Why should you be aware of Inflammation?

Many researchers from completely different fields of medicine seem to be independently coming to the same conclusion – inflammation plays a key role in the development of what seems like completely unrelated diseases. Arthritis, Asthma, Parkinson’s Disease, Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, Cancer and many other seemingly unrelated diseases all seem to have chronic inflammation as a key underlying mechanism. Chronic Inflammation is a systemic problem, affecting multiple organs in the body and is starting to be acknowledged as a major issue that many of us struggle with, especially as we age. The Standard American Diet is a prime cause of chronic inflammation – sugar, processed foods, dairy, gluten grains and grain fed factory farm animals being huge factors.

Why has Western Medicine been slow to recognize the many problems that result from Inflammation?

Unfortunately the way our medical system is set up, a specialist only looks at the symptoms as they relate to the organ system that he/she has the expertise in. This proves to be an ineffective approach as the symptoms and signs of chronic inflammation are systemic and affect many parts of the body at once. The tools of Western Medicine are drugs and surgery. Surgery obviously can’t address such a systemic problem and there are no drugs that treat the underlying problem, although some may help various symptoms.

What about Anti-Inflammatory drugs?

Although the anti-inflammatory drugs do work, they don’t address the underlying causes and, as we’ve recently learned, can have serious side effects. So although short-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs may be advised in some cases, long-term use can cause serious problems. Instead, I suggest taking fish oil and other anti-inflammatory nutrients like Turmeric and Boswellia. It’s important to get to the source of the inflammation so you can take the necessary steps to alleviate it, not mask it with medications.

Is there any way to test for Inflammation?

Unfortunately, there are not any accurate tests to measure this chronic problem as of yet. The only commonly available test at the moment is the High Sensitive CRP (C-Reactive Protein). CRP is an enzyme made in the liver, which becomes elevated with inflammation. An optimal level would be less than 0.7.

How do you treat Chronic Inflammation?

Avoid pro-inflammatory foods

Avoid sugar and refined foods, processed foods, trans fats, dairy, gluten grains and factory farmed meats, all of which are pro-inflammatory. Try the REMOVE or REVIVE diets – both of these eliminate the harmful foods you need to avoid.

Eat foods that cool inflammation

• Lots of spices – in particular, turmeric, ginger, rosemary and basil
• Lots of fruits and vegetables (preferably organic)
• Wild salmon, sardines, herring and anchovies
• Olive oil

Support your body’s own anti-inflammatory response with specific supplements

• Vitamin D3
• Fish oil
• Probiotics
• Green powdered drinks
• Turmeric
• Boswellia
• A good multivitamin

Balance your gut (gut imbalances are a common source of inflammation)

• Avoid food allergens
• Treat low-grade infections
• Take probiotics

Decrease toxicity (toxicity will cause inflammation)

• Eat organic foods as much as possible
• Decrease the amount of chemicals you put on your skin
• Decrease the amount of chemicals in your home
• Try the REMOVE or REVIVE diets – both of these eliminate the toxic ingredients you need to avoid

Exercise  

There is lots of research showing that physical activity suppresses inflammation.

Lose weight

This is because fat cells fuel inflammation.

Get plenty of rest and relaxation

Stress promotes inflammation and therefore decreasing stress will decrease inflammation.

Brush and floss your teeth

Periodontal disease causes inflammation and flossing prevents periodontal disease.

Try acupuncture

Apart from being able to calm down inflammation, acupuncture is a way to generally improve function.

In essence, my method is to remove what is harmful and add in that which is beneficial. This means removing as many pro-inflammatory foods and toxins as possible, eliminating foods that cause sensitivities or are common food allergens, while at the same time supporting your system with the appropriate nutrients and modalities for it to function more efficiently.

What’s the difference between Acute and Chronic Inflammation?

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or stress. We’re all familiar with the swelling associated with inflammation like when we sprain an ankle, cut ourselves or get an infection. This acute inflammation is a normal immune system response, a natural and necessary part of the healing process. Normally these symptoms subside after a few days, once the immune system has done it’s job to heal the injured area.

