Vitamin D and you

It has been some time since we have seen a case of rickets, so we’re doing a damn good job in making sure we are not vitamin D deficient, or are we?

First a little background and what Vitamin D is. Vitamin D is a group of fat soluble prohormones called secosteroids. So vitamin D is really a steroid hormone that the body uses to make *calcitrol (1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol)*, the active form of vitamin D that our bodies use.

As Dr. Mauro DiPasquale states, “Research has shown that vitamin D is crucial for many functions of the body, and is crucial for many internal cellular processes, insulin production, the immune system, depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and other diseases, including inflammation in the body from various sources, including aging.”

We are moving back to a culture of vitamin D deficiency. It is believed that 3 in every 4 adolescents are vitamin D deficient. How do we know if we are? First of all, it’s important to get your 25(OH)D blood level measured to see just where you are as far as your long-term vitamin D intake. Once you have the initial measurement and make any changes that need to be made as far as daily vitamin D intake, you should have your 25(OH)D level checked as needed until you’re above 50 ng/mL, and then once it’s relatively stabilized, get it done at least once a year just to make sure you’re not developing a deficiency. Dr. Mauro DiPasquale suggests you “get your 25(OH)D blood level measured to see just where you are as far as your long-term vitamin D intake is concerned. Once you have done this, you should have your 25(OH)D level checked as needed until you’re above 50 ng/mL, and then once it’s relatively stabilized, get it done at least once a year just to make sure you’re not developing a deficiency.”

Regardless of time in the sun and the foods you eat, you should be taking 1000ui to 2000ui a day of Vitamin D if your levels are low. You need to take more, ideally, as cholecalciferol or vitamin D3, is the easiest, cheapest, and safest way to make sure you're covered.