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Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining
normal calcium metabolism. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) can be
synthesized by humans in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB)
radiation from sunlight, or it can be obtained from the diet. Plants
synthesize vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), which also has vitamin D
activity in humans. When exposure to UVB radiation is insufficient for
the synthesis of adequate amounts of vitamin D3 in the skin, adequate
intake of vitamin D from the diet is essential for health.*
Vitamin D: Low Vitamin D Levels are Associated with Colds, Flu, and Viruses (COVID)
LifeSource Vitamins Vitamin D3 supply this key vitamin in a
highly-absorbable liquid softgel form. Vitamin D is normally obtained from
the diet or produced by the skin from the ultraviolet energy of the sun.
However, it is not abundant in food. As more and more people avoid sun
exposure, as they should, Vitamin D supplementation becomes even more
necessary to ensure that your body receives an adequate supply. This
product can be used in combination with our Vitamin A and all Calcium
supplements.
FACT: Vitamin D3 influences over 3,000 genes in our body! Here are some
areas of support:*
Acne
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Hypertension
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Adrenal insufficiency
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Influenza
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Allergies
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Kidney Disease
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Alzheimer’s disease
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Low back pain
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Arthritis
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Lupus erythematosus
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Asthma
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Macular Degeneration
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Autism
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Melanoma, Mental illness and mood disorders
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Autoimmune disorders
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Bacterial infections
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Muscle weakness and pain
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Bones weak (easy to fracture)
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Obesity
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Breast cancer
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Osteoarthritis
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Certain Cancers
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Osteomalacia (softening of bones)
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Celiac disease
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Osteoporosis
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Colds and ‘flu,
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Ovarian cancer
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Chronic Fatigue & Pain
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Parkinson’s disease
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Periodontal disease
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Crohn's Disease
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Peripheral artery disease
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Colonic adenoma
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Pelvic floor disorders
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Colorectal cancer
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Pneumonia
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Cystic fibrosis
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Post-operative infections
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Dementia
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Psoriasis
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Dental cavities and misaligned teeth
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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Depression
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Rickets
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Diabetes (types 1 and 2)
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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
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Fatigue
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Sepsis
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Gluten intolerance
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Tuberculosis
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Graves’ disease
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Urinary incontinence
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Heart disease
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Viral infections.
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There is a vast body of science showing the many health benefits of vitamin
D. You may be surprised to learn the important role that vitamin D plays in
your health.
See Other LifeSource Vitamins Vitamin D Products, Articles, and
Studies:
Click Here
Maintains Your Calcium Balance
Maintenance of blood calcium levels within a narrow range is vital for
normal functioning of the nervous system, as well as for bone growth, and
maintenance of bone density. Vitamin D is essential for the efficient
utilization of calcium by the body.
Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer
There is growing evidence linking vitamin D and calcium in the diet to a
reduced risk of breast cancer, but the benefits may be limited to younger
women.
In a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
in Boston, a high intake of calcium and vitamin D through food sources and
nutritional supplements was linked to modestly lower risk of breast cancer
in premenopausal women.
The link appeared strongest for the most aggressive tumors, and it was not
seen after menopause.
Researcher Jennifer Lin, Ph.D., says older women are more likely to be
deficient in calcium and vitamin D, so they may need higher levels of the
nutrients than were measured in the study.
"Calcium and vitamin D are important for overall health and, additionally,
they may help prevent breast cancer," she tells WebMD.
Roughly 31,000 women enrolled in the larger Women's Health Study were
included in the analysis by Lin and colleagues. The findings were published
May 28 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
All of the women were aged 45 or older, and two-thirds were postmenopausal.
The women completed questionnaires at study entry and periodically after
that was designed to determine their medical history and lifestyle,
including the foods they ate and supplements they took.
Over an average of 10 years of follow-up, 276 premenopausal and 743
postmenopausal study participants developed breast cancer.
