The ABCs of Vitamin D

Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about vitamin D, USANA goes and uncovers even more benefits of this incredible nutrient! A new research study, done in conjunction with Intermountain Healthcare’s The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) is now published online in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the findings are amazing!

But, if you’re anything like me, all that super smart, scientific jargon can be intimidating…and, let’s be honest, a little boring. Reading the study is one thing—but actually understanding it is a completely different story. That’s why I’ve gone through and pulled out the most important info. You’re welcome!

The Point

To determine the extent to which vitamin D supplements and other factors influence overall vitamin D levels in the body.

The Subjects

The study examined 743 male and female adults living across the United States during the summer and winter months. They were between the ages of 20 and 65.

The Findings

Taking a vitamin D supplement is the most significant way to improve vitamin D levels in the body.

Ok, so what does this all mean? Can’t we get enough vitamin D through diet and sun exposure? It may sound simple enough, but maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D is much easier said than done.

More than 95% of the subjects in this study did not consume the estimated average requirement of vitamin D through their diet alone.

The Surprise

While it’s true that we can make vitamin D in our skin from sun exposure, there really wasn’t much difference between people’s vitamin D levels between the summer and the winter months!

Researchers found a minimal increase in vitamin D levels in the summer. So what did the researchers conclude from this? We all need to be worried about our vitamin D levels no matter what time of year it is.

It’s true that most individuals could meet the vitamin D requirements from sun exposure, but most of us lead busy lives. Even during the summer months, we tend to stay indoors while at work or with our children, and when we do find time to soak up the sun, it’s usually not during the optimal hours for vitamin D synthesis in the skin (11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.). Not to mention the various health concerns associated with increased sun exposure.

That’s why all of us should take a daily vitamin D supplement with at least 2,000 IUs (International Units). It’s a safe and effective approach to increasing your vitamin D levels.

The Experts

“This study provides novel data indicating that the number of individuals with low vitamin D doubles during winter compared to those during the summer. Notably this finding underscores the impact of vitamin D supplementation in order to achieve a good vitamin D level, especially during the winter months.” – Tyler Barker, TOSH Clinical Researcher

“USANA and TOSH are the ideal partnership for conducting nutritional scientific studies. We’re excited about the outcome of our research, which helps to identify risk factors for vitamin D deficiency—a worldwide health concern. And the fact that vitamin D supplementation is a safe, cost effective and potent way to increase vitamin D levels provides a promising and simple solution to the problem.” – Mark Levy, USANA Senior Scientist.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

We’re proud to bring you the freshest content on the web! Follow USANA on Twitter, like our USANA Facebook page and enjoy the latest videos on the official USANA YouTube channel.

Learn what USANA is doing to make the world a better place.

The future of personalized health and nutrition is now available with USANA’s True Health Assessment.