Vitamin D

Why do I need Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is needed to build healthy bones and prevent broken bones when you are older.

How do I get Vitamin D?

You can get Vitamin D either from food, supplements (multivitamins), or your body can make it from the sun. But the radiation from the sun (and tanning beds) can cause a lot of harm, including skin cancer, cataracts and early aging of your skin (including wrinkles).

What Should I do?

If you are worried that you aren't getting enough Vitamin D you should talk to your doctor about taking a multivitamin or a vitamin D supplement (400 to 1,000 IU per day), eat foods with larger amounts of Vitamin D, and get small amounts of sun exposure- not sunbathing and not at tanning salons.

Who is at risk of not getting enough Vitamin D?

• The elderly
• Exclusively breast-fed babies
• People with dark skin pigmentation
• People with limited skin exposure to the sun (e.g. housebound, or those who wear clothing covering almost all of the skin for cultural/religious reasons)
• People who during the winter are living above the 37th latitude (Canada and Northern US)

What are good sources of Vitamin D?

• Vitamin D supplements and Mutlivitamins
• Fortified Milk
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Shrimp
• Eggs