Vitamin D: A Controversial Vitamin

[Neon Beach]

Vitamin D: A Controversial Vitamin
Submitted by Roxanne RN on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 4:19pm.
Vitamin D deficiency is becoming more newsworthy and more controversial. One of our skin’s purposes is to convert sunlight into vitamin D. When we were nude and roamed around central Africa, there was no Vitamin D deficiency. The skin probably converted 10 to 20,000 international units of Vitamin D a day.

However, now that we live in the Northern latitudes, or wear clothes which prevents exposure, or use sunscreen liberally to prevent skin cancer; we are at risk for vitamin D inadequacy.

Most scientists also state that the amount of vitamin D which is recommended per the Federal Government guidelines (400-800 units per day) is way, way too low; thus exacerbating an existing problem. Even though the current RDI is very low, the only age groups attaining the current level are those under 50 years old. After 50 years old, only 5% of men attain desired levels, and 1-3% of women.

Interestingly, those people who are obese are at higher risk of being deficient in Vitamin D. We do know that vitamin D lives in the fat cells when no longer biologically active. However, it seems that there living conditions terminate the effectiveness; how or why is not known. What is known is that fat seems to act like a human sponge, sopping up the vitamin D and releasing it in an unrecognizable form.

There is evidence which indicates that the level of vitamin D which is required for healthy bones is much lower than that required to maintain a healthy immune system. Therefore, people with deficiencies are at higher risk for auto-immune diseases such as multiple schlerosis, lupus, diabetes, cancer (especially breast, ovaries and colon), and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, vitamin D is pivotal in maintaining muscle strength.

There is some thought to increasing the fortification of foods with more Vitamin D. This has not been done since the early 1930’s when vitamin D was introduced to milk to decrease rickets (Definition: rickets, a condition caused by the lack of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. It is seen most often in infancy and childhood. It is marked by abnormal bone growth. Symptoms include soft bones causing defects, as bowlegs and knock-knees, swellings on the ends and sides of the bones, muscle pain, a swollen skull, chest defects, a curved spine, swollen liver and spleen, heavy sweating, and general tenderness of the body when touched).
Additionally, Vitamin D can be administered as a pill to supplement our daily diet. In one case, 4000 units a day were given over the course of 3 months. This caused the woman involved to go from a blood level of 10 ng/ml (a profound deficiency) to slightly over 35 (the low end of normal). Of course, when Vitamin D is given in these doses close blood monitoring is required to assure one does not over dose: making the treatment worse than the cure.

In the future, obtaining vitamin D blood levels will probably be a routine screen, as more and more practitioners are aware of the current endemic. Supplements will probably be offered to the majority of people who live in the United States. Although, at first, this is a scary thought, and one may be overwhelmed initially with the potential for over-doses, this is unlikely if physician monitored health occurs. Remember, Vitamin D supplementation of 50,000 units a week will help more patients than it hurts.

Source:
Science News, 2005
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