WOODSTOCK, Ont., Nov. 16, 2010 /CNW/ - Canada's sun-deprived northerly latitudes mean 90 percent of Canadians will be Vitamin D deficient in the winter, according to 2010 data from Statistics Canada and new recommendations from 41 Vitamin D researchers from GrassrootsHealth. That's why it's not surprising that regular sunbed users have the highest Vitamin D levels of any group in Canada.
According to research published by Edmonton’s Dr. Gerry Schwalfenberg in the medical journal "Public Health" regular sunbed users and those who take high-dosage vitamin D supplements have the highest Vitamin D levels in Canada. Those who do not take supplements and who report receiving minimal sun exposure had the lowest Vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D researchers now recommend target Vitamin D levels -- measured by blood concentration in a Vitamin D blood test -- of 100-150 nanomoles-per-liter (nmol/L). Here's how Canadian groups measure up:
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MEAN CANADIAN VITAMIN D LEVELS BY GROUP
nmol/L
Regular tanning bed usage 94.74
High-dosage vitamin D supplements 93.91
Lots of recent sun exposure 82.68
Cod liver oil supplement 80.97
Milk per day > 2 glasses 77.16
Fish servings per week > 1 72.87
No tanning bed usage 66.01
No milk consumption 65.28
Minimal sun exposure 63.21
No vitamin D supplement 56.54
Chart Source: Dr. Gerry Schwalfenberg et al. Journal of Public Health (2010)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/39508645/D-Canada
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The Vitamin D Society supports Vitamin D from any source -- food, supplements and sensible sun exposure. A 2010 paper by four of the world's leading Vitamin D researchers reported that low Vitamin D levels may lead to 37,000 premature deaths and more than $14 billion in excess health care costs in Canada.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20352622?dopt=Abstract
November is Vitamin D Awareness Month in Canada. Canadians are encouraged to get their Vitamin D levels tested this winter, when D levels are the lowest.
The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to Vitamin D deficiency.
For more information on Vitamin D please visit:
NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information contact Perry Holman, Vitamin D Society, 877-520-4867 or pholman@vitamindsociety.org
