The Vitamin D Council a scientist-led group promoting vitamin D deficiency awareness suggests vitamin D treatment might be found helpful in treating or preventing autism, autoimmune disease, cancer, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, heartdisease, high bloodpressure, flu, neuromuscular diseases, and osteoporosis
It is essential for maintaining the central nervous system and helps produce healthy red blood cells, which are crucial for delivering oxygen throughout the body
Additional tests may include full blood count (to check for macrocytic anaemia), methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels (which rise in B12 deficiency), and tests for intrinsic factor antibodies if pernicious anaemia is suspected
A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed benefits
Its clinical trial safety profile was described as indistinguishable from placebo