With vitamin D, he added, "You still have these same problems, but the data is pretty clear that vitamin D is providing a benefit. The evidence is gathering more steam."
A bone builder
Because it's critical in the absorption of calcium, vitamin D long has been recognized as important in building strong bones. Said Klamm, historically, vitamin D deficiency was associated with rickets, a softening of bones in children.
While few children are diagnosed with rickets these days, many are nonetheless low in vitamin D.
"It's pretty clear that somewhere in the neighborhood of half of all people under the age of 18 don't get enough vitamin D," Hall said.
The problem exists even among nursing infants.
"We used to think breast milk was the ideal food," Klamm said. "It turns out there's not much vitamin D in breast milk."
Though bone-building seems most critical for the young, it's just as if not more important for the old, whose skin makes vitamin D far less efficiently. At age 20, spending 20 unprotected minutes in the sun twice a week is all it takes for you body to manufacture sufficient vitamin D, Cardelli said; by age 70, the number climbs to 80 minutes.
Klamm said studies in nursing homes have proven that vitamin D supplementation is helpful in improving both bone and muscle strength. He added that some elite athletes now train at altitude near the equator for similar reasons: They believe that the extra vitamin D their skin creates in such a setting boosts performance.
Though the jury's still out on vitamin D's conclusive capabilities, plenty of people are taking it in the meantime.
"You never know because it's never the only thing going on with you. All I know is it didn't hurt me at all, and I haven't even had a cold in 2½ years," Barry said.
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