Seniors in northern climates and people who do not receive direct sunlight daily need to take a vitamin D supplement to keep their bones strong. Calcium supplements will not help prevent or treat osteoporosis if your vitamin D level is low. Vitamin D is involved in cell growth and has been shown to decrease the growth of leukemia, colon cancer, skin cancer, and breast cancer cells. Researchers have found that people with adequate levels of vitamin D have a lowered risk of prostate and colorectal cancers. Vitamin D may help regulate blood sugar to prevent diabetes or to help control it.
Vitamin D is also helpful in the following ways.
You may benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement if the following applies to you. You are on anticonvulsant drug therapy or glucocorticoid therapy. You eat a strict vegan diet. Dietary Sources Foods that contain vitamin D include the following. If you are dark-skinned, you need three hours to get the same benefit.