WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY?
Vitamin D deficiency is when the level of vitamin D in your body is "too" low. And this low level could cause your bones to become thin, brittle or misshapen.
Vitamin D also appears to play a role in insulin production and immune function, and how this relates to chronic disease prevention and cancer, however, this is still being studied.
Usually the amount of vitamin D adults get from their diets is often less than what is recommended, exposure to sunlight can make up for the difference. For most adults, vitamin D deficiency is not a concern. And some groups, particularly people who are obese, who have dark skin and who are older than age 65, may have lower levels of vitamin D due to their diets, little sun exposure or other factors. Those individuals living in the northern regions may have a lower level of vitamin D because of their geographical location.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults is 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day. That increases to 800 IU a day for those older than age 70. To meet this level, choose foods rich in vitamin D. Try an choose foods like fatty fish, such as salmon, trout, tuna, and halibut, which offer higher amounts of vitamin d, or fortified foods, such as milk and yogurt.
When choosing a brand make sure you know what is in the brand, and stick to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).