| As many as half of patients in critical care have | | | | sometimes called the sunshine vitamin, because |
| Vitamin D deficiency, according to a | | | | exposure to the sun triggers the body to produce |
| recently-released Australian study. | | | | it. Dietary sources of the vitamin include fatty fish |
| The study, done by Garvan Institute of Medical | | | | like salmon and tuna, eggs, cheese, and fortified |
| Research in Sydney, monitored intensive care | | | | milk and cereals. |
| patients. Low levels of the vitamin were found in | | | | Long known for its role in producing and |
| 45 percent of the patients. The study also found | | | | maintaining strong bones, D vitamin has recently |
| that the sicker the patients were, the lower their | | | | been proved to play a large part in a wide variety |
| blood levels of the vitamin. The three patients | | | | of health concerns, including preventing heart |
| with the lowest levels died during the study. | | | | disease and possibly playing a role in preventing or |
| Study author Dr. Paul Lee said it is uncertain | | | | treating certain types of cancer. Deficiencies of |
| whether the deficiency is simply an association or | | | | the vitamin have been linked to MS, asthma, and |
| if it is actually a causative factor in critical illness. | | | | autism, as well as to many age-related disorders. |
| The cause of the deficiency in the patients | | | | Those at most risk of deficiency include adults |
| studies is uncertain. The report said low dietary | | | | over 50, pregnant women, people with dark skin, |
| intake of D vitamin and lack of exposure to | | | | people with inflammatory bowel disease, and |
| sunlight, which triggers the body to produce the | | | | people who have very little sun exposure. |
| vitamin, could be factors. However the report also | | | | The official recommended daily intake of vitamin |
| suggested that perhaps illnesses like infection, | | | | D is 200 IU for adults under 50, 400 IUs for |
| metabolic disturbances, or inflammation might | | | | adults 51 to 70, and 600 IUs for those 71 and |
| increase tissue demand for the vitamin, which | | | | older. However, last year the official |
| may therefore be used up during critical illness. | | | | recommendation for intake for children was |
| This possibility should be further studied, the | | | | doubled from 200 IU to 400 IU, and many |
| report said. | | | | experts say the current adult recommendations |
| Vitamin D is a unique fat-soluable vitamin that is | | | | are far too low. |