Winter season is an important time to think about your (and your child’s) vitamin D levels because vitamin D deficiency is especially prevalent during this time of the year. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk for cancer, asthma, autoimmune diseases and more.

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient for your health at every age.  In fact, the illnesses associated with vitamin D deficiency are numerous.  Consider the following recent studies: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with greater cancer risk. Vitamin D has been shown to be an effective treatment for psoriasis. Vitamin D supplementation reduces incidence of autoimmune diseases, specifically multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes (when taken during infancy). Vitamin D deficiency  is associated with increased incidence and severity of asthma and wheezing disorders. Vitamin D enhances the immune response and provides protection against upper respiratory infections, influenza, and middle ear infections. Vitamin D deficiency affects the cardiovascular system. Deficiency of vitamin D increases the risk for heart attack, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.