WHERES THE VITAMIN D
itamin D insufficiency is more
ommon among African Americans
han other Americans and in North
merica, most African Americans do
ot achieve the optimal amount of
itamin D. Many people know that
itamin D deals with calcium that is
tored in the bones and even though
lacks have insufficient amounts
f Vitamin D in them, we still have
ower rates of osteoporic fractures
osteoporosis) than any other race.
o we good, right?
Never! Based on studies within
he Journal of Nutrition, vitamin D
ad been found to protect against
ther chronic conditions, including
ardiovascular disease, diabetes
nd some cancers, all of which are
s prevalent and in some cases
ven more prevalent among blacks
han whites. Since 2003 Dr. John
Cannnel, an international leader in
he field of Vitamin D research, has
een screaming from the mountain
ops the IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN D
nd epidemically deficiency with the
arker pigmentation communities.
t seem that we haven’t been listen
nd maybe because during your
nnual physical your physician has
ailed to mention it you. Or could it
e that most black people are lactose
ntolerant, so they don’t drink milk?
ither way,
XX
SIMPLICITY
we have ignored our health and the
importance of calcium in our bodies.
According to reports by the United
States Center of Disease Control and
Prevention, African Americans suffer
greatly from chronic disease such
as lupus, fibromyalgia, cancer and
heart disease—all of which may be
controlled or prevented with vitamin
D supplementation. However,
the FDA only regulates vitamin
D supplementation in milk but
according to Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine ,70
percent of African Americans are
lactose intolerant.
How many African Americans have
developed preventable health
conditions due to the medical
community’s lack of interest in this
subject?
African Americans are dying at
a younger age than whites due
to a bewildering and seemingly
disconnected array of diseases.
Even ailments with lower incidence
among blacks, such as breast
cancer, have a higher mortality
in black folks. Why? Is there a
single substance with a plausible
mechanism of action that could
parsimoniously explain virtually all
the reasons African Americans die
prematurely?
In the last four years, a number of
studies have documented dramatic
racial differences in the blood level
of a crucially important prehormone, 25-hydroxy vitamin D.
These studies when read in the
context of clinical studies of vitamin
D deficiency, offer scientists and
physicians a unique opportunity to
examine, and perhaps erase some
of the health issues burdened by
African Americans. But it takes
education, awareness and support
for opportunities like these to be
examined.
So where can I get some vitamin D?
Vitamin D3 supplements are
available at most health food stores.
African Americans need at least
5,000 IU of vitamin D3 every day
and that includes our babies too.
African American children need
an adequate amount of vitamin
D3 because food and drinks do
not supply satisfactory amounts.
Sunlight is also needed for people
of darker pigmentation; it takes
African American 6 times more
sun exposure to achieve adequate
amounts of vitamin D than their
white counterparts.
There is a silent epidemic going
on in the black community and its
time for you to get loud with it. Get
outdoors go enjoy the Big D! Don’t
let this deficiency be the downfall
of your or the future generations
health.
For more information regarding
Vitamin D deficiency, please visit
www.vitamindcouncil.org