On the other hand chronic inflammation occurs when this normal process goes wrong and starts to target even healthy tissue. Progressive doctors accept that chronic inflammation plays a key role in aging and in many ailments including arthritis, heart disease, bone health and allergies.

Chronic inflammation is generally the result of an immune system imbalance. What I’ve seen in my practice is that decreasing inflammation and restoring balance is absolutely essential for long-term health and will likely help ease many of the problems you may be experiencing.

What causes Chronic Inflammation?

Chronic inflammation is usually caused by a combination of factors. There are often underlying nutritional deficiencies or imbalances, which have taken years to develop. Then there’s a trigger, which precipitates an inflammation -some type of injury to the body, or an infection or stress to the body.

The following are the factors that predispose one to chronic inflammation

1. Poor diet (probably the most important)
2. Nutritional deficiencies or imbalances
3. Vitamin D deficiency
4. Gastro-intestinal imbalances
5. Toxicity
6. Hormonal imbalances
7. Excess fat (especially around midsection)
8. Aging
9. Lack of sleep
10. Stress
11. Chronic low-grade infections (e.g. yeast or parasites)

What diseases are associated with Chronic Inflammation?

1. Arthritis (Osteo and Rheumatoid)
2. Auto-immune diseases (e.g. Lupus)
3. Allergies
4. Asthma
5. Chronic soft tissue injuries (e.g.Tendonitis, Bursitis, etc.)
6. Heart disease, Hypertension, Stroke
7. Obesity
8. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
9. Some cancers
10. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
11. Diabetes
12. Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne
13. Fibromyalgia
14. Aging skin, wrinkles
15. Osteoporosis
16. Gingivitis, Periodontitis
17. Multiple Sclerosis

Did you know the GI tract is 30 feet long? That’s a surface area the size of a doubles tennis court! Like our skin, it’s continually exposed to substances from the outside world. But unlike skin, it has an extremely thin lining providing the barrier between the internal body and the external world.

Toxins and food particles can easily pass through this wall into the bloodstream if the lining gets damaged causing systemic problems. Although the GI tract is thought of as our digestive system, it is also a major part of our immune system (it’s the largest immune organ in the body), a major part of our detoxification system and a sensory organ with it’s own nervous system. All the neurotransmitters found in the brain, are also found in the GI tract, hence the term “gut feelings.”

Given that the GI tract plays such a crucial role in so many areas of the body, it makes sense that correcting digestive problems and gastrointestinal dysfunction is key to health and vitality.

Here is a hilarious video from Canada on the topic of the flu shot:

It seems like the current wave of swine flu has peaked in the USA with no signs of the predicted pandemic. I think it is a good time now for a discussion about vaccines in general. Here is a great piece from the Huffington Post written by Bill Maher about this discussion we as a society should be having about vaccines.

I also want to share an article from the Atlantic on whether the flu shot matters or not.  Written by Shannon Brownlee and Jeanne Lenzer, this is an excellent piece of investigative journalism that exposes the hyperbole and the hypocrisy of policies regarding the “public health” and the bad science used to justify them. It exposes how hard core science is ignored in the process and that special interests are involved.

This general panic about the flu this year raises some important questions about how you can protect yourself and your children- Deciding on vaccination is a complex question. As you know I prefer to approach each child individually and yet public health policy is demanding that we make decisions without regard to personal situations. We are still gathering info on the swine flu- It is spreading very quickly which in NO WAY means it is more deadly than any other flu- its just that there are more numbers! This will naturally increase the numbers of very sick among the not-so-sick. The elderly seem to be at less risk due to ‘herd immunity’ from the 70′s swine flu epidemic. This naturally shifts our focus to children and pregnant women. We have now seen over 200 cases of h1n1 in our practice and so far and they all seem to be very mild, (3-4 days of fever). But it’s still THE FLU! And that must be taken seriously. Most of the information that is being put out on the media is based on hospitalized patients (the sickest cases) and is meant to scare you into following the CDC guidelines without question. Fear does not help make rational decisions. The flu is never something to be taken lightly. Every year 35,000 people die in the US from the flu. If there is any history of underlying respiratory, cardiac or immune disorder then one should consider getting the flu vaccine.

