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You May Be Old Enough for More Vitamin D
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 As we
age, the ability of our skin to convert vitamin D to its active
form decreases, so older Americans (greater than age 50) are
thought to have a higher risk of developing vitamin D
deficiency. |
Senior citizens are most likely to develop vitamin D
deficiency
May 12, 2005 - Vitamin D has long been known to
help keep your bones in good shape. The May issue of Mayo Clinic Health
Letter covers new research that shows vitamin D may play a much bigger
role in overall health.
Several recent studies have considered the effects
of low vitamin D on health aside from bones. In a controlled study of
elderly women, those taking vitamin D and calcium had much better leg
strength and fewer falls than the women taking only calcium. Another
study, of patients ages 10 to 65 with musculoskeletal pain, found 93
percent were deficient in vitamin D.
Now the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute
of Medicine recommends that adults through age 50 take 200 IU of vitamin
D daily. The recommendations go up for older adults: 400 IU for ages 51
to 70, and 600 IU for those over age 70.
These recommendations were set to prevent severe
bone disease. Researchers are increasingly concerned that these
standards are too low. The studies suggest that the best levels for
overall health may be higher than those recommendations, perhaps in the
range of 800 to 1,000 IU a day.
Researchers are looking at the role vitamin D may
play in other diseases. Part of that interest is driven by the lower
incidence of prostate, colon and breast cancers; multiple sclerosis; and
Type I diabetes in regions that receive higher amounts of direct
sunlight throughout the year. Skin exposed to sunlight can generate the
equivalent of thousands of international units (IUs) of vitamin D.
If youre concerned about getting adequate vitamin
D, talk to your doctor. The safest way to get vitamin D is from foods
and dietary supplements. The notion of exposing yourself to sun to
increase vitamin D remains extremely controversial because of increased
skin cancer risk.
Source: Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page
monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on
todays health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll free
800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.
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