The scientific literature involving vitamin D is expanding dramatically. Vitamin D deficiency has now been linked to a wide variety of illnesses including cancer and heart disease and even mental health issues such as depression. Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff explains why vitamin D is so important and discusses his latest research.

Gregory A. Plotnikoff, MD, MTS, FACP, is a board-certified internist and pediatrician who has received international honors for his work in cross-cultural and integrative medicine. He is a graduate of Carleton College, Harvard Divinity School and the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Plotnikoff is the author of 21 textbook chapters and more than 50 first-authored articles in the medical literature including several in Japanese. His 2003 article on vitamin D and chronic pain is one of the most highly cited articles in the history of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. He is a Fellow of the United States-Japan Foundation Leadership program, the Bush Foundation Leadership Program and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Plotnikoff serves as an integrative medicine physician at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing and as Senior Consultant, Center for Healthcare Innovation, Allina Health Care, Minneapolis, Minn.