What’s making so many Americans vitamin D deficient?

If you’re frequently sick, fatigued, have back pain or muscle weakness, experience hair loss or depression, you may be surprised to learn that those problems can be symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency — something that becomes increasingly prevalent in the winter when exposure to sunlight dips dramatically for many folks. But it’s important to mention that, year-round, 42% of the American public is D-ficient.

Who is especially at risk for this lack of D? People with darker skin: While people with light skin tone under the age of 65 can generally generate enough D with exposure to midday sun for 5 to 10 minutes several times a week, darker-skinned people may need up to three times longer exposure to produce the same level of the vitamin.

Deficiency also is a risk for people with digestive woes, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac, those who are obese, and those with chronic kidney or liver disease. In addition, anyone taking steroids or medications to lower cholesterol, control seizures or lose weight should ask their doctor for a blood test to check D levels.

We suggest you get at least 1,000 IU (under age 65) or 2,000 IU (65 and over) daily of D2 or D3 combined with vitamin K2. D2 comes from mushrooms (grown in UV light), fortified foods and supplements. D3 comes from oily fish (salmon) and fish oil and supplements. It’s smart to get a blood test to check your level and take a D2/3 with K2 supplement as recommended by your doctor.

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www. iherb.com. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively.

King Features Syndicate