Last week, in my Brain in the News newsletter, I wrote about the increasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among older Americans. Now, two disturbing new studies in the journal Pediatrics show that millions of kids and teens aren’t getting enough vitamin D either.
In fact, 7 out of 10 kids are lacking in the nutrient. Researchers found that 7.6 million kids had a vitamin D deficiency, and 50.8 million had insufficient amounts.
A lack of vitamin D raises the risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, bone and dental problems, and some cancers. According to the studies, children and teens with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to have high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, metabolic syndrome, and lower levels of good cholesterol.
Vitamin D, which is sometimes referred to as the sunshine vitamin, is derived from sun exposure as well as dietary sources, including fish, eggs, and fortified milk.
The deficiencies are becoming more common for a few reasons: kids are eating poor diets that are devoid of essential nutrients, spending more time indoors, and wearing sunscreen more often when outside.
Researchers are urgently calling for action to combat the problem. Here is what they suggest for children:
•   Eating a diet rich in nutrients.
•   Taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 400 IU.
•   Getting 15-20 minutes a day of sun exposure without sunscreen. After 20 minutes, apply sunscreen.
I also recommend that we have our vitamin D levels screened with a simple blood test, called 25 hydroxy-vitamin D level.
This is basically the same advice I gave in my Brain in the News newsletter last week. If you are not already receiving Brain in the News but would like to be added to the email list, you can sign up by clicking http://www.amenclinics.com/newsletter/.
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10 Comments
Excellent advice, Dr. Amen.
Anyone liking more information about Vitamin D will find a wealthy of it at the non-profit Vitamin D Council’s website:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
When my husband and I had our Vitamin D levels tested years ago, his was 17! Mine was 47 — better but still not optimal.
My husband spent his youth and college years in the far north, and his sun exposure was far too little, apparently. I grew up in the south and had lived the previous years in San Diego, where I was in the sun often.
It’s so important to get the facts. Some people assume that you can get sun (and thus Vitamin D) all year round. In most U.S. cities, you cannot. Dr. Cannell, of the Vitamin D Council, recommends 20 minutes daily of FULL-BODY exposure in the summer.
We try to do this, while covering the areas that typically get the most sun exposure (face and hands). Supplements are recommended, but even the Vitamin D Council says we don’t quite know what we are missing if we rely solely on the supplements and get inadequate sun.
Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
2008 Psychology Book of the Year, Foreword Magazine
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.com
I heard a radio infomercial for vitamin D3. It talked about many things that D3 does for you. At one point they mentioned that it improves cognitive function. While I resisted the urge to buy their $50 bottle of 60 2000 IU pills, I went to buy some at Walmart for an experiment. I started taking 6000 IU with breakfast and 2000 IU with the following meals. I thought it could take up to several weeks for any improvement. It took one week to notice several improvements. The most noticeable was that my left knee has stopped hurting. It has been painful for 10 years. The next improvement was that my inattentive ADD was better. I was able to finish projects and plan ahead several steps. Mentally, I am no longer like a squirrel on Ritalin, bouncing around from thought to thought. I am less distract-able. In addition, when my inattentive ADD is bad I can’t speed read with comprehension. I didn’t think I would need any extra supplementation since I take a multi-vitamin and spend time outdoors daily (although not in a swim suit). It may be that I am vitamin D dependent and need the extra. I have not had my blood tested for vitamin D levels. To see what my levels were and are now. I will ask my doctor if it can be added to my next tests.
Try to beat the threat of H1N1 flu with vitamin D3.
I have been seeing doctors at Homefirst (homefirst.com) for several years and have been taking vit D 3 for about 5 years.
I was able to ward off a case of bronchitis in the spring, after a positive exposure while working in the ER. My Doctors have a protocol for maintenance dose as well as 5 day burst dose when exposed to viruses.
Dr Eisenstein and Dr Mandel,have a program on the radio and web on Saturday’s @ 10 am. central time.(Website homefirst.com)
They are supporters of the Vitamin D council which includes the grassrootshealth.org website. Information at this website includes research on “everything vitamin D3″.
Please correct the link to Gina Pera’s website. I found it at .org not .com.
I was recently tested with a D3 level of NINE!! (And I grew up in So.Calif. IN THE SUN! I am now in Oregon.)
I am realizing I am still probably not taking enough D3 – since I am taking 4000-6000 in the a.m. only. Thanks to Bill’s comments, I will add another 2000 at subsequent mealtimes. I started this regimen to see if I can avoid going to ritalin. So far, (5 wks) not a great improvement. But I will up my dose. THANK YOUI!!
I was wanting to source the original research on the Vitamin D deficiency. Can someone let me know the reference?
Thanks,
Jeni Johnstone
If the schools would let these kids out for more exercise or even have class out doors they would have more vit.D. But keep them indoors then give them indoor homework for three hours how do they ever get any sun?
Since my son has been diagnosed with avascular necrosis located in his femur, I too have been doing research on Vitamin D, when I ran across a post at htp://bacteriality.com entitled “The Truth about Vitamin D: Fourteen Reasons Why Misunderstanding Endures”.
In the paper it says that Vitamin D is not a vitamin, but an immunosuppressive steroid. Since steroids worsen necrosis, I am concerned and also confused.
Can anyone shed light on this? Thanks!
I have a clinic specializing in treating people with muscle pain. We have tested 37 of our pts., and 37 of them were below 20ng/ml on their D! Once they began supplementation of 50,000iu /every 3 days for the first two weeks, most of their pain and dysfunction has disappeared. We include vitamin D parametes from Dr Robert Gerwin in our upcoming book on Trigger Point Therapy for Eliminating Low Back Pain. (New Harbinger Press). My 16 yr old daugher is DX’d ADD/ Sleep disorder. She had D at 12ng/ml!! Her symptoms are much less now that she is on high doses of D. Re-testing every 2 months. Also, I have all of Dr Amen’s books!
I so appreciate everyone’s helpful comments on this topic!
Jeni, you can find mountains of research at the non-profit Vitamin D council’s website: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
We are fortunate to have a Vitamin D expert in the Bay Area, and he has agreed to speak to our ADHD group. For so many people with ADHD and other neurocognitive challenges, it’s not “meds or nutrition” but “meds and nutrition” or “improved nutrition with special emphasis on key minerals and vitamins” and on and on.
When we talk about healthcare reform, that’s what I’d like to see: more appreciation of cross-disciplinary knowledge instead of all these tunnel-visioned specialties. Here’s to hoping!
Gina
I know I am D deficient, but when I try supplements, my kidneys hurt very badly. I also feel as if I shouldn’t even try to get out of bed, feverish, and very heavy. I have tried several kinds, all with the same result. Is there something wrong with my kidneys that they cannot survive a D supplementation? I am 62, 85 pounds, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, eat a vegetarian diet, no sugar, coffee or smoking ever, am allergic to milk, wheat (celiac), and have been vaccine damaged and pesticide poisoned. I have been to alternative physicians. I have insomnia and chemical sensitivity. I am an artist.
When I do take a D supplement, I sleep so deeply and well, and would be very glad to have a type that will not hurt my kidneys.
O