The H1N1 influenza is spreading very fast. Once we reach a critical mass of people exposed to this flu, we as a community will develop what’s called ‘herd immunity’ which means even if we don’t get it we develop some immune protection. This is a fascinating phenomenon that demonstrates the power of the human community. I hope, in light of how quickly it is spreading, that this will happen before the seasonal flu begins.

General Preventive Measures for Flu season

Adults

Maintain a healthy immune system. Many forms of supplements will fortify immunity so that an attack by viruses will be less successful. If you tend to get acute illnesses easily, then begin a program of immune strengthening. A good herbal and antioxidant immune enhancing supplement will help build the strength of your system. These formulas are usually built around the herb Astragalus, a potent herb for augmenting the body’s protective defenses and stabilizing the exterior against invasion by pathogens and physical stresses such as cold and wind. Other supplements have similar immune enhancing properties.

Vitamin D3 is essential for a prevention program. Adults need 5,000 IU when midday sun exposure is not possible, infants need 1,000 IU, and older children need 2,000 IU.

Mushrooms: Several species of mushrooms have significant immune stimulating effects. Each contains high percentages of polysaccharides, long chain sugar molecules that regulate immunity. They activate white blood cells and stimulate complements and antibodies. These mushrooms include reishi (ganoderma), maitake (grifola), shiitake (lentinus), polyporus, and tremella. Many preparations of mushroom combinations in tablet, powder, or liquid extract form are available at major health food stores.

Colostrum is an excellent source of immune system stimulants. Colostrum contains a host of factors that stimulate the immune system and help to prevent illness. Immunoglobulin IgA coats the intestinal lining preventing attack by pathogens. Lactoferrin locks onto iron releasing it to red blood cells and depriving bacteria of the iron they need for reproduction. Lysozyme destroys microorganisms on contact. Cytokines boost T-cell activity and stimulate production of your baby’s own protective immunoglobulins. Polysaccharides bind to bacteria and block their attachment to mucus membranes. Take two capsules twice a day through the winter months.

Vitamin C at 2-4 grams per day prevents inflammation and maintains the body’s vigilance against infection.

Vitamin A is essential to immune function and mucous membrane integrity.

Zinc has potent immune protective effects. Take 25 mg zinc per day, but if you continue zinc for an extended period of time you will also need to take copper to prevent a deficiency (10:1 ratio of copper to zinc). Get a supplement that contains both.

Immune supplements for adults

Mushrooms (reiki, mitake, shiitake)

Colostrum – 4 capsules

Vitamin C – 2-4 grams

Vitamin D – 5,000 IU

Zinc – 25 mg with copper 2 mg

Influenzinum is a specific preventive for the flu. You can begin taking Influenzinum (9C, 12C, or 30C) if you are exposed to the flu. Take one dose each week for four weeks at that time, or you can take it once a week for four doses during the flu season.

The flu, like other respiratory viruses is spread through droplet transmission from human to human. You can minimize your exposure by not shaking hands. Frequent hand washing will also prevent you from inadvertently inoculating viruses into your nose and eyes. Simply avoiding touching your nose, mouth, and eyes during flu season will also help reduce your exposure. Of course, as common courtesy everyone should cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze to prevent transmission of viruses.

Get plenty of sleep, eat well. Eat warm foods during the winter. Soups and stews are excellent sources of concentrated nutrients. Exercise regularly despite the cold weather. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for their vitamin and antioxidant content. Stay warm and avoid getting chilled.

Immune System Supplementation for Kids

Children can take a few simple, specific supplements to maintain a strong and vital immune system during the fall and winter months when colds and flus predominate.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplement in the form of fish oil capsules or liquid fish oil will establish healthy cell membranes that prevent inflammation and resist toxins and attack by pathogens.

Vitamin D is essential for kids as well as adults to maintain immune function.

Vitamin E will ensure that fatty acids are maintained at optimum efficiency once they are absorbed into cells. In addition, vitamin E has anti-inflammatory effects and increases resistance to infection. Use only natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol), not the synthetic form (dl-alpha-tocopherol). A mixed tocopherol form of vitamin E is best because children need the gamma as well as the alpha forms. An appropriate dose is 100 mg for children under two and 200 mg for children aged 2-12.

