Spreading the love (and life)

(Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I do not hold a degree in medicine nor do I put myself out there as an expert in medicine. The following post reflects research I’ve personally done and conclusions I’ve reached based on my personal experience over the last few months. As with any new medicine or therapy, you should consult with your physician).

Hands down. This is the most important post I’ve done.

Recently, several doctors I know (including my favorite one, my dad) have exhaustingly researched a new treatment therapy and prevention method in medicine. Their interests were peaked during a conference two of our docs attended this past fall in Washington DC. A comment made in passing by one of the speakers got our doctors wondering what exactly it was the speaker was referring to by his remark.

Our doctors returned from the conference and for the next few months, didn’t think much about the comment. Then, in early March, my dad remembered the comment and began researching the topic. Extensively.

His research has changed his life and more importantly, the lives of his patients.

If you suffer from any of the following conditions, or have a family history of such, you should consider beginning this treatment now.

Osteoporosis
Cancer (Breast, colon, prostate, ovarian)
Obesity
Diabetes
Depression
Multiple Sclerosis
Hypertension
Trouble sleeping
Muscle Aches
Infertility
Arthritis

Research has found a common link between these conditions. It’s probably the most under diagnosed condition in the world.

Conservative studies estimate that the following populations suffer from this condition:

32% of doctors and medical school students

40% of the US population

42% of African American women of child bearing age

60% of all hospitalized patients

76% of all pregnant women

Treatment for this condition costs approximately $0.05/day and is available without a prescription. A simple $90 blood test will reveal if you suffer from this condition. I was recently diagnosed with this condition. So was the Hubs. And my mom. And my dad. And my younger sister. And my aunt. And my grandmother. And my BFF.
What exactly is this medical condition?

Vitamin D deficiency.

That’s right. My name is Jessica and I’m vitamin D deficient. It’s OK, because chances are…so are you. And you. And you.

16 weeks ago I learned about my condition. I received a relatively conservative treatment and I’m now 16 lbs lighter, I sleep through the night, my appetite is decreased, and my energy level is the highest I can remember.

I. Feel. Wonderful.

Vitamin D is the vitamin your skin produces when you spend time in the sun. You can also get small amounts of Vitamin D in certain foods such as salmon, sardines, and milk (which is fortified with vitamin D).

Here’s a brief run down of how this thing works:

Vitamin D provides an important role in cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation. Cells that are properly nutrified (I totally made up that word) with vitamin D go through a normal, healthy cell cycle. They live, reproduce, and die in a healthy manner. Cells that are not properly nutrified misbehave, often times attacking healthy cells, misfiring (thus sending incorrect signals to the brain), and prematurely dying.

Vitamin D deficiency has most closely been linked as the cause of osteoporosis. Vitamin D is needed for the body to properly absorb calcium. Low levels of D prevent the body from taking calcium from food sources. The human body will maintain necessary calcium levels at all costs. Therefore, when a person is deficient, their body cannot absorb calcium and therefore, must take it from other sources. The largest source of calcium in the body is in the bones. The body will rob calcium from the bones when vitamin D levels are too low.

Previous and current research also links vitamin D to cancer treatment and prevention. Vitamin D inhibits inappropriate cell division and metastasis, reduces blood vessel formation around tumors, and regulates proteins that affect tumor growth. Recent research out of Creighton supports the already prevalent Vitamin D and cancer link.

I drink approximately 2 gallons of skim milk/week. I thought for sure I would have a normal level of Vitamin D. Nope. My pre-treatment level was in the “insufficient” range (my level was 26).I took one 50,000 IU pill of Vitamin D2 a week for 8 weeks (prescription strength). I didn’t feel any differently and I was given an 8 week treatment, so after I took my last pill, that was it. About two weeks later, I starting feeling badly. I was tired all of the time and I was just dragging. My dad advised me to recheck my vitamin D level and then begin taking 3,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 on a daily basis. One week into the daily treatment, I was feeling much better.

After a month of being on D3, I had my level rechecked. It was normal with a result of 63 (”normal” being above 50).

I continue to take 3,000 IU/daily. I continue to feel great, have kept off the weight, eat less food, and have a good amount of energy.

The results my dad has personally witnessed with patients in his practice is absolutely amazing. Patients with psoriasis, sickle cell anemia, back pain, depression, high cholesterol have each seen results from increased vitamin D consumption.

The research is out there and continues to grow. Unfortunately, there are a few problems:

1) Most doctors are ignorant to the Vitamin D potential. Almost no one is checking it and therefore, almost no one is treating it.

2) “Normal” ranges vary from lab to lab, so providers that see a level of 25 and the reference range for the lab is 20-100, they are less likely to treat the patient for deficiency. Vitamin D experts agree that levels less than 20 are deficient, less than 32 are insufficent. Experts consider levels over 50 to be “normal” or sufficient.

Because I love and care about each of you, I think you should…….

1) Ask your doctor to order a vitamin D level on you. The specific name of the lab test is “Vitamin D 25-OH” or “Vitamin D 25-dyhydroxide.” Also have your blood calcium levels checked (calcium serum) because the only contraindication to taking vitamin D is if you are hypercalcemic (if you have too much calcium in your blood). This means you should absolutely NOT take vitamin D supplements if you have too much calcium. Only a calcium serum blood test will reveal this.

2) Research Vitamin D and educate yourself. Doing so will start you on the path to wellness. If you’re a female and you plan on having children, please become vitamin D sufficient so your baby will have a reduced risk of childhood malignancy, type I diabetes, and mental health disorders. The best website to study is www.vitamindcouncil.com.

3) Based on your results, begin taking Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) at appropriate levels. Based on the research I’ve done and the countless conversations I’ve had with physicians who are educated on this topic, I would suggest 3,000 IU’s daily. Larger people (those of us that carry around a little extra weight) should take more since Vitamin D is fat soluble. We need more than the average sized person.

4) Begin enjoying the life changing benefits of providing your body with enough Vitamin D to heal itself!

Cheers to a healthy life and weight loss!

July 17th, 2007 Posted by Jessica | Life, Vitamin D | 7 comments