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Vitamin D and YouVitimin D is a hot topic in the medical community these days, and TWHS is keeping abreast of the latest developments to improve your health. Vitimain D is needed to help your body absorb calcium and also help prevent certain infections. Research suggests a possible link between vitamin D deficiencies and cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Low vitamin D levels increase metabolic syndrome risk, and are correlated with high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is metabolized in the body by sun exposure (ultraviolet light), or dietary intake. The recommended exposure for vitamin D absorption is 20 minutes 3 times weekly. Sunscreen blocks the ultraviolet rays needed to make vitamin D, and in Arizona, our concerns about skin cancer may prevent us from obtaining the best vitamin D absorption from this source. Foods rich in vitamin D include fatty fish (such as mackerel, salmon and tuna), egg yolks and beef liver. Milk and many milk products and many breakfast cereals also have added vitamin D in the United States. However, achieving maximum vitamin D levels through diet only is very difficult, and so many people need dietary supplements. Low serum vitamin D reduces calcium and phosphorus levels, which result in demineralization of bone’s strength, or osterpenia/osteoporosis. Low vitamin D is associated with reduced bone mineral density, high bone turnover and an increased risk foe falls and hip fractures. A Bone Mineral Density test can help determine your bone strength, and we can discuss this at your yearly exam. Low vitamin D levels are also associated with chronic vaginal infections. This troublesome condition can be very aggravating for women and many patients have had to take repeated doses of antibiotics to combat these infections. Treatment for low vitamin D levels can cause alleviation of this chronic condition in many cases. In addition many other conditions may be affected by inadequate vitamin D levels. Levels of vitamin D below 20ng/mL are associated with a 30% to 50% increased risk for colon, prostate and breast cancer. Vitamin D treatment has improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes and patients unaffected by diabetes. Vitamin D affects the heart, in cardiac contractility, vascular tone, cardiac collagen and cardiac tissue maturation. Checking your Vitamin D level is easy. We can draw a blood sample to check your level at any visit; you do not have to be fasting. Treatment is based on your levels. If you are interested in checking your Vitamin D level please discuss this with your provider at your next visit.
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