“The Institute of Medicine said in their (2010) report — an idiotic statement that said that the diet would supply all the vitamin D that you need. As a nutritionist I say, that’s no diet that I know. No diet that I know would do that unless you’re an Eskimo and eat a lot of raw fish.” — Dr. Bruce Hollis, world-renowned vitamin D expert from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Hollis and South Carolina Vitamin D colleague Dr. Carole Wagner have championed the belief that vitamin D blood levels in pregnant women have declined in the past two decades, giving rise to unnecessary risks for both the mother and child.

Defending their position, Hollis points out that what others call “high” vitamin D levels are really “physiologic levels” — levels that have existed in humans who live naturally outdoors for thousands of years — but that sun-avoidance has led to epidemic levels of vitamin D deficiency.

Dr. Carole Wagner will present research supporting this position at the Vitamin D Foundation’s Scientific Symposium in Nashville Oct. 19. The symposium takes place prior to Smart Tan’s 17th Annual Convention and Trade Show Oct. 19-21 in Downtown Nashville.