There is something alternative doctors have been preaching for years and that is we are deficient in Vitamin D, specifically D3.  However, the American Medical Association (AMA) has put out the Council on Science and Public Health report published this year at the AMA's 2009 annual meeting.  It said there are now over 300 studies and 1500 articles published last year confirming Americans are lacking this important vitamin.

According to the Vitamin D Council, if well adults and adolescents regularly avoid sunlight exposure, research indicates a necessity to supplement with at least 5,000 units (IU) of vitamin D daily. To obtain this amount from milk one would need to consume 50 glasses. With a multivitamin more than 10 tablets would be necessary. Neither is advisable. 

The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure without sunscreen—50 times more than the US government's recommendation of 200 IU per day!  However, if we wear sunscreen, it blocks vitamin d3 absorption by 99 percent. 

Despite what we have been told, drinking milk is not going to meet our vitamin d (or calcium needs for that fact). 

Pregnancy and Gestional Vitamin D Deficiency

In the last 3 years, an increasing amount of research suggests that some of the damage done by Vitamin D deficiency is done in-utero, while the fetus is developing. Much of that damage may be permanent, that is, it can not be fully reversed by taking Vitamin D after birth. This research indicates Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy endangers the mother's life and health, and is the origin for a host of future perils for the child, especially for the child's brain and the immune system.  Some of the damage done by maternal Vitamin D deficiency may not show up for 30 years.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), they are recommending all expecting moms to take 5,000 IU per day in addition to their prenatal vitamin.  Babies who are born with a vitamin D deficiency have a higher incidence in being born with Celiac Disease, Autism, asthma, cavities, seizures and heart disease.  Moms have a , higher rate of c-sections, gestational diabetes, and preclampsia.

Healthy children are needing 1000 IU per 25 pounds of body weight, above the current recommendation of 400 IU set by the AAP.  Here is what else they are finding:

The announcement simply pointed out that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently recommended that all pregnant women have a 25(OH)D blood test because Vitamin D is important for normal fetal development (p. 1145):

"Given the growing evidence that adequate maternal vitamin D status is essential during pregnancy, not only for maternal well-being but also for fetal development, health care professionals who provide obstetric care should consider assessing maternal vitamin D status by measuring the 25-OH-D concentrations of pregnant women. On an individual basis, a mother should be supplemented with adequate amounts of vitamin D3 to ensure that her 25-OH-D levels are in a sufficient range (>32 ng/mL). The knowledge that prenatal vitamins containing 400 IU of vitamin D3 have little effect on circulating maternal 25-OH-D concentrations, especially during the winter months, should be imparted to all health care professionals."

If you are an expecting mom, ask your doctor to run a vitamin D blood test and measure 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels and supplement if necessary.  This test should be done on expecting mothers, exclusively breastfed infants, obese individuals, people over 65 years of age and those with a suppressed immunity such as those with, inflammatory bowel disease and an autoimmune disease, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and so forth.  New research also shows vitamin d slashes risk for cancer by 77 percent. It may also help you be successful in your weight loss efforts. 

Read more about Gestational Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D and Immunity

According to an article titled, Agency to test link between flu and vitamin d levels starts off by saying, "In an effort to discover new ways to fight the swine flu, the Public Health Agency of Canada intends to test the blood of people contracting the ailment to check their vitamin D levels....Epidemiological evidence suggests a role for vitamin D in seasonal influenza,” the agency said, adding that the low amounts of the nutrient in the winter “appear to correlate with the occurrence of seasonal influenza.”

People with the lowest levels tend to get more colds, flus, and respiratory infections.  Those with impaired respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive respiratory infections (COPD) have a much higher risk for colds and flus and more likely to be lacking vitamin d. 

At your next family health check-up, it may be wise to ask the doctor for each family member to get tested, especially if it will help boost your family's immunity. 

Meanwhile, take advantage of what is left of our summer sun.  Exposure of arms and legs to sunlight for 10-15 minutes between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 3 to 4 times a week. For people of color, longer and more frequent exposure is recommended – up to 30 minutes daily.  This is without sunscreen and no, you will not get skin cancer.  Quite the contrary, it will protect you from many types of cancers. 

Vitamin D3 drops are sold in 400 IU, 1000 IU and 2000 IU at most health food stores or can be purchased much cheaper online such as Vitacost.

For more info:

As We See It:  Millions of Needless Deaths

Vitamin D Deficiency Booklet for Cancer Patients

Vitamin D Crisis hits US:  7 in 10 kids need more