Living Magazine Fall 2014 Living Magazine | Page 11
Benefits of Vitamin D
What are the benefits of vitamin D?
Recent research has found that additional vitamin D as
you would expect, it helps to strengthen bones.*
Typically, the amount of vitamin D needed to have an effect
on any condition is higher than the RDA (Recommended
Dietary Allowances). The most recent Institute of Medicine
recommendations for vitamin D were increased from 400
IU to 600 IU per day for adults in response to new scientific
studies that found additional benefits were gained with
higher levels. Many felt that the recommendations didn’t
go high enough based on the evidence.
Can’t I get enough vitamin D from
the sun?
Many factors affect sun exposure, including skin pigmentation, clothing, and sunscreen. Light-skinned individuals need about 5–10 minutes of sun exposure at least
three times a week between 11 am and 2 pm in spring,
summer, and fall. The goal is to get adequate sun exposure
without getting burnt. Unfortunately, many people have
a hard time meeting their sunshine needs. On the bright
side, if you do get the necessary exposure, your body
should be able to store enough for use during the winter
months to prevent rickets in children or osteomalacia in
adults.* So, the more vitamin D you can get during the
warmer months, the less likely you are to experience
vitamin D deficiency in the winter. Remember, your body
can’t overproduce vitamin D from sun exposure.
•C
ontributes to overall health & wellness*
• Provides calcium balance in the body*
• Supports a healthy immune system*
• Helps build strong bones*
• Maintains cognitive function*
Let’s say you eat primarily vegetarian, and your only source
of vitamin D was soy milk. On average, you would only get
100 IU of vitamin D a day if you simply consumed a cup
of soy milk with your cereal in the morning. You could get
additional vitamin D by drinking fortified orange juice and
eating fortified cereal, but you would still be far below the
minimum of 600 IU. Even if you added salmon and two
eggs once a week, you would still average only about
200 IU per day.
What about my children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics currently suggests
that all infants, children, and a