Recent studies show that athletes have insufficient Vitamin D levels, and this has implications for the broader public, according to a recent New York Times article.
A study of female gymnasts at the Australia Institute of Sport tested 18 athletes, and of those 15 had Vitamin D levels “below recommended guidelines for optimal health” and 6 of those had levels that were medically deficient, according to the article.
A growing body of research shows that most people, including children, are not getting enough Vitamin D, said the article. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics said 60% of American children or 51 million kids have insufficient levels of Vitamin D, while 9% of 7.6 million are clinically deficient, which is a serious condition, said the Times. Cases of childhood rickets, a bone disease caused by a lack of Vitamin D have risen recently, said the article.
Scientists thought Vitamin D was mostly used for bone development, but recent research indicates it is vital in a number of bodily functions, including allowing cells to utilize calcium, muscle fibers to development and grow normally, and helping the immune system to function, said the Times.
At the same time scientists are learning what Vitamin D does for the body, people and children are getting less Vitamin D from food and the sun. Most people are reducing the time they spend in the sun or using sunscreen, which reduces the amount of sunlight they absorb.
