He also pointed out that ricketts, a disease caused by vitamin D deficiency, has virtually disappeared in recent years, while Crohn's has soared.

BBC: Bowel disease linked to vitamin

Attempts have been made to correlate other disease states with the relative deficiency in vitamin D that is still common in high latitudes.

FORBES: Vitamin D: Still More Questions Than Answers

Prof John Beattie, head of the micronutrients group at the University of Aberdeen, said NF-kB cropped up in many processes in the body, including atherosclerosis, which leads to blocked arteries seen in heart disease and has been linked to zinc deficiency.

BBC: Zinc 'keeps immune system in check'

Not only can this lead to an increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis in general, but vitamin D deficiency has also been cited as a contributor to increased rates of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease among African-Americans.

FORBES: Kevin Ware And Vitamin D Deficiency in African-Americans

After all, night workers sacrifice their own health to keep our 24-7 society running safely, facing increased risks of cancer, hypertension, heart disease, hormonal disruption, obesity, diabetes, depression and occupational injury due to sleep deficiency and chronic occupational jet lag.

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