Mar 1, 10 | Posted by: Sharyl Paley, M.D.

Vitamin D

As I am sitting in my office enjoying the mid-afternoon sun, I am reminded how little sun we actually get in the winter in Wisconsin.  In fact, because people have become so good at applying sunscreen- especially to their children- we are getting less and less of the good things the sun has to offer.  Most importantly, I am talking about vitamin d.

Vitamin D has become a new buzz word in the medical literature.   Researchers are looking into its impact on such illnesses as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and multiple sclerosis.  Other researchers are looking at vitamin D’s impact on various types of cancers.  What we do know, is that many people are deficient in vitamin d, we just don’t know all of the long term effects of this.

Currently, the AAP recommends 400 IU of vitamin d a day for infants, children, and teenagers.  A child would need to drink at least 4  eight ounce glasses of milk or fortified orange juice to obtain this.  Most kids do not do this.  And again, because of a combination of lack of sunshine and wearing sunscreen when we do have sun, we are not absorbing any vitamin d from the sun.

So, what does this all mean.  A vitamin with vitamin d in it should be taken daily.  Most multivitamins have at least 200-400 IU of vitamin d in it.  There is also just straight vitamin d capsules available.  Just remember, vitamins are often seen by children as candy.  Make sure that you keep it up high and lock it up so that don’t open it and take more then the recommended amount.

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