I just “attended” a seminar on the internet on vitamin D, hosted by the Institute of Functional Medicine. I’ve written about vitamin D before, but this was a good list of conditions impacted by suboptimal vitamin D, and a good reminder of how important it is. Plus the current recommendations may not be enough.
Many physicians are beginning to do routine testing for vitamin D. If you have not been tested, and have any of these (or are at risk for them) – ask to be tested! Low vitamin D levels increases the risk and symptoms of:
• Prostate, breast, colon and ovarian cancer
• Hypertension
• Schizophrenia
• Depression
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Migraine
• Epilepsy
• Osteoarthritis
• Autoimmune conditions such as SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus),
ankylosing spondylitis, MS (multiple sclerosis), RA (rheumatoid arthritis)
• Diabetes – types 1 and 2
• Fibromyalgia
• Osteoporosis/osteopenia
• Symptoms of
o Musculoskeletal pain and low back pain
o Muscle weakness and loss of balance
o Systemic Inflammation
The seminar recommended 4,000 IU for adults, with multiple references, including one published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003. That is just the standard dose recommended, unless you get regular unprotected sun exposure.
The more conservative dose recommendation has been 800 – 1,000 IU’s of vitamin D. The higher doses are recommended by medial practioners who have been monitoring vitamin D levels and finding positive outcomes.
If you are tested for your current blood level of vitamin D (25-OH vitamin D), you’ll have a better idea of the best dose for you. See where you are now, and what your level is after supplementing. Vitamin D testing has been expensive, but should keep getting more reasonable in price.
Optimal levels provide better health. That is what I want! I just got the results of my recent bone scan. My mild osteopenia has worsened. I’m going to get my vitamin D levels tested and increase my vitamin D dose accordingly. I’ve been taking around 1,000 IU, but maybe that is not enough.
Of interest – the biggest negative effect seen so far with vitamin D supplementation is high blood levels of calcium. If you take hydroclorothyazide (a diuretic or water pill) or have granulomatous disease or sarcoidosis you are already predisposed to high calcium levels – so use vitamin D with caution.
Please use this information not to treat or dose yourself, but to initiate a conversation with your physician. What we are learning about nutrition and disease is fascinating – make the most of it!
Find more nutrition information and my monthly newsletter on my website: http://healthyhabitscoach.com .
Eat well!
Hi,
We have Vitamin D3 available in 4000 IU’s as that is what is recommended. Nature’s Sunshine products has been around for over 36 years giving us top quality products and training go to my website http://www.bionichealth.org and choose to go shopping and you can read more about it.
It makes a big difference in health.
Margretha
If you take vitamins and supplements everyday, you know that it is a bother to deal with all of the bottles and pills. I’m really not motivated enough to sort everything I take into one of those organizers either. That’s why I really like this company – Vitamins On Demand. Basically, you set up your vitamin pack (which is really simple since they have everything broken down into health concerns), choose the Auto-Ship service and they’ll send you your vitamins every 4 weeks. All packs include at least 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3. Here’s the cool thing. They come in this calendar pack that’s marked with each day and everyday has all of the vitamins you should take. I never forget to take them anymore. Check it out at: http://www.vitaminsondemand.com