LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — We all probably think we're getting enough vitamin D.
It seems like spending just a few minutes outside in Arkansas almost guarantees that you're hitting that recommended healthy dose— but health experts are saying that's not the case.
In fact, a majority of us aren't getting close to what we need, and it's having an impact on our mental and physical health.
Whether they come from a bottle or you get them through the foods you eat, experts agree that vitamin D, B12, and iron are the three most important vitamins for good health.
Unfortunately, a lot of us need more of them than we think.
"Statistics show that probably one out of four Americans have vitamin D insufficiency if not deficiency," said Dr. Chris Shewmake, Medical Director of Zen Infusion.
He also said this particular deficiency could lead to serious mental health issues.
"Enough vitamin D deficiency can cause depression, anxiety, insomnia, all kinds of things," Dr. Shewmake added. F
It can also impact your body.
"Calcium is really the thing that's really essential for bone health but vitamin D is how we absorb calcium. But if we don't have vitamin D in our system we don't absorb it in our GI tract," he said.
It's why the Little Rock Medical Spa is now offering IV therapies and one of its latest rollouts— a new vitamin D program.
"I was still super fatigued, I was just overly tired," said Mia Hyman.
Hyman uses the program and gets vitamin D booster shots to help with some of the symptoms she believes could be related to insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D.
"Get your blood drawn. That's the number one thing to do. Get it analyzed and see what some of the levels are when it comes to vitamin D. That's always the first step," she added.
Dr. Robert Weinstein at UAMS agreed with her advice.
He said vitamin D deficiencies are oftentimes overlooked when it comes to serious conditions. That can lead to a prolonged diagnosis as well as wasted time and money.
"It can cause a cardiac arrhythmia or even a seizure if it goes on for a long enough time. There's compensation from parathyroid glands and takes the calcium out of your bones," Dr. Weinstein explained.
He also said that a lack of calcium can also lead to bone fractures.
"This is an accumulation of bone with no minerals and has no strength and this is what happens in vitamin D deficiency. There's plenty of bone of no quality," he described.
Those fractures could sometimes be fatal.
"A fracture of the hip has a 20 percent mortality. And up to 40 to 60 percent of people who have a fracture never regain their ambulatory status. So of all things, this deady fracture can be prevented with vitamin D treatment," said Dr. Weinstein.
So, who should be more aware?
The Mayo Clinic said people who are obese, people with dark skin, and anyone 65 and older may have lower levels of vitamin D due to their diets, little sun exposure, or other factors.
"In several hospitals, 20 to 30 percent of the house staff is deficient, [because they are] all working inside and working late hours," Dr. Weinstein said.
As for solutions, doctors recommend taking advantage of supplements and injections. They also recommend incorporating sunlight into your routine— but in moderation.
"The best time to get sun is when the UVAB and C rays are at their lowest which is between the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. windows so if you can get some morning sun or evening sun that's better quality than UV radiation at the highest point in midday," said Dr. Shewmake.
Now some of you may be thinking that you're getting plenty of vitamin D between your diet and your time outdoors, but you may want to think again. According to a 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 94% of people ages one and older ingested less than the estimated average requirement of vitamin D.
That's why doctors and health experts are pushing people to go the extra mile with supplements.