It came as no surprise to me that my Vitamin D level was very low when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. By the time I had a 25(OH)D blood test to measure it, I must have read a hundred of articles and medical citings relating cancer and Vitamin D deficiency. So when mine came back at a very low 23 ng/ml, it wasn't a bombshell.
Vitamin D levels should be between 60 and 80 ng/ml year-round, in both children and adults. Its main function is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus in our bodies and aid in the absorption of calcium. I read somewhere that it is estimated that only 10% of the population maintains the proper level and that its usually people that spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun.
Nature provides us only 2 Vitamin D sources- the sun and a very few foods including salmon, tuna and fish liver oils. Since most of us lather on sunscreen these days and most likely aren't doing shots of cod liver oil (now having horrible childhood flashbacks), Harvard School of Public Health advises the best way to get enough Vitamin D is by taking a supplement. But because the Vitamin D level in most multi-vitamins (400 IU) is too low to meet the recommended 600 IU for the 70 yr old and under crowd, you may want to consider adding a separate supplement.
Just last week, UCSD School of Medicine released a study that says mega doses of vitamin D may be necessary to reduce one's risk of cancer suggesting that it will become common for almost every adult to take 4,000 IU/day.
Seems like a big jump, but whether its 600 or 4000 IU/day, all I know is that I was taking 0.
Resources
Business Week Article- UCSD study
UCSD Vitamin D Study
Mayo Clinic- Vitamin D
National Institute of Health- Factsheet
2 comments:
OK, Lil - Coffee is a must... soon. I just got an email from my Dr. that my D was a 23 and I need to take a 4,000 IU/day supplement. I've been researching what to take and was headed to Vitamin Cottage tomorrow. What are you taking?
My mom, who is failing to a degenerative neurological disease, was also diagnosed with low vitamin D. It was the first supplement the doctor recommended. I have been on 4000 IU every day since (per my doctor's reco). Great suggestion on a lot of medical fronts!!!
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