by R.
Johnson
Are you
getting an essential level of Vitamin D?
There has
been a significant amount of research conducted in regard to
Vitamin D. There are numerous well-known benefits, especially as
the vitamin relates to bone health. In addition to this, research
also displays the potential for Vitamin D to reduce the risk of
developing a number of cancers. It also appears to alleviate
ailments like muscle weakness, hypertension, multiple sclerosis,
and diabetes. Many new studies also show much promise.
Sources
of Vitamin D
A
significant amount of new research has shown that we in America and
Canada would be healthier if we produced more Vitamin D. It is now
becoming quite common to hear prominent scientists recommend that
individuals get their Vitamin D levels checked out. There are many
supplements on the market today that serve to boost levels of
Vitamin C. A lot of doctors are providing tests with guage the
Vitamin D levels of their patients. Do you think that you should
get tested? We here atthe Conscious Evolution Medical Institute can aid you in learning more
about the benefits derived from this simple vitamin. Vitamin D is
different from the majority of other vitamins because Vitamin D can
be manufactured by skin cells when the skin is exposed to sunlight.
The amount of Vitamin D generated is dependent upon factors like
time of day, location on earth, season, color of the skin (darker
skin tones produce less Vitamin D). Vitamin D production is also
dependent upon the amount of skin exposed to sunlight and the age
of the individual (less Vitamin D is produced as one ages). Because
Vitamin D happens to be fat soluble, our body can manufacture it
and hold it in storage for the times that it is not possible to get
sufficient amounts of sunlight. 
There are
not many foods which provide Vitamin D. It is often added to milk,
and this is the main way that we consume Vitamin D. There are about
100 IU in a cup of milk. Also, orange juice, soy milk, margarines,
and cereals are often fortified with Vitamin D as well. Even so, it
is quite difficult to acquire a sufficient level of Vitamin D only
from diet. For this reason, many people take Vitamin D supplements
(look below)
Who is
most at risk for deficiency?
Many people
do not get enough Vitamin D. This is especially true in the that
are older than sixty years old, those that live in colder climates,
and those who stay indoors too much or have very dark skin. In the
northern part of the United states and all of Canada, Vitamin D
levels drop dramatically in Winter. During this time there are
fewer hours of daylight the sun does not shine as brightly, and
people keep more of their skin covered when they go outside. Newer
research suggests that many younger people are deficient in Vitamin
D today. Obesity is tied to Vitamin D deficiency.
Why Is
Testing Important?
Scientists
who have conducted surveys of data made available from 18 studies
which were released by the IMA discovered that people that take
Vitamin D supplements of 4-800 IU daily had a significant drop in
mortality of around 6%. Harvard Doctor E. Giovannucci penned an
editorial in accompaniment to that survey of the literature that
claims there is significant potential benefit to taking Vitamin D.
The number of potential benefits provided by the vitamin lead him
to believe that it behooves anyone to take Vitamin D supplements
because there is such great upside with such insignificant risk. He
feels that it is a good doctor's duty to test levels of 25
hydroxyvitamin D in their patients. This is the simplest test that
can be performed that measures levels of Vitamin D.
Doctor B.
Hollis of the South Carolina Medical University is one of many who
advocate for Vitamin D testing. He has conducted research on the
vitamin for the last thirty years.
Dr. Hollis
feels that everyone should be tested for their levels of 25
hydroxyvitamin D, because it is such a powerful aid in the
prevention of a number of chronic diseases.
The amount
of Vitamin D that is present in a multivitamin (usually 400 IU) or
attained from showing the arms and face to sunlight during brief
periods during the day will likely not provide enough Vitamin D to
properly nourish the blood. Hollis says that even supplements of
800-100 IU each day might not be quite enough for some. The body's
capability to create and properly use Vitamin D is dependent upon
the individual. This is a reason why Vitamin D testing is extremely
valuable.
