This is the Year of Prevention and Maintenance. : Are You Vitamin D Deficient?

Health Tip - Vitamin D Deficiency

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's fatty tissue.

What is Vitamin D Deficiency?

Vitamin D Deficiency is a common condition in which the body has inadequate stores of vitamin D. This fat-soluble vitamin is produced in the skin as a result of exposure to the sun's rays, which are the main source of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is also available in dietary supplements and in liver, eggs, oily fish, and fortified milk and dairy products.

Worldwide, it is estimated that the epidemic of Vitamin D Deficiency affects one billion people.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Vitamin D adequacy is currently defined as a function of calcium homeostasis, with lower vitamin D levels resulting in reduced absorption of calcium from the gut and/or elevations of parathyroid hormone (PTH) considered inadequate.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency:

Diffuse bone and muscle pain
Muscle weakness
Muscle cramps
Joint pain
Weight gain
High blood pressure
Restless sleep
Poor concentration
Headaches
Bladder problems
Constipation or diarrhea
Hip pain
Fracture
Difficulty walking, walking up stairs and getting out of a chair
Falls
Bone disease (rickets, thin, brittle or misshapen bones))
Fatigue
Osteomalacia - bone disease
Depression

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency:

Lack of absorption of the mineral
Lack of vitamin D intake due to poor diet (over a period of time)
Lack of efficient sun intake
Kidney disease (cannot convert vitamin D to its active form)
The inability to absorb vitamin D from the Digestive tract
Obesity (low levels of vitamin D)

Diseases Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency:

Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
Cancer (17 types a few are breast, prostate and colon)
Heart Disease
High Blood Pressure
Obesity
Metabolic Syndrome and diabetes
Autoimmune Diseases
Multiple Sclerosis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Bursitis
Gout
Infertility and PMS
Parkinson's Disease
Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Alzheimer's Disease
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Pain
Periodontal Disease

Vitamin D Deficiency Risk Factors:

Lactose intolerance
Strict vegetarianism
Infants fed only breast milk without vitamin D supplementation
Syndromes that cause fat malabsorption:

Celiac Disease
Crohn's Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Pancreatic or liver disease

Kidney Disease
Overweight
Darkly pigmented Skin
Limited kin exposure

Vitamin D Deficiency Diagnosis:

Blood tests (25-hydroxyvitamin D) to check vitamin D levels and kidney function
Bone test

Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment:

Vitamin D Supplementation - High doses of vitamin D are given for 6-12 weeks, followed by a lower dose of the vitamin.
Calcium Supplementation - Calcium plus vitamin D supplements may be given to increase D levels
Light Therapy - Exposure to sunlight or UV radiation can increase D levels (Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin when it is exposed to these light sources)

How to prevent Vitamin D Deficiency:

Eat a healthy diet enriched with vitamin D (milk, fruits & juices, cereal)
Get daily sun rays (remember your sun screen)

How much Vitamin D do you need?

It varies from age, body weight, percent of body fat, latitude, skin coloration, season of the year, use of sun block, individual variation in sun exposure, and how ill you are.

For more information go to www.Webmd.com, www.ASk.com, www.mayoclinic.com, www.localhealth.com, www.thirdage.com, www.jop.ascopubs.org, www.livestrong.com, or www.drfranlipman.com

Information is Power!

Remember! You get Vitamin D from your diet, supplements and after the sun stimulates your skin to make Vitamin D.