90 Percent of African American Children Deficient in Vitamin D

90 Percent of African American Children Deficient in Vitamin D

As many as 90 percent of all black children may be deficient in vitamin D, according to a new analysis conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School, the University of Colorado-Denver and Massachusetts General Hospital, and published in the journal Pediatrics.



The American Academy of Pediatrics defines an adequate vitamin D blood level in children as 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L), but many researchers have begun to argue that 75 nmol/L are actually necessary for good health.

"There are a lot of studies demonstrating associations between low levels of vitamin D and a laundry list of poor health outcomes," lead researcher Jonathan Mansbach said.

Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health and development, and guidelines for safe levels were originally set with those effects in mind. Yet new research suggests that higher levels may be necessary for the vitamin to help regulate the immune system and protect against cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorders and infection.

In the current study, researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which measured vitamin D blood levels of approximately 5,000 children between 2001 and 2006. The study participants were designed to comprise a nationally representative sample.



The researchers found that if 75 nmol/L is taken as the cutoff point, 92 percent of black children, 80 percent of non-black Hispanic children and more than two-thirds of all children have insufficient levels of the vitamin. Mansbach called the numbers "astounding."

"If 75 nmol/L or higher is eventually demonstrated to be the healthy normal level of vitamin D http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33865, then there is much more vitamin D deficiency http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33872 in the U.S. than people realize," Mansbach said.

Even using the lower level of 50 nmol/L, a full 20 percent of children still had insufficient vitamin D levels http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=34451. Nationally, this would translate into six million people.

Sun exposure is still considered the best source for vitamin D http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33869.



Sources for this story include: 
http://www.sfgate.com; http://www.eurekalert.org 
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.dreddyclinic.com/vitamins/Vitamin-D-Cholecalciferol.htm
http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=3640
http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=12367.

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Should I take Vitamin D2 or Vitamin D3?

Should I take Vitamin D2 or Vitamin D3?

We now know how important it is to maintain adequate vitamin D levels for optimal health, since insufficient vitamin D has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, autoimmune disease and cancer.1



Since sun exposure may be unreliable during winter and may damage the skin, supplements are required by most of us to maintain healthy vitamin D levels. There are two forms of vitamin D available in supplemental form: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). D3 is the form that is produced in our skin when we are exposed to sunlight. Traditionally, D3 supplements have been non-vegan, usually produced from lanolin (a product of sheep’s wool). D2 (ergocalciferol) is the synthetic form of vitamin D in many supplements and also the form produced by yeast and fungi. It was recently discovered that there is a microorganism (lichen) that produces D3, so vegan D3 is now also available. There has been some controversy over whether D2 and D3 are equivalent at raising blood vitamin D levels and bringing about the health benefits associated with vitamin D adequacy. Read more