THE D-LIGHTFUL VITAMIN D FOR HEALTH

Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin that is not only important for children's and adults' skeletal health but is also important for their overall health and wellbeing. Vitamin D deficiency has been defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 20 ng/mL and vitamin D insufficiency as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D of 21-29 ng/mL. The major source of vitamin D is sensible sun exposure since very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk for many acute and chronic diseases including infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, neurocognitive dysfunction and muscle weakness. To achieve a blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D > 30 ng/mL children require 600-1 000 IUs and adults 1 500-2 000 IUs of vitamin D daily.