Determining if you have a Vitamin D deficiency
Over the last two decades, there has been a marked increase in the number of people with low levels of Vitamin D. Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealed Americans had an average Vitamin D level of 30ng/ml from 1988 to 1994, with a decline to 24mg/ml from 2001 to 2004. The cause of this is not entirely known, but several factors are thought to play a role including decreased exposure to sunlight. Widespread education on the dangers of tanning and excessive ultraviolet radiation has increased our overall use of sunscreen and sun avoidance. While this has been successful at reducing skin cancers, it has also lowered our levels of Vitamin D since ultraviolet exposure triggers Vitamin D synthesis in the skin.
The classic symptom of a deficiency in Vitamin D is thin, brittle or misshapen bones. However Vitamin D plays a much larger role in our overall health status than simply maintaining serum calcium levels and bone growth. Vitamin D also plays a part in neuromuscular and immune function, reduction of inflammation, and prevention of a number of disorders including breast, prostate and possibly colon cancer, diabetes, glucose intolerance, high blood pressure, and dementia. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in overall mortality from any cause by a whopping 7%.
To find out if you have a deficiency of Vitamin D, ask your primary care physician to check your levels the next time you are having blood work done. New guidelines recommend adults have at least 30mg/ml for optimal health status. If you find yourself below this amount, ask your physician for guidelines on supplementation. The current recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D is 400 IU, however patients may need more than this to meet optimum levels. Taking too much Vitamin D can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness, weight loss, and, more seriously, high calcium levels, which can trigger kidney stones, mental status changes (confusion), and an irregular heart beat.