What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D

[elleng]

Vitamin D promises to be the most talked-about and written-about supplement of the decade. While studies continue to refine optimal blood levels and recommended dietary amounts, the fact remains that a huge part of the population — from robust newborns to the frail elderly, and many others in between — are deficient in this essential nutrient.

If the findings of existing clinical trials hold up in future research, the potential consequences of this deficiency are likely to go far beyond inadequate bone development and excessive bone loss that can result in falls and fractures. Every tissue in the body, including the brain, heart, muscles and immune system, has receptors for vitamin D, meaning that this nutrient is needed at proper levels for these tissues to function well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/health/27brod.html?src=me&ref=general

[provis99]

1. Snooki is right! We all need to tan more!

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Great article. thanks.

Been taking lots of Vit D for a couple of years now.

Glad I learned about it.

[gateley]

3. The Vitamin D Council is an outstanding source of info, explaining

what we need to take WITH Vit D in order to utilize it better, and other informative stuff:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

[SocialistLez]

10. Oooh that's good considering I take mine with food per instructions on the bottle. NT

[petersjo02]

4. Latest from my nephrologist is

that insufficient vitamin D may pay a large role in seasonal affective disorder, being depressed or more depressed in the winter. I'm currently taking 4000 iu each day and still barely register on the vitamin D scale.

[rateyes]

12. need to eat something that absorbs vitamin d.

just like iron supplements. the supplements don't help much unless you drink o.j. or something else that absorbs it and takes it into your system.

[tiptoe]

24. 5. Recognize: Maintenance doses are not Replenishment doses. (Ten Tips, Optimal Levels, Safety)

Ten Tips for Vitamin D Testing and Treatment
5. Midwesterners require at least 4,000 IU of vitamin D from all sources (sun, diet, supplementation) on a daily basis. Thus, for most persons, Maintenance dosing is at least 1,000 IU a day. Replenishment doses to achieve a (minimum) serum level of at least 32 ng/mL are markedly higher.

(read below for attaining levels in the optimal range)

Source: Myths, FAQ, "...Vitamin D: A Real Missing Link..." Prescription=D2 vs D3, Testing, Optimal Ranges

...
Doctors can and should order routine vitamin D blood tests for all of their patients. Individuals should request a vitamin D blood test at their next visit, if their doctor is not forthcoming. The only test indicative of true vitamin D status is for the intermediate metabolite 25-hydroxy (-OH) vitamin D. According to several local physicians with whom I have spoken, not one of their patients has been in the

optimal range == 50 to 80 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) initially.
Most have been below the reference range, which begins at 32 and ends at 100(ng/ml). They are all recommending supplementation. I advise all my clients to specifically inquire about their vitamin D number, since "normal" values are often equated with optimal status and this simply is not true. In addition, I have observed that doctors are recommending only 1000 IU's per day of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), even when patients are below the reference range, or they are writing prescriptions for vitamin D at 50,000 IU's in a once weekly dose, both of which are inadequate. Prescription vitamin D is only available as vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), known to be inferior to D3.

Raising vitamin D blood levels into the optimal range from below the reference range (< 32) routinely requires a DAILY DOSE of 6000 to 8000 IU’s of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) FOR TWO to THREE MONTHS. Staying in the optimal range requires a minimum of 1000 to 2000 IU’s per day, with potentially increased need during the winter months or for those in higher risk categories.

Vegetarians should note that commercial D3 is largely derived from lanolin gleaned from sheep’s wool, rather than from fish oil. Vegans should be advised that supplementing with D2, derived from irradiating fungus, may require twice the amount of D3 proposed to make up for its inadequacies, but it may also be more toxic, because it does not exist naturally in the human body.
...

Understanding Dosages & Two MD General Recommendations    and    How SAFE is Vitamin D?

[Oregone]

5. People need to put down their iPad and get out more

And for those who think my suggestion is sacrilege, you can bring an iPod with you

[Duer 157099]

6. Except a vitamin D tablet doesn't contain any UV radiation

Why risk skin cancer by spending more time in the sun when a tablet is just as effective?

[Oregone]

7. Ok. Stay in your bunker and take Vitamin D

If thats your idea of health and happiness, all the power to you. Ill get my Vitamin D while enjoying the outdoors and catching dinner.

[Duer 157099]

8. Look, not everyone is as lucky as you are.

But that's no reason to remain deficient in vitamin D.

