Vitamin D article from Anderson Natural Health Clinic

3/27/2008

Article by Doctors Melinda Anderson, ND and Scott Rose, ND, LAc.
From the Anderson Natural Health Clinic

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is becoming an epidemic. Very little is found in the diet (without supplementation) and most Americans are reducing sunlight exposure (the major source of Vitamin D). Here in the north, the low winter sun angle prevents vitamin D production in the skin for up to 6 months of the year.
New research is showing that vitamin D is not only important for calcium absorption (and therefore, bone health) but that it is also a critical factor in regulating the immune system. It may play a significant role in preventing autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis and insulin-dependent diabetes) as well as reducing your risk for many common cancers, hypertension and heart disease. Other conditions that may be helped: infertility caused by PCOS, migraines, unexplained muscle and bone pain, depression, and osteoarthritis.

Almost all vitamin D researchers believe the current recommended intakes (RDAs) for vitamin D are inadequate. Many patients and doctors have been trained to fear vitamin D as potentially toxic. The Food and Nutrition Board previously defined the Upper Limit for safe intake of vitamin D at 2,000 IU per day. While it is true that vitamin D has potential for overdose, researchers are now presenting evidence that it is actually required and safe at dosages of 4,000-5,000 IU per day for adults. Dosage of 100,000 IU daily for several months in adults and 40,000 IU daily in infants for 1-4 months are likely to be toxicity inducing. You may be susceptible to toxicity at lower dosages if you have excess blood calcium levels, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, granulomatous diseases such as sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease and tuberculosis, certain cancers, or if you are taking certain drugs that make you more sensitive to vitamin D. The symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, feeling nervous or weak, itching, excessive thirst, increased urination, and elevated blood calcium levels.

When supplementing with vitamin D, you can avoid toxicity by having your doctor regularly monitor your blood calcium and vitamin D levels. Your Vitamin D levels can be checked by a blood test (25-Hydroxyvitamin D). Optimal levels are between 50-90 ng/ml. Vitamin D levels should never be below 32 ng/ml. Any level below 20 ng/ml is considered serious deficiency states and will increase ones risk for many adverse health conditions.....

If you suspect that you are deficient in Vitamin D (if you live in Washington, you most likely are) here is what you should do: See your doctor to have 25-OH-vitamin D levels checked in your blood. This test is considered more accurate than 1, 25-OH-vitamin D testing. It has been proposed by some experts that the “optimal range” of 25-OH-vtamin D blood test should be 50-90 ng/ml. This range is higher than the “normal range” offered by the labs as a reference, but keep in mind that the labs do not necessarily weed out vitamin D deficient people. The reference range is used to establish the so-called normal based on averages of the general population. 25-OH-Vitamin D levels should never be below 32 ng/ml. Any level below 20 ng/ml is considered a serious deficiency state and will increase one’s risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancers as well as autoimmune diseases like Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

If your levels are lower than the optimal range, your dosage should depend on your blood level of 25-OH-vitamin D, the amount of sunlight you are exposed to daily, and your body size. Consult with your doctor about the dosage that is right for you. You may be started at high doses such as 10,000 IU per day for the first month and then decrease the dose. It may be sufficient to take vitamin D from the late fall through spring and discontinue it in the summer if you allow for 30 minutes of sunshine exposure to 30% of your skin surface daily in the summer. If you are taking vitamin D for a specific health complaint, you should know that it may take 3-4 months for your 25-OH-vitamin D levels to plateau, and it is recommended that you continue the vitamin D supplement for 5-9 months to allow for symptom improvement. Please do not supplement with vitamin D if you have excess blood calcium levels, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, granulomatous diseases such as sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease and tuberculosis, certain cancers, or if you are taking drugs that make you more sensitive to vitamin D. Please consult your doctor regarding whether you can or should take vitamin D under your doctor’s supervision. Return to your doctor to have your 25-OH-vitamin D levels checked regularly. If you experience symptoms of over-dose such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst and urination, itching, nervousness, or elevated blood calcium levels make an appointment to see your doctor.

Make sure that you use only a high quality vitamin D3 supplement and not vitamin D2. Vitamin D2, often used also in vitamin D fortified foods, is not effective in raising blood levels of 25-OH-vitamin D and has more potential for adverse effects as compared with vitamin D3.

Almost every single patient that has had their Vitamin D levels checked in our office has been deficient. If you haven’t had your level checked, make an appointment!