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Parent Category: Advanced News Lessons

Category: Health Lessons

Written by Chris Cotter

Vitamin D has been labeled "the sunshine vitamin" because the sun's rays are a primary source. Scientists once believed that vitamin D had little purpose save to strengthen bones or prevent rickets, a disease which deforms bones. But new studies which have added to the existing body of information point to a vastly different conclusion. Vitamin D proves significantly more vital for good health than ever imagined.

A study conducted in Austria with 3,258 men and women, most of whom had heart disease, were more prone to die if they also had low levels of the sunshine vitamin in their blood. Through the course of the study's eight years, in which blood was tested and analyzed weekly, more than half of the 737 people died from heart-related complications. Of this figure, 307 of the deceased had the lowest levels of vitamin D. Conversely, only 103 people died who had the highest levels of the vitamin. The researchers then adjusted this three-to-one figure according to age, physical activity, and other factors, to conclude the following: people with insufficient levels of vitamin D were twice as likely to die.

People shouldn't begin popping pills, nor should they spend hours and hours in the sun. Both are detrimental to good health. However, low levels of vitamin D have now been indisputably linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. There is also a connection between levels of vitamin D and some forms of cancer. In fact, some scientists believe that the vitamin could hinder the formation of tumors.

A set of guidelines to ensure an adequate amount of vitamin D has yet to be endorsed. But generally, milk, fatty fish, a multi-vitamin, or ten minutes in the sun each day should lead to good health and prevent heart disease until a recommendation becomes available.