new research in teenagers links low levels of vitamin d to high blood pressure and high blood sugar which can lead to ominous early health problems the sunshine vitamin is needed to keep bones strong but recent research has linked vitamin d to other possible health benefits the teen study confirms results seen in adults linking low levels with risk factors for heart disease the researchers said teens in the study with the lowest vitamin d levels were more than twice as likely to have high blood pressure and high blood sugar they were also four times more likely to have metabolic syndrome defined as have three of more conditions that contribute to heart disease and diabetes including high blood pressure high blood sugar big waists and high cholesterol the studys leader jared reis of johns hopkins bloomberg school of public health said more research will be needed to determine if vitamin d is really behind the health problems and whether getting more would make a difference were showing strong associations that need to be followed up he said the findings were being presented wednesday at an american heart association conference in palm harbor florida a former president of the heart group said theres much to be learned about the apparent connection were at the tip of the iceberg said dr robert eckel the body makes vitamin d when exposed to sunlights ultraviolet rays getting about 15 minutes of sunlight a few times a week is generally enough vitamin d is also in fortified foods like milk and in salmon and other oily fish the american academy of pediatrics recently doubled its recommended amount of vitamin d for children and teens to 400 units daily the equivalent of drinking four cups of milk the pediatricians group said kids who dont get enough should take vitamin supplements the teen study looked at about 3600 boys and girls ages 12 to 19 who took part in a government health survey from 2001 to 2004 the researchers used measurements of vitamin d from blood tests on average none of the teens were getting enough vitamin d whites had the highest levels blacks had the lowest levels and mexicanamericans had levels in between one reason for the difference experts say could be that it takes fair skin less time to absorb vitamin d from the sun than darker skin also reis said blacks may be skipping milk because they are more likely to be lactose intolerant dr randal thomas director of the cardiovascular health clinic at the mayo clinic in rochester minnesota said that its likely that vitamin d deficiencies in teens stem from unhealthy diets and lack of exercise outdoors if their diet includes chips and soft drinks theyre probably not getting enough vitamin d said thomas experts say there are many questions that still need to be answered about vitamin d including how much people need as time goes on were getting a better idea of what we need and