Vitamin D seems to be the newest trend in medicine and research. Vitamin D deficiency has been on an increase, likely due to all of the recommendations of wearing sunscreen for skin cancer prevention. However; there is a difference between getting your lab values drawn in the end of the winter compared to the end of the summer, despite sunscreen usage. Only 10 minutes of sun exposure daily without sunscreen is thought to be sufficient in preventing deficiency.
Recent research has suggested the adequate amounts of vitamin D is not only protective against osteoporosis, but also hypertension, some cancers, and many autoimmune disorders. More research is currently being done on the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and muscle weakness/pain due to a high prevalence between nonspecific musculoskeletal pain and vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in other health conditions such as:
- asthma
- colorectal cancer
- cognition
- mood disorders such as depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and PMS.
Recommended dosing for the average population, age 1-70 years old is 600 international units (iu) daily. Taking supplements to increase your vitamin D should also be based on your lab values from blood work. The range can be anywhere from 600-4,000 iu daily depending on your personal blood work. Vitamin D is also given on weekly or monthly basis and is titrated to each individual. Taking too much vitamin D can be detrimental to your health therefore you should not be taking more than recommended by your physician.
An excess amount of vitamin D may lead to an increase in fractures, urinary tract infections, decrease in appetite or weight loss, and increase in calcium in your blood and urine, gastrointestinal complaints, kidney disease and possibly an increase in cancer.
Be sure to call your physician if you start to experience dizziness, nausea or vomiting, dry mouth, increase in thirst and urination, ringing in your ears or a metallic taste in your mouth.
Screening for vitamin D levels is recommended to be done at the same time your cholesterol and thyroid are screened. If you are concerned that you may have a deficiency you should make an appointment with your primary care physician or our office if testing hasn’t recently been done with another doctor.
The following information is Patient Education obtained from UpToDate:
What is a vitamin D deficiency? — A vitamin D deficiency is when you do not have enough vitamin D in your body. This is a problem, because the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and for other important jobs.
People who do not have enough vitamin D can:
- Have weak or soft bones, which can break easily or change in shape
- Have weak muscles, which makes them more likely to fall
Is there a test for vitamin D deficiency? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse can do a blood test to see if you have enough vitamin D. But you might not need this test. Doctors measure vitamin D levels only in people who are at risk for a vitamin D deficiency. This includes people who:
- Spend most or all of their time indoors (for example, because they are in a nursing home)
- Have medical problems (such as Celiac disease) that make it hard from them to absorb vitamin D
- Have a condition called “osteoporosis,” which makes bones weak
- Broke a bone too easily, such as by falling down
What foods and drinks have vitamin D? — Foods and drinks that have a lot of vitamin D include:
- Milk, orange juice, or yogurt with vitamin D added
- Cooked salmon or mackerel
- Canned tuna fish
- Cereals with vitamin D added
- Cod liver oil
People’s bodies can also get vitamin D from the sun. The body uses sunlight that shines on the skin to make vitamin D.
What are supplements? — Supplements are pills, capsules, or liquids that have nutrients in them. Supplements are another way people can get vitamin D.
Do I need to take vitamin D supplements? — Experts recommend that most adults take supplements that have 800 international units of vitamin D a day. People who do not get enough vitamin D from their food or from the sun might need to take even more.
If your doctor recommends that you take vitamin D supplements, ask him or her which type, how much, and when to take the supplements.
The type and dose of supplement that is right for you will depend on your medical problems and the other medicines you take.
It is important not to take too much vitamin D. Taking too much vitamin D can make you sick
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