Vit D = My personal experience through my patients with Vit D and some extra info.
“The underappreciated miracle nutrient.”
-Written by Barbara Hoefener, 1/13/2022, update 6/19/22
When my patients have proper amounts of Vit D, they:
Feel better in general.
Have more energy
Feel less depressed. A few patients have gotten off their depression meds.
Benefits of Vitamin D:
Research has shown proper amounts of Vit D:
Helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer by about half.
Helps reduce osteoporosis, as Vit D helps maintain phosphorus and absorb calcium so calcium doesn’t need to be stolen from bones.
Helps reduce auto immune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
Increases Immune support, less viruses- yes please. Including less severe COVID
Supports the nervous (Parkinson’s) and cardiovascular system (blood pressure, heart failure).
Improves muscle pain and weakness (if severely deficient <20ng/mL)
Story - I was speaking with another provider who works solely in breast cancer for 30 years, she told me she sees a direct correlation with breast cancer and low Vit D levels plus eating non-organic (roundup) vegetables and pasture raised (vs farm raised) animal protein.
What is an optimal Vit D 3 level?
Vit D3 >100ng/mL on a blood test
**Of note, many labs tests will have the normal range start at 40-150, my research shows >100 is optimal with toxicity (too much) being a rare occurrence- but you would look for high calcium concentration.
My patients in Oregon seem to do best at 10,000 units of Vit D3 a day.
I have been testing Vit D3 levels in patients in Oregon for 5 years, everyone has been deficient (some extremely deficient <30), unless they were already on supplemental Vit D3.
Chronic Vit D Deficiency, just like any other chronic problem will take more then overnight to reverse, give it time.
How do I get Vitamin D?
Vit D is best absorbed from being outside- exposure to sunlight.
Specifically, 40% of the body exposed for 15+ minutes a day depending on location. Be careful to not allow your skin to get burned as this can cause skin cancer.
The further you live from the equator; supplementation may be necessary to get an optimal Vit D level
Vitamin D3 is available over the counter or as a prescription. It comes in with many different units (not mg)
Preferred dose (in Oregon) is 5,000 U – 2 daily, or 50,000 U - 1 weekly.
Sun vs USA map
Many articles quote latitudes above or below 37 degrees from the equator have weak UVB (ultra-violet rays) most of the year to obtain adequate amounts of Vit D from sunlight alone.
Vit D is stored in fat and activated by kidney and liver.
Vit D is stored in fat cells.
This means if you are obese (BMI>30), the Vit D is taken out of circulation to be stored in the fat cells.
It also means if you have no fat in your gut, there will be poor absorption. This is more common with GI diseases including IBS- Crohn’s or celiac. Also seen in cystic fibrosis (lungs).
Vit D is activated by kidney and liver making it an active vitamin the body can use. This means if you have a low functioning kidney or liver from disease, you will likely be Vit D deficient as well.
The other side of medicine:
Vit D is still more in the “functional medicine/ natural” space vs the physician office, so take everything with a grain of salt.
Americans for family practice published an article Feb/2018 stating - “The USPSTF and the American Academy of Family Physicians have concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for vitamin D deficiency in asymptomatic adults.”
This is Vitamin D3 gel capsules 1 daily for 4 months per amazon, I'd appreciate the small amazon commission if you are planning on buying them by using this link - Thanks:
References:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/time-for-more-vitamin-d
https://undocancer.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/vitamin-d-levels-strongly-correlate-with-colorectal-cancer-survival/
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-D
http://www.freegrab.net/vitad.htm
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0215/p254.html
https://www.practiceupdate.com/expertopinion/6028/2/6?elsca1=emc_enews_daily-digest&elsca2=email&elsca3=practiceupdate_primary&elsca4=primary-care&elsca5=newsletter&rid=MzEwMTE2MjYzMTY5S0&lid=20849334
Book- Plant Paradox -Dr Gundry
Various other sources through time, including other providers.