Vitamin D is a hormone produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight or consumed in the diet, and converted to its active form, calcitriol, in the liver and kidneys. Vitamin D helps regulate serum calcium and phosphorus levels by increasing intestinal absorption of calcium and stimulating tubular reabsorption of calcium. Vitamin D also affects numerous other functions in the body.
A recent discovery – from a meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials – shows that supplemental Vit D significantly reduces all-cause mortality. This emphasizes the medical, ethical and legal implications of promptly diagnosing and adequately treating vid D deficiency. Not only such deficiencies are common but Vitamin D deficiency is implicated in most of the diseases of the civilization.
Vitamin D’s final metabolic product is potent, pleiotropic, repair and maintenance, seco-steroid hormone that targets more than 200 human genes in a wide variety of tissues, meaning it has as many mechanisms of action as genes it targets.
One of the most important genes vitamin D up-regulates if cathelicidin, a naturally occuring broad spectrum antibiotic. Natural vitamin D levels, those found in humans living in a sun-rich environment, are between 40-70 ng/mL, levels obtained by a few modern humans. Assessing serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) is the only way to make the diagnosis and ti assure treatment is adequate and safe.
Treatment of Vitamin D deficiency in otherwise healthy population with 2000-7000 IU vitamin D3/day should be sufficient to maintain year-round 25(OH)D levels between 40-70 ng/mL. In those with serious illnesses associated with vitamin D deficiency, such as cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, autism, and a host of other illnesses, doses should be sufficient to maintain year-round 25(OH)D between 55-70 ng/mL
Other points to remember:
- Serum vitamin D testing should be for 25-OH not 1,25 OH vitamin D
- When supplementing vitamin D, choose D3 over D2
- Add vitamin K as necessary; if possible, monitor blood levels
- Obesity increases the need for vitamin D supplementation; weight loss may reduce need for vitamin D supplementation
If you would like to check your Vit D levels through our clinical testing services please email info@probodystyling.com or message us directly on the website. We work with Genova Labs, and as a registered practitioner Andreea can run any type of clinical testing for you.