(HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, it can also help protect against chronic disease, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The academy says these people may be at higher-than-normal risk of a vitamin D deficiency:
- Senior citizens.
- Babies who are breast-fed.
- Anyone who has darker skin or lives in areas that get less-than-average amounts of sunlight.
- Anyone who is obese.
- Anyone who doesn't properly absorb nutrients, including people with inflammatory bowel disease or cystic fibrosis.
- Anyone who takes medications called glucocorticoids.
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