Vitamin D is produced in our bodies through sun exposure; as such, many people experience Vitamin D deficiency during the winter months. The Vitamin D Council offers the following information related to vitamin D, immunity and health:
The high rate of natural production of vitamin D3 cholecalciferol (pronounced koh·luh·kal·sif·uh·rawl) in the skin is the single most important fact every person should know about vitamin D—a fact that has profound implications for the natural human condition. Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more. Vitamin D’s influence on key biological functions vital to one’s health and well-being mandates that vitamin D no longer be ignored by the health care industry nor by individuals striving to achieve and maintain a greater state of health.
SUNSHINE AND YOUR HEALTH If well adults and adolescents regularly avoid sun exposure, research indicates a necessity to supplement with at least 5,000 units (IU) of vitamin D daily. To obtain this amount from milk one would need to consume 50 glasses. With a multivitamin more than 10 tablets would be necessary. Neither is advisable.The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure—50 times more than the US government’s recommendation of 200 IU per day!
HOW TO GET ENOUGH VITAMIN D There are 3 ways for adults to insure adequate levels of vitamin D:
- Regularly receive midday sun exposure in the late spring, summer, and early fall, exposing as much of the skin as possible (being careful to never burn)
- Regularly use a sun bed (avoiding sunburn) during the colder months.
- Take 5,000 IU per day for 2–3 months, then obtain a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. Adjust your dosage so that blood levels are between 50–80 ng/mL (or 125–200 nM/L) year-round.
This week, doctors in our network of BioVeda Health and Wellness Centers have posted articles to their blogs related to Vitamin D3 and it’s importance to overall health and wellness.
Dr. Brett Coryell with BioVeda of East Stroudsburg, PA provides a useful link to Dr. Cannell’s latest Vitamin D newsletter from the Vitamin D Council. Dr. Cannell has been proposing for many years that there may be a link between Vitamin D Deficiency and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Dr. Corey Kirshner with BioVeda of Allentown, PA also discusses Vitamin D this week and provides an informative video discussing how much Vitamin D a person needs for optimal health as well as possible complications that can arise due to Vitamin D deficiencies.