Vitamin D Fact Sheet
Dated March 2007
What is Vitamin D and why is it important?
Vitamin D is a special chemical substance or chemical needed by the body to:
- control calcium and phosphorus in the blood
- help the bones
- support the immune system
- aid in balance
Vitamin D also appears to have anti-tumor effects.
Where does Vitamin D come from?
We get very little vitamin D in our diet even if we drink vitamin D fortified milk. Vitamin D is mostly made by sunlight exposure and ultraviolet light acting on the skin. Vitamin D produced in the skin is then changed to more active forms, first in the liver and then the kidneys. Most multivitamin pills do not provide adequate amounts of vitamin D.
How do we know if we have enough vitamin D in our body? And what is a good or acceptable level of vitamin D?
Vitamin D level is measured by a special blood test. Adequate levels are thought by most experts to be 40 nanograms/milliliter or higher. Levels below about 30 are considered definitely too low. A low level of vitamin D is known as Vitamin D deficiency.
Many people in the United States have vitamin D deficiency. Why is that?
Most of us do not get enough sunlight exposure to make vitamin D in our skin. Those persons with darker skins need even more sunlight to make adequate vitamin D. Sunscreen use also prevents most vitamin D production in the skin. Studies have shown that even those living in sunny climates often have low levels of Vitamin D unless they are regularly in the sun. But skin specialists advise against sun exposure in order to reduce our risk of skin cancer.
What happens to people who have vitamin D deficiency?
Very low levels of vitamin D over years can:
- increase the chance of weak or brittle bones
- affect balance so the person is more likely to fall
- cause low levels of calcium in the blood
- contribute to achiness in muscles and bones
- possibly have bad effects on the immune system and increase the risk of certain cancers
How is Vitamin D deficiency treated by endocrinologists (hormone and gland experts)?
Vitamin D levels are not that easy to increase once they are low. Vitamin D is stored in the body fat so that once levels in the blood are back to normal it is usually easier to keep them there with lower doses of vitamin D. We usually will do one of the following:
- Treat with prescription strength doses of vitamin D once or twice a week
- Treat with over the counter (non-prescription) vitamin D 1000 units (vitamin D3) pills so that you get 2000 to 4000 units every day. You can take all pills together at the same time. There is no need to space them out during the day.
Will I experience any side effects from vitamin D supplements?
Vitamin D given in these doses described above will cause no side effects.
How about cost of the vitamin D 50,000 units pills?
If you have no prescription coverage, each pill costs between $1.50 and $4.00 depending on the pharmacy. But remember in most cases, you will be taking at most only one pill a week.
Depending on your co-pay, you might find it costs less to pay for the vitamin D pills without using your prescription plan. That may also mean fewer trips to the pharmacy. Decide what works best for you. We will usually write for 12 or 16 pills with a refill. If you want to get only 4 pills at a time and use your prescription plan you can do so. If you prefer to get all 12 (or 16 pills) that’s fine also but most prescription plans will not allow local pharmacies to provide more than one month of treatment at a time.
How do I learn more?
Visit:www.vitamindcouncil.com Or Visit:www.hormone.org