New Study Says Caucasians at Higher Risk for Vitamin D Deficiency

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Posted: 06 Jul 2014 08:00 AM PDT

Perhaps the most misguided health advice given by many well-meaning health enthusiasts and government agencies in the past 25 years is to avoid direct sunlight exposure. While it is true that excessive sun exposure can increase unfavorable results in one’s health, healthy exposure to sunlight is an integral aspect of maintaining your health. Totally avoiding the sun’s rays may help you avoid the discomfort associated with sunburn but your health will pay a price in other ways.

Vitamin D Deficiency: More Common in Caucasians

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have published recent findings which suggest that caucasians who get too little sunlight exposure can produce lower-than-normal vitamin D levels. ^[1] In this study, almost 6,000 participants were tested for vitamin D status and questioned about their daily access to sunlight. Results of the study clearly indicate that light-skinned individuals who avoid sunshine may be twice as likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency. What’s more, the study estimated that up to 30 or 40 percent of the total U.S. population is vitamin D deficient.

The Benefits of Vitamin D

Many people mistakenly believe that vitamin D is only important for keeping their bones strong. Truth be told, vitamin D actually supports over 100 biological processes in the human body. Just a handful of the health benefits of adequate vitamin D include:

Normal blood sugar

Strong immune system

Neurological health

Cardiovascular health

Cognition and mental sharpness

Vitamin D research has been increasing within the past ten years and has become one of the most talked-about nutrient in the scientific community. ^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5] ^[6] ^[7] In fact, vitamin D has been labeled as the “forgotten” nutrient that has only recently surfaced in the media and various scientific journals.

What You Can Do

Clearly, it’s important that we all spend a little time in the sun. In addition to maintaining a sensible diet, one of the easiest ways to avoid the health risks of vitamin D deficiency (especially during the winter months) is to use a vitamin D3 supplement. This can give your body the vitamin D it needs to function at its best.

Have you experienced vitamin D deficiency? What effects did you notice? How did you remedy it and did your problems go away? Please leave a comment and share your first hand experience with us!

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

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Christine Dalgard PHD, Maria Skaalum Petersen, PHD, Pal Weihe, MD, and Philippe Grandjean, DMSC. Vitamin D Status in Relation to Glucose Metabolism and Type 2 Diabetes in Septuagenarians. Diabetes Care. June 2011 vol. 34 no. 6 1284-1288.
Cynthia Aranow, MD, Investigator. Vitamin D and the Immune System. Journal of Investigative Medicine. August 2011; 59(6): 881-886.
Harms LR, Burne TH, Eyles DW, McGrath JJ. Vitamin D and the brain. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011 August;25(4):657-69. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2011.05.009.
Eyles DW, Burne TH, McGrath JJ. Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 2013 January;34(1):47-64. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2012.07.001.
Gouni-Berthold I, Krone W, Berthold HK. Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease. Current Vascular Pharmacology. 2009 July;7(3):414-22.
Soni M, Kos K, Lang IA, Jones K, Melzer D, Llewellyn DJ. Vitamin D and cognitive function. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation. 2012 April;243:79-82. doi: 10.3109/00365513.2012.681969.