We need more Vitamin D

Emerging research now shows that many, if not most, of us are not getting anywhere near enough vitamin D.

This is possibly because, in comparison to years gone by, we now tend to stay out of the sun.

Our vitamin D status is measured by blood levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD) (measured in nanomoles per litre) and most hospital labs currently define vitamin D deficiency at a measure of <50.

However, there is strong evidence that optimum levels are above 80 and that below 80 people have higher risk of low bone density, gum disease, colon cancer, hypertension and lung disease.

Researchers in Christchurch found that in February 2004, 88% of their 201 healthy adult volunteers had serum 25OHD levels below 75.

That’s not so bad: in June and July of the same year they all had levels below 75. Previous research on nearly 3,000 New Zealanders found 48% had levels <50 and 84% had levels <80.

Expect to hear more debate about strategies to improve our levels of this important vitamin.

These could include supplementation or mandatory fortification of foods with vitamin D. Currently some milk is fortified with vitamin D; other food sources include fatty fish and eggs.

Source: The New Zealand Medical Journal, 21 September 2007; Osteoporosis International, July 2006