New research indicates that our modern indoor lifestyles may lead to a widespread increase in vitamin D deficiency.

Nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” because the body makes it naturally when exposed to the sun, scientists are discovering that vitamin D-3 is an important hormone precursor that supports the immune system and helps regulate the health of at least 20 different tissues, including the brain and joints. Vitamin D-3 also plays an important role in regulating cell growth, insulin levels and bone formation.

Vitamin D-3 maintains healthy calcium and phosphorus levels in the body for strong bones; it increases muscle strength in older adults; and it also plays an active role in a healthy immune response.

Total Body Vitamin:
Vitamin D addresses seven of the twelve SystemiCare™ deep metabolic systems of the body, systems crucial to vibrant health: Cells/DNA, Inflammation Response, Metabolism, Hormones, Cognition/Nerves, Immunity, and Structure/Connective Tissue.

Healthy Cell Proliferation:
Vitamin D research is an emerging area of interest for scientists, who have yet to understand the many roles of this important vitamin in the body. While vitamin Ds main function is to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, vitamin D also serves as a hormone precursor. Once it has been converted into its active form, it can enter a cell, cross the nuclear membrane, attach to specific receptors on the DNA or its protein wrapping, and promote cell differentiation. Vitamin D is one of the bodys many control systems, acting like an emergency brake to stop cells from perilously misbehaving.

Important Immune and Health Booster:
Two studies involving more than 200,000 American women have also highlighted the vitamins benefits. Women who consumed the recommended daily amount of vitamin D or more were 30% to 40% less likely to have immune imbalances.

Additional studies suggest that vitamin D may aid neurological health, joint comfort and function, and support healthy blood sugar levels that are within the normal range. Vitamin D decreases the production of a hormone called renin, which is believed to play a role in maintaining normal blood pressure levels. Even a persons weight is a factor: It has been found that people who are overweight do not synthesize vitamin D as well as people who are not obese, hence the need for supplementation.

Vitamin D and Bone Health:
It is estimated that over 25 million adults in the United States have, or are at risk of developing, weakened bones as they age. Having normal storage levels of vitamin D in the body helps keep bones strong, especially in elderly, non-ambulatory individuals and post-menopausal women.

Vitamin D and Blood Pressure:
Vitamin D may also support healthy blood pressure. Scientists noticed that blood pressure levels vary with the season - they tend to be highest during autumn and lower during the warmer months of spring and summer. Researchers studied peoples blood pressure and the levels of vitamin D in their blood and discovered a connection between higher vitamin D levels and decreased blood pressure.

The body controls blood pressure through the renin-angiotensin system, with high renin levels leading to increased blood pressure. Cutting edge research has shown that vitamin D regulates renin levels through genetics, which may be the critical way in which this vitamin supports cardiovascular health.

Deficiency Is Widespread:
Vitamin D is not available in most foods (oily fish, egg yolks, liver and cod liver oil have some) but is made when sunlight strikes the skin. Vitamin D insufficiency may be quite common in places far from the equator and researchers estimate that 50% of Americans may have less vitamin D than they need.

Todays teens also have less exposure to direct sunlight and have switched from drinking vitamin D fortified milk to soda. Puberty is a very critical time when up to half of a persons adult bone mass is being deposited, and vitamin D helps ensure that people have normal blood levels of calcium for this important process. New research estimates that 30 percent of adolescents nationwide may be vitamin D deficient.

People of African descent require up to 30 minutes sun exposure three times weekly during summer on the face, arms and hands, while very fair skinned white people require 5-10 minutes. African-Americans have the highest risk for vitamin D deficiency because dark skin needs 5 to 10 times more sunlight than white skin to produce the same amount of the vitamin. One study found that 42 percent of African-American women in the U.S. were vitamin D deficient. And while the use of sunscreen is imperative for skin health, sunscreen that is sun protection factor 8 (SPF 8) or greater blocks 95% of the UVB light needed for the skin to synthesize vitamin D.

Age a Factor:
Older adults may also be at particularly high risk: After age 50 the requirement for vitamin D doubles because the body is less able to make its own vitamin D. In a report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in February 2004, researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland showed that elderly women who took a vitamin D supplement plus calcium for three months reduced their risk of falling by 49% compared with consuming calcium alone. Those women who had fallen repeatedly in the past seemed to gain the most benefit from vitamin D.

Ingredients:
Each capsule contains:
Calcium 51mg (6%DV)
Vitamin D-3 (as cholecalciferol) 2,000 IU (500%DV)
Other Ingredients: dibasic calcium phosphate, maltrin, gelatin (capsule), and magnesium stearate.
Contains NO: yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, soy, wheat, sugar, starch, salt, preservatives or artificial color, flavor or fragrance.

Recommended Use:
Adults: Take 1 capsule daily with a meal.

Warning:
If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, are breastfeeding, have kidney, parathyroid or any lung disease, cancer, or are taking any prescription drug, consult your health care professional before using this product. Keep out of the reach of children.

References:
Argiles, A. 2002. Blood pressure is correlatedwith vitamin D3 serum levels in dialysis patients. Blood Purif: 20(4):370-5.
Borissova, A-M. The effect of vitamin D3 on insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. IJCP 2003:57(4): 258-261.
Hung, M. Higher Vitamin D Intake Associated With Lower Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Medscape Medical News Jan. 9, 2004
Li YC. 2003. Vitamin D regulation of the rennin-angiotensin system. J Cell Biochem 2003:88(2):327-31. Wiley Interscience.
Merlino, L. Vitamin D intake is inversely associated with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the Iowa womens health study. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2004(1):72-77. American College of Rheumatology, 2004.
Monger, KL. Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2004:62(1):60-65. AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Rucker, D. Vitamin D insufficiency in a population of healthy western Canadians. CMAJ 2002: 166(12): 1517-1524.