Discussion Board -12-Vitamin D deficiency

1) Kenneth Naples:

1.  After looking at my latitude from where I am from in New York I realize that due to the long winters I do not get enough vitamin D from direct sunlight, and it is a common issue for people in the area due to these conditions.  To reach the recommended amount of vitamin D per week you should go out side at least three days a week for ten to thirty minutes.   You should also be wearing clothes that show some skin, like a tank top and some shorts to have enough skin exposed to the sun.

2. Personally i think i would benefit from vitmain D supplementation, I don't really get enough due to the area that I'm from does not give a lot of exposure to receive vitamin D during the year because its cold for a long time of the year.  I would prefer to get it naturally but taking supplements isn't a bad option.

3. I would like to try and increase my intake of vitamin D from a combination of foods that are rich in vitamin D and increase my time exposed in direct sunlight.  I feel like that could be beneficial for receiving more vitamin D easier, but it also gives me another reason to go outside and possibly get active.

2) Rachel Mullican:

1. The latitude where I am at is 27.2046° N, 77.4977° E. I do not live in a region where my body synthesizes vitamin D all year round because I am not close to the equator. People who live farther from the equator need more sun than people who are closer to the equator. There are other ways to get vitamins as we learned in this chapter. There are supplements and foods that contain vitamin D. In mid-summer, the recommendation is to get 10-30 minutes of midday sunlight several times a week.

2. I am personally out in the sun a lot, but I feel a vitamin D supplement would not hurt. Vitamin D supplements are safe and inexpensive. Winter might be a good time to take a vitamin D supplement because we are not out in the sun as much because it is cold. 

3. I love being outside and in the sun, so if I were to try to increase my vitamin D levels it would definitely be the sun. However, as I mentioned above during the winter it might be easier to get it through food or supplements. 

 

From what I ate yesterday, it looks like I ate around 1100mg of sodium. This is right around where the recommendations say so I feel I do get enough calcium in my diet.

3) Grace

1. Go online and find the latitude of your geographic area. Do you live in a region where your body can synthesize vitamin D from sunlight all year long, or only from late spring to early fall? In mid-summer, how much sun exposure would you need per week to synthesize adequate vitamin D?

My hometown is 38.4820° N, 90.7415° W. Where I am from, you can mostly only synthesize in the late spring to early fall. Wearing a tank top and shorts for 10–30 minutes three times per week during mid-summer be sufficient amount of vitamin D.

2. Do you think you would benefit from vitamin D supplementation? Why or why not?

I do not think I would benefit for vitamin D supplementation from late spring to early fall because during this time, I spent enough time outside during this time to have a sufficient amount of vitamin D. But during the winter it would most likely be beneficial.

3. Would you prefer to try to increase your circulating levels of vitamin D through natural foods, fortified foods, supplements, or increased sun exposure? State your reasoning.

I would prefer to do it from increasing sun exposure. I love spending time outside and having an increase in sun exposure would be a great reason to be outside swimming, hiking, bike riding and other outdoor activities. It is also an easier way to get your vitamin D. Trying to get the recommended amount just by eating natural, fortified foods is much more difficult. I would also be fine using supplements. 

4. Calculate your calcium intake.

My estimated daily calcium intake was 738 milligrams. My recommended daily calcium intake is 1000 milligrams.