Vitamin D research: What primary care physicians need to know

According to the NIH, vitamin D is only naturally present in a few foods. While it is most abundant in fatty fish and fish liver oils, smaller amounts can also be found cheese, egg yolks and beef liver. It can also be consumed through supplements, other foods and sunlight.

The small number of direct vitamin D sources doesn’t necessarily mean this nutrient can’t have large impacts on the body and brain. Healio Family Medicine compiled some of the latest research on vitamin D that may be relevant to your practice. Here’s what you need to know.

Whole milk consumption linked to lower BMI, higher vitamin D levels in children

Children who drank whole milk had lower BMI and higher vitamin D levels compared with children who drank low-fat or skim milk, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Read more

Vitamin D supplements can reduce risk of severe asthma attacks

Taking an oral vitamin D supplement with standard asthma medication can decrease severe asthma attacks, according to evidence from a recent Cochrane Review. Read more

Calcium, vitamin D, hormone therapy combination improves LDL in postmenopausal women

In postmenopausal women, a combination of calcium and vitamin D along with hormone therapy was shown to reduce LDL cholesterol, according to a secondary analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative. Read more

Vitamin D deficiency associated with increased bladder cancer risk

Adults deficient in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D are at increased risk for developing bladder cancer vs. those with sufficient levels of vitamin D, according to a systematic review presented at the Society for Endocrinology Annual Conference. Read more

Low vitamin D levels may contribute to depression in psychotic disorders

Low vitamin D levels were associated with negative and depressive symptoms among individuals with a history of psychotic episodes, according to data presented at the International Early Psychosis Association meeting. Read more

Vitamin D is underestimated, researcher says

John J. Cannell, MD, medical director of the Vitamin D Council, illustrated the importance of vitamin D and lack of a consensus on its significance across all areas of medicine at the Ocular Nutrition Society meeting last month. Read more

Increased vitamin D intake may improve function in patients with hip fractures

Researchers discovered that a number elderly patients who sustained hip fractures were inconsistently taking vitamin D. An increased intake of vitamin D in these patients may be associated with improved physical function, according to findings from the FAITH trial presented at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association meeting. Read more