Current Anti-Aging Tip: Ordinary Doses of Vitamin D Linked To Lower Mortality
Vitamin D deficiency can adversely affect a wide variety of conditions including, bone health, cancer, cardiovascular disease, some infectious diseases, and diabetes. Deficiencies in Vitamin D are also known to be associated with increased risk for falls and fractures in the elderly. According to the authors of a study published in September 2007, ordinary doses of Vit D had a protective effect against these health problems and caused a decrease in mortality rates. Another recent study revealed an inverse relationship between serum (blood) Vit D levels and colon and breast cancer rates. These researchers concluded that 600,000 cases of these 2 cancers could be prevented each year worldwide if Vit D intake was adequate. And that ordinary dose (400-830 IU and up to 2000 IU) were not associated with any adverse effects.
The serum level of Vit D is what really counts. Our body converts Vit D to its active form in the skin and needs ultraviolet energy from sunlight to do this. The amount of serum Vit D, therefore, will vary with age, geographical location, time of year, skin exposure to sun and with the degree of sun screen; people with darker skin color or who habitually wear sun screen will convert less. Therefore, people who live in climates with dark winters will need to supplement, especially if they have darker skin types.
I recommend 1000 IU's of Vitamin D be taken daily to boost our immune system and to help protect us from infection and cancer.
The studies quoted above were from The Archives of Internal Medicine and Nutrition Reviews.
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