People with pale skin may need more vitamin D
American consumers who are conscientious of their nutrition can save money if they buy their dietary supplements from a Canadian internet pharmacy, many of which sell cheap over the counter medications.
American consumers who are conscientious of their nutrition can save money if they buy their dietary supplements from a Canadian internet pharmacy, many of which sell cheap over the counter medications. Buying vitamins at a fraction of the cost helps patients save money and prevent nutrient deficiencies. One new study suggests that people with pale skin may need to be extra vigilant about their vitamin D levels.
There are very few natural food sources of vitamin D other than some fish, beef liver and fortified dairy products, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Sunlight also helps the body produce vitamin D, but people need to moderate their exposure in order to avoid skin cancer.
Researchers from the UK also found that a person's genes can affect their ability to process vitamin D, as reported in Cancer Causes and Control. Melanoma patients, as well as pale-skinned people, may benefit from supplements.
This team measured the vitamin D levels of about 1,200 subjects. More than 700 of them had less than 60nmol/L of the nutrient, which the researchers considered to be sub-optimal. Currently, there is no universally accepted ideal level of vitamin D, prompting the need for further research.
"If you are worried about your vitamin D levels, our advice is to go see your doctor," said Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK.
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