download do you get vitamin d from the sun

Therefore, individuals over 70 years old have increased needs. As people age, their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form. Your liver or kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to the active form. People with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 often have lower blood levels of vitamin D. Body fat takes up and stores newly synthesized vitamin D. Thus, more time in the sunlight is required to activate vitamin D. The pigment melanin reduces the skin’s ability to make vitamin D in response to exposure to sunlight.

In addition, those who wear clothing that covers most of their skin or put sunscreen on first thing in the morning might also be at risk. If you live above 37 degrees N latitude, little to no vitamin D can be produced by the skin in the winter months due to the sun’s position (the 37th parallel crosses through the middle of California, just north of the Texas panhandle and south of Virginia). If you run early in the morning or late in the evening, you might be at risk for vitamin D deficiency due to not being in the sun at the peak of the day.

Low vitamin D status may directly impair muscle strength and performance in athletes however, more evidence is needed to understand the exact mechanisms. In addition, vitamin D plays a role in immune function, can reduce inflammation and might help decrease your risk for certain diseases like heart disease, hypertension, arthritis and certain cancers.Įmerging research also supports that vitamin D plays a role in athletic performance. This can have negative, long-lasting effects on bone mineral density as you age, which in turn can increase your risk for stress fractures and other bone injuries. Without adequate vitamin D, you only absorb a small amount of the calcium you consume.

Vitamin D is important for a variety of functions in the body.

The Vitamin D Council says that approximately 1 billion people worldwide-nearly 15 percent of the world’s population-are vitamin D deficient or insufficient. Considering the sun rises every day, most people must get plenty of vitamin D, right? Wrong. Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is produced in the body in response to the skin being exposed to sunlight. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!

Download do you get vitamin d from the sun