| Vitamin D deficiency is the most common | | | | rate in older people, and also may explain why |
| nutritional deficiency in the United States. | | | | some people don't respond to traditional |
| Estimates suggest that up to 50% of African | | | | osteoporosis treatment. |
| American teenagers are vitamin D deficient. Why | | | | Apart from these symptoms, a deficiency of |
| is that? Because of our change in lifestyle. Our | | | | vitamin D can't be traced easily. The effects on |
| bodies are prepared to be outdoors almost all day. | | | | your body would be many, though, as this vitamin |
| Our body produces vitamin D when we have sun | | | | has an essential role as a regulator. It has been |
| exposure. As we live more and more as rats | | | | shown that this vitamin may even help in the |
| hiding in caves all day, our bodies can't produce | | | | prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases. |
| enough of this hormone-like substance called | | | | The best way to know if you're deficient is to |
| vitamin D. How can you know if you have a | | | | check your blood level of vitamin D. This is really |
| vitamin D deficiency? Well, the symptoms aren't | | | | the only test you REALLY NEED. Many doctors |
| many, but the effects that this deficiency can | | | | say that 80% of their patients that check their |
| have on your health are critical. | | | | blood levels of this vitamin are deficient. Check |
| The classic vitamin D deficiency symptoms are | | | | your blood levels; this is the best guarantee that |
| rickets and osteomalacia. Osteomalacia is a | | | | you, as an INDIVIDUAL, are getting an adequate |
| softening of the bones, a little different than | | | | amount. Your blood level should be greater than |
| osteoporosis. Deficiency can increase the fracture | | | | 30 nanograms per milliliter. |