As we learn more about the growing problem of Vitamin D deficiency, we are finding that the current recommendations for intake are insufficient. Currently 400 IU of Vitamin D is recommended in order to prevent pathology resulting from a deficiency. However, many studies are finding that a daily intake of over 10 times that amount is needed to affect other, seemingly unrelated diseases, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and hypertension.
The difficulty with making recommendations in the past is that it can vary widely since the body can produce Vitamin D from sunlight. This has led many to assume that his or her individual exposure is adequate. Research is showing otherwise*. An alarmingly large number of patients are showing deficiency in labwork.
I say this as a person that has tested deficient recently. Like everyone else, I suffer from the belief that eating, sleeping, and exercising adequately should suffice. The results show that I was wrong.
Based off preliminary findings, it is safe to assume that many people need a daily intake in excess of 4,000 IU of Vitamin D. The only way to truly know what the correct intake needed is to be tested.
Stay tuned for more information on laboratory tests, and how to proceed when a deficiency is noted.
* http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp
Dr. Brian Lancaster
Valley Chiropractic in Frederick, MD
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