29% Of U.S. Adults Are Prone To These 10 Diseases — Are You?

Getting enough vitamin D promotes whole-body health and longevity.

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Feb 24, 2023 - 21:02

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29% Of U.S. Adults Are Prone To These 10 Diseases — Are You?

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February 24, 2023

mbg Supplement Editor

By Morgan Chamberlain

mbg Supplement Editor

Morgan Chamberlain is a supplement editor at mindbodygreen. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in magazine journalism and a minor in nutrition.

Image by Lucas Ottone / Stocksy

February 24, 2023

It’s safe to say that chronic health issues are a massive concern in the United States. According to data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, over half of U.S. adults 1 have at least one of ten major chronic health conditions (i.e., arthritis, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, current asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, hypertension, stroke, and weak or failing kidneys). Additionally, 27% have more than one of these conditions.

While diet changes are often touted for promoting immune health and overall longevity efforts, not getting enough of one critical nutrient has been linked to a number of these chronic health issues in myriad studies and reviews.

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Let’s talk about the importance of getting ample vitamin D.

10 diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency.

While the exact mechanisms and pathways are still subject to ongoing research (i.e., vitamin D deficiency and chronic illness are a bit of “what came first—the chicken or the egg?” situation), vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is consistently linked to a number of major diseases, including:

Breast cancerSchizophreniaColorectal cancerCardiovascular diseaseDiabetesOsteoporosisAlzheimer’s diseaseDementiaProstate cancerDepression

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It’s worth noting that these associations are not subtle or scientifically insignificant—no, no. We’re talking major correlation and extremely high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients of these diseases.

For example: Of the 37,079 cardiovascular disease patients (i.e., individuals that experienced coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, or stroke) analyzed in a 2021 Frontiers in Nutrition cohort study, 57.5%2 had VDD. And according to a 2017 review from the journal Breast Cancer, up to 95.6%3 of the breast cancer population is also deficient in vitamin D!

Maintaining vitamin D sufficiency is critical.

While the research connecting vitamin D deficiency and these diseases is ongoing, one thing is clear: Maintaining healthy vitamin D levels is consistently tied to optimal immune function and whole-body well-being.

Despite the resounding evidence supporting the importance of vitamin D sufficiency, a shocking number of Americans are still missing the mark on vitamin D intake—93 4 to100% of the U.S. population is failing to consume at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day. What’s more, leading health experts recommend 12.5 times that amount (i.e., 5,000 IU) to help your body truly thrive.

As a result, a whopping 29% of U.S. adults 5 are clinically deficient in vitamin D, and another 41% are vitamin D insufficient.

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How to reach & sustain healthy vitamin D levels.

Here’s the problem: Exposure to sunshine and food sources high in vitamin D (namely: trout, salmon, eggs, cheese) aren’t sufficient in helping you achieve and maintain optimal vitamin D levels (which, for the record, are much higher than you might think).

Experts agree that the most effective and efficient way to get a sufficient daily dose of vitamin D is through quality supplementation. If you’re looking to optimize your vitamin D status, consider a premium vitamin D supplement—i.e., one that delivers 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 (the superior form) and, ideally, includes built-in healthy fats for enhanced bioavailability.

For more information (and product recommendations), check out mindbodygreen’s guide to choosing a quality vitamin D supplement.

The takeaway.

Vitamin D deficiency is found to be more prevalent in major chronic illnesses—including dementia, breast cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Considering more than 50% of U.S. adults have one or more chronic health conditions and 29% are deficient in vitamin D, maintaining healthy D status seems like a no-brainer solution to preventative care.

That said, actually sustaining vitamin D sufficiency is easier said than done. To learn whether or not you’re deficient in vitamin D—and, what to do if you are—check out this comprehensive guide on VDD.

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