[KT2000]

9. Do have your levels checked though

Some people who do get outside and eat a balanced diet show low levels of D.
Some people cannot raise their levels by even taking supplements with standard doses.
I suspect there is something affecting our ability to either make the necessary D or possible something is blocking uptake.

[flamingdem]

15. My doctor said as much, especially if you have cataracts nt

[Odin2005]

11. In my neck of the woods the sun isn't overhead enough for adaquate Vitamin D production.

Here in Fargo the sun is too low in the sky for enough UV rays to get through and make Vitamin D in your skin for half of the year.

[aenasmith]

13. What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D

Very nice sharing information that can be helpful to everyone. Vitamin D is the basic need for bones' health. You can get it from direct sunlight in early morning or from some other supplements.

[tiptoe]

22. vitamin D beyond strong bones

Myths, FAQ, "...Vitamin D: A Real Missing Link..." Prescription=D2 vs D3, Testing, Optimal Ranges

See Opening piece,
# 92, # 94 ("definitive study" re vitamin D, calcium and cancer-risk reduction),
#114  (post-1999, discovery of 35+ tissues with Vitamin D receptors, other than bone)
#138  Disease Incidence Prevention
#143  Understanding dosages: Safety and two MD recommendations, "How Much Should I take?"

Also, very important: Vitamin D & Vit A as Retinol: "Avoid cod liver oil like the poison it is & check your multivitamins"

Welcome to DU.

[IDemo]

14. 2000 µg daily, + a couple of hours in the garden and/or the motorcycle

More than enough.

[Duer 157099]

16. Maybe, maybe not. Unless you have your levels checked, you can't know

I agree with what a poster said above, that there seems to be a mysterious and fairly recent (past couple of decades) factor (environmental? dietary?) that is influencing either uptake or metabolism or something.

Vitamin D deficiency is probably epidemic and we don't know the exact reason(s) yet.

[IDemo]

17. Had a blood workup three weeks ago

Everything is great.

[Duer 157099]

20. That's great to hear.

:thumbsup:

[tiptoe]

18. "Over past couple of decades"= '89-'99= AMA 'avoid sun'+Amer Acad Pediat 'sunscreen OK for newborns'

The iatrogenic factors, alone -- anti-sun guidelines by AMA in 1989 followed by the AAP in 1999 -- could be major and sufficient and, per Cannell's vitamin D theory of autism accepted by Harvard in August 2009, the explanation for the epidemic rise of autism (~1300% annual rate increase, 1992-2008) in children 0-4 yrs of age.

I suspect a May-2010 reported 10-fold increase in cases of MRSA over the preceding decade -- caught mostly outside hospitals in both children and adults -- eventually will also be linked to vitamin D deficiency (and associated diminished innate immunity).

Just a note: A pediatrician denied a patient's request to have his family -- parents and 16-month old baby -- vitamin D status tested, although the mother-to-be was bedridden three months before delivery (hence, lacking sun exposure for significant time pre-natal and unaware of importance for pregnant women to take at least 5000 IU a day, according to Cannell). The doctor said he'd test only if necessary (catch 22, unless the doc believed the mother and child indeed had been tested...but, if so, what level was baby? Info not volunteered). Curious, since the hospital had begun vit-D-status testing all members as part of standard checkups some time in 2009. The baby was born Jan 2009...and possibly missed being tested...father to check medical records and purchase vitamin D supplements. With a documented epidemic rise in autism in children 0-4 yrs (published Jan '09) theoretically linked to vitamin D deficiency (iatrogenically) and the mother quite possibly vitamin D deficient, the father's concern for the child would seem justified. (Autism symptoms may not manifest for years.)

[Duer 157099]

19. I don't think it's only sunscreen related

My teenage son spends plenty of time outside in the sun and doesn't use sunscreen, and he was deficient (27). There's something else going on.

[tiptoe]

21. O3-pollution? ...as in Mexico City (world's worst ozone; low/no UVB -- 150 died of swine flu...plus

rickets in Mexican children is on the rise, due to ozone absorbing the UV-B. (I see you're in California, though, and presumably the condition is specific to your son, not generalized.)

Or, perhaps, a malabsorption issue?

Then there's this, hypothesized for users of a certain type of meds.

It'll be fascinating, whatever the reason. Keep us posted re what you learn.

[aenasmith]

23. What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important vitamin for bones health. If it is not enough in human body than the bones problems will arise. If the person have not enough balance of Vitamin D than he/she will get many problems of their bones concern like fractures. The Vitamin D is also important for heart, brain and immune system.