Vitamin A is needed for proper mucous membrane function. It is essential for the growth and repair of body tissues, and for efficient digestion of protein. Vitamin A promotes good eyesight, strong bones and teeth, and a vital immune system. White blood cells, T -lymphocytes, and every cell in the important mucosal barriers of the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts require vitamin A.  A diet containing significant amounts of fruit and fat will help ensure adequate vitamin A intake. Whole milk products, butter, and free range eggs will help maintain necessary levels of this important nutrient. Use organic sources. For those who may not be getting enough vitamin A, a supplement is essential.

The recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin A is 1,000-2,000 IU for children, depending on their age (1,000 at one year of age, 2,000 by age nine). Primitive diets probably maintained 10 times that amount. One egg contains 300 IU, one cup of whole milk or whole milk yogurt contains about 225-250 IU of vitamin A. One tablespoon of butter contains 350 IU of A. The amount of vitamin A may vary by the season and the feed of the animals.

Colostrum is great for children as well as adults.

Zinc stimulates immune function, prevents infections, and acts as a cofactor in many enzyme reactions, including the creation of antioxidants. Normal dosage is 10-20 mg. per day. If zinc supplementation is continued over a prolonged period of time, it should be given in conjunction with copper in a ratio of ten to one to prevent copper deficiency.

Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant activity, and antibiotic qualities. A daily supplement of vitamin C during the winter months will round out the immune system prevention program. Use 500 mg for children under 3 years old and 1,000 mg for older children.

The easiest way to give supplements to children is through powdered sources mixed in a blender with fruit, fruit juice, yogurt or milk (rice milk for younger children and children with milk sensitivities), and honey (for children over 12 months old). Capsules can be opened and dumped into the blender. Children can chew oil-based supplements in soft gels or you can stick a pin into them and squirt out the contents onto something they will eat.

Immune Supplements for Children-Daily Dosage

* (d-alpha-tocopherol or  mixed tocopherols)

Elderberry syrup and osscillococcinum are extremely helpful as soon as your child gets sick.

Homeopathics considerations during illness:

Osccillococcinum 3 X a day for 2-3 days

Belladonna early then Gelsemium

Bryonia if prefers not moving

Rhus Tox if prefers movement

Eupatorium with myalgia + tender eyeballs

As our article yesterday by Dr. Tenpenny was on the truth about flu shots, I saw it fitting to showcase some more of her work on why not to take the Swine Flu Vaccine.

What’s in the regular flu shot?

• Egg protein and avian contaminant viruses
• Thimerosal (mercury): in multi-dose vials
• Polysorbate 80:allergen; infertility in mice
• Formaldehyde: carcinogen
• Triton X100: detergent
• Sucrose: table sugar
• Resin: known allergen
• Gentamycin: antibiotic
• Gelatin: known allergen

Do flu shots work?

Not in healthy babies: A review of 51 studies involving more than 294,000 children it was found there was “no evidence that injecting children 6-24 months of age with a flu shot was any more effective than placebo. In children over 2 yrs, it was only effective 33% of the time in preventing the flu. Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2 (2008).

Not in children with asthma: A study 800 children with asthma, half were vaccinated and the other half did not receive the influenza vaccine. The two groups were compared with respect to clinic visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for asthma. CONCLUSION: This study failed to provide evidence that the influenza vaccine prevents pediatric asthma exacerbations. Reference: “Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for the prevention of asthma exacerbations.” Christly, C. et al. Arch Dis Child. 2004 Aug;89(8):734-5.

Not in children with asthma (2): “The inactivated flu vaccine does not prevent influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma…In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are three times more at risk for hospitalization than children who do not get the vaccine.” Reference: The American Thoracic Society’s 105th International Conference, May 15-20, 2009, San Diego.

Not in adults: In a review of 48 reports (more than 66,000 adults), “Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6% and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16) days. It did not change the number of people needing to go to hospital or take time off work.” Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 1 (2006).

