Reason number one - you need adequate sunshine
on enough of your skin to produce Vitamin D. If you live in a northern
latitude, work long hours, avoid sun to avoid skin cancer risk, or have
pigmented skin you probably need to supplement.
Reason two - The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for Vitamin D was set too low. Recent research has shown that Vitamin D is not nearly as toxic as it was thought to be when the RDI was established. Above 40,000 IU per day (international units - 40IU= 1microgram, a micro gram is 1/1,000,000th of a gram) of Vitamin D may be toxic. Though you could probably consume 10,000IU per day, 1000 IU should be sufficient to meet all your needs. (Ask your health care provider.)
Reason three - Everyone, men later than post-menopausal women are at risk for softening of the bones(osteoporosis). Vitamin D supplementation can reduce this bone softening risk and reduce your risk of fracture.
Reason four - Inadequate blood levels of Vitamin D increase our risk of certain cancers.
Reason five - There is an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency. Having this deficiency during pregnancy may cause a neurologic problem in the fetus leading to autism.
Your homework actions:
If you get less than 15 minutes of full sunshine per day on more than just the skin of your hands and face, ask your Doctor about taking a Vitamin D3 supplement (cholecalciferol). About 1000 IU or 25 micrograms per day is an adequate amount.
Assignment number two: Ask your physician about Vitamin D and when he/she would test for deficiency? Compare their answer to this article and leave a comment here about your experience.
If you take Vitamin D already, what brand do you take and how much? If you take Vitamin D, have you told your doctor? Tell me about your experience.
Seems I've been hearing a lot about Vitamin D deficiency these days. I don't get out every day -- chained to my computer most days, but when I do, I don't always use sunscreen right away. I take a calcium supplement with 200 IU of Vit D. I guess that's not quite enough, is it.
Posted by: Denise | June 30, 2008 at 03:52 PM
No Denise,
Vit D is involved as much with brain activity as it is with bones. Because we originally thought it might be toxic, we set our standards too low just high enough to prevent ricketts. Much more is needed than originally anticipated. I would aim for 1000IU per day.
Posted by: Bruce | July 13, 2008 at 09:55 AM