Vitamin D increases life span, says study

Those who had an average intake of 500 IU per day for three years and more, showed an 8-per cent lower risk of dying.

8220;The authors have done a comprehensive analysis of Vitamin D and mortality. They have concluded that intake of ordinary doses of Vitamin D supplements seems to be associated with decrease in death rate, which is known for the first time here,8221; said Dr N P Singh, Professor of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College.

Adding that the study is significant for a country like India, which is vitamin deficient, he said, 8220;A need for further relationships between baseline Vitamin D status and its doses and mortality rate need to be established. The medical fraternity has welcomed the study as it has opened further opportunities for exploring the relationships between Vitamin D and mortality rate. In India where most of the people live in dingy households or in crowded localities and do not get adequate exposure to sunlight, the study plays an important role. It gives us an insight that we should take advantage of getting free sunlight in a tropical county like India.8221;

8220;Except for effects on bone health, which have been established in random clinical trials, the evidence for most of the other potential benefits is generally considered to be less definitive. Nevertheless, an impressive body of in-vitro, animal, clinical, and epidemiological evidence supports the evidence,8221; says the study.

Many new emerging researches also point to a role for Vitamin D in cancer prevention, particularly against breast, colon, prostate and lung tumors. This, according to the doctors here, is an added information.

8220;Ten years ago people just associated Vitamin D with bones, 10 years down the line this is one additional and important facet that has come to light. We have enough data that suggest we are a uniformally Vitamin D deficient country. This is an important feature that reinforces the importance of Vitamin D for overall human health and psychology and not just bone psychology,8221; said Dr Nikhil Tandon, Professor of Endocrinology at All India Institute of Medical Science here.

VITAL STATS

8226; n SOURCE: You get enough vitamin D by exposure to sunlight for at least 15-30 minutes. Experts say exposure to sun without sunscreen enables the skin to produce about 20,000 IU of vitamin D to get the same amount you need 400 glasses of milk. Other than sunlight, milk and dairy-related products are its sources.

8226; n HOW MUCH: According to the National Academy of Sciences, 200 IU per day is an adequate intake for those between 19 and 50 years; 400 IU for those between 51 and 70 years; and 600 IU for those above 71.

8226; n CAUTION: Too much vitamin D can be toxic, which may lead to bone loss and kidney problems.