Overall, the researchers found that vitamin D deficiency was associated with a 10% increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. And after breaking atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease down into specific conditions, vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased risks of ischemic heart disease (10%), cerebrovascular disease (7%), atherosclerotic disease (17%) and peripheral artery disease (13%).

For those who were only vitamin D insufficient—not deficient—insufficiency was associated with a 5% increased risk of total atherosclerotic heart disease and a 4% increased risk of ischemic heart disease.

Those with vitamin D deficiency showed a 35% increased risk of dying from atherosclerotic heart disease compared to an 8% increase in nonfatal ASCVD.

Newborns who are deficient in vitamin D have a higher chance of developing mental disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), researchers have found.

In the largest study of its kind, they tested the vitamin D status of more than 70,000 people as babies, using dried blood spots kept on filter paper from their heel prick tests in the first few days of life.

University of Queensland (UQ) psychiatric researcher John McGrath led the painstaking study, which analysed vitamin D levels from a sample of people born between 1981 and 2005 in Denmark, where the filter paper from the tests is kept.

Researchers from institutions across France have uncovered solid clinical evidence that supplements of vitamin D could be an effective treatment for the neurodegenerative condition multiple sclerosis (MS).

Found in a small number of foods such as fatty fish, eggs, and to some degree mushrooms, vitamin D is typically converted from other compounds in our body on exposure to sunlight. However we get it, the chemical plays an important role in absorbing calcium from the gut, as well as immune functions, cell growth, metabolism, and neuromuscular activity.

Vitamin D deficiency has previously been identified as a risk factor for MS, a condition in which the body attacks the protective sheaths surrounding its own nerve cells. So researchers conducted a trial with 303 participants diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS); a condition that is in some ways similar to, and often develops into, MS.

The Brief

• • FOX 10 Meteorologist Erica Horvatin explains the importance of vitamin D year-round, and the best times to soak it up.
  • She explains how, during part of the year, some may use supplements to get recommended daily doses.

PHOENIX - Spring is an exciting time of year for many reasons. It is a season of blooms, growth, restarting and refreshing!

The backstory:

Some would say spring is the season of health after winter brings illness.

The sun is a major source of vitamin D for humans, because as UVB radiation from the sun makes its way to earth and absorbs into our skin, our skin synthesizes the radiation into Vitamin D3. This can be an even better source of vitamin D than supplements alone.

Sometimes, you need more than just a pocketful of sunshine.

Maybe, two pockets.

The truth is, sunshine isn’t just for brightening your day or inspiring cheery songs, it’s a fundamental pillar of both physical and mental well-being. Fueling your body’s production of Vitamin D? Check. Boosting your mood? Double check. Supporting vital biological functions? Absolutely. Yet, in an era of indoor lifestyles and SPF-heavy routines, where confusion lingers over exactly how much sunlight is enough—it’s time to shed some light on why sunshine remains essential.

So, what makes it so vital?

More time spent outdoors can reduce the risk of disease, research shows

As spring arrives and the weather warms, exposure to sunlight could have an immense impact on overall health.

Dr. Roger Seheult, a critical care physician, pulmonologist and associate clinical professor at the University of California and Loma Linda University schools of medicine, shared the benefits of sunlight exposure in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Seheult, who recently appeared on Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast "Huberman Lab" to discuss enhancing the immune system, noted that the light from the sun boosts our ability to regulate sleep, circadian rhythm and mood.