Vitamin D is widespead and increased

A new report by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and in the scientific journal Osteoporosis International1 shows that people across the world suffer from the low incidence of vitamin D. The problem is widespread and increasing, perhaps with serious implications for health and frequency of fractures

Prepared by the IOF group of experts on nutrition, the report provides an overview of the extent and causes of low vitamin D-mirror in six regions: Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, North America and Oceania. Regional reports are available on the IOF website

Vitamin D is mainly in the skin to sunlight, and to a lesser extent, to sources nutritionnelles. It plays an important role through their influence on the level of calcium in maintaining the institution of systems and is necessary for normal bone mineralization and growth. Sub-optimal level of vitamin D may lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures and in severe cases, for the development of rickets, a softening of the bones in children, so that the fractures of the skeleton and deformation.

It is true that the debate on what is the optimal level of vitamin D, the report shows that, regardless of whether the definition 50nmol / L and 75nmol / l, vitamin D status are far from adequate in Much of the population in the world.

The main risk factors for low vitamin D-mirrors are age, female sex, low latitudes, the winter season, skin darker pigmentation, less sunlight, eating habits and lack of vitamin D fortification of foods. Other factors are the increase of urbanization, where people instead of living and working within, as well as cultural practices, rather towards the prevention and Sunday to wear traditional dress of the skin . The seriousness of the problem in the Middle East and South Asia, the combined effect of several of these risk factors.

These results suggest that prevention strategies must be nationally - partly because of aging populations in many parts of the world. National action plans should be safe, has limited exposure to sunlight and improved registration of vitamin D during the review of the fortification of foods