Vitamin D may be called a vitamin, but it is really functions as a hormone! Who needs it? You do! It is responsible for over 150 known biological functions. It has always been known for enhancing calcium absorption in the small intestine, as well s phosphorous and magnesium. But we now know that most, if not all cell membranes have receptor sites. It was once thought that very few people had Vitamin D deficiency, because we don’t see anybody with Rickets Disease(a bone deformity illness) anymore. But now, it has been found that the majority of people have a deficiency, even in Florida, even many that live at the equator. Vitamin D is our daytime hormone, balanced by Melatonin, our night time hormone. Vitamin D is involved in our immune response, cardiovascular health, and insulin utilization, and it is anti-cancer! Vitamin D deficiency can cause depression. Deficiencies have been linked to multiple sclerosis and atrial fibrillation. It controls over 200 genes! Now there is an easy way to determine your levels with a finger stick!
Why are our Vitamin D levels so important? Like all other hormones, if you are in the lowest quartile of 25(OH)D levels(under 17.8 ng/mL), you have an independent risk factor for all-mortality. What does that mean? You are going to die sooner than later if your Vitamin D levels are too low. RDA levels are set at 440 iu/day. I can tell you if that is how much you are getting, you are definitely in the bottom 25%. It has been shown one can take up to 40,000 iu/day without toxicity. It has been my experience that most people need between 10,000-20,000 iu/day to bring them to optimal levels. Most lab values are now up to 30, on the bottom range and to 100, on the top of the range. Like all other hormones, you want to be in the top quartile. That would be 75-100 ng/mL.
Not all supplements are the same quality. You need to be taking D3. It is not a prescription drug! The 50, 000/iu once/week prescription you are getting from your MD is not ideal. It is an extraterrestial synthetic molecule to your body! It is made from radiating fungus and plant matter! It has been altered to make it a drug. You cannot patent a natural substance. This is the same thing pharmaciae has done with fish oil. Take D3, not D2. We prefer a sublingual form of vitamin D3 combined with vitamin K2 supplementation as these two nutrients have many common functions in the body.
This service is provided through Hoffman Clinic for Optimal Health.Call today to get your levels checked. (813) 985-1322.
Kelly Miller, DC NMD FASA FBAARM CFDMP*, is a physician for Hoffman Clinic for Optimal Health.
*There is currently no licensure for Naturopathic physicians (NMD) in the state of Florida and the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine does not currently recognize the credentialing of the Fellowship from the Brazil-American Academy for Aging and Regenerative Medicine (FBAARM), or the Certification in Functional Diagnostic Medicine (CFDMP) from Functional Medicine University.