Research continues to emerge on the benefits of vitamin D, and it's all good news for longevity, your heart, bones and ability to fight disease.
A recent US study found that fifteen minutes a day in the sun could contribute to a longer life by avoiding vitamin D deficiency. Increased levels of vitamin D could boost heart health, whilst vitamin D supplementation has been linked to benefits for osteoporosis and certain diseases.
The sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is produced naturally with exposure to the sun, but can also be obtained in small amounts from oral supplements along with dietary sources such as eggs, salmon, sardines, herrings, mackerel, swordfish and other oily fish.
Associate Professor Michael Kimlin, Director of the Australian Sun and Health Research Laboratory, advises that those at the greatest risk of having insufficient vitamin D are people with dark skin, people who always cover up their skin, the elderly, and office workers.
Once thought to impact only bone health, vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be a risk factor for many diseases. It is thought that 60% of Australians suffer vitamin D deficiencies and according to Professor Kimlin this figure could rise to 75% of older Australians.
Low levels of serum vitamin D have been associated with bone degeneration, pain, lower back pain and poor muscle function.
Vitamin D receptors have been identified in the pancreas, suggesting a link between vitamin D and insulin secretion. Limited evidence has shown that vitamin D may influence insulin resistance and consequently lead to the early stage development of type 2 diabetes.
The possibility of an ethnic or genetic predisposition to develop diabetes is under investigation in New Zealand where women of South Asian origin report a three times higher incidence of type 2 diabetes, compared to national statistics.
Professor Bruce Armstrong and Pamela von Hurst joined the vitamin D session, chaired by Associate Professor Michael Kimlin, at the Blackmores Research Symposium in October.
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