Vitamin D Deficiency a Winter Problem
Vitamin D deficiency is an issue in the winter for people who
live in cold climates, warns Julie Garden-Robinson, Food and
Nutrition Specialist, with the North Dakota State University
Extension Service. This is especially true of dark-skinned
people (particularly African Americans), the elderly, newborns,
housebound people and people, who by culture or climate, keep
their bodies completely covered.
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to development of bone-softening
diseases, such as rickets among children, and osteomalacia and
osteoporosis among adults, Garden-Robinson said. "Rickets was a
common childhood condition until milk was fortified with vitamin
D. Vitamin D deficiency also is linked to the development of
type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, depression
and certain types of cancer."
Garden-Robinson added, "Vitamin D deficiency is considered an
epidemic among teens. Nearly a third of adolescents across the
U.S. are considered to be at risk of vitamin D deficiency
because of their diet and lifestyle habits, according to the
Dairy Council of California. The teens are substituting soda pop
for milk and staying indoors to watch TV.
"On the flip side, too much sun promotes skin cancer, so experts
are trying to come up with a recommendation for sun exposure.
During the summer months, liberally slathering on sunscreen
effectively prevents the body from forming vitamin D," she
said.
"So, what should we do?," Garden-Robinson asks. "Choose more
vitamin D-rich foods. Besides milk, vitamin D is found in some
fortified juices and cereals. Some types of yogurt also are
fortified with vitamin D. Read Nutrition Facts labels to learn
more. Vitamin D is found naturally in lesser amounts in eggs and
salmon. It's also found in cod liver oil, but that's a rare menu
item.
"Be cautious about supplements because you can get too much
vitamin D. A one-a-day type supplement is adequate for most
people. If you take a calcium supplement, be sure it includes
vitamin D, too."