Vitamin D, More Than Just for Bones

Vitamin D is quite the popular vitamin these days. Historically, we have known that it is essential for healthy bones. After all, Vitamin D is in mild and dairy products. The American Dairy Association has spent a lot of money to teach us we must consume mild to have healthy bones... but that is another blog post...

Vitamin D, it appears, is quite the supper star. It shouldn't come as a shock, really.

Daily consumption should be much higher than the current RDA, or recommended daily allowance, which is 200iu. The RDA is the minimum level. Anything below it would cause disease.

A single t-spoon of Cod Liver Oil, however, provides 1300 iu of Vitamin D. Fish is a great source of Vitamin D, as well as dairy products, eggs, and grains.

Some report toxicity if more than  2000 iu are taken daily.

Vitamin D is produced within the body when exposed to sunlight.

As stated before, Vitamin D is well known for its benefits in helping to absorb and use calcium in the body, but did you know that it does so much more? Here is a short list of some of the KNOWN benefits of Vitamin D:
1) Reduces Inflammation
2) Promotes growth and reproduction of all cells of the body.
3) Has been shown helpful in the treatment of asthma
4) Has recently been shown at LSU as helping patients with Cystic Fibrosis.
5) It promotes a healthy immune system
6) It can shorten the duration and reduce the severity of colds and other infections
7) It is essential in healthy nerve function.
8) It is necessary for healthy muscle function.

Low blood levels of vitamin D is a significant risk factor for the formation of cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease. It has been found to cause chronic lower back pain. It can cause persistent arm or leg pain and other forms of musculoskeletal pain.

Which brings up the question: When was the last time that your doctor ordered a blood test to see if you are Vitamin D deficient?  Routine measurements of serum vitamin D levels needs to become a routine component of patient care. 

Dr. Alex Vasquez, DC, ND, DO, recommends doses of Vitamin D at the levels of 2000-10000 iu  for patients that suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain, and in particular, lower back pain.

If you are having chronic back pain, perhaps it is due to a low level of Vitamin D in your blood. Let me know and we can order a simple test to find out.

Keith Biggs, DC
eastmesachiropractor.com

Source: http://biggschiropractic.blogspot.com/2010/08/vitamin-d-more-than-just-for-bones.html