Vitamin Boost
From muscle strength to immunity, scientists find new vitamin D benefits
By Janet Raloff
First in a two-part series. Part II: “Vitamin D: What’s Enough?” is available at Vitamin D: What’s Enough?.
The story of vitamin D would appear simple. Take in enough sun or drink enough fortified milk to get the recommended daily amount, and you’ll have strong bones. Take a supplement, if you want insurance. But recent studies from around the world have revealed that the sunshine vitamin’s role in health is far more complex. More than just protecting bone, vitamin D is proving to preserve muscle strength and to give people some protection against deadly diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, and even cancer.