Up until recent history, Vitamin D has been best known for it’s critical involvement in the absorption of calcium and consequently it’s role in bone density. More recently, research has been uncovering Vitamin D’s other critical roles in health maintenance and disease prevention.
It is because Vitamin D is a steroid hormone precursor that it has such a wide spread positive health effects. Vitamin D deficiency plays a role in 30 different conditions, 17 of those being different types of cancer. Included in that list are:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Birth defects
- Chronic pain
- Cancer
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Fatigue
- Gum disease
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Muscle wasting
- Muscle weakness
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Stroke
Forms of Vitamin D
- Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)Cholecalciferol is the naturally occurring form of vitamin D. It is manufactured in the skin when sunlight contacts bare skin. It takes 30 minutes of full body sun exposure for the skin to make a minimum 10,000 units of vitamin D. This form of vitamin D is also the form that is found in over-the-counter supplements in pharmacies and health food stores.
- Calcidiol (25-hydroxy vitamin D)Calcidiol is made from cholecalciferol (D3). This is the form of vitamin D that is considered a prehormone. Blood levels of Calidiol are considered the best indicator of a person's vitamin D status. Doctors most commonly use it's other name (25-hydroxy vitamin D) when ordering the lab test.
- Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D)Sometimes referred to as the “active form” of vitamin D, Calcitriol is made from Calcidiol predominantly in the kidneys. This is considered one of the most potent steroid hormones in the human body. Calcitriol has been and continues to be studied for it’s anti-cancer activity.
- Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2 or Calciferol)This form of vitamin D is not naturally found in the body. It is derived from fungus. Ergocalciferol is available over-the-counter in small quantities in some countries, and by presciption only in others. Ergocalciferol (D2) is converted into cholecalciferol (D3) in the body.
Dosage
Dosage depends of age and weight. Current recommendations are changing as research brings new information to light.
Fairly conservative guidelines for healthy individuals are:
Healthy children under 1 year of age: 1000IU
Healthy children over 1 year of age: 1000IU for every 25lbs of body weight
Healthy adults and adolescents: 2000IU per day
Pregnant and lactating mothers: 2000IU per day
Please note, these are general guidelines only. Please consult a Naturopathic Physician or other knowledgeable, qualified health professional for your specific needs.
Larger doses are sometimes recommended, however, this should only be done under the supervision of a Naturopathic Physician, or other knowledgeable, qualified health professional.
