September 23, 2010

Even in Hawaii, People Have Vitamin D Deficiency!

Ever since I've come across reports that Vitamin D supplementation is helpful to decrease allergy symptoms, I've encountered other interesting factoids including this one...

Even in Hawaii where one would expect it's population to get plenty of sunshine, 51% ended up STILL having low vitamin D levels in a study population consisted of 93 adults (30 women and 63 men) with a mean age of 24!!! Read the study here. (For those not in the know, our bodies make vitamin D only with sun exposure.)

How can that be?

Well, given our ancestors probably were out in the sun a lot in terms of farming and/or hunting... our current culture and population does not come even close to the necessary amount of sunshine exposure to maintain adequate Vitamin D levels. After all, many of us work inside buildings instead of outside. We also are applying a lot of suntan lotion preventing the Vitamin D production within our bodies.

Hmmmmmm... Is it possible that the rampant Vitamin D deficiency present in our society is correlated with the increased numbers of allergies/asthma given allergies are worse with low Vitamin D levels?

Reference:
Low vitamin D status despite abundant sun exposure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Jun;92(6):2130-5. Epub 2007 Apr 10.

Serum vitamin D levels and severe asthma exacerbations in the Childhood Asthma Management Program study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jul;126(1):52-8.e5. Epub 2010 Jun 9.

Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic diseases. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2010 Aug;30(3):397-409.


Fauquier blog
Fauquier ENT

Dr. Christopher Chang is a private practice otolaryngology, head & neck surgeon specializing in the treatment of problems related to the ear, nose, and throat. Located in Warrenton, VA about 45 minutes west of Washington DC, he also provides inhalant allergy testing/treatment, hearing tests, and dispenses hearing aids.


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