Premenopausal women with the highest intakes of calcium and vitamin D had
modestly reduced risk of breast cancer compared with women who got the
lowest amount of the nutrients through food and supplemental sources.
The findings are similar to those reported in 2002 by another group of
Harvard researchers. In that study, calcium and vitamin D through dairy
sources were associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer before, but
not after, menopause.
Dietary calcium and vitamin D were found to lower breast cancer risk in a
cancer prevention study reported by researchers from the American Cancer
Society (ACS).
ACS nutritional epidemiologist Marji McCullough, ScD, RD, who reported the
findings, tells WebMD that more study is needed to understand how vitamin D
and calcium influence breast cancer risk."The evidence of a modest
protective benefit [for dietary vitamin D and calcium] is fairly
consistent, but we still don't know if premenopausal and postmenopausal
women benefit equally," she says.
Daily Recommended Allowance
Current dietary recommendations call for people aged 50 and under to
consume just 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day, with 400 IU
recommended for those between the ages of 51 and 70, and 600 IU recommended
after age 70.
Many experts now agree that these levels are too low. Longtime vitamin D
researcher Cedric Garland, DrPH, says most people should get between 1,000
IU to 1,500 IU a day.
Aids Your Cell Differentiation
Cellular differentiation results in the specialization of cells for
specific functions in your body. In general, differentiation of cells leads
to a decrease in proliferation. While cellular proliferation is essential
for growth and wound healing, uncontrolled proliferation of cells with
certain mutations may lead to diseases like cancer. The active form of
vitamin D, inhibits proliferation and stimulates the differentiation of
cells.
Boosts Your Immunity
Active vitamin D is a potent immune system modulator. There is plenty of
scientific evidence that vitamin D has several different effects on immune
system function that may enhance your immunity and inhibit the development
of autoimmunity. Has a Role in Insulin Secretion
The active form of vitamin D plays a role in insulin secretion under
conditions of increased insulin demand. Limited data in humans suggests
that insufficient vitamin D levels may have an adverse effect on insulin
secretion and glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin D and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is most often associated with inadequate calcium intake.
However, a deficiency of vitamin D also contributes to osteoporosis by
reducing calcium absorption. While rickets and osteomalacia are extreme
examples of vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis is an example of a long-term
effect of vitamin D insufficiency. Adequate storage levels of vitamin D
help keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis in older adults,
in those who have difficulty walking and exercising, in post-menopausal
women, and in individuals on chronic steroid therapy. Vitamin D deficiency,
which is often seen in post-menopausal women and older Americans, has been
associated with greater incidence of hip fractures. In a review of women
with osteoporosis hospitalized for hip fractures, 50 percent were found to
have signs of vitamin D deficiency. Daily supplementation with 20 800 IU of
vitamin D may reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures in elderly
populations with low blood levels of vitamin D. The Decalyos II study
examined the effect of combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation in a
group of elderly women who were able to walk indoors with a cane or walker.
The women were studied for two years, and results suggested that such
supplementation could reduce the risk of hip fractures in this population.
Vitamin D and Cancer
Laboratory, animal and some preliminary human studies suggest that vitamin
D may be protective against some cancers. Several studies suggest that a
higher dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D correlates with a lower
incidence of cancer. In fact, for over 60 years researchers have observed
that greater sun exposure reduces cancer deaths. The inverse relationship
between higher vitamin D levels in the blood and lower cancer risk in
humans is best documented for colon and colorectal cancers. Vitamin D
emerged as a protective factor in a study of over 3,000 adults who
underwent a colonoscopy to look for polyps or lesions in the colon. There
was a significantly lower risk of advanced cancerous lesions among those
with the highest vitamin D intake.
Additional clinical trials need to be conducted to determine whether
vitamin D deficiency increases cancer risk, or if an increased intake of
vitamin D is protective against some cancers. Until such trials are
conducted, it is premature to conclude you should take vitamin D
supplements for cancer prevention.
