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Vitamin D and Current Issues
What are some current issues?
Vitamin D and osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis is most often associated with inadequate calcium intake. However, a deficiency of vitamin D also contributes to osteoporosis by reducing calcium absorption. While rickets and osteomalacia are extreme examples of vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis is an example of a long-term effect of vitamin D insufficiency. Adequate storage levels of vitamin D help keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis in older adults, in non-ambulatory individuals (those who have difficulty walking and exercising), in post-menopausal women, and in individuals on chronic steroid therapy.
Vitamin D deficiency, which is often seen in post-menopausal women and older Americans, has been associated with greater incidence of hip fractures. In a review of women with osteoporosis hospitalized for hip fractures, 50 percent were found to have signs of vitamin D deficiency.
All women are encouraged to consult with a physician about their need for vitamin D supplementation as part of an overall plan to prevent and/or treat osteoporosis.
Vitamin D and cancer:
Evidence suggests that vitamin D may be protective against some cancers. Studies suggest that a higher dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D correlates with lower incidence of cancer. Vitamin D emerged as a protective factor in a study of over 3,000 adults (96% of whom were men) who underwent a colonoscopy between 1994 and 1997 to look for polyps or lesions in the colon. About 10% of the group was found to have at least one advanced neoplastic (cancerous) lesion in the colon. There was a significantly lower risk of advanced cancerous lesions among those with the highest vitamin D intake.
Vitamin D and steroids:
Corticosteroid medications such as prednisone are often prescribed to reduce inflammation from a variety of medical problems. These medicines may be essential for medical treatment, but they have potential side effects, including decreased calcium absorption. There is some evidence that steroids may also impair vitamin D metabolism, further contributing to the loss of bone and development of osteoporosis associated with long term use of steroid medications. Individuals on chronic steroid therapy should consult with a qualified health care professional about the need to increase vitamin D intake through diet and/or dietary supplements.
Vitamin D and Alzheimer's disease:
Alzheimer's disease is associated with an increased risk of hip fractures. This may be because many Alzheimer's patients are homebound, frequently sunlight deprived, and older. Physicians should evaluate the need for vitamin D supplementation as part of an overall treatment plan.
Vitamin D and caffeine:
High caffeine intake may accelerate bone loss. Caffeine may inhibit vitamin D receptors, thus limiting absorption of vitamin D and decreasing bone mineral density. There is evidence that increasing calcium intake can counteract any potential negative effect that caffeine may have on bone loss.
Tips for increasing your vitamin D intake
Eat more swordfish, bluefish, salmon, mackerel, or sardines. But swordfish and some species of mackerel are on the list of fish with high mercury levels, so don’t go overboard.
Take a calcium supplement that includes vitamin D. Many brands combine calcium with 200–400 IU of vitamin D.
Take a multivitamin. Multivitamins are a safety net for many nutrients that might otherwise fall through the cracks. Most brands contain 400 IU of vitamin D.
Spend more time outdoors. This is a balancing act, because you don’t want to risk skin cancer in pursuit of more vitamin D production.
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Why Are America’s Bones Shrinking
by Thomas G. Kotronis, Rph |
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