Increased Vitamin D Intake to Treat Depression, Obesity and Cancer

It is estimated that over 1 billion people around the globe are deficient in vitamin D. This widespread vitamin D deficiency may be related to the increase of many diseases, such as cancer, depression, obesity, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and osteoporosis.


What does vitamin D do in the body?
Vitamin D is a precursor to a hormone called calcitriol, which has been known to help build strong bones and teeth. This important nutrient is responsible for maintaining normal calcium metabolism. Vitamin D also promotes normal cell growth and helps maintain hormonal balance as well as supporting the immune system. Calcitriol becomes a component of the cells, and thereby helps regulate metabolic processes. Recent news about vitamin D points to its use in preventing obesity and insulin resistance. Research conducted over the past 60 years shows that vitamin D intake reduces the incidence of cancer, especially breast and prostate. Vitamin D is also under investigation for treating depression. High doses of vitamin D have been effective in treating symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), suggesting that vitamin D regulates melatonin and other neurotransmitters.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include muscle pain, weak bones, low energy, fatigue, low immunity, depression, mood swings and sleep difficulties. Kidney problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and multiple sclerosis may also be signs of vitamin D deficiency.

Foods that contain vitamin D
Fatty fish are the best sources of vitamin D, especially mackerel, salmon and sardines. Eggs, dairy and organ meats are also good sources. It is a good idea to add fatty fish and fortified daily products to your diet, but even so, many people need nutritional supplementation to obtain adequate vitamin D.

Vitamin D from sunlight
While Vitamin D can be synthesized in the skin when exposure to sunlight, you must live where the UVB rays are strong. North of latitude 40 is the dividing line, where the sun is only strong enough in the summer to trigger vitamin D production. Above this line, which runs from New York City to Northern California, exposure to sunlight is NEVER strong enough to produce vitamin D through the skin.

Increasing the daily dose
New research from the University of California suggests raising the daily recommendation from 200- 400 IU per day to 2,000 IU per day. Eighteen researchers have begun a "call to action," suggesting that health authorities begin encouraging 2,000 IU daily intake of vitamin D for most people. Dr. Jonathan Wright has long recommended at least 2,000 IU per day, but has found that most people need as much as 4,000 IU to prevent deficiency. In 2001, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that supplemental doses 1,000 IU were not enough to raise the blood levels to normal, in half of the study participants.

Overdose?
Daily sun exposure can equal 10,000 and 20,000 IU of vitamin D, and produce no ill effects. Research on dietary doses of up to 10,000 IU a day has shown no adverse effects. Many health professionals, from Andrew Weil, MD,( http://www.drweil.com) to Jonathan Wright, MD, have long been recommending doses of 2,000 IU or more.

Get tested
A simple blood test can discern vitamin D levels in the blood. Optimal levels are now considered to be between 50-70 ng/mL. (Test results as low as 20 ng/mL have been considered normal levels in the past.) Get tested today, and ask your health professional about increasing your daily vitamin D supplementation to 2,000 IU, as the new research suggests.