Written by Dr. Sandra Miranda, ND

Vitamin D Deficiency occurs in up to 40 to 50% of the population.

It is a common health problem.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause accelerated bone loss, increased fractures in the elderly, increased risk to catch the flu and other infections and an increased risk of developing cancer and certain autoimmune diseases.

Recently, researchers have confirmed a new definition of what is considered Vitamin D deficiency.   For optimal health, our blood work (25- hydroxyvitamin D / 25-OH-D) should be at a level of 75 to 250 nmol/L, anything less than this is considered a deficiency.  This is a test that either your medical doctor or naturopathic doctor can do for you.

Throughout most of the human history, vitamin D has been obtained almost always from the skin (sun exposure) since typical diets contain little or no vitamin D.   Sunlight exposure is the preferred method of obtaining vitamin D.  This is because the human skin possesses a mechanism to prevent the release of excessive amounts of vitamin D into the circulation.

An ideal recommendation would be to have exposure of the arms & legs or the hands, arms & face to sunlight 15 minutes 2-3 x week between 10am and 3pm during the spring, summer and autumn.    After the initial 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight exposure, application of a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 would be recommended.  Of course, the risk vs benefits of sun exposure should be assessed on an individual basis.

If you are too sensitive to the sun or if your lifestyle or job does not allow you to be out in the sun for this long, then supplementation may be your next option.  The best vitamin D supplementation is the emulsified form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in liquid form.  The dosage will depend on results of blood work, health concerns, age, body mass index, skin colour and amount of sunlight exposure.   Be aware that available evidence suggest that regular recommendations of vitamin D intake may not be sufficient to promote optimal health.

Call us today for a 10 min. free consultation at 905-239-3900.  We can tell you more about our vitamin D test and a complete nutritional evaluation.