Vitamin D supplements reduce fractures of the hip, leg and arm, which are typically associated with aging. It appears that the population that frequently suffers from these fractures may be deficient in vitamin D.
Miracle Supplement
Vitamin D is turning out to be the first miracle supplement of the 21st century. It cures everything from acne to aging. But vitamin D is not your typical vitamin, because it is not a co-enzyme, used by an enzyme to hold part of molecules or to carry electrons. Vitamin D, in contrast, acts like a steroid hormone, which binds to a cytoplasmic receptor, moves to the nucleus and modifies gene expression. To make matters even more complex, vitamin D can also be made in the skin using cholesterol precursors and the energy of sunlight.
Vitamin D is the Sunlight Vitamin
If all it takes is cholesterol and sunlight to make vitamin D, then why is there such an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency? The answer seems to be a combination of solar fear and poor diets. Public service announcements of the dangers of solar exposure in the rise of skin cancer have perhaps been successful. Avoiding sunlight by staying out of the noonday sun, wearing appropriate protective clothing and using sunblock can reduce vitamin D production by the skin. Higher skin pigmentation also reduces vitamin D.
Inflammation may Compromise Vitamin D Production
It may also be the case that increasing chronic inflammation, resulting from diets high in starch and omega-6 oils, and with reduced vitamin and minerals, may have contributed to the observed prevalence of vitamin D deficiencies. Deficiencies found in people routinely exposed to high levels of sunlight is consistent with diet compromising vitamin D production.
Regulation of Calcium in Bone
Vitamin D is normally associated with calcium uptake in skeletal bone and osteoporosis has been associated with low dietary calcium and vitamin D deficiency. Numerous processed foods are now supplemented with calcium and vitamin D to aid in the production of strong bones.
Vitamin D Deficiency Pervasive
Low blood vitamin D is associated with numerous diseases including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, type I diabetes, cancer, dementia, tuberculosis, periodontal disease and hypertension. Clearly, vitamin D deficiency is pervasive and problematical, but a recent study also found that most patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency contributory to a disease, were treated with vitamin D supplements, and still remained deficient. The supplements were inadequate to eliminate deficiency and there was inadequate followup to confirm that the deficiencies had been resolved. The current recommendations for supplementation are 1-2000 IU/day of vitamin D3, but even this level may be inadequate to reach optimal levels.
High Level Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces Bone Fractures
Another recent study showed that bone health in individuals over 65 years of age can be reduced by at least 20% with even the currently inadequate recommendation of 400 IU per day. Decrease in fractures was related to the supplementation dose. It would appear that much higher doses of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) would still be safe and might dramatically reduce risk of hip and bone fractures in older or chronically inflamed individuals.
reference:
Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, Stuck AE, Staehelin HB, Orav EJ, Thoma A, Kiel DP, Henschkowski J. 2009. Prevention of nonvertebral fractures with oral vitamin D and dose dependency: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. Mar 23;169(6):551-61.
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