Why we are deficient:

• High BMI - It is fat soluble so a theory is that it gets stored in the fat and doesn't circulate in the blood stream.
• Sunscreen
• Clothing
• We absorb less with increasing age
• Prescription drugs decrease our absorption -prednisone is one example
• Living above 37 degrees latitude in the winter - anywhere north of Atlanta
• Decreased absorption of fat
• Use of over the counter fat blockers

What is too low:

• Varying opinions on this
• <20 is deficient
• 20-32 insufficient
• Optimal is probably above 55 for cancer prevention and for immune function
• Below 10 will cause bone pain-possibly a lot of patients with fibromyalgia

What does it do for us:

Immune Function:

• 150,000 IU daily for 3 days usually will knock out anything viral and possibly bacterial as well.
• It is directly anti-viral and anti-bacterial.
• It also shifts the immune system into activity.

Cancer Prevention:

• It has been shown to decrease the incidence of breast, ovarian and colon cancers.
• This was noticed when looking at regions with high death rates for these diseases, and they are almost all in northern climates.
• It may or may not help once the cancer is established, but people do better with their prognosis when cancer is diagnosed in the summer months.
• May arrest the growth of malignant cells
• May decrease metastases

Osteoporosis:

• Decreases the rate of fractures
• Increase calcium reabsorption in the kidneys
• Improves neuromotor function, fewer falls
• Aids in the absorption of calcium in the gut

Autoimmune Disease:

• Lower incidence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and type I Diabetes Mellitus closer to the equator
• Has been shown to help stop developing new lesions in MS
• Should be adequate to prevent autoimmune process from starting, again as part of a healthy immune system

Decreases Inflammation:

• Improves Osteoarthritis
• Decreases risk of stroke and hypertension (high blood pressure) from an antiinflammatory stand point
• One study showed vast improvement in congestive heart failure which is a highly inflammatory process with 2000 IU daily

Other places it may work:

• Lowers blood pressure by 5-10 points
• Improves depression symptoms (SAD)
• Increases insulin sensitivity
• Decreases periodontal disease
• Necessary for blood clotting
• Necessary for thyroid function
• May help with migraines
• May help with seizures

Supplementation:

• You really can’t get much from the diet unless you eat a lot of cod liver oil.
• I still don’t recommend obsessive sunbathing with baby oil.
• Supplement with Vitamin D3 only.  Oral is fine even if levels are really low.

It is so important to have adequate levels of vitamin D.  You should not, however, take high levels on your own without having a level done by your doctor.  A vitamin D level is a quick blood test and very inexpensive.  Supplementing with vitamin D is also inexpensive, especially compared to the many health benefits.