Vitamin
D supplements: The quickest and safest way to reach daily
requirements
What level
of Vitamin C in the blood is most beneficial? The majority of
doctors has come to an agreement that a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level
of 30-40 nanograms per milliliter produces the best results in the
body. It is quite difficult to attain this level of Vitamin D
merely through suggested supplements of Vitamin D and moderate sun
exposure, unfortunately. A lot of people that are over sixty years
of age have a level of Vitamin D that flags to 20 ng/ml or even
less during the winter months. There is considerable debate as to
how much Vitamin D provides the greatest benefit in the blood
stream, but Hollis things that around 55 ng/ml is a reasonable goal
to shoot for.
Exposure of
the arms, legs, or entire body to the midday sun (without sunblock)
can give the body the opportunity to produce a large supply of
Vitamin D (Though even this would be insufficient in the winter in
the Northern U.S. And Canada). The significant problem with this
method, however, is the increased risk of developing skin cancer.
For this reason, Vitamin D supplements are the safest and most
helpful way to keep healthy levels of Vitamin C in a way that is
not dangerous to the body.
What about
the practicality of Vitamin D testing? When you make a request to
your doctor to have your levels of Vitamin D analyzed, he may tell
you that it is something you have no need to worry about. The blood
test costs around one hundred dollars, and insurance may not foot
the bill unless one has some sort of issue that is exacerbated by a
lack of Vitamin D, such as osteoporosis. If after taking this test,
it is found that you DO suffer from insufficient levels of Vitamin
D, and you take supplements of Vitamin D to fix this problem, it is
important that you take the examination again after beginning a
Vitamin D supplement regimen so that you can be sure your Vitamin D
levels are in the ideal range. You should also note that Vitamin D
blood levels vary significantly dependent upon the season. Early
spring and Later winter months have the greatest correlation with
Vitamin D deficiency. Because of this it might be okay to only take
25 ng/ml in late winter, but it might not be enough in late
summer.
The
significant thing to keep in mind is that it is not quite time to
say that every individual should go get tested for Vitamin D
deficiency. Larger, long term studies need to be conducted to
justify blanket screenings, and this research has yet to occur. We
here at the Conscious Evolution Medical Institute do feel that you should speak with your
doctor to discuss whether or not you should be tested. This is
doubly so if you are older than 60 or have bone density problems.
In any situation, consider taking a supplement of 1000 IF of
Vitamin D daily. For almost all people, this should bring Vitamin D
levels to a sufficient range of about 30 ng/ml.
Exactly what amount of Vitamin D should you
intake?
The
Institute of Medicine recommends a dose of at least 200 IU in those
individuals that are younger than 50. In people that are 51-70, 400
IU is the recommended dose. In those older than 71, 600 IU is
recommended. Most people just do not take in that much Vitamin D
unless they take a supplement or drink a whole lot of milk. Even
so, many researchers find that the above guideline should be more
liberal. They feel that almost all individuals should be aiming for
1000 IU daily, especially those over 60 with dark skin. Particular
people who have significantly low levels of Vitamin D may have to
take an even more significant level of Vitamin D.
For this reason, fifteen of the top nutrition
experts in the nation made a case to the Institute of Medicine to
raise the recommended dose of Vitamin D for all. At this same time,
The Canadian Cancer Society believes that every adult in Canada
should take 1000 IU of Vitamin D every day in the autumn and
winter. They also believe that the elderly and the dark skinned
should consume that level of Vitamin D all year. This is advice
that would benefit most people in the United States as well. The
peak level of Vitamin D that should be ingested daily was
established in the past to be 2000 IU daily. It is possible to
consume that amount of Vitamin D if a person drinks enough milk and
eats other fortified foods and fatty fish while also taking a
supplement of Vitamin D and calcium, but it would be difficult. A
review in the American J. of Clinical Nutrition produced evidence
that Vitamin D does not become toxic to the body until over 10,000
IU are consumed daily. We here at the Conscious Evolution Medical Institute sure do not wish
you to reach that level of Vitamin C overdose, but there is
certainly nothing wrong with consuming over 2000 IU of Vitamin D
per day.
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