Vitamin D Important for Bone Health, But Other Benefits Unproven
Vitamin D’s role in maintaining good health has been a frequent topic of discussion lately. Is it really the super supplement it’s often made out to be?
Some health advisors and commercial product promoters are making claims and statements that may be hard for vitamin D to live up to. Some recent studies show that vitamin D may have benefits far beyond its well-known role of working with calcium and other nutrients to strengthen bones and teeth. But at the same time, studies that fail to show such benefits tend to go unnoticed.
The Institute of Medicine, a group that sets national nutrient standards, has reviewed vitamin D research and revised its official Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamin D. The new RDA’s are somewhat higher than the previous values for some age groups, but not as high as many experts predicted. The new RDAs state that North Americans should aim for an intake of 600 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D per day. People age 71 and older may need more – as much as 800 IUs per day.
The Institute of Medicine’s new RDA report also states that many people are over-supplementing with vitamin D. If you routinely use supplements with more than 4,000 IUs per day, there are potential risks.
Limited amounts of vitamin D can be produced within the body. In Wisconsin, and other states where exposure to sunlight is limited in winter months, the production of vitamin D within the body is reduced. Vitamin D’s formation in response to sun exposure is also reduced among older adults and African Americans and others with darkly pigmented skin.
 |
| Grilled Salmon |
Foods with vitamin D are also a source. Examples are fortified milk and milk products, fortified cereals, salmon and other fatty fish.
The best way to know if you are getting enough vitamin D is to ask your doctor for a blood test. But unfortunately there is disagreement about what those blood levels should be. The Institute on Medicine says 20 nanograms per milliliter of blood is enough to promote good bone health for practically all individuals.Source: Susan Nitzke, Nutrition Specialist, UW-Extension
Foods that are rich in vitamin D are meat and fish. These are very helpful for boosting our energy. In eating those foods, there are some debris left within the teeth, and sometimes, even if we brush our teeth, some debris are truly hard to remove. In Miami, Florida, dentists always advise their patients to floss after eating and brushing to remove the unreachable debris. Especially those who have (Miami) veneers. They should maintain good oral hygiene.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, vitamin D plays a vital role in the regulation of the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus and is essential for normal growth and development of bones and teeth.
ReplyDeleteIt also enables bones and teeth to harden by increasing the deposition of calcium, which help our teeth and bone to get more stronger.