BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Sunlight is the primary source for Vitamin D, and once summer hits, you might want to soak in some of it while you can.
Getting enough of this vitamin can be especially difficult if you live in the Northern part of the US since UVB rays don’t hit the Earth at North Dakota’s latitude for nearly half of the year. When it does, your body can only generate Vitamin D midday.
North Dakota Nurses Association President Dr. Beth Sanford said Vitamin D deficiency is an issue statewide. She says that’s why healthcare providers pushed for legislators to pass a resolution encouraging providers to make sure their patients, especially pregnant ones, get enough of it. It doesn’t just affect pregnant women, though. She says a Vitamin D deficiency can affect anyone of any age.
“The program is simple; it’s been done before. There’s been Vitamin D in maternal research [from the Medical University of South Carolina] that shows you can have up to – in some populations – up to an 80% decrease in preterm birth, which significantly improves maternal health and neonatal outcomes,” Dr. Sanford said.
She said you should speak with your healthcare provider if you think you’re deficient.
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