Vitamin D Council

Every day should be a holiday, but some holidays are hard to celebrate.

On February 2, Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, introduced a bill to the House of Commons that would establish a National Vitamin D Day.

Sunlight and dairy products are believed to be solid sources of vitamin D but the Osteoporosis Centre of British Columbia (OCBC) warns that this kind of thinking is leaving many Canadians vitamin D deficient.

The vitamin D produced in the skin by the sun is inconsistent, and milk products are unreliable vitamin D sources, according to the OCBC.

Lunney hopes establishing a nationally recognized day to recognize the vitamin will prevent these types of misconceptions.

"A National vitamin D day will further public knowledge, discussion and use of a cost effective personal health measure," Lunney says.

He believes raising awareness of vitamin D could potentially save Canada's health care system billions of dollars.

He cites a 2009 study published by The Annals of Epidemiology which states "raising the amount of vitamin D in North Americans would prevent approximately 58,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, saving over $14 billion per year in Canada alone."

Based in North Carolina, The Annals of Epidemiology "emphasizes the application of epidemiologic methods to issues that affect the distribution and determinants of human illness in diverse contexts," according to its website.

Epidemiology determines health patterns in populations and studies ways to prevent illnesses.

Lunney also cites Dr. Hal Gunn who believes "the time has arrived for a nationally coordinated action to substantially increase intake of Vitamin D; we simply have to do more to engage people in this simple, safe approach to cancer prevention and treatment."

Gunn is the co-founder of InspireHealth, a Vancouver based cancer care centre.

He received the Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2009.

This prize is awarded to doctors who have made significant contributions to alternative methods of providing health care in Canada.

The most effective Vitamin D supplements, according to the OCBC, are cod liver oil and halibut liver oil.

Soy products provide the most effective vegetarian options.

Following Lunney's introduction of Bill-C388, the House of Commons will debate on the legitimacy of a national vitamin D day in Canada.