Vitamin DSpikes in testing and miracle cures

PFC Eaker

What is Vitamin D?

• Fat Soluble Vitamin• Found in food• Absorbed through sunlight exposure• Converted to hormone form through liver and

kidney

Two Major Forms of Vitamin D

• Vitamin D2, ergocalciferol

• Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol

Other Forms of Vitamin D

• Vitamin D1: molecular compound of ergocalciferol with lumisterol, 1:1

• Vitamin D4: 22-dihydroergocalciferol

• Vitamin D5: sitocalciferol (made from 7-dehydrosisterol)

What are the sources?

• Cod Liver Oil, 1 Tbs: 1,360 IU• Salmon, cooked, 3 1/2 oz: 360 IU• Mackerel, cooked, 3 1/2 oz: 345 IU• Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 3 1/2 oz: 270 IU• Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D fortified, 1 c: 98

IU• Margarine, fortified, 1 Tbs: 60 IU• Pudding, 1/2 c prepared from mix and made with vitamin D

fortified milk: 50 IU• Dry cereal, Vitamin D fortified w/10% of the recommended

daily value, 3/4 c: 40-50 IU (other cereals may be fortified with more or less vitamin D)

• Liver, beef, cooked, 3 1/2 oz: 30 IU• Egg, 1 whole (vitamin D is present in the yolk): 25 IU

Exposure to sunlight

• Important source of vitamin D• Season, latitude, time of day

What does Vitamin D do?

• Maintain normal blood levels of Calcium and Phosphorus

• Aids in absorption of calcium• Promotes bone mineralization• Prevents rickets in children and Osteomalacia in

adults

Role in immunomodulation

• Binds to nuclear Vitamin D receptors (VDR)• Immune enhancing and immunosuppressive

effects• Increase activity of NKCs• Increased production of cathelicidin• Therepeutic Clinical Applications

How much Vitamin D do we need?

• Ages 19-50: 200 International Units (IU)• Ages 51-69: 400 IU• Age 70 and older: 600 IU

When can vitamin D deficiency occur?

• Rickets• Osteomalacia

Rickets/Osteomalacia

Who may need extra vitamin D to prevent a deficiency?

• Older Americans (greater than age 50) • individuals with limited sun exposure • occupations that prevent exposure to sunlight • reduced ability to absorb dietary fat • exclusively breast-fed infants 

What is the health risk of too much vitamin D?

• nausea • vomiting • poor appetite • constipation • weakness • weight loss

When is it ordered?

• 25 OH Vitamin D test • 1,25 di OH Vitamin D test

Testing

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What does the test result mean?

• 25 OH Vitamin D test 

Low blood levels = not getting enough exposure

to sunlight

problem with absorption from the intestines

High levels = supplementation from vitamin pills

or other nutritional supplements

• 1,25 di OH Vitamin D test

Low levels = kidney disease

 one of the earliest changes to occur in persons

with early kidney failure.

High levels = excess parathryoid hormone

diseases such as sarcoidosis or some lymphomas, that can make 1,25 di OH Vitamin D outside of the kidneys

Spike in Vitamin D testing

• ABC NEWS - NEW YORK, NY, USA

“Sunshine Vitamin May Cut Death Risk”• BBC NEWS - UNITED KINGDOM

“Pain Linked With Low Vitamin D”• BLOOMBERG.COM

“Death May Be Nearer For People Who lack

Vitamin D”• BRITTANIA RADIO

“Vitamin D Can Heal Tuberculosis?”

Current Research

• Cancers• Heart Disease • Stroke• Diabetes• Depression• Muscle Weakness• Birth Defects• Obesity

Role in cancer prevention and recovery

• Calcitriol – Induces

death of cancer cells

• Regulates Cell growth,

Differentiation etc.

• Daily intake of 1,000IU/day

reduces risks

Vitamin D and Obesity

• Seasons• Altitude• Calcium• Link between other

diseases• Treatable

Vitamin D and Diabetes

• Low serum levels at greater risk• Lack of Vitamin D interferes with insulin secretion

Vitamin D and depression

• SAD• 130 patients• 600 or 4,000 IU supplements• Re-evaluated 1 year later

Conclusion

• Vitamin D – The wonder drug?• LabCorp – Testing volume doubled every ear for

the past four years• Quest Diagnostics – Testing volume tripled

between May 2006 and May 2008

Questions?