October News letter

Here is part of our News Letter for the month. I wanted to share this paragraph since so many people are sick right now with the flu. Our ND wrote the following...


"Now that the longer, sunny days of summer have officially come to an end with last week's fall equinox, it's time again to ensure that your patients are getting adequate levels of vitamin D through diet and supplementation - 2,000 to 4,000 IU daily for adults is suggested, keeping in mind the goal of maintaining minimal blood levels of 50 ng/mL. In addition to the solid connection with calcium absorption and bone mass, vitamin D has also been increasingly researched for its connection to immunity. It is therefore a vital component in therapies aimed at prevention of influenza, including the H1N1 strain. With the onset of flu season swiftly upon us, there is no better time to integrate this therapy into your patients' routines. To dramatically and rapidly increase blood levels to the NIH-recommended range of 75-125 nm/mL, we recommend supplementing with our high-dose vitamin D3 (25,000 IU), while monitoring serum calcium and 25(OH)D3 levels."

-Dr. Melissa Mahar

Clinical Consultant

Top Myths About Vitamin D

By: Dr. Jared M. Skowron


1. Myth: Normal activity provides us enough vitamin D from sun exposure.
Truth: Most people do not get enough sunshine to maintain adequate vitamin D levels. Today's indoor culture results in much lower vitamin D production than is required for good health. Sunscree, aging, and obesity also significantly reduce natural absorption of vitamin D.

2. Myth: Supplemented vitamin D in foods is adequate.
Truth: Foods are usually enriched with vitamin D-2, a form that is one-third as effective in the body as D-3. Additionally, studies show that many enriched foods contain much lower levels of vitamin D than stated on the label.

3. Myth: 1,25 (OH) D3 is the best analysis for vitamin D levels.
Truth: 25(OH) D3 has a long half-life and is best analysis of vitamin D levels. It converts to bi-hydroxy forms such as 1,25(OH)D3 which have a short half-life and are not a good measurement.

4. Myth: The reference range for vitamin D levels is accurate.
Truth: The reference range for 25(OH) D3 of 20-100 is sadly inadequate and is resulting in a rise in vitamin D deficiency in this country. Levels less than 25 are disease level. Levels between 25 and 75 are suboptimal. Levels between 75 and 200 are optimal.

5. Myth: Vitamin D supplementation is non-toxic.
Truth: The major consequence of vitamin D toxicity is hypercalcemia, which should be monitored periodically while under therapy. Changes in cardiac rhythms or lithiasis are also common concerns. Vitamin D toxicity normally occurs at >40,000 IU per day. Serum calcium should be monitored monthly. Currently 10,000 IU per day is accepted as a safe upper limit by the NIH.

6. Myth: The recommended Daily Allowance(RDA) for vitamin D is accurate.
Truth: Taking 400 IU, the RDA of vitamin D, will actually lower 25(OH)D3 by approximately 50 nmol/L, and 10,000 IU per day for three months should elevate 25(OH)D3 by 100 nmol/L. People on 1,000 IU per day will elevate their levels by only 10 nmol/L.

7. Myth: Different forms of vitamin D are all the same.
Truth: Vitamin D-3 is the preferred form. D-2 is derived from plant sources and is one-third as effective as D-3.

8. Myth: Vitamin D only treats osteoporosis and rickets.
Truth: In addition to bone density, benefits have been noted in relation to heart problems, immune diseases, blood sugar issues and neurological problems.



THIS ARTICLE WAS CHOSEN BY THE VITAMIN D COUNCIL AS ONE OF THE BEST ARTICLES ON VITAMIN D IN 2008