Is Vitamin D a Breakthrough for Addressing Health Disparities?

Health disparities that are adversely affected by vitamin D deficiency have been shown in peer reviewed studies to be: low birth weight babies, infant mortality, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and tuberculosis. Studies show that adequate levels of vitamin D can improve these health conditions, and suggest that vitamin D deficiency may explain the disparity in incidence and outcome in these diseases.

In the United States, health disparities are well documented in populations of color. Among the disease-specific examples of racial and ethnic disparities in the United States is the cancer incidence rate and invasiveness among African Americans. In addition, adult African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos have approximately twice the risk as whites of developing diabetes. Persons of color also have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and tuberculosis than whites.

Vitamin D is a hormone that is produced by the skin when it is stimulated by Ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) from the sun. Studies show that a disproportionate number of persons of color are vitamin D deficient due to melanin in the skin, a potent sun blocker which therefore reduces the production of vitamin D in regions with poorer sunlight. Results from recent studies of vitamin D in a Boston community of color, and the relationship of health disparities measured in that community and documentation of the role of vitamin D deficiency in preventing those medical problems will be presented. A simple, safe, effective and inexpensive treatment modality will also be discussed.