Nutrient Essential for Lifelong Health and Wellness 
Says Dairy Council of California

    SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Less exposure to direct
sunlight and the switch from drinking milk to soda has brought back a health
epidemic not seen in this country in 70 years -- vitamin D deficiency.
    It is estimated 30 percent of adolescents nationwide may be vitamin D
deficient, putting them at risk for fractures, stunted growth and debilitating
osteoporosis later in life.  Changes in lifestyle have led to this emerging
problem.
    "Children choosing to stay indoors to play with computers, the increasing
use of sunscreen outdoors and a decrease in milk consumption are largely to
blame," said Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., professor of medicine, physiology
and biophysics at Boston University.  "Children developing a vitamin D
deficiency now can potentially face many problems as an adult."
    According to Holick, a vitamin D deficiency can lead to Type 1 diabetes,
multiple sclerosis, certain types of cancer and well-known effects on the bone
such as rickets and osteomalacia, a softening on the bones in children and
adults.
    "To protect children from future problems, parents must be proactive and
make sure their children get enough vitamin D to meet the body's nutrient
requirements," said Holick.  "Vitamin D-fortified milk and orange juice are
both excellent ways to help combat and prevent this deficiency."
    According to Lori Hoolihan, Ph.D., R.D., nutrition research specialist at
Dairy Council of California, milk is one of the best fortified food sources of
vitamin D.
    "One eight-ounce glass of vitamin D-fortified milk provides about one-half
of the daily requirement for the nutrient for adults up to age 50.  After
this, the requirement doubles because the body is less able to make its own
vitamin D," said Hoolihan.
    Additional dietary sources for the nutrient include vitamin D-fortified
cereals, grain bars and juices.  Ways to include the nutrient in the daily
diet:

     *  Drink unflavored or flavored milk
     *  Add milk to fortified cereals
     *  Eat naturally fatty fishes such as salmon or mackerel
     *  Eat pudding made with fortified milk

    Known as the sunshine vitamin because the body naturally makes it when
exposed to the sun, vitamin D is essential to optimal absorption of calcium,
needed for bone deposition.  Research shows vitamin D may also help reduce
blood pressure in hypersensitive patients, improve blood glucose levels in
diabetics and improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

    Dairy Council of California has been providing nutrition information and
education programs for 85 years.  Available in both Spanish and English, Dairy
Council's programs encourage healthy choices from all food groups and daily
physical activity.  For more information, visit http://www.dairycouncilofca.org, or
http://www.mealsmatter.org for meal planning and recipe information.