VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, because it helps the body to use calcium from the diet. It is also essential for immunity, hearth health and much more. Vitamin D deficiency is almost a crisis point, with some regions showing between 70% and even 100% of the local population to be deficient!
Groups at risk of Vitamin D deficiency include:
* Infants that are breast-fed without supplementation with baby formula are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, because human milk is a poor source of Vitamin D.
* Premature, low birth-weight infants may be prone to Vitamin D deficiency through their lives as liver and kidney function for Vitamin D metabolism may be inadequate
* Elderly people have a reduced ability to produce Vitamin D in the skin by UVB exposure.
* Vegans & Vegetarians have limited meaningful dietary sources of Vitamin D3, and supplementation is highly recommended.
* People with diseases that affect the thyroid gland, kidneys or liver are at greater risk of deficiency.
* Housebound individuals are at great risk of Vitamin D deficiency.
* Dark-skinned people produce less Vitamin D3 in the skin by UVB exposure, as the darker melanin provides a natural UV filter.
* Individuals located at latitudes of 40 degress north or south are exposed to insufficient levels of UVB sunlight to produce adequate levels of Vitamin D, especially during the winter months.
* Individuals that cover-up for religious or climatic regions are at risk, as clothing restricts the skin’s ability to produce adequate levels of Vitamin D through UVB exposure. This is one reason populations in hot and sunny countries such as India are prone to Vitamin D deficiency.
* Individuals regularly applying high SPF sun blocks may be at risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Sun protection is of course of absolute paramount importance in sunny, high UV regions, however regular/consistent use of sunblock has been linked to Vitamin D deficiency by restricting the skin’s ability to produce adequate levels of Vitamin D through UVB exposure.