• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • WordPress
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
Science Update

Science Update

Sharing Science | Satisfying Curiosity | Debunking BS

  • Spotlights
  • Reality Check
  • Why Is It?
  • Radio Archives
  • Sciup @ School
Home » Radio Archive » Daily Show » Vitamin D & Ethnicity

Vitamin D & Ethnicity

October 10, 2011
https://podcast.scienceupdate.com/111010_sciup_VitD.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window

BOB HIRSHON (host):

Vitamin D & ethnicity…I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.

Vitamin D deficiency can cause brittle bones and has been associated with certain cancers. Now, a new study suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach to supplementation is not adequate to address the problem. Researchers Adam Murphy of Northwestern University and Rick Kittles of the University of Illinois, Chicago measured Vitamin D levels in nearly 700 Chicago-area men. Murphy says 63% of African-Americans were deficient in the nutrient, vs. 18% of European Americans.

ADAM MURPHY (Northwestern University):

Which translates into about a 3-1/2 times increased risk for vitamin D deficiency for African Americans.

HIRSHON:

He says African Americans in northern latitudes are particularly susceptible because they have more melanin in their skin. While melanin is protective against skin cancer, it also interferes with the skin’s ability to make Vitamin D. Murphy says that both men and women should discuss their specific supplementation needs with their doctor. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.

Category: Daily Show, Station DownloadTag: Biology, Climate & Weather, Medicine & Health
Previous Post:Taste Neurons
Next Post:Not-So-Precious Metals

Sidebar

Radio Program Archives

Want to learn more about the brain? The environment? Here you can browse the topics that come up regularly on Science Update.

Search the Archives

Categories

  • Daily Show
  • Station Download
  • Weekly Show

Find By Tag

  • 2020
  • Acoustics & Sound
  • Aging
  • Animal Behavior
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Astronomy & Space
  • Biology
  • Brain Science
  • Bugs
  • Cat Video
  • Chemistry
  • Children & Families
  • cicadas
  • Climate & Weather
  • Communications
  • Computer Science
  • Economics & Business
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Environment & Conservation
  • Genetics & Evolution
  • Geology
  • Marine Science
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine & Health
  • Microbiology
  • Nanotechnology
  • NASA
  • Nutrition & Food Science
  • Paleontology & Dinosaurs
  • Physics
  • Plants & Agriculture
  • Political Science
  • Reality Check
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Sports & Fitness
  • spotlight
  • Spotlight Bugs
  • Terrorism & War
  • Why Is It? Questions
  • Wildlife
  • Year in Review

Find By Date

Science Update
  • About Science Update
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

Image of computer screen depicting an orange cat with a variety of alphanumeric scientific data superimposed on the the screen.
Spotted skunk performing handstand to threaten predators

Copyright © 2025 · Springtail Media LLC · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Pongos