Read more about the latest studies involving calcium and vitamin D reducing
the risk of cancer
Vitamin D and Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is associated with an increased risk of hip fractures
because many Alzheimer's patients are homebound, frequently sunlight
deprived, and older. With aging, less vitamin D is converted to its active
form. One study of women with Alzheimer's disease found that decreased bone
mineral density was associated with a low intake of vitamin D and
inadequate sunlight exposure. More investigation of vitamin D and
Alzheimer’s disease is necessary.
Other Diseases Vitamin D Deficiency May Affect
Autoimmune Diseases - Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis are each
examples of autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body
launches an immune response to its own tissue, rather than a foreign
pathogen. Treatment with vitamin D has beneficial effects in animal models
of all of the above-mentioned diseases. Studies have found that the
prevalence of diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis
increases as latitude increases, suggesting that lower exposure to sunlight
and associated decreases in vitamin D synthesis may play a role in the
development of these diseases.
Vitamin D Toxicity
It is very rare to have a vitamin D overdose. Vitamin D toxicity induces
abnormally high serum calcium levels (hypocalcemia), which could result in
bone loss, kidney stones, and calcification of organs like the heart and
kidneys if untreated over a long period of time. When the Food and
Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine established the tolerable
upper intake level (UL) for vitamin D, published studies that adequately
documented the lowest intake levels of vitamin D that induced hypocalcemia
were very limited. Because the consequences of hypocalcemia are severe, the
Food and Nutrition Board established a very conservative UL of 2,000 IU/day
(50 mcg/day) for children and adults.
Research published since 1997 suggests that the UL for adults is overly
conservative and that vitamin D toxicity is very unlikely in healthy people
at intake levels lower than 10,000 IU/day. Vitamin D toxicity has not been
observed to result from sun exposure.
Certain medical conditions can increase the risk of hypocalcemia in
response to vitamin D, including primary hyperparathyroidism, acidosis,
tuberculosis, and lymphoma. People with these conditions may develop
hypocalcemia in response to an increase in vitamin D nutrition and should
consult a qualified health care provider regarding any increase in vitamin
D intake.
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for Vitamin D
Infants 0-12 months- 1000 IU
Children 1-18 years- 2000 IU
Adults 19 years and older- 2000 IU
Vitamin D is found in many dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified
milk, and cod liver oil. The sun also contributes significantly to the
daily production of vitamin D, and as little as 10 minutes of exposure is
thought to be enough to prevent deficiencies. The term "vitamin D" refers
to several different forms of this vitamin. Two forms are important in
humans: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).
Vitamin D2 is synthesized by plants. Vitamin D3 is synthesized by humans in
the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from sunlight.
Foods may be fortified with vitamin D2 or D3.
The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels
of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium,
helping to form and maintain strong bones. Recently, research also suggests
vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high
blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.
Rickets and osteomalacia are classic vitamin D deficiency diseases. In
children, vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, which results in skeletal
deformities. In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia,
which results in muscular weakness in addition to weak bones. Populations
who may be at a high risk for vitamin D deficiencies include the elderly,
obese individuals, exclusively breastfed infants, and those who have
limited sun exposure. Also, individuals who have fat malabsorption
syndromes (e.g., cystic fibrosis) or inflammatory bowel disease (e.g.,
Crohn's disease) are at risk.
Vitamin D Drug Interactions
The following medications increase the metabolism of vitamin D and may
decrease serum D levels:
Phonation (Dilating), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), phenobarbital (Luminal),
carbamazepine (Tegretol), and rifampin (Rimactane).
The following medications should not be taken at the same time as
vitamin D because they can decrease the intestinal absorption of
vitamin D:
Cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), orlistat (Xenical),
mineral oil, and the fat substitute Olestra. The oral anti-fungal
medication, ketoconazole, inhibits the 25(OH)D3-1-hydroxylase enzyme and
has been found to reduce serum levels of 1,25(OH)D in healthy men. The
induction of hypercalcemia by toxic levels of vitamin D may precipitate
cardiac arrhythmia in patients on digitalis (Digoxin).
