FAQ'S: 

• How common is Vitamin D Deficiency in US? Any statistics or surveys about popularity of Vitamin D Deficiency?

According to Dr. Michael Holick---author of The UV advantage and one of the world's most respected authorities on Vitamin D and the health benefits of natural sunlight---during an interview on 2005, vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic throughout the entire United States, through all age groups. Furthermore, he elaborated shocking statics of vitamin D deficiency in the US: 

• • 32% of doctors and medical school students suffer from vitamin D deficiency.
  • 40% of the total US population is vitamin D deficient.
  • 48% of young girls (9-11 years old) are vitamin D deficient.
  • Up to 60% of all hospital patients are vitamin D deficient.
  • 42% of the African-American women of childbearing age are deficient in vitamin D.
  • 76% of pregnant mothers suffer from severe deficiency of vitamin D. This leads to widespread vitamin D deficiencies in the unborn children. This makes the babies predisposed to type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and schizophrenia later in life. 81% of children born to these mothers were deficient.
  • Up to 80% of nursing home patients are vitamin D deficient. 

•  What are Signs & Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Carbohydrate cravings
  • Insomnia
  • Connective tissue swelling
  • Chronic Back Pain
  • 'Inflammatory' Pain such as Irritable Bowel Disease
• What are the Pros and Cons of Using Vitamin D Supplements?

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone growth and maintenance by enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium and influencing bone metabolism, hence, it is critical in the treatment of rickets and prevention of osteoporosis and other bone-related pain. Cod liver old, in particular which is being hailed by many medical specialists as a super food, helps build strong bones in children and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults with its high content of vitamin D along with vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids. Meanwhile, the cons of vitamin D supplements are highly attributed to excessive use of it, which can include hypercalcemia with metastatic calcification in the kidney and blood vessels.

• What can Vitamin D Deficiency cause in adult women?

Vitamin D deficiency in women during pregnancy and lactation can cause both inadequate body stores in the newborn and in breast milk, which can impair bone growth and mineralization in early infancy and may even cause hypocalcemic convulsions. Additionally, since vitamin D is involved in the development and functioning of the nervous system, the lack of which during pregnancy may impact on fetal brain maturation. Meanwhile, vitamin deficiency also has a significant effect among post-menopausal women.

• What can Vitamin D Deficiency cause in adult men?

Men who do not have enough supplement of vitamin D on their body have bigger chances of getting prostate cancer and colon cancer. Studies have shown that vitamin D concentration of >75 nmol/L keep cell growth in check and prevent cell from becoming autonomous and developing into unregulated cancer.