10.03.2010 Functional Medicine Pearls 63 Comments

Vitamin D – Not Just for Bone Health Anymore

Many health professionals are realizing that Vitamin D isn’t just for osteopenia or osteoporosis anymore. Vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or worsen muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Researchers at University of California, Davis, published an exceptional piece of research on the Journal of Nutrition, addressing the fact that we are just not getting our D’s like we should be.

Over the past year, the usual, recommended daily requirement of Vitamin D3 has been 400 IU’s (international units). But Dr. Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine is one of many who are recommending 2000 IU’s a day.

Here’s quick lecture regarding Vitamin D metabolism. What you get at the vitamin section at the local grocery store is Vitamin D3. The active metabolite of Vitamin D3 is 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D. This is the major player in the human body, but you cannot get this in a pill. But just taking 2000 IU’s a day does not necessarily guarantee you are not 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D deficient.

Dr. Andrew Weil, in his recent recommendations posted on 7 February 2010 states that even if you are taking 10,000 IU’s a day, it still needs to be activated. The easiest means is still good ol’ fashion exposure to the sun. Factors that decrease the body’s means of synthesizing 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D are the following:

  • Dark skin
  • Heredity
  • Obesity
  • Sunscreen block
  • Certain prescriptions including anti-seizure medications
  • Living north of Atlanta, Georgia

Since we who live on the Kenai Peninsula are SO FAR NORTH of Atlanta, Georgia, we need to make certain we are getting our D’s and the right D’s. During your yearly preventative physical examination, make sure your 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D levels are checked. If it is low, you can discuss with your physician options on increasing this important Vitamin D metabolite.

References:

“New Recommendation: Why You Need More Vitamin D.” Dr. Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, 7 February 2010.

“Vitamin D Intake Needed to Maintain Target Serum 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D Concentrations in Participants with Low Sun Exposure and Dark Skin Pigmentation Is Substantially Higher than Current Recommendations.” Journal of Nutrition, doi: 10.3945/jn.109.115253.

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