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining normal
calcium metabolism. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) can be synthesized by
humans in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from
sunlight, or it can be obtained from the diet. Plants synthesize vitamin D2
(ergocalciferol), which also has vitamin D activity in humans. When
exposure to UVB radiation is insufficient for the synthesis of adequate
amounts of vitamin D3 in the skin, adequate intake of vitamin D from the
diet is essential for health.
LifeSource Vitamins Vitamin D softgels supply this key vitamin in a
highly-absorbable liquid softgel form. Vitamin D is normally obtained from
the diet or produced by the skin from the ultraviolet energy of the sun.
However, it is not abundant in food. As more and more people avoid sun
exposure, as they should, Vitamin D supplementation becomes even more
necessary to ensure that your body receives an adequate supply. This
product can be used in combination with our Vitamin A and all Calcium
supplements.
WebMD States - Vitamin D is used for:
-
treating weak bones – osteoporosis
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bone pain – osteomalacia
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bone loss in people with a condition called
hyperparathyroidism
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inherited disease (osteogenesis imperfecta) in which
the bones are especially brittle and easily broken.
-
It is also used for preventing falls and fractures in
people at risk for osteoporosis, and preventing low
calcium and bone loss (renal osteodystrophy) in people
with kidney failure.
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WebMD States - Vitamin D is also used for conditions
of:
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Heart and blood vessels
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High blood pressure
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High cholesterol.
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Diabetes
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Obesity
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Muscle weakness
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Multiple sclerosis
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
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Asthma
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Bronchitis
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Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
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Tooth and gum disease.
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WebMD states:
Some people use vitamin D for skin conditions including vitiligo,
scleroderma, psoriasis, actinic keratosis, and lupus vulgaris.
It is also used for boosting the immune system, preventing autoimmune
diseases, and preventing cancer.
Because vitamin D is involved in regulating the levels of minerals such as
phosphorous and calcium, it is used for conditions caused by low levels of
phosphorous (familial hypophosphatemia and Fanconi syndrome) and low levels
of calcium (hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism).
How does it work?
Vitamin D is required for the regulation of the minerals calcium and
phosphorus found in the body. It also plays an important role in
maintaining proper bone structure.
Sun exposure is an easy, reliable way for most people to get vitamin D.
Exposure of the hands, face, arms, and legs to sunlight two to three times
a week for about one-fourth of the time it would take to develop a mild
sunburn will cause the skin to produce enough vitamin D. The necessary
exposure time varies with age, skin type, season, time of day, etc.
It's amazing how quickly adequate levels of vitamin D can be restored by
sunlight. Just 6 days of casual sunlight exposure without sunscreen can
make up for 49 days of no sunlight exposure. Body fat acts like a kind of
storage battery for vitamin D. During periods of sunlight, vitamin D is
stored in fatty fat and then released when sunlight is gone.
Nevertheless, vitamin D deficiency is more common than you might expect.
People who don't get enough sun, especially people living in Canada and the
northern half of the US, are especially at risk. Vitamin D deficiency also
occurs even in sunny climates, possibly because people are staying indoors
more, covering up when outside, or using sunscreens consistently these days
to reduce skin cancer risk.
Older people are also at risk for vitamin D deficiency. They are less
likely to spend time in the sun, have fewer “receptors” in their skin that
convert sunlight to vitamin D, may not get vitamin D in their diet, may
have trouble absorbing vitamin D even if they do get it in their diet, and
may have more trouble converting dietary vitamin D to a useful form due to
aging kidneys. In fact, the risk of vitamin D deficiency in people over 65
years of age is very high. Surprisingly, as many as 40% of older people
even in sunny climates such as South Florida doesn’t have enough vitamin D
in their systems.
