Vitamin Ds role in keeping bones and teeth healthy and strong has long been recognized and many people already consume nutritional supplements that contain this ingredient.
Now, a health expert says that in addition to promoting bone health, consuming sufficient amounts of the vitamin will also help protect all 36 of the bodys organs and protect against deadly diseases.
Professor Anthony Norman of University of California-Riverside has published a paper in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that promotes vitamin D as an essential contributor to a healthy immune system, muscle strength, brain activity and blood pressure.
“It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers in the field that [a deficiency of] vitamin D is strongly linked to several diseases,” he explained.
Many people are not getting enough vitamin D because they live in cities with tall buildings, work indoors and use sunscreens, Norman said.
In light of this, it is especially important for people to ensure they are getting adequate amounts of vitamin D at all stages of life, he added.
Normans comments come as the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new recommendations for how much vitamin D should be consumed by children.
The AAP recommends kids take nutritional supplements to ensure they take in 400 international units of the vitamin per day.