The Power of Vitamin D

The power of vitamin D

What's all the fuss about vitamin D? Well, vitamin D has been found to play a part in over 2,000 reactions within our body. Studies also suggest that, besides its well-known ability to help in treating bone diseases, vitamin D can also assist in preventin:

* type 2 diabetes
* high blood pressure
* multiple sclerosis
* certain cancers

Higher overall death rates have been associated with vitamin-D deficiency as well, and some evidence suggests that the signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia might be due in part to a vitamin-D deficiency--or, that the severity of this disorder can be vastly lessened if a vitamin-D deficiency is found and treated.

Get yours tested

The proper lab procedure for testing vitamin D levels is a blood test called 25-OH vitamin D. It's worth noting that, whereas some labs may call levels of around 32 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) as normal, experts like Michael Hollick, MD, PhD, at Boston University, recommend aiming for a level of 50 ng/mL to 80 ng/mL. Some researchers even recommend allowing levels to approach 100 ng/mL. (A blood level consistently above 200 ng/mL however, is considered potentially toxic.)

Foods rich in vitamin D

According to the NIH, the following are worth consuming for their vitamin D content:

* Cod liver oil, 1 tablespoon (1,360 IUs of vitamin D)
* Salmon (sockeye), cooked, 3 ounces (794 IUs)*
* Mushrooms that have been exposed to ultraviolet light to increase vitamin D, 3 ounces (400 IUs) (not yet commonly available)
* Mackerel, cooked, 3 ounces (388 IUs)
* Tuna, canned in water, drained, 3 ounces (154 IUs)
* Vitamin D-fortified milk (nonfat, reduced fat, or whole), 1 cup (115-124 IUs)
* Vitamin D-fortified orange juice, 1 cup (amount of added vitamin D varies) (100 IUs)

(*Note: Research has suggested that farm-raised salmon might contain only 25 percent of the vitamin D that's found in wild Alaskan salmon.)

UV-treated mushrooms might have an important role in helping to decrease the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. But, in any case, please get your levels of 25-OH vitamin D checked regularly.

source: yahoo health