Vitamin D supplements may be necessary for older people, people living in
northern latitudes, and for dark-skinned people who need extra time in the
sun, but don't get it.
What can high-vitamin D do for you?
-
Help prevent a growing list of chronic diseases, including type 2
diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, breast cancer,
colon cancer, and ovarian cancer
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Help keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy
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Regulate the growth and activity of your cells
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Reduce inflammation
What symptoms can indicate a need for more vitamin D?
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Bone pain and/or soft bones
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Frequent bone fractures
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Bone deformities or growth retardation in children
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Lack of exposure to sunlight for any reason, including geography, use
of sunscreen, or wearing of protective clothing.
Depression:
Vitamin D3 deficiency is common in older adults and has been implicated in
psychiatric and neurologic disorders. For example, in one study of 80 older
adults (40 with mild Alzheimer's disease and 40 nondemented persons),
Vitamin D3 deficiency was associated with low mood and with impairment on
two of four measures of cognitive performance.
Wilkins CH, Sheline YI, Roe CM, Birge SJ, Morris JC. Vitamin D deficiency
is associated with low mood and worse cognitive performance in older
adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;14(12):1032-40.
Musculoskeletal disorders
: Has been linked to Vitamin D3 deficiency in a number of studies. One of
the newest studies explored the role that low Vitamin D3 levels play in the
development of chronic low back pain in women. Sixty female patients in
Egypt complaining of low back pain lasting more than three months were
studied. Researchers measured levels of Vitamin D3 in these women with low
back pain and compared those levels to those of 20 matched healthy
controls.
The study revealed that patients with low back pain had significantly lower
Vitamin D3 levels than controls. Low Vitamin D3 levels (25 OHD < 40
ng/ml) were found in 49/60 patients (81 percent) and 12/20 (60 percent) of
controls.
Perezz-Lopez FR. Vitamin D and its implications for musculoskeletal health
in women: An update. Maturitas. 2007 Jun 28; [Epub ahead of print].
Cognitive Enhancement:
One of the best known and long-established benefits of Vitamin D3 is its
ability to improve bone health and the health of the musculoskeletal
system. It is well documented that Vitamin D3 deficiency causes osteopenia,
precipitates and exacerbates osteoporosis causes a painful bone disease
known as osteomalacia, and exacerbates muscle weakness, which increases the
risk of falls and fractures. Vitamin D3 insufficiency may alter the
regulatory mechanisms of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and cause secondary
hyperparathyroidism that increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Przybelski RJ, Binkley NC. Is Vitamin D important for preserving cognition?
A positive correlation of serum 25-hydroxyVitamin D concentration with
cognitive function. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2007 Apr 15;460(2):202-5.
Most recently, low Vitamin D3 levels have been linked to an increased
prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration.
Parekh N, Chappell RJ, Millen AE, Albert DM, Mares JA. Association Between
Vitamin D and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Third National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 Through 1994. Arch Ophthalmol. May
2007;125: 661-669.
Why is D3 preferred?
There are two main options to supplement with Vitamin D. D2
(ergocalciferol) is produced from irradiated fungi in a laboratory. D-3
(cholecalciferol) is the form typically extracted from fish oil or food
sources. Due to the manufacturing process, it seems that D2 has been
associated with more potential side effects, and has greater risks for
toxic contamination. D-3 matches what is produced by human skin, and is
much more efficiently converted by the liver to support circulating active
levels of 25-HydroxyVitamin D. Potency and quality are key in D-3
supplement choice, and only pharmaceutical grade products are held to
consistent content and quality standards. While some studies and
pharmaceutical companies use D2 supplements, we believe there is strong
evidence to use D-3.
