Vitamin D: How Much Is Enough?

Supplements of the sunshine vitamin have become popular because it’s difficult for most people to get enough from food and sun exposure

- Vera Tweed

Vitamin D—also known as the sunshine vitamin because our bodies naturally produce it after exposure to the sun— is essential for calcium absorption, strong bones, and other aspects of health. Observational studies have found that adequate levels of vitamin D correlate with less likelihood of high blood pressure; atherosclerosis; type 1 and type 2 diabetes; and colon, prostate, and breast cancers.

Vitamin D also plays a role in healthy immune function, mood, energy production, pain prevention and relief, and the ability to heal from injury. In addition to osteoporosis, deficiencies can contribute to heart and lung problems, neurological diseases, and autoimmune conditions.