Older Population Experiences Vit D Deficiency More Commonly – What Are The Risks?
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Having severe vitamin D deficiency may put people aged 65 years and older at more than twice the risk of having self-reported respiratory disease, according to an article published online May 6 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.[1] The author Dr Hirani had in 2010 identified a similar pattern in older member of the UK population, and described it as a public health problem.[2]
Vitamin D Testing – What About Reliability?
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Following a series of questions raised by colleagues concerning the accuracy of vitamin D testing we asked Doctors Data, based in the USA to respond to some of the general concerns raised, as their lab has recently undertaken an extensive review of the methodologies utilised, to prepare for the next generation of vitamin D testing.
High-Dose Vitamin D May Alleviate Menstrual Cramps: Study
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Women who experience painful menstrual cramps could find relief from high-dose vitamin D3, according to new research – which suggests the dietary supplement could provide an alternative to painkilling drugs that are currently used.[1] Women with a history of severe menstrual cramps reported significantly less pain when they took an ultra-high dose of vitamin D five days before their next expected period.
So How Much Vitamin D do I Need?
In practice life a number of questions arise relating to all supplemental suggestions and vitamin D is no different.
• What do I need to be healthy?
• How do I know what my levels are now?
• How do I raise my levels if I need to?
• What foods, supplements or lifestyle changes do I need to do?
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The Benefits Of Vitamin D On Gait, Muscle Strength And Balance In Older Adults
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The usefulness of vitamin D is increasingly being explored and as a result better studies are being collated and brought into publication. A study published the Journal of the American Geriatric Society in Dec 2011 reveals that Vit D status is linked to physical functionality and represents a suitable replacement option. Whilst the dose recommended is modest, it is able to record an improvement, higher levels may provide greater benefit depending on base line levels.
70% of Europeans suffer from low vitamin D levels
A group of experts has prepared a report on vitamin D supplementation for menopausal women after it was revealed that Europeans have suffered an alarming decrease in their levels of this vitamin. In their opinion, the ideal would be to maintain blood levels above 30 ng/ml. Vitamin D is essential to the immune system and processes such as calcium absorption.[1]
The team of experts analysed the conditions and diseases that are associated with vitamin D deficiency and recommended the intake of supplements in postmenopausal women. As well as stimulating calcium and phosphorus absorption, the vitamin D system has numerous functions. Low vitamin D levels are linked to rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and the risk of bone fracture, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, infections and degenerative diseases.
“In healthy postmenopausal women, we have seen that a good level of vitamin D is linked to good physical fitness and has an effect on body fat mass as well as muscle strength and balance,” state the authors of the article published in the Maturitas journal.
The researcher explains that patients with risk factors associated with hypovitaminosis (obesity, pigmented skin, intestinal malabsorption syndromes and living in regions close to the North and South poles) should increase their intake to up to 4,000 IU per day. There is scientific evidence that a daily dose of 4,000 IU/day is not poisonous in healthy people.
Reference
[1] Faustino R. Pérez-López, Marc Brincat, C. Tamer Erel, Florence Tremollieres, Marco Gambacciani, Irene Lambrinoudaki, Mette H. Moen, Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Svetlana Vujovic, Serge Rozenberg, Margaret Rees. “Vitamin D and postmenopausal health”. Maturitas, 71, 83-88, Jan 2012. View Full Paper
Cod Liver Oil vs TB
In a feature article in the Christmas 2011 edition of the well-known British Medical Journal, Professor Emeritus Malcolm Green revisited an 1848 study looking at the potential benefits of Cod Liver Oil in the treatment of Tuberculosis.[1]
In the study, carried out by physicians at the Hospital for Consumption, Chelsea (now the Royal Brompton Hospital), 542 patients with consumption (tuberculosis) received standard treatment with cod liver oil. These patients were compared with 535 ‘control’ patients who received standard treatment alone (without cod liver oil).[2]
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Mega Dose Vit D – Really?
Vitamin D supplementation, and what levels to use are common discussions amongst Nutritional Therapists. I have written a number of commentaries and reviews on this subject over the last couple of years and a recent paper published in the Journal: Joint Bone Spine presents a very interesting take on mega supplementation to restore Vit D status.[1]
Rather than looking at the results as a directive for vigorous upfront Vit D supplementation, as there are obvious considerations that make this as a universal approach very questionable, it remains clinically relevant, and may provide a degree of confidence. What is of greater interest is the rapidly declining levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) after the first month and the differences noted in the weight of the patient.
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Vitamin D and Children
Suggestions for Vitamin D supplementation and children
The need for oral vitamin D supplementation depends on the latitude of the child’s place of residence and the frequency of sunlight exposure as well as the time and timing. This summary chart makes suggestions concerning weight, rather than age to assist with making a clinical decision.
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Vitamin D and Parkinson’s Disease Correlations Identified
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Back in 2008 a team of researchers published a paper in the Archives of Neurology that exposed a striking incidence of Vitamin D deficiency in patients diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease.[1] They compared the Parkinson’s patients with healthy controls and patients with diagnosed Alzheimers disease. In both groups the Parkinson’s patients presented with reduced Vit D status compared to the others.
