This is just a snippet from Dr. Ruby’s outstanding article on Vitamin D..
Beyond the bones….
Abundant evidence shows that vitamin D does more than maintain our skeleton. I will be addressing the extra-skeletal functions of vitamin D in a subsequent blog. Current research shows that vitamin D has an integral role in the following areas;
- Immune system activation & regulation
- Reduction of inflammation
- Modulation of cell growth
- Genetic code (how are genes are read)
Defining vitamin D deficiency
Here lies the controversy – While current research suggests that vitamin D levels needed to maintain optimal health must be significantly raised, many health care providers and agencies are still using the guidelines created to avoid severe deficiency. So in other words, when you are being told that your vitamin D levels are “OK” is your health care providers saying your levels are high enough to avoid the severe debilitating bone loss associated with Rickets or osteomalacia or are your levels in an optimal range found to promote ideal immune function, target inflammation and perhaps, prevent certain types of cancers? That’s a pretty wide range if you ask me. Below you will find a brief comparison of the “old” or current recommended guidelines used to interpret vitamin D levels compared to the more aggressive guidelines in the current literature.
First of all, vitamin D 25 or 25OHD is the test that needs to be ordered by your health care provider to assess your vitamin D stores. The current reference range is as follows;
Severe deficiency < 10 – 15 (associated with Rickets & osteomalacia)
Deficiency < 20
Insufficiency – 21 – 29
Sufficient > 30 sufficient? (Actually the “normal reference range is 30 – 100)
In contrast, current research suggests that optimal levels range from 60 – 80 on average. To read the entire article (and you will be glad you did) go to: http://drlauraruby.com/essential-nutrition/vitamin-d-the-sunshine-vitamin/