Risk Factors for Vitamin D Deficiency
-
Exclusively breastfed infants: Infants who are exclusively breastfed
and do not receive vitamin D supplementation are at high risk of
vitamin D deficiency, particularly if they have dark skin and/or
receive little sun exposure. Human milk generally provides 25 IU of
vitamin D per liter, which is not enough for an infant if it is the
sole source of vitamin D. Older infants and toddlers exclusively fed
milk substitutes and weaning foods that are not vitamin D fortified are
also at risk of vitamin D deficiency. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends that all infants that are not consuming at least
500 ml (16 ounces) of vitamin D fortified formula or milk be given a
vitamin D supplement of 200 IU/day.
-
Dark skin: People with dark skin synthesize less vitamin D on exposure
to sunlight than those with light skin. The risk of vitamin D
deficiency is particularly high in dark-skinned people who live far
from the equator. In the U.S., 42% of African American women between 15
and 49 years of age were vitamin D deficient compared to 4% of White
women.
-
Aging: The elderly have reduced capacity to synthesize vitamin D in the
skin when exposed to UVB radiation, and are more likely to stay indoors
or use sunscreen. Institutionalized adults are at extremely high risk
of vitamin D deficiency without supplementation.
-
Covering all exposed skin or using sunscreen whenever outside:
Osteomalacia has been documented in women who cover all of their skin
whenever they are outside for religious or cultural reasons. The
application of sunscreen with an SPF factor of 8 reduces the production
of vitamin D by 95% (1).
-
Fat malabsorption syndromes: Cystic fibrosis and cholestatic liver
disease impairs the absorption of dietary vitamin D.
-
Inflammatory bowel disease: People with inflammatory bowel disease like
Crohn’s disease appear to be at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency,
especially those who have had small bowel resections .
-
Obesity: Obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Once
vitamin D is synthesized in the skin or ingested, it is deposited in
body fat stores, making it less bioavailable to people with large
stores of body fat.
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D as determined by the
Food and Nutrition Board is presently under scrutiny by researchers and
scientists who believe that the current suggested RDA for vitamin D of
200-600 IU (International Units) is far too low and should be raised to at
least 1,000 I.U. Many researchers believe that in order to achieve maximum
benefit from vitamin D, doses may need to be between 3,000-5,000 I.U per
day until blood levels are maintained at ideal, with regular monthly blood
testing for safety during that process.
Please see your doctor if using higher dosage supplementation for repeated
vitamin D and calcium blood tests. Rarely, an individual may ingest too
much vitamin D which puts them at risk for a reaction from vitamin D
hypersensitivity. Symptoms of hypersensitivity or toxicity may include
serious stomach upset accompanied by vomiting and excessive thirst. If you
suspect vitamin D toxicity when using supplements, you should contact your
doctor immediately. New studies seem to indicate that vitamin D toxicity is
highly unlikely for most healthy individuals using even up to 6000 IU’s of
D-3 daily unless suffering from an underlying kidney or metabolic condition
which affects serum calcium levels.
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News
Dec. 19, 2006
- There is new evidence supporting the idea that vitamin D helps prevent
multiple sclerosis, but it is too soon to recommend taking the vitamin to
lower your risk, researchers say.
In the first large-scale study to examine the issue, researchers from the
Harvard School of Public Health reported a strong association between
vitamin D levels within the body and MS risk among whites, but not among
blacks and Hispanics.
The study is published in the Dec. 20 issue of The Journal of the American
Medical Association.
Senior researcher Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH, tells WebMD that roughly half
of white Americans and two-thirds of black Americans could be considered to
have insufficient levels of vitamin D. Because exposure to sunlight is a
major source of the vitamin for most people, vitamin D levels are usually
lowest in the wintertime.
"Our findings suggest that vitamin D may have a direct impact on multiple
sclerosis risk," Ascherio says. "If we confirm that the vitamin is
protective, we could potentially prevent thousands of cases of MS a year in
the United States alone."
Some 350,000 new cases of multiple sclerosis are diagnosed in the U.S.
annually, and the chronic autoimmune disease is more common among women
than men.
