Low vitamin D levels are an important determinant of skeletal muscle function in adults aged 60 years and over, warn Irish researchers calling for more action to tackle deficiency.
A micronutrient that has numerous important functions, vitamin D is produced naturally in the body when skin is exposed to sunlight. In recent years, however, evidence has been growing that deficiencies of it are now common worldwide.
In the United States and Canada, vitamin D deficiency is known to be widespread. In Europe blood levels of vitamin D have been shown to be low in 50 to 70 percent of the population, with India also now home to a growing epidemic of the problem. Even in Australia, a country where people typically enjoy an outdoor lifestyle with plentiful sunshine, deficiency is said to have reached crisis levels.
These findings have serious implications, as a lack of vitamin D has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, depression, miscarriage, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and many other health problems.
To read how oral sprays have been shown to be as effective as pills in increasing levels of vitamin D, see this news story on our website.