Thursday Dec 5, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new review published in Autoimmunity Reviews suggests that vitamin E supplements or exposure to sunlight can help prevent a range of disorders including cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, autoimmunity, and musculoskeletal disease among others.

Pawel Pludowski from The Children's Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, Poland and colleagues reviewed prior research and concluded "adequate vitamin D supplementation and sensible sunlight exposure to reach optimal vitamin D status are among the front line factors of prophylaxis for the spectrum of disorders."

The authors stressed that optimal vitamin D intake and its status are not only important for bone health and calcium-phosphate metabolism, but also overall health and prevention of a myriad of both acute and chronic diseases because vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many diseases.

The review was based on not only observational studies but also randomized controlled trials and other studies.

Specifically, the reviewers pointed out that "Adequate vitamin D status seems to be protective against musculoskeletal disorders (muscle weakness, falls, fractures), infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, several types of cancer, neurocognitive dysfunction and mental illness, and other diseases, as well as infertility and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes."

It is not a surprise that "Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is associated with all-cause mortality."

The authors suggest that "Supplementation guidance and population strategies for the eradication of vitamin D deficiency must be included in the priorities of physicians, medical professionals and healthcare policy-makers."

Like any other drug, vitamin D needs to be taken in a high dose.   The current recommended daily allowance is ridiculously low, many vitamin D believe.  According to Vitamin D Council, an adult can take 4000 to 5000 IU per day without any safety issue.  This vitamin is much safer than thought.  For teenagers, trials indicated that 1000 to 2000 IU per day is safe.'

At the hottest hours of the day, 15 minute exposure of bare hands and face to sun rays can lead to the synthesis of 10,000 IU of vitamin D.

Another thing food consumers need to be aware of is that the best vitamin D supplement may be vitamin D drops, which do not contain harmful fillers.  Such a supplement may contain some short chain fatty acids, which are absolutely safe to use. (David Liu, PHD)