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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2008 - 11:14:37 AM |
SUNDAY April 20, 2008 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Vitamin D plays an important role in brain development and functions although its exact effects on behavior remain unclear, according to researchers from Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute.
Joyce C. McCann, Ph.D. and Bruce N. Ames, Ph.D., published a review on April 22, 2008 in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal to suggest that supplementation for people chronically low in the vitamin is warranted.
For one thing, vitamin D participates in regulation of calcium levels in the body. Lack of sufficient vitamin D in very young children is known to cause rickets, which can fortunately be prevented with ease by taking supplements of this vitamin.
Recent studies have revealed that vitamin D plays a role also in maintaining immune functions, preventing bone fractures in the elderly , protecting against autoimmune disease including multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes as well as preventing some forms of cancer such colorectal and breast cancer.
McCann and Ames said evidence suggesting that vitamin D is involved in brain development includes the widespread distribution of vitamin D receptors throughout the brain.
In the review, they discussed effects of vitamin D on proteins in the brain known to be directly involved in learning and memory, motor control, and possibly even maternal and social behaviors. Discussed was also evidence of cognitive or behavioral consequences of vitamin D inadequacy.
Vitamin D is synthesized naturally after the skin is exposed to the sunlight. It's generally believed that 15 to 20 minute-exposure to sunlight would enable the body to produce enough vitamin D for bodily functions. The food sources for the vitamins are relatively limited. A few foods found rich in the vitamin include cold water fish and eggs in addition to fortified foods.
People with dark skin and those who live in regions in Northern latitudes where exposure to sunlight is limited may want to take vitamin D supplements while fair-skinned northerners should try to avoid sunburns and UV-induced skin cancer in regions like Australia or Arizona. But for most people, the risk of skin cancer is far much lower than the risk of other serious cancers resulting from vitamin D deficiency.
The adequate intake of vitamin D is recommended at 200 international Units per day for those under 51 and at 400 IU per day for those aged 51 to 70. For those older than 70, the AI is 600 IU per day. But vitamin D experts have suggested that the recommended intakes should increase to at least 1000 IU per day. For those who have some health conditions may benefit from the vitamin at a dose of more than 1,500 IU. It's now commonly accepted that up to 10,000 IU per day is safe for humans.
For more information, read more articles by the same authors listed below.
1. McCann, JC, Ames BN (2008) Review Article: Is there convincing biological or behavioral evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to brain dysfunction" FASEB J. 22: 982-1001.
2. Vieth R, Bischoff-Ferrari H, Boucher BJ, et al. The urgent need to recommend an intake of vitamin D that is effective. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:649-50.
3. Bodnar LM, Simhan HN, Powers RW, Frank MP, Cooperstein E, Roberts JM. High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in black and white pregnant women residing in the northern United States and their neonates. J Nutr 2007;137:447-52.
4. McCann JC, Ames BN. Is docosahexaenoic acid, an n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, required for the development of normal brain function" An overview of evidence from cognitive and behavioral tests in humans and animals. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;82:281-95.
5. McCann JC, Ames BN. DHA and cognitive development: an update on the science. Pediatric Basics 2007;April.
6. McCann JC, Hudes M, Ames BN. An overview of evidence for a causal relationship between dietary availability of choline during development and cognitive function in offspring. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2006;30:696-712.
7. McCann JC, Ames BN. An overview of evidence for a causal relationship between iron deficiency during development and cognitive or behavioral function in children. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:931-45.
© 2004-2008 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
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