In earlier studies, Ascherio and Harvard colleagues reported that women who
took multivitamins with at least 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D
appeared to have a lower risk of MS than women who did not.
Their newest study involved a study population of more than 7 million
members of the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy with blood samples stored in a
Department of Defense repository.
Between 1992 and 2004, 257 people were diagnosed with MS. Each case was
compared to two people without MS matched for age, race, sex, and dates of
blood collection.
By RYAN A. STANTON, M.D., ABC News Medical Unit
Sept. 14, 2006
- There's not a lot of good news in the fight against pancreatic cancer,
the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
The disease, often aggressive and fatal, is difficult to treat with
standard cancer treatments.
Scientists from Northwestern and Harvard University, however, have found a
possible important link between vitamin D and pancreatic cancer.
In two studies, researchers tracked more than 120,000 men and women from
1986 to 2000.
They compared how much vitamin D the men and women ingested to the number
of cases of pancreatic cancer.
There were 365 cases of pancreatic cancer over the 16-year span.
Researchers found that patients who had consumed high levels of vitamin D
were 41 percent less likely to develop pancreatic cancer when compared with
people with low vitamin D diets.
From these findings, the researchers conclude that vitamin D may have some
role in the prevention of pancreatic cancer, possibly as a type of
tumor-fighting vitamin that keeps cancers from growing and multiplying.
Thankfully, vitamin D is not hard to find.
It is found in many foods, and skin naturally makes vitamin D when exposed
to sunlight. It also may fight off more cancers than just this one.
"We have enough data to conclude that vitamin D is linked to the prevention
of many types of cancer," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical
officer for the American Cancer Society. "I was originally skeptical, but
the data from multiple studies changed my view."
In addition to vitamin D's link to the prevention of pancreatic cancer,
connections between vitamin D and breast, prostate and colon cancer have
also been suggested.
Lichtenfeld said there should be more study of the link between the vitamin
and cancer, but the research is at an early stage.
Researchers Call for Higher Doses
In an editorial in the March 2007 edition of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, a prominent group of researchers from leading
institutions such as the University of Toronto, Brigham and Women's
Hospital, Tufts University and University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland,
lashed out at the conventional media for its inaccurate reporting of
Vitamin D supplementation.3
The researchers wrote, "Almost every time the public media report that
Vitamin D nutrition status is too low, or that higher Vitamin D intakes may
improve measures of health, the advice that accompanies the report is
outdated and thus misleading. Media reports to the public are typically
accompanied by a paragraph that approximates the following: 'Current
recommendations from the Institute of Medicine call for 200 IU/day from
birth through age 50 years, 400 IU for those aged 51-70 years, and 600 IU
for those aged >70 years. Some experts say that optimal amounts are
closer to 1,000 IU daily. Until more is known, it is wise not to overdo it.
The only conclusion that the public can draw from this is to do nothing
different from what they have done in the past.”
The researchers point out that supplemental intake of 400 IU per day barely
raises blood concentrations of 25(OH)D, which is the circulating Vitamin D
metabolite that serves as the most frequently measured indicator of Vitamin
D status. To raise 25(OH)D from 50 to 80 nmol/L requires an additional
intake of 1,700 IU Vitamin D per day.
The researchers went on to write that, “The balance of the evidence leads
to the conclusion that the public health is best served by a recommendation
of higher daily intakes of Vitamin D. Relatively simple and low-cost
changes, such as increased food fortification or increasing the amount of
Vitamin D in Vitamin supplement products, may very well bring about rapid
and important reductions in the morbidity associated with low Vitamin D
status.”
