What About Vitamin D?

Vitamin D has received a lot of attention in the news lately and with good reasons. There is a tremendous amount of research involving D and new reports all the time. Vitamin D is linked foremost with bone health and is obtained most commonly by exposing our skin to sunshine. However, it appears to be also involved with our immune system, thereby affecting our day-to-day health. Low levels have to linked to an increased risk of influenza; another report links chronic vaginal infections to low D levels.

The government officially recommended recently that the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of D be raised to 600 I.U. daily, up from 400 I.U.. However, for the majority of women, this may be too low. Studies also show that 80% of women are actually deficient in Vitamin D when blood levels are obtained. We have found this to be true in our office also. If you are deficient, that you may need from 2000 to 5000 units per day to raise your level into a healthy zone. In this area of the country, you cannot obtain any D from the sun for a 6 month interval so supplements are often necessary, at least through the fall and winter months.

Dr. Collins - 1/1/2011

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