Can we help you find something? We're sorry, but we couldn't find the page you tried.One of the links below may help. Or you can visit WebMD's Home Page. To check possible conditions. First Aid & Emergencies Find out what to do in case of an emergency Create a plan, log your food & fitness, and track your way toDecember 21st marks the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year — when people in the Northern Hemisphere receive the least amount of sunlight. With sunshine in short supply for the next few months, it’s a good time to focus on getting more vitamin D, also known as “the sunshine vitamin.” Not long ago vitamin D was considered important only for bone health, but now we know that it’s a complex nutrient that may play a role in preventing autoimmune diseases, improving mental health, protecting our cardiovascular system, and fighting cancer. Some research shows that vitamin D may even help with weight management. Unlike other vitamins, our bodies have the ability to make our entire requirement of vitamin D from sunlight, but reduced sun exposure in winter can result in inadequate levels.
A recent University of California-Irvine and Mayo Clinic study found that serum vitamin D is highest in August and lowest in February. From November through March, the lack of UVB rays in the Northern Hemisphere means we can’t produce vitamin D from sun exposure to our skin. How much vitamin D do you need? The official daily recommendation for vitamin D intake is 600 IU, increasing to 800 IU after age 71. However, some research indicates a benefit at levels as high as 2,000 IU. So what should you eat to boost your food intake of vitamin D? Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and those that do have relatively small amounts. A notable exception is fatty fish, particularly wild Alaskan salmon. In fact one variety, Alaskan sockeye (red), offers a whopping 930 IU per 3.5 oz serving. For a hearty meal that’s sure to please your family, try Salmon with Asian Glaze. Other food sources include fortified spreads (100-200 IU per Tbsp), fortified eggs (120 IU per 1 large egg), fortified soymilk and orange juice (check labels, but generally 100-130 IU per cup) and mushrooms (amounts vary depending on variety).
Taking a vitamin supplement during the winter might also be a good option if you are living in northern latitudes. Before starting a supplement, check with your doctor to see if you are vitamin D deficient. Elizabeth A. Martinez, DVM Many people take dietary supplements or vitamins. And increasingly, they’re likely to give them to their pets, too. As many as a third of U.S. dogs and cats may receive vitamins or supplements. The most common are multivitamins, supplements to support arthritic joints, and fatty acids to reduce shedding and improve a coat’s shine, according to a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Pet owners also may give probiotics to alleviate gastrointestinal problems or antioxidants to counteract the effects of aging, such as cognitive dysfunction. With a growing population of aging, overweight dogs, the market for dog supplements is expected to increase 37% by 2012, reaching $1.7 billion, according to Packaged Facts, a market research firm.
Veterinary nutritionist Susan Wynn, DVM, sees many clients in her practice near Atlanta who give their dogs vitamins and nutritional supplements. “They come in with bags full sometimes,” she says. But do dogs need those vitamins and supplements? And are they even safe? Experts say some work, others don’t, and some aren’t necessary and may even be harmful to dogs. “Most people are doing it because they want to, not because it’s necessary,” says C.A. Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, professor of veterinary clinical sciences at The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. WebMD talked with experts for answers to frequently asked questions about dog vitamins and supplements. Most dogs receive a complete and balanced diet - including necessary vitamins and minerals - from commercially processed dog food, according to the FDA. Dogs fed a homemade diet may need supplements. “It’s absolutely critical, but it should be done to match the diet,” Wynn says.
“You can’t just create a meal and give your dog a vitamin.” Check with a veterinarian or nutritionist for help in determining what, if anything, is needed.If an animal already eats a balanced diet and receives excess portions of some vitamins and minerals, they could be harmful, according to the FDA and veterinarians. Too much calcium can cause skeletal problems, especially in large-breed puppies; too much vitamin A can harm blood vessels and cause dehydration and joint pain. Excess vitamin D can prompt a dog to stop eating, harm bones, and cause muscles to atrophy.Diet & Weight Management Home Related to Diet & Weight Management Weight Loss & Obesity Food & Fitness Planner If you shun the sun, suffer from milk allergies, or adhere to a strict vegan diet, you may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. It is also occurs naturally in a few foods -- including some fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks -- and in fortified dairy and grain products.
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, because it helps the body use calcium from the diet. Traditionally, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with rickets, a disease in which the bone tissue doesn't properly mineralize, leading to soft bones and skeletal deformities. But increasingly, research is revealing the importance of vitamin D in protecting against a host of health problems. Symptoms and Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, for many people, the symptoms are subtle. Yet, even without symptoms, too little vitamin D can pose health risks. Low blood levels of the vitamin have been associated with the following: Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease Cognitive impairment in older adults Severe asthma in children Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.
Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamin D deficiency can occur for a number of reasons: You don't consume the recommended levels of the vitamin over time. This is likely if you follow a strict vegan diet, because most of the natural sources are animal-based, including fish and fish oils, egg yolks, fortified milk, and beef liver. Your exposure to sunlight is limited. Because the body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, you may be at risk of deficiency if you are homebound, live in northern latitudes, wear long robes or head coverings for religious reasons, or have an occupation that prevents sun exposure. You have dark skin. The pigment melanin reduces the skin's ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure. Some studies show that older adults with darker skin are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency. Your kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to its active form. As people age, their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form, thus increasing their risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Your digestive tract cannot adequately absorb vitamin D. Certain medical problems, including Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease, can affect your intestine's ability to absorb vitamin D from the food you eat.Vitamin D is extracted from the blood by fat cells, altering its release into the circulation. People with a body mass index of 30 or greater often have low blood levels of vitamin D. Tests for Vitamin D Deficiency The most accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is in your body is the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test. A level of 20 nanograms/milliliter to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people. A level less than 12 ng/mL indicates vitamin D deficiency. Treatment for Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment for vitamin D deficiency involves getting more vitamin D -- through diet and supplements. Although there is no consensus on vitamin D levels required for optimal health -- and it likely differs depending on age and health conditions -- a concentration of less than 20 nanograms per milliliter is generally considered inadequate, requiring treatment.