Researchers have long reported that at least half of American adults are suffering from the deficiency of Vitamin D and speculation has indicated that this deficiency can lead to illnesses from osteoporosis to cancer of the colon and breast. Recently new research has asked whether Vitamin D can avert breast cancer. Earlier studies carried out between the years 1986 and 2000 have highlighted that Vitamin D could protect against cancer.

A new research publication reveals that lack of vitamin D can double the risk of getting cardiovascular disease like stroke and heart failure. Dr. James H. O'Keefe director of preventive cardiology at the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City is the lead author of a paper  published in the Dec. 9 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. O’Keefe opined that lack of vitamin D can add to known major risk factors like high blood pressure diabetes and stiffening of the left ventricle of the heart and blood-vessels.

Heart failure is a chronic disease which manifests as fluid retention shortness of breath and lack of energy.  There is no cure now and patients tend to have declining heart function and increasing symptoms over time.  Doctors are able to manage the illness on a chronic basis to mitigate symptoms  with medications and procedures. Approximately 5 million Americans are believed to have been suffering from this disease.

Breast feeding is now being linked to  diminished behavioural problems in young children according to new research. Parents of children who were breast-fed as babies were found to be less likely to report that their young child had psychiatric illness or behavioural problems in their first five years according to the study. The probability of mental health problems developing were also linked to the duration of breast-feeding. Thus the longer the infant was breast-fed the less likely that such problems would occur.

The findings of the study are that orally administered vitamin D appears to counteract the problematic immune systems of patients with atopic dermatitis. Breakdown of normal skin defenses in dermatitis often leads to infections and now researchers are one step closer to understanding why.  Richard Gallo M.D. Ph.D. professor of Medicine and the Dermatology section of the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare system led the research along with T.R. Hata M.D. associate professor of medicine at UC San Diego.