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Apr 01
2009
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Canadians, People of Northern Hemisphere Suffer Vitamin D DeficienciesPosted by Bill Pipp in vitamin d, UV-B rays, Michael Holick, Canada   |
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We all know what happens when humans suffer from vitamin D deficiencies. Osteoporosis can occur, as well as osteomalacia, a bone-thinning disorder that happens in adults, and rickets, a childhood disease that retards the strength, growth and stability of the long bones.
Very few nations have higher levels of vitamin D deficiency than Canada.. According to a recent article in the Calgary Herald, studies by Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University shows that showed Canadians haven't been getting enough vitamin D .
"We did a study in Edmonton many years ago, which showed that you basically can't make any vitamin D there from October until about the first of April," said Dr. Holick.
However the specific country does have its skeptics.
Jacqueline Severson, a registered nurse from Morinville, Alberta, believes the news to be "interesting" but raises questions as to why Canadians were singled out and not other nations from northern climates like the United States, Russia, Norway, Sweden or the Alpine nations.
"I imagine it's not just Canada and Canadians lacking in vitamin D, but a lot of those northern countries especially in the winter months," Severson said. "It's the region more than the nationality."
Severson, who lived in her native Canada for 25 years, said while it's true that winter weather drives more people indoors in Canada, there are other parts of the world that receive as much winter weather as the Great White North.
She agreed that part of British Columbia could be susceptible to a lack of sunlight, but more so because of rainy weather in the wintertime and that parts of the United States, like Washington and Oregon would also have rainy weather because of their location.
Severson doesn't worry about a deficiency of vitamin D herself as she lives in Arizona year-round, but that's because of her preference, not the health risk.
"I happen to like the sun and the warmer climate."
Very few nations have higher levels of vitamin D deficiency than Canada.. According to a recent article in the Calgary Herald, studies by Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University shows that showed Canadians haven't been getting enough vitamin D .
"We did a study in Edmonton many years ago, which showed that you basically can't make any vitamin D there from October until about the first of April," said Dr. Holick.
However the specific country does have its skeptics.
Jacqueline Severson, a registered nurse from Morinville, Alberta, believes the news to be "interesting" but raises questions as to why Canadians were singled out and not other nations from northern climates like the United States, Russia, Norway, Sweden or the Alpine nations.
"I imagine it's not just Canada and Canadians lacking in vitamin D, but a lot of those northern countries especially in the winter months," Severson said. "It's the region more than the nationality."
Severson, who lived in her native Canada for 25 years, said while it's true that winter weather drives more people indoors in Canada, there are other parts of the world that receive as much winter weather as the Great White North.
She agreed that part of British Columbia could be susceptible to a lack of sunlight, but more so because of rainy weather in the wintertime and that parts of the United States, like Washington and Oregon would also have rainy weather because of their location.
Severson doesn't worry about a deficiency of vitamin D herself as she lives in Arizona year-round, but that's because of her preference, not the health risk.
"I happen to like the sun and the warmer climate."