Not in the Elderly: In a review of 64 studies over 98 flu seasons of elderly living in nursing homes, flu shots were non-significant for preventing the flu. For elderly living in the community, vaccines were not (significantly) effective against influenza, ILI or pneumonia. Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3(2006).

What about the new Swine Flu vaccine?

Some of the new H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines are going to be made by Novartis. These shots will probably be made in PER.C6 cells (human retina cells) and contain MF59, a potentially debilitating adjuvant. MF-59 is an oil-based adjuvant primarily composed of squalene.

All rats injected with squalene (oil) adjuvants developed a disease that left them crippled, dragging their paralyzed hindquarters across their cages. Injected squalene can cause severe arthritis (3 on scale of 4) and severe immune responses, such as autoimmune arthritis and lupus. Reference (1): Kenney, RT. Edleman, R. “Survey of human-use adjuvants.” Expert Review of Vaccines. 2 (2003) p171. Reference (2): Matsumoto, Gary. Vaccine A: The Covert Government Experiment That’s Killing Our Soldiers and Why GI’s Are Only the First Victims of this Vaccine. New York: Basic Books. p54.

Federal health officials are starting to recommend that most Americans get three flu shots this fall: one regular flu shot and two doses of the vaccine made against the new swine flu strain. School children who have never had a flu shot are targeted for four shots in the fall – twice for seasonal flu, twice for pandemic swine flu. (July 15, 2009 news)

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been talking to school superintendents around the country, urging them to make plans to use buildings for mass vaccinations and for vaccinating kids first. (CBS News, June 12, 2009.)

What can you do? You can’t do it all, but you can do something!

1. Give this information to everyone you know and love, especially church members, social groups, school teachers and administrators, and first responders (EMTs, Paramedics, Firemen, etc). Contact your local police, sheriff, city council members, county commissioners and chamber of commerce. Discuss your concerns about forced vaccinations. Their support is important to maintain your right to refuse.
2. Email or fax this information to local TV and radio stations. Call or fax to your State and National political representatives.
3. Connect with other activist organizations – those who support 2nd amendment issues, the environment and animal rights. Help spread the word about their passion and get them involved with yours.
4. Write a small article for LOCAL, community newspapers. Watch for samples on www.PandemicFluOnline.com
5. Check out  www.oathkeepers.org. Share this with your local law and military folks. A pdf for easy printing is available on www.DrTenpenny.com
6. Have at least 3 weeks of food and water on hand; be prepared to voluntarily self-quarantine.
7. Stock up on Vitamin D3 (3000 IU per person), Vitamin A, Vitamin C, fish oil, and zinc.

As stated years ago by Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

There is an old Italian saying “Where the sun does not go the doctor does.”

For about the last 25 years, doctors (dermatologists in particular) have demonized sun exposure and repeatedly told us it is bad for you and causes cancer. But is that true? In the last few years, numerous studies have shown that modest exposure to sunlight may actually be good for you, helping the body produce the vitamin D it needs to keep bones healthy and protect against cancer, including skin cancer. Though repeated sunburns–in children and very fair-skinned people–have been linked to melanoma, there is no credible scientific evidence that moderate sun exposure causes it. Since it’s almost impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from food alone (including fortified milk and fatty wild fish), sun is your best source. I’m not suggesting you go bake in the sun with your suntan oil or go to tanning salons. But getting some sun without getting sunburned makes healthy sense.

We evolved in the sun; we were made to get some sun, not to live our lives indoors and slather on sunscreen every time we go outside. If the sun is shining where you are today, get out and enjoy it, talk about a free natural treatment! All you need is a little common sense when heading outdoors, do it gradually and always avoid sunburn.

Special Note: Remember to take antioxidants when you sit in the sun, as these can help prevent skin cells from sun damage.

What is vitamin D?

Although it’s called a vitamin, vitamin D is really a hormone and not actually a vitamin. Vitamins cannot be produced by your body, we get them from dietary sources, whereas vitamin D is made in your body. It’s your body’s only source of calcitrol (activated vitamin D), the most potent steroid hormone in the body.

What does vitamin D do?

