Health Briefs: Vitamin D
Dr. Robin P Hood, DC, PA, Chiropractic Physician

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Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin along with vitamins A, E, and K.  Actually Vitamin D is not a vitamin but a steroid hormone. It is well documented that low levels of Vitamin D are associated with increased risk of respiratory infection.  Vitamin D deficiency seems to be present in those people with increased COVID severity who progress to pneumonia, ventilator support, and death.1

At our office we have conducted many serum Vitamin D levels on patients of all ages.  Most usually these tests come back showing the patient is deficient.  Vitamin D deficiency is certainly more common in late Fall, Winter, and early Spring when sunlight on the skin is more difficult to obtain.  Vitamin D levels are lower in people who live in higher latitudes for the same reason.  If you have dark skin, avoid the sun, use sunblock, are over-weight, or if your diet is poor, be on the look-out for Vitamin D deficiency.  Another factor to consider is your age and health.  Some older people do not synthesize Vitamin D even when exposed to sunlight.  The reference range for Vitamin D is 20-100 ng./ml.  Many laboratories and health experts agree that serum concentrations above 30 ng/ml are preferable­.2 Vitamin D also has a positive effect on testosterone.  Lower levels of Vitamin D are associated with lower levels of testosterone, declines in muscle strength, and function3

Some symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency are 1) Fatigue 2) Bone and muscle pain oftentimes intermittent/ bone loss 3) Obesity 4) Constipation 5) Hair loss 6) Infections 7) Depression 8) Slow wound healing.

It is well to remember that because Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin it is possible to get too much resulting in Hypervitaminosis D.  That is why it is so important to test.  Some symptoms of Hypervitaminosis D are:  1) Nausea 2) Loss of appetite 3) Hypercalcemia with resultant calcium being deposited in soft-tissue such as eyes, blood vessels, kidneys, bladder, muscles as well as joints. 4) Constipation 5) Kidney failure 6) Bone loss 7) Excessive thirst and urination.  How do you know your Vitamin D level?  Have a lab test.  We test for Vitamin D and provide you with the written results. Our current price for the Vitamin D test is $60 (this is subject to change).  We only use state and federally certified labs. Call us.

  1. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Research Newsletter, Winter 2021
  2. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Research Newsletter, Winter 2021
  3. AgingMatters, V3, Issue 36, 2020, p.19

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