vascular calcification and inflammation. Those living farther north (less sun exposure and lower D levels) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. In a 1998 study of patients with high blood pressure, subjects were exposed to ultraviolet-B sun rays three times a week for 3 months. Vitamin D levels went up by 180% and blood pressure normalized.
Fibromyalgia In a 2009 study, 100 patients with
Fibromyalgia (FM) were given enough D to raise their blood levels to 50 ng/ml. After 6 months there were dramatic improvements in chronic fatigue, restless legs, anxiety, depression, muscle spasm, tingling, and concentration.
Infections, Flu & the Common Cold
Vitamin D plays an important role in
mustering your immune defenses against infectious disease such as the flu and com- mon cold. A March 2010 study published in the journal Nature Immunology explained this link.
T cells, which are a type of white blood
cell known as lymphocytes, play a central role in fighting infection. According to the study, “When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen; it extends a signaling device or ‘antenna’ known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin D. This means the T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease. If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won’t even begin to mobilize.” In other words, low vitamin D levels
hinder your natural disease-fighting mecha-
nisms. Vitamin D works by increasing your body’s production of up to 300 different antimicrobial proteins that are actually far more effective than any synthetic antibiotic or antiviral medication. And D does this at a fraction of the cost and with virtually no risks, toxicity, or side effects. A recent study of over 19,000 Americans found that those with the lowest blood vitamin D levels re- ported having significantly more recent colds or cases of the flu. Furthermore, while adequate D levels can help reduce the chances of getting the flu, it can help treat it also. If you are coming down with flu-like symptoms and have not been on vitamin D you can take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat the acute infection.
Sources of D & D Treatment The best source of D is exposure to the
sun’s UVB rays. 10-20 minutes of intense sun exposure to the arms and legs twice a week is adequate for ideal levels. It is impossible to get overdose levels of D obtained natural- ly—the body will break down and excrete the excess. However, concerns over skin cancer limit the applicability of this method. Oral supplementation of D is the most
practical. The best form of D is D3. This is the naturally occurring and metabolically ac- tive form. However, virtually all prescription D, and the D in fortified foods (such as milk and OJ), is D2. D2 has a shorter half-life, binds more poorly to proteins, and converts to the metabolically active form 500 times slower than D3. Therefore, foods fortified with D are relatively poor and inefficient sources of D. If you are taking D3 supple- ments, and your blood levels do not go up, try a different brand of supplement first before increasing the dose. There is a huge
variation in the quality of supplements. The “normal” lab range for D3 is 30-
100 ng/ml. However, ideal levels of D3 are between 50-80 ng/ml. While 2,000-4,000 IU of D3 daily will be adequate for most people, it is important to measure your levels of D, both to insure proper treatment and to prevent overdose. Doses as high as 10,000 IU/day may be needed. Also, you may need to adjust your dose seasonally, increasing it in winter months (less sun exposure) and de- creasing it in the summer. Levels should be checked every 6-8 weeks until stable, then once every 6-12 months.
Submitted by Paul Tortland, D.O. of Valley Sports Physicians and Orthopedic Medi- cine. For more information, call (860) 675- 0357 or visit
www.jockdoctors.com. See ad on page 3.
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