One of the challenges is the outdated acceptable upper limit for Vitamin D3
consumption, which was set at 2,000 IU. However, researchers point out that
more recent studies have shown that 10,000 IU is the safe upper limit.4
Dr. R. Vieth, one of the foremost authorities on Vitamin D3
supplementation, has extensively studied Vitamin D, and lamented the low
requirements for Vitamin D3 in a recent issue of the Journal of Nutrition:
“Inappropriately low UL [upper limit] values, or guidance values, for
Vitamin D, have hindered objective clinical research on Vitamin D
nutrition; they have hindered our understanding of its role in disease
prevention, and restricted the amount of Vitamin D in multivitamins and
foods to doses (that are) too low to benefit public health.”5
When examining the medical literature, it becomes clear that Vitamin D3
affects human health in an astonishing number of ways and that not
obtaining enough of this important nutrient can leave the door open to
developing a number of health conditions.
Vitamin D & Weight Loss Information
Vitamin D, or the sunshine vitamin, was recently featured in over 3,000
independent clinical studies conducted all over the world in last year
alone. After the medical results were tallied and evaluated, Vitamin D is
now the superstar in the weight loss supplement industry.
Vitamin D, a natural hormone produced by the body when exposed to sunlight
or acquired through diet and supplementation was shown to play a critical
role in increasing the metabolic energy of fat cells faster weight loss
benefits.
While still early in its literature, the new scientific research on Vitamin
D revealed its natural ability to make fat cells become more metabolically
active for quicker weight loss and better toxic waste elimination.
In light of the new clinical data being presented on Vitamin D for weight
loss, it has already been known to help support a healthy bone structure
and aid in several health challenges like:
-
targets belly fat first
-
turns body into fat-burning mode instead of fat-storing mode
-
high blood pressure
-
helps form stronger bones to fight osteoporosis
-
helps protect against different cancers
-
boosts natural immune system
-
reduces inflammation & joint stiffness
-
Helps the I’m full to brain’ leptin hormone
LifeSource Vitamins-Vitamin D3, essential for efficient utilization of
calcium by the body, enhance your immunity and inhibit the development of
autoimmunity, maintains strong bones, dental health and ultraviolet energy
of the sun.
Proudly Made in the USA!
Every LifeSource Vitamins product exceeds all regulation standards and
requirements set forth in the FDA's Code of Federal Regulation. (
21 CFR, part 111
)
as well as all Good Manufacturing Practices enforced by the FDA. CGMP's
provide for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of
manufacturing processes and facilities. (
CGMP
).
LifeSource Vitamins: Driven by Faith ~ Powered by God
Have Questions on this or any other product or health issue for you or a
loved one? It can be overwhelming we know. Call us, we will walk you
through what supplements will help you and which ones you really don’t
need. It’s what we do! Toll-Free: 800-567-8122
LifeSource Vitamins – Founded in 1992
100% of our profits are donated to Christian Organizations like these
and many others worldwide:
Campus Crusade for Christ - CRU
The Jesus Film Project
World Vision
The Tim Tebow Foundation
Compassion International
Samaritan’s Purse
The Herman and Sharron Show on CTN (Christian Television Network)
and many more…
www.LifesourceVitamins.com
E-mail Us: [email protected]
or Call Us: 800.567.8122
We Are Built on Compassion - Driven by Faith & Powered by God!
*Disclaimer:
None of the above statements have been evaluated by the FDA. These products
are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
As always, consult your physician before taking any and all
supplements.
LifeSource Vitamins. Individual results may vary.
Disclaimer:
All the information contained throughout this website is based upon the
opinions of the founder of LifeSource Vitamins, Bruce Brightman, and the
entire team at LifeSource Vitamins whose relentless research and studies
have been ongoing since 1992. Other articles and information are based on
the opinions of the authors, who retain the copyright as marked in the
article. The information on this site is not intended to replace your
health care professional, but to enhance your relationship with them. Doing
your own studying and research and taking your health care into your own
hands is always best, especially in partnership with your health care
professional.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have any medical
conditions, always consult your health care professional before taking
supplements based on the information on this site.
LifeSource Vitamins: from the nutrients we choose, to the way we run
our business, we answer to God in all we do!