Like all steroid hormones, vitamin D is involved in making hundreds of enzymes and proteins, which are crucial for preserving health and preventing disease. It has the ability to interact and affect more than 2,000 genes in the body. It enhances muscle strength and builds bone. It has anti-inflammatory effects and bolsters the immune system. It helps the action of insulin and has anti-cancer activity. This is why vitamin D deficiency has been linked with so many of the diseases of modern society. Because of its vast array of benefits, maintaining optimal levels of D is essential for your health

Where do I get vitamin D from?

Only about 10% of your vitamin D comes from diet, so it is nearly impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from your diet.

The only 2 reliable sources of vitamin D are the sun and supplements.

Sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in your own body. Vitamin D is produced by your skin in response to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In fact, this is such an efficient system that most of us make 20,000 units of vitamin D after only 20 minutes of summer sun without suntan lotion. That’s 100 times more than the government recommends per day! There must be a good reason why we make so much in so little time.

But these rays cannot penetrate glass to generate vitamin D in your skin, so you don’t generate vitamin D when sitting behind a glass window, whether in your car or at home.

Also sunscreens, even weak ones, almost completely block your body’s ability to generate vitamin D.

The other reliable source is supplements. Most important is that you take vitamin D3, (cholecalciferol) the active form of vitamin D. Do not take vitamin D2 as it is not as biologically active nor as effective, and nor as safe as vitamin D3. And taking the right amount is crucial, most doctors tend to under dose. The current recommendations from the Food and Nutrition Board of the U.S. Institute of Medicine: from 200 to 600 IU/day depending on one’s age, are way too low. These values were originally chosen because they were found to prevent osteomalacia (bone softening) and rickets

How much sunshine do you need?

All living things need sun, the key is balance. Too much sun exposure can cause melanoma and skin aging, while too little creates an inadequate production of vitamin D. The amount needed depends on the season, time of day, where you live, skin pigmentation and other factors. As a general rule, if you are not vitamin D deficient, about 20 minutes a day in the spring, summer and fall on your face and arms or legs without sunscreen is adequate. It doesn’t matter which part of the body you expose to the sun. Many people want to protect their face, so just don’t put sunscreen on the other exposed parts for those 20 minutes.

If you live north of 37 degrees latitude (approximately a line drawn horizontally connecting Norfolk, Virginia to San Francisco, California) sunlight is not sufficient to create Vitamin D in your skin in the winter months, even if you are sitting in the sun in a bathing suit on a warm January day! The further you live from the equator, the longer exposure you need to the sun in order to generate vitamin D

Can I take cod liver oil to get my vitamin D?

Although Cod liver oil contains a fair amount of vitamin D, it also contains high amounts of vitamin A. Vitamin A antagonizes the action of vitamin D and can be toxic at high levels.

What are other food sources of vitamin D?

• Fatty wild fish like mackerel, salmon, halibut, tuna, sardines and herring
• Fortified milk, orange juice and cereal
• Dried Shitake mushrooms
• Egg yolks

To get adequate amounts of vitamin D from food, you would have to eat at least 5 servings of salmon a day or drink 20 cups of fortified milk.

My doctor prescribed Drisdol, 50,000 IU per week. What is it?

Drisdol is a prescription of 50,000 IU tablets of vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol. Ergocalciferol is not vitamin D but it is similar. D2 is not normally found in humans and most studies show it does not raise 25(OH)D levels as well as (cholecalciferol or vit D3) does. If you are vitamin D deficient, the best thing to do, is to take vitamin D3

What about the use of tanning beds to get my vitamin D?

I tend not to recommend them because we don’t really know if they are safe. Because the light sources vary with different tanning beds, it makes them unpredictable and possibly unsafe. In addition, most commercial tanning beds emit an unknown amount of EMF and because one is so close to the actual bed, it may be an unnecessary high dose. Theoretically both these problems could be overcome, but in reality they usually are not.

Why is there an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency?

It is estimated that anywhere from 30 to 100% of Americans, depending upon their age and community living environments, are deficient in Vitamin D. More than half of all American children are vitamin deficient. Supposedly almost 3/4s of pregnant women are vitamin D deficient, predisposing their unborn children to all sorts of problems. Worldwide, it is estimated that the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency affects one billion people. In my practice over 80% of patients whose vitamin D levels I check are deficient.

