Link adds to growing list of possible health issues related to lack of vitamin
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comLow vitamin D levels linked to pregnancy risk
Seeded on Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:43 PM EDT (msnbc.com)
- msnbc.com sites & shows:
- TODAY
- Rock Center
- Nightly News
- Meet the Press
- Dateline
- Morning Joe
- Hardball
- Ed
- Maddow
- Last Word
- msnbc tv
Leave a Comment:
I take 5,000 IU's of Vitamin D per day (D3 to be exact) and that doesn't include what's in my multivitamin. I don't get outside much during the day, so I know my D levels are low. And I've been fine for taking that much. I also don't get sick as often as I used to before taking Vitamin D.
I think the U.S. minimum requirements for Vitamin D are probably a lot lower than they should be. People should get a minimum of 2,000 IU's in my opinion, but it depends on the person and their blood tests. Of course, you should consult your doctor ... but judging by years' past ... doctors don't know everything even though they think they do. They do know more than the average person or website, however.
It would be great to get nutrients from food, but thanks to GM crops to grow faster to allow for 3 crops per field per year (which also depletes the soil of nutrients) and hormone/antibiotic injected meat animals, our food is losing it's nutritional value in leaps and bounds. Even for those eating a healthy diet, you are likely still vitamin deficient. Of course the docs lambaste you to always wear sunscreen, don't go out in the middle of the day - so you can't get enough vitamin D that way because you are paranoid about cancer.
It only takes 15 min of sun exposure to make all of the Vitamin D you need for the day. Sunscreens don't kick in until 30 min after they're applied. Simply put on your sunscreen no more than 15 min before you leave the house and you're good to go on both fronts.
I will say that even though I eat a very healthy all-natural diet, I do notice I start to feel sluggish if I forget to take my vitamins for a couple of days.
I found out last year that I'm vitamin D deficient (I found out I was extremely deficient), and surprisingly, I also found out that the tendonitis that was diagnosed in BOTH of my shoulders (I'm only 34 now and these were found about 5 years ago or so) WENT AWAY after my first "rescue round" of 50,000 UI once a week for 8 weeks.
Yeah - joint aches (chronic) were developing due to my deficiency. Well, I wasn't as vigilant as a should have been with my post "rescue round" regimen of 2 Vit. D (2000 UI) daily and when I went back in for bloodwork after I started feeling achy again a few months later - I was STILL "insufficient" on Vit D levels.
I tell ya, EVERYONE should get ONE baseline blood draw on their Vit. D levels yearly with their physical. They say that drinking soda can lessen your levels (I don't drink that much - less than a single soda a day), and of course, if you're fair skinned and avoid going out in the sun (like me), it still won't matter if you drink a ton of milk (like me) - you're going to lose your healthy levels.
Processed foods (lunchmeats, Lunchables, crackers, etc.) are also negligent in their Vit. D input to our diets.
GET your blood test during your next physical (under insurance, the labs are still relatively cheap). I SWEAR, if you're Vit. D deficient and you can get your levels back up, you will feel like NEW person!
I agree, I agree, I agree - plantar fasciitis cured completely and carpal tunnel improved immensely and lots of other benefits - too many to mention - I have taken 5,000 iu a day for 18 months to bring my levels up (regular testing to ensure no toxicity) and I was only in the "INSUFFICIENT" category when I was diagnosed and commenced on supplementation. Even after all that time I'm still below the optimum base level recommended by Dr John Cannell but getting there.
YES - EVERYONE - PARTICULARLY PREGNANT WOMEN - SHOULD HAVE 25 hydroxyvitamin D tests DONE. ONCE YEARLY FOR SURE OR TWICE YEARLY if they have been shown to be in any way insufficent/deficient. ANY PREGNANT WOMAN WHO ISN'T PROVIDED WITH THE MEANS TO IMPROVE THEIR VITAMIN D LEVEL THROUGH SENSIBLE SUN EXPOSURE, SUPPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF BLOOD LEVELS UNDER THE CARE OF THEIR DOCTOR SHOULD CONSIDER A NEW DOCTOR FAST! Proper monitoring of blood levels will ensure no toxicity occurs and that the mum-to-be gets the vitamin D she and her baby need both during pregnancy and after the birth of the baby.
Remember also that Vitamin D3 is better absorbed by the body than Vitamin D2 and D2 is what most supplements contain. here is a link to a great Vitamin D3 product for those looking to increase D3. Vitamin D3 is also better at warding off the flu virus than the actual flu vaccine!!
Product: http://biovedawellness.com/products/
Vitamin D3 article: http://biovedawellness.com/2010/08/preparing-for-flu-season-naturally/
A recent study (by doctors) based on blood tests found that people taking 5000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day had blood levels of Vitamin D less than optimal.
The doctors started recommending these patients start taking 7000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day to achieve optimal Vitamin D blood levels and then plan to repeat the blood tests for follow-on study.
A recommendation of less than 2000 IU/day may soon prove to be basis for malpractice suits.
Yes, it appears that body weight has a major impact on vitamin D storage and circulating vitamin D and it has been suggested by a well known expert in vitamin D that 1000 iu per 25 lbs body weight is required per day.