Vitamin D and You
Did you know….
“Besides cancer, vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, periodontal disease, macular degeneration, mental illness, propensity to fall and chronic pain.”
Cannell, Hollis, Zasloff & Heaney. “Diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.” Expert Opinion in Pharmocotherapy, 2008: 9(1).
But what is the right amount of Vitamin D?
The lower limit (according to experts) is 30-40 ng/ml. Please keep in mind that this is the lower limit. It has been documented that levels of 52ng/ml showed a 50% reduction in the incidence of breast cancer.
How is your Vitamin D level tested?
A simple blood test shows the results. This is something that your PCP should be testing regularly. If you’ve never heard it mentioned, ask! The test itself is: 25(OH)D levels.
How do you get Vitamin D in the diet?
First, go get some sun!! Although skin cancer has been a big scare in recent decades, 15 minutes of UVB rays (natural or artificial) on bare skin can provide up to 10,000IUs of Vit D. However, there can be two drawbacks: 1) a sunburn and 2) some bodies have a difficult time converting the form of Vit D our skin produces into the form our bodies utilize (Vit D3 or cholecalciferol).
Taking a daily supplement of Vit D3 is more effective than any fortified foods or even the 50,000IU weekly injection that is prescribed (neither uses the active D3 form). Up to 5,000IU of D3 can be safe for individuals in supplement form. For information, as Dr. Meyers about Cataplex D, a whole food supplement by Standard Process, that is carried in the office.
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