Vitamin D & Health Conditions

Vitamin D is important to deal with diseases of the eyes to the bowels, as well as conditions rooted in chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction.

It wasn’t too long ago when vitamin D testing did not exist. Since vitamin D testing has become more mainstream, we realize how widespread vitamin D deficiencies are around the world. This is even true in sundrenched areas. Many people are still quite unaware they may be lacking this important nutrient.

The Indian Medical Association is pushing for a nationwide awareness campaign, noting that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in India, making people more vulnerable to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart attacks stroke and cancer.

Despite its name, vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone, which you get primarily from either sun exposure or supplementation, along with some foods. Many of its health benefits are due to its ability to influence genetic expression.

Moreover, researchers have discovered that vitamin D is involved in the biochemical cellular machinery of ALL cells and tissues in your body. When you don’t have enough, your entire body struggles to function optimally.

Sunlight is still the ideal way to optimize your vitamin D. The only one to know you have therapeutic levels of vitamin D is to measure it.

Dry Eye Syndromes and Macular Degeneration:

According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, anyone with dry eye syndrome would be advised to optimize their vitamin D.

What researchers found was that premenopausal women who were deficient in vitamin D had a greater risk of dry eye and impaired tear function.

Vitamin D deficiency may also raise your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) if you are genetically predisposed to it. AMD is the No. 1 cause of blindness among American seniors.

Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Multiple Sclerosis Strengthened:

At least a dozen studies have noted a strong link between multiple sclerosis (MS) and vitamin D deficiency. A number of them have shown that your risk of MS increases the farther away you live from the equator, suggesting lack of sun exposure amplifies your risk. This heightened risk is magnified if you have a lack of sun exposure before the age of 15.

Vitamin D May Be ‘Vital’ for Prevention of Bowel Diseases:

Researchers in New Zealand recently highlighted the importance of vitamin D in the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, including cancer.

Vitamin D’s Role in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases:

Additional evidence linking vitamin D deficiency and chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) has also emerged. CIRD includes but is not restricted to rheumatoid arthritis (RA); it refers to over 100 different conditions rooted in chronic inflammation affecting your joints. In general, CIRD is thought to be linked to autoimmune dysfunction.

Vitamin D Deficiency Common in Those With Lupus:

According to researchers in Cairo, most patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have some level of vitamin D deficiency (defined as a level of 10 ng/ml or less) or insufficiency (a level between 10 and 30 ng/ml). Those with lower levels also tend to have greater difficulty controlling their disease.

On average, patients with SLE had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D than the healthy participants — an average of 17.6 ng/ml compared to 79 ng/ml. More than 73% of lupus patients had insufficient vitamin D levels, and over 23% were deficient.

Vitamin D for HIV/AIDS:

Vitamin D is well-known for its ability to combat infections and strengthen immune function and researchers now suggest vitamin D supplements may be an easy and affordable way to fight even more serious infections, such as HIV.

Vitamin D and Depression:

Your mental health may also suffer when you’re vitamin D deficient. Previous research has shown having a vitamin D level below 20 ng/mL may raise your risk for depression by as much as 85%, compared to having a vitamin D level greater than 30 ng/mL. A number of studies have also confirmed that vitamin D supplementation can help alleviate symptoms of depression.

Vitamin D Deficiency During Pregnancy Linked to Elevated Risk of Childhood Asthma:

Optimizing vitamin D levels during pregnancy is crucial not only for your own health, but also for the short- and long-term health of your child.
According to previous studies, you need a vitamin D level above 40 ng/ml to protect your baby from serious complications such as premature delivery and preeclampsia. There is a lifelong impact of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy, ranging from childhood allergies to asthma, colds and flu, dental cavities, diabetes and even strokes and cardiovascular disease later in life.

Vitamin D is a Simple & Inexpensive Way to Improve Your Health:

An estimated 50% or more of the general population is at risk of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Among school aged children, that percentage may be as high as 70%.

Increasing levels of vitamin D3 among the general population could potentially prevent chronic diseases that claim nearly a million lives each year. The incidence of several types of cancer could also be slashed in half. Vitamin D also effectively fights infections of all kinds, including the common cold and influenza and perhaps even HIV.

Fortunately, the solution is both simple and inexpensive. To maximize the benefits of vitamin D, you need a vitamin D level of at least 40 to 60 ng/ml (a more ideal level may be 50 to 70 ng/ml).

While sunlight is the ideal way to optimize your vitamin D, winter and work prevent more than 90% of people from achieving ideal levels without supplementation. The only one to know you have therapeutic levels of vitamin D is to measure it, and typical effective doses are between 5,000 to 10,000 units per day.

It is also important to take vitamin K2 along with vitamin D, in order to get the calcium into your bones and teeth, where it belongs and not into your blood vessels and soft tissues, where it doesn’t belong. I recommend about 100 mcg of the MK7 version of vitamin K2 per day. If you are taking anticoagulants, consult your physician prior to taking vitamin K2.

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