Vitamin D & Calcium

Original Article:

An Oldie Vies for Nutrient of the Decade by Jane E. Brody (NY Times Personal Health 2/19/08)


URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/health/19brod.html


Synopsis:

From recent studies , high blood levels of vitamin D are linked to greater strength and better balance. A dosage of 800 i.u. of Vitamin D along with 1200 milligrams of calcium can promote bone health.

Vitamin D also was found to strikingly reduce tumor growth in animal studies. And a large number of observational studies in people have linked low vitamin D levels to an increased risk of cancer, including cancers of the breast, rectum, ovary, prostate, stomach, bladder, esophagus, kidney, lung, pancreas and uterus as well as Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Vitamin D also seems to dampen an overactive immune system. The incidence of autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis has been limked to low levels of Vitamin D.


My comments:

My most recent blood test revealed a low level of vitamin D (85 out of an optimal 135), so my interest in this article was rather personal. My doctor suggested a daily dosage of 1000 i.u. Vitamin D and 1200 milligrams of Calcium. It was a surprise to me that I have low vitamin D levels. I live in sunny southern California and spend a lot of time outdoors. I am asian and have a permanent tan because of long periods spent on the tennis courts and beaches and hiking trails. My doctor explained to me that as we get older, the ability of our skin to absorb Vitamin D naturally is considerably impaired, so that we will need to take more of it in supplementary forms.

Calcium had always been safe to to be taken in large doses because the body can handle the excess easily. But there are some concerns that large doses of Vitamin D may cause toxicity, so it is important not to exceed 2000 i.u. per day.

My feelings on this regimen are that since the intake of calcium and Vitamin D has been in practice for many years and had not been found to cause any side effects, it is an easy and inexpensive way to bolster bone health, especially for mature women who are near or past menopause, and as for the possible added benefits of reducing cancer risk, that even gives us more reason to do so.