The first thing that a lot of people associate with a lack of vitamin D is rickets, and while the soft, weak bones this causes is indeed problematic, it’s nothing compared to the other diseases you could face if you don’t get enough of this important vitamin.
One of the most serious problems vitamin D can help prevent is cancer. Studies have shown that people with the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood have the lowest likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer; this group enjoys a 22 percent lower risk compared to those who have the lowest levels of the vitamin. The findings were part of a large public health study in Japan involving more than 140,000 adults.
Researchers have also found a link between a vitamin D deficiency and depression. A meta-analysis conducted in 2013 showed that people with low levels of vitamin D had a significantly higher risk of depression, and it’s believed that this vitamin’s important role in brain function is behind the effect.
People who have the highest levels of vitamin D also have the longest telomeres. That might not mean much to you on the surface, but these DNA protein structures responsible for protecting our chromosomes are considered a marker of biological aging. Telomeres shorten as you age, and anything that stops them from shortening too rapidly can enhance your health. Longer telomeres protect your DNA, and vitamin D and its metabolites help to keep your telomeres long...read more>>>...
