New Study on Vitamin D, performed on rats at the University of Kentucky, shows that a diet low in Vitimin D can cause severe brain damage.

in addition to being essential for maintaining bone health, newer evidence showed vitamin D serves important roles in other organs and tissue, such as the brain. Middle-aged rats fed a diet low in vitamin D for several months developed free radical damage to the brain.

The university study showed that rats fed a diet low in Vitamin D showed a significant decrease in cognitive performances on tests of learning and memory, the study said. This shows a correlation between weak brain function with a vitamin D deficiency.

"Given that vitamin D deficiency is especially widespread among the elderly, we investigated how during aging from middle-age to old-age how low vitamin D affected the oxidative status of the brain," teh study said.

Adequate vitamin D serum levels are necessary to prevent free radical damage in brain and subsequent deleterious consequences."

The main source of Viamin D is from the sun but there are also foods rich in the nutrient.

Cod Liver oil. fish, fortified cereals, oysters, caviar, soy products, salami, ham , sausage, fortified dairy products, eggs and mushroom are all rich in vitamin D.

Salmon, sardines, cow's milk, eggs and shiitake mushrooms have the highest amount of D.

Besides proper brain fuction vitamin D can:

• Help optimize calcium metabolism
• Help optimize phosphorus metabolism
• Help prevent type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, heart attack, congestive heart failure, and stroke
• Help prevent falls and muscle weakness
• Help prevent osteoporosis while maintaining bone integrity
• Help regulate insulin activity and blood sugar balance
• Help regulate immune system responses
• Help regulate muscle composition and muscle function
• Help regulate blood pressure
• Lower risk of excessive inflammation
• Lower risk of some bacterial infections
• Support cognitive function, especially in older persons
• Support mood stability, especially in older persons
• Help prevent chronic fatigue
• Help prevent the following types of cancer: bladder, breast, colon, ovarian, prostate and rectal