through food. Dr Mehmet OZ, co-author of six books and favorite

body's own healthy tissue.

doctor of Oprah recommends that adults take 1,000 units of vitamin

D daily.

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