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There are many causes of vitamin D deficiency

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Despite spending time outdoors, many people still end up receiving unhealthy vitamin D test results. While the nutrient is produced in the skin following exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, there are many other things that can affect the production of vitamin D aside from time spent in the sun.

A Harvard Medical School researcher recently told the Detroit Free Press that where a person lives has a significant impact on their body’s ability to produce vitamin D. For example, those who live at higher latitudes get much fewer UV rays, making them more prone to deficiency. Additionally, air pollution can block this radiation, preventing the body from using it.

Michael Holick, a Boston University researcher who has spent much time studying vitamin D, reported in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings that up to 36 percent of the general population has low levels of the nutrient.

Aside from a person’s location, he blamed poor diets for the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. He recommends that people take supplements if they receive an unhealthy vitamin D test.