Health First - Vitamin D

By Dave Fuller

Every week there seems to be more information coming out about the importance of  Vitamin D in the diet.

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because generally we get most of our vitamin D from the suns rays.

However as Canadians we tend to avoid the sun because of either concern about the excess exposure to the sun but more often because we are living in a country where because of the cold climate we have to limit our amounts of skin exposure to the sun…. or risk frostbite.

Some of the recent Vitamin D studies that have appeared in the news include

• Vitamin D consumption was associated with a 50% lower risk of breast cancer in a University of California San Diego study. ( “Vitamin D lowers risk of breast cancer study says” Associated press , April 4, 2006)
• Vitamin D is an effective anti inflammatory to be used in the treatment of congestive heart failure. (Low vitamin D status, a contributing factor in the pathogenisis of congestive heart failure?” University of Bonn, J Am Coll Cardiol 2003 Jan1:41
•  Vitamin D may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes (Sunshine vitamin may ward off breast cancer” MSNBC News Services May 11 2006)
•  Elderly Adults lacking Vitamin D have a higher risk of falling down more compared to those who get enough of the vitamin a recent study at Vrije University in Amsterdam suggests – Falls are a major cause of death and disability in the elderly (“Vitamin D and the risk of falling over” www.channel newsasia.com October 3 2006)

According to Health Canada, the recommended dosage of Vitamin D is 1000iu per day and the National Academy of Sciences se the upper limit of Vitamin D Consumption at 2000 iu per day. Dosages over that may lead to problems with the liver and the kidneys. 

If you were wondering how much Vitamin D you get from the sun, studies show that most Americans get around 320iu per day from the sun and unless you are out raking the grass with your shirt off  on a sunny day here in Northern B.C. chances are you are getting much less than that!

Dave Fuller is the Owner of Ave Maria Specialities at 1638 20th Avenue in Prince George

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