Vitamin D deficiency common in U.S. children - CNN.com

Vitamin D deficiency common in U.S. children - CNN.com:

"A whopping 70 percent of American kids aren't getting enough vitamin D, and such youngsters tend to have higher blood pressure and lower levels of good cholesterol than their peers, according to two new studies published this week in the journal Pediatrics. Low vitamin D levels also may increase a child's risk of developing heart disease later in life, experts say."

More? How about from Wikipedia:

"The practical reality is that on average, the U.S. diet provides 100 IU/day. One problem is that much of the fortified milk is not fortified to the required amount (Vit D Dietary Reference Intakes, pp. 256-57).

Adequate Intake has been defined as 200 IU/day for ages infant to 50, 400/day for 51-70, and 600/day over 70. The 100% Daily Value used for product labels is 400 IU. The safe upper limit is set at 2000 IU. The Institute Of Medicine is revisiting vitamin D and calcium recommendations. The report is expected Spring 2010."

Of course this is the vitamin that is a balancing act. Your body can make its won if you get enough sun, but the sun can cause cancer too, so you probably want to be safe and get from other sources too.

Looking for sources of Vit D? Here are some from the National Institute of Health

Food IUs per serving* Percent DV**

Cod liver oil, 1 tablespoon 1,360 340
Salmon, cooked, 3.5 ounces 360 90
Mackerel, cooked, 3.5 ounces 345 90
Tuna fish, canned in oil, 3 ounces 200 50
Sardines, canned in oil, , 1.75 ounces 250 70
Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D-fortified, 1 cup
98 25
Margarine, fortified, 1 tablespoon 60 15
Ready-to-eat cereal, fortified with 10% of the DV for vitamin D, 0.75-1 cup
(more heavily fortified cereals might provide more of the DV)
40 10
Egg, 1 (vitamin D is found in yolk) 20 6
Liver, beef, cooked, 3.5 ounces 15 4
Cheese, Swiss, 1 ounce 12 4