Vitamin D Deficiency: A Silent Epidemic among African Americans » OpinionBug.com. Vitamin D Deficiency: A Silent Epidemic among African Americans February 21, 2013 Rita Umile Vitamin D has been big news in Public Health recently, as research indicates that its role in the body extends far greater than simply ensuring bone health through the prevention of such diseases as rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Studies also suggest that achieving and maintaining an adequate Vitamin D blood serum level, as determined by a 25(OH)D blood test, is essential to the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes. Additionally, Vitamin D appears to play a protective role in cardiovascular health, various types of cancer, autism, depression, schizophrenia, and respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis.
It is no secret that the number of health conditions positively influenced by maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin D seems to increase daily. Dr. 1. 2. Why Black People Need More Vitamin D. Vitamin D and African Americans. [J Nutr. 2006. The skin we’re in. After all, it's only skin... [Image credit: Emma Bryce] So here’s a thought: How did different skin colors evolve? Evolutionary biologist Nina Jablonski wrote the most widely accepted theory in 2000, saying that it comes down to a practical combination of three things: skin, ultraviolet light and vitamins. It started with skin… The story begins in Africa, about two million years ago, when early members of the genus Homo began moving from the cool cover of forests onto sunnier open plains to find food.
These early humans were densely covered in hair, which increased their body temperatures and made them slower hunters. Thanks to genetic variation, some were born with less hair. UV and vitamins Moving to a sunnier environment meant greater exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) from the sun. “When you don’t have hair, you have to figure out other ways to protect the skin,” explains Jablonski. Natural sunscreen But wait, there’s more The spread of color But does it make sense? What we have learned. Vitamin D and African Americans.
© 2006 American Society for Nutrition Susan S. Harris2 + Author Affiliations ↵2To whom correspondence should be addressed. Vitamin D insufficiency is more prevalent among African Americans (blacks) than other Americans and, in North America, most young, healthy blacks do not achieve optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations at any time of year.