No one is exactly sure why this is happening apart from the fact that we spend too much time indoors and when we go out into the sun, we lather sunscreen on ourselves. I think it must be more than that. But whatever the reason, the reality is we have a major epidemic on our hands.

How much vitamin D do I need?

How much vitamin D you need varies with age, body weight, percent of body fat, latitude, skin coloration, season of the year, use of sun block, individual variation in sun exposure, and – probably – how ill you are.

As a general rule, old people need more than young people, big people need more that little people, fat people need more than skinny people, northern people need more than southern people, dark-skinned people need more than fair skinned people, winter people need more than summer people, sun block lovers need more than sun block haters, sun-phobes need more than sun worshipers, and ill people may need more than well people.

What I and many of my colleagues around the country are finding is that even people spending what we thought was adequate amount of time in the sun, are still showing up with low blood vitamin D levels. I am not sure why at this stage but there is an easy and cheap solution…vitamin D supplementation.

Here are some guidelines:

• If your blood level is above 45ng/ml and for maintenance, I recommend 2,000-4,000 IU daily depending on age, weight, season, how much time is spent outdoors, where one lives, skin color and obviously blood levels. In other words if you are older, larger, living in the northern latitudes during the winter, are not getting sun and have dark skin, I recommend the higher maintenance dose.
• If your blood level is 35-45 ng/ml, I recommend you correct it with 5,000 of vitamin D3 a day for 3 months under a doctor’s supervision and then recheck your blood levels.
• If your blood level is less than 35 ng/ml, I recommend you correct it with 10,000 of vitamin D3 a day under a doctor’s supervision and then recheck your blood levels after 3 months. It takes a good 6 months usually to optimize your vitamin D levels if you’re deficient. Once this occurs, you can lower the dose to the maintenance dose of 2,000 – 4,000 IU a day.

What are the symptoms of vit D deficiency?

There is no clear pattern of symptoms. In fact many people remain asymptomatic despite low levels. But here are the more common symptoms

• Fatigue
• General muscle pain and weakness
• Muscle cramps
• Joint pain
• Chronic pain
• Weight gain
• High blood pressure
• Restless sleep
• Poor concentration
• Headaches
• Bladder problems
• Constipation or diarrhea

What diseases are associated with Vit D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to play a role in almost every major disease. This includes:

• Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
• 17 varieties of Cancer (including breast, prostate and colon)
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes
• Autoimmune diseases
• Multiple sclerosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis
• Gout
• Infertility and PMS
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Pain
• Periodontal disease
• Psoriasis

What about vitamin D toxicity?

It is impossible to generate too much vitamin D in your body from sunlight exposure: your body will self-regulate and only generate what it needs. Although very rare, it is possible to overdose and become toxic with supplementation as vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and therefore stored in the body for longer periods of time. Therefore if you are taking 5,000 IU or more daily, you should have your blood levels monitored approximately every 3 months.

What blood test should I have to check my vitamin D levels?

The only blood test that can diagnose vitamin D deficiency is a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25 OH vitamin D). Unfortunately, some doctors are still ordering the wrong test, 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D. In fact a common cause of high 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D is a low 25(OH)D or vitamin D deficiency. So when doctors see the 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D is normal or high and tell their patients that they are OK, they are often vitamin D deficient.
Your doctor should do this test for you. Unfortunately even some of the labs, in particular Qwest, have had problems with correct results, usually giving erroneously high results.

If you don’t want to go through your doctor, the ZRT lab does a blood spot test that you can order without going through a doctor.

What is the ideal blood level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D?

The current ranges for “normal” are 20 to 55 ng/ml. These are much too low!!! They may be fine if you want to prevent rickets or osteomalacia, but not for optimal health. The ideal range for optimal health is 50-80 ng/ml.

How often should I have a 25 hydroxy vitamin D blood test?

At least once a year especially at the beginning of winter. If you are supplementing, I suggest you monitor your vitamin D levels approximately every 3months until you are in the optimal range. If you are taking high doses (10,000 IU a day) your doctor must also check your calcium, phosphorous, and parathyroid hormone levels every 3 months.