Vitamin D Council

Researchers measured 25-OH vitamin D in 1,578 patients in the geriatric rehabilitation hospital in Trier, Germany after admission.

Of the residents, 89 percent were found to have insufficient high concentrations of vitamin D, and 67 percent had severe vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with about 100 health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, depression, and as many as 17 types of cancers such as breast cancer although this vitamin is conventionally known to be important for bone health.

Insufficient vitamin D can negatively affect muscles and increase risk for falls and fractures in elderly people, according to a press release by the journal.

It's not clear what levels of vitamin D should be seen in elderly people. But the Institutes of Medicines has recommended that elderly people aged 70 or older should have intake of 800 international units of vitamin D per day.

Vitamin D experts such as Dr. John Cannell of Vitamin D Council questions the recommendation because for one thing, this organization also recommends that infants should have intake of 400 IU.  Dr. Cannell suggests adults should have intake of 5,000 IU per day to maintain daily functions including disease prevention.

Vitamin D is fairly safe although it is oil-soluble.  The top tolerable level is believed to be 10,000 IUs per day.  Fifteen minutes of exposure to the sun at the hottest hours of the day can lead to the formation of more than 10,000 IUs of vitamin D, which is sufficient for a day.

Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to the sun or sunshine.  Only a few foods can provide natural vitamin D and they are cold water oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, eggs, and mushroom, which is actually a source of vitamin D2.

Some foods are fortified with vitamin D including cereals, cow's milk, soy milk, and orange juice. Experts say that the amount of vitamin D in fortified foods is not sufficient. For instance, some suggest that one needs to drink 20 glasses of milk to get sufficient amounts of vitamin D.