Vitamin D - Hormone Extraordinaire - American Daily News

“Pop Music is aspirin and the blues are vitamins.” ~ Peter Tork

By Jordan Leasure, BA, DC, CCWP

Vitamin D deficiency (hypovitaminosis D) is a very common disorder, especially in the northern states where long winters find millions of Especially here in the Chicagoland area with our long winters spent indoors. We are meant to absorb Vitamin D from the sun, but complications arise. We either don’t get to see it because of work (and winter), we cover up when we are out in the sun, or we use sunscreen to block the vitamin from getting in our skin. And this is not about extensive exposure, just 10 to 15 minutes daily — in bathing suit attire — will provide approximately 10,000IU of Vitamin D. If that’s not part of your regular routine, then we need to talk about why supplements are an option.

Although usually found through a blood test, some symptoms of the deficiency include aches and pains, depression and bone demineralization problems. Vitamin D is fundamentally important for the regulation of how your body functions. Over 200 genes in your body are controlled by the nutrient. At least 35 different tissues in the body have receptors for the vitamin! For example, your insulin (what regulates your blood sugar levels in your body) is benefited by Vitamin D absorption through your pancreas receptors.

Testing is recommended every six months to determine if you’re supplementing with enough Vitamin D to make an impact on your health. Look for a physician or lab that will perform a 25(OH)D test. The ideal blood range for Vitamin D should be 50-70ng/dl — about 20 percent higher for those undergoing cancer or heart disease treatments.

Some common conditions Vitamin D supplementation can improve include blood pressure, depression and low back pain. And, especially during winter months, this may be the answer for boosting your immunity! This nutrient controls the immune response in autoimmune conditions like diabetes, MS and arthritis, which means the body doesn’t attack itself if properly nourished. Vitamin D boosts the immune response your body has to invaders like bacteria and viruses.

Are you currently pregnant or looking to become pregnant? Both mom and baby can benefit from taking Vitamin D. It increases sperm motility and women with higher rates of Vitamin D are correlated with better IVF success rates. Studies have shown a causal link between Vitamin D levels and children with autism.

As you can see, we should all supplement with high quality vitamins D3 and K on a daily basis. A good rule of thumb is to take 1000IU per 30 pounds of body weight. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, your body should be consuming 5000 IU of Vitamin D for maintenance. We recommend clients take double that if their blood tests show a deficiency. We also recommend Vitamin K as a pairing because of the reduced risk of kidney stones when consuming the nutrient.

While you can find Vitamin D pills, our office tends to recommend liquid vitamin supplements as the digestion and absorption will begin immediately in the mouth. However, like any medical concerns, you should talk to a medical physician, especially your functional medicine physician, to see if D deficiency may be the key to some of your health concerns. We recommend testing by Spectracell to determine your exact supplementation needs.

Jordan Leasure, BA, DC, CCWP, is a licensed chiropractor and a certified chiropractic wellness practitioner from Libertyville, Illinois. Her goal is to educate the public on how to Eat Well - Move Well and Think Well.