9 Reasons Your Vitamin D Levels are Critical

8th April 2014

By Casie Terry

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

Why take extra vitamin D? Let us count the ways — especially around this time of year.

One study found that during the winter months, 28 percent of its participants were deficient in vitamin D

(blood levels of < 20 ng/mL), while 33 percent had insufficient levels (blood levels of 20-29 ng/mL).

Vitamin D levels this low can become problematic, and, as research continues to uncover, can lead to

serious health complications. From boosting the immune system to protecting against dementia, here are

eight reasons it’s important to keep vitamin D levels up.

1. Protect vision

Want to save your vision? One study found that having adequate levels of the sunshine vitamin just may

ward off the leading cause of blindness.

2. Reduce back pain

Low vitamin D levels may be responsible for your back pain. Stewart Leavitt, PhD, Executive Director

of Pain Treatment Topics, found that patients with chronic back pain usually had insufficient levels of

vitamin D. Funny enough, when they were given adequate vitamin D supplementation, their pain either

vanished or was significantly relieved.

3. Skip cold and flu season

Sufficient levels of vitamin D just may help you dodge a cold or flu. Scientists have found that inadequate

levels of vitamin D lend to a deficiency in the immune defenses that protect us from infections, neoplasias

or autoimmune diseases.

4. Dodge colon cancer

Having sufficient levels of vitamin D may mean life or death if you’re ever diagnosed with colon cancer.

In fact, one study found that those with high levels of vitamin D were less likely to ever develop colon

cancer, and more likely to survive if the cancer ever did developed.

5. Protect against breast cancer

Women who are genetically susceptible to breast cancer may benefit from higher vitamin D levels, as it

interferes with the genetic pathway responsible for these types of tumors.

6. Be happy

You’ve likely heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. It’s the condition of feeling

depressed and ‘blue’ during the darker winter months, and it’s thought that this is due to lack of the

sunshine vitamin. Read up on how low vitamin D levels can impact your mood.

7. Reduce dementia risk

Vitamin D may lower your risk of developing dementia. It is believed that vitamin D helps to transport

amyloid beta protein structures across the delicate blood-brain barrier so the clusters can be released for

eventual disposal.

8. Improve blood pressure

Even making small improvements in vitamin D status can greatly reduce hypertension risk. In fact,

according to one study, for every ten percent increase in vitamin D3 blood concentrations, the risk of

developing hypertension decreased by 8.1 percent.

9. Lower heart attack risk

In a 2008 study, researchers found that men who had insufficient levels of vitamin D were twice as likely

to have a heart attack than those who had adequate levels of the vitamin.

About the Author

Casie Terry is Associate Editor of the natural health and wellness site, Live in the Now. She’s also a

freelance writer, a blogger, an avid runner, a garlic enthusiast, a juicing aficionado and a lover of her dog,

Mitzi.