Obesity appears to drive down, or perhaps dilute, levels of circulating vitamin D. For example, having conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease, or having had bariatric surgery can affect your intestine’s ability to absorb vitamin D. Some experts argue that rather than being a cause of these kinds of illnesses, vitamin D deficiency may be a biological marker for them, signaling the presence of inflammatory processes related to the disease or condition.Īdults who may not get enough vitamin D generally fail to do so due to one or more of these reasons:Ĭonditions that affect your absorption or processing of vitamin D can affect circulating levels of the vitamin. This implies that a lack of vitamin D probably isn’t causing these conditions. Vitamin D deficiency also may contribute to osteoporosis.Īlthough numerous studies have reported results associating vitamin D deficiency with various other diseases and conditions - such as fatigue, depression, chronic pain, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, infections, metabolic issues and cancer - clinical trials of vitamin D supplements in people with these conditions generally have failed to show benefit. Conditions such as these can lead to soft bones, aching muscles, painful movement and fractures. Severe and prolonged vitamin D deficiency is known to cause bone mineralization disorders such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. This implies that most American adults get enough vitamin D - most likely through sun exposure. However, the data also indicate that average blood levels of vitamin D are above what’s considered necessary for good bone health for most people. National survey data indicate that most Americans don’t get enough vitamin D through their diets. That goes up to 800 international units a day for those over 70. In general, adults should consume 600 international units of vitamin D a day. Chemical reactions in your liver and kidneys transform vitamin D into forms that your body can use. People in climates with more sunlight tend to get more exposure than do those in climates with less sunlight.Ĭertain foods - fortified foods, such as milk and cereal, and fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel - also provide vitamin D. When ultraviolet (UV) rays hit your skin - particularly midday - it triggers production of vitamin D. You get most of your vitamin D from sunlight. It does this by helping your body absorb and maintain adequate levels of two other nutrients important to bone health - calcium and phosphate. Why is it so important, and does the average person need a vitamin D supplement?ĪNSWER: Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that your body requires primarily to build strong bones.
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: It seems that vitamin D is always in the news.
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