TORONTO, ON (October 25, 2022) – Your personal health and that of your family are the most important things in life. Optimal vitamin D levels play a significant role in helping prevent a wide number of diseases and strengthening your immune system to assist with new threats. Vitamin D and sun exposure have been found to reduce mortality and help you live a longer life.

Since 2009, we have celebrated World Vitamin D Day on November 2^nd to highlight the health benefits of vitamin D and the importance of having optimal vitamin D levels of between 100-150 nmol/L (Canada) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).  November is the month that Canadians vitamin D levels rapidly decline due to reduced sun exposure. Over 93% of Canadians do not meet this vitamin D level.

Please help STOP Vitamin D Deficiency!

Take action to make sure you are not vitamin D deficient:

1. Adults need a daily vitamin D intake of 4,000 IU/day (100 mcg) from all sources, according to levels recommended by vitamin D experts.
2. Get out in the natural sunlight when the UV Index is above 3 and your shadow is shorter than you. Remember to never sunburn.
3. Consider artificial UVB exposure when natural sunlight is weak or not available and your skin type can receive UV exposure without burning.
4. Increase your food intake of fatty fish such as salmon.
5. Take a vitamin D3 supplement to make up the balance when sun exposure is not available or a viable option. UVB from sunlight or a sunlamp is what makes vitamin D naturally in your skin.
6. Test and make sure your 25(OH)D blood level is between 100-150 nmol/L (Canada) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).

Dr. Reinhold Vieth, University of Toronto, in his latest vitamin D research paper reported: “There are consistent epidemiological data that mortality is highest among those people classified into the lowest group for serum 25(OH)D or for sun exposure”. Dr. Vieth recommends a “combined vitamin D3 supply of 4,000 IU/day (100 mcg/d) via UVB exposure, diet, and/or supplement.” (Vieth 2022)

A large cohort study in Sweden has been following 30,000 women since 1990 looking at their health, sun exposure and mortality. The study found that there was a 40% higher risk of cancer related death in the group with low sun exposure as compared to those with the greatest sun exposure. They attributed this to the production of vitamin D or other beneficial health benefits from sun exposure. They added that low sun exposure doubled your risk of dying and that women age 55 and older with low sun exposure had 1 month shorter life expectancy, per year. (Lindqvist 2022)

The first place to start is to have your vitamin D or 25(OH)D blood level tested. It’s the only way you are going to know if you or anyone in your family is vitamin D deficient. Don’t guess. Get tested. You can have this 25(OH)D blood test completed through your doctor or healthcare provider (there may be a fee) or through an organization offering a home-based test like this one at GrassrootsHealth.

Make sure you get your test score and compare it with the Scientists Call to D*action recommendation of between 100-150 nmol/L (Canada) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).  The scientists recommend that everyone, all ages achieve this level for optimal health. If you are lower than this level you can increase your vitamin D intake by following this vitamin D calculator.

“Your health is your most important asset. Please follow the simple actions above to ensure you are not vitamin D deficient,” says Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society.

For more information on World Vitamin D Day on November 2^nd, please visit our website and help take action to STOP vitamin D deficiency. Please consider sharing one of our graphics from the Tools section on your social media on November 2^nd. Please remember to include the hashtag #WorldVitaminDDay in your posts. Thank you!

About the Vitamin D Society:

The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency; encourage people to be proactive in protecting their health and have their vitamin D levels tested annually; and help fund valuable vitamin D research. The Vitamin D Society recommends people achieve and maintain optimal 25(OH)D blood levels between 100 – 150 nmol/L (Can) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).

To learn more about vitamin D, please visit www.vitamindsociety.org

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