Medication
How to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency The first step in treating vitamin D deficiency is to obtain a baseline 25(OH)D blood level and then decide on the target replacement level and how quickly that target must be reached (Table 1).
Self-care
The most current guidelines for supplemental vitamin D needed to prevent and treat deficiency are as follows (2): *Minimum daily requirement. **Amount of oral vitamin D that may be needed to raise the blood level of 25 (OH)D consistently above 30 ng/mL.
Nutrition
A patient with a 25(OH)D level of 10 ng/mL who is beginning treatment with 800 IU/d of D3should be rechecked after 1 month A patient with a 25(OH)D level of 10 ng/mL who is beginning treatment with 50,000 IU of vitamin D 3 times weekly for 1 month to be followed by 50,000 IU once monthly should be rechecked after 1 month
How is vitamin D deficiency treated?
In a pilot study, we found that 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly for 12 weeks was effective in treating vitamin D insufficiency in women receiving the aromatase inhibitor letrozole, and higher levels of 25(OH)D were associated with reduced disability from aromatase inhibitor–associated joint pain.78 How to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency
What are the current guidelines for supplemental vitamin D needed?
How often should I recheck my vitamin D levels?
How much vitamin D3 do you need to treat vitamin D deficiency?
How much vitamin D should I take daily?
How to know if you have vitamin D deficiency?
Why is vitamin D important for obese people?
What does it mean when you don't have enough vitamin D?
What is the function of vitamin D?
How much sun exposure is needed to absorb vitamin D?
Is vitamin D in breast milk?
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About this website
Is 17 a low vitamin D level?
Tests for Vitamin D Deficiency A level of 20 nanograms/milliliter to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people. A level less than 12 ng/mL indicates vitamin D deficiency.
What is considered a dangerously low vitamin D level?
Older classifications considered 25(OH)D levels less than 12 ng/mL to be evidence of deficiency because symptoms were uncommon when levels were higher than this. Today, 25(OH)D less than 12 ng/mL is considered evidence of severe vitamin D deficiency.
Is 14 low for vitamin D level?
A vitamin D level of 14 ng/mL is considered severely deficient. Severe deficiency can occur from prolonged, inadequate intake of vitamin D, limited exposure to sunlight, poor kidney function resulting in impaired conversion of 25(OH)D, or inadequate vitamin D absorption.
What is the best treatment for vitamin D deficiency?
In persons with vitamin D deficiency, treatment may include oral ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) at 50,000 IU per week for eight weeks. After vitamin D levels normalize, experts recommend maintenance dosages of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) at 800 to 1,000 IU per day from dietary and supplemental sources.
Is low vitamin D life threatening?
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency rickets can be life threatening. Vitamin D supplementation is therefore crucial, especially in breastfed infants and some ethnic minorities (dark-skinned people, poor sun exposure), more at risk for developing severe rickets if not supplemented.
What happens if vitamin D deficiency is not treated?
If left untreated over time, vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious bone disorders. For example, severe and long-term vitamin D deficiency may result in rickets or osteomalacia.
What does a vitamin D level of 13 mean?
A vitamin D level of 13 ng/mL is considered severely deficient. Severe deficiency can occur from long-term, inadequate intake of vitamin D, limited exposure to sunlight, poor kidney function resulting in impaired conversion of 25(OH)D, or inadequate vitamin D absorption.
What should a woman's vitamin D level be?
A: The upper tolerable limit is 4,000 international units (IU) daily, and the recommended amount for women 14 to 70 is 600 IU per day. Women 71 and older should aim for 800 IU per day.
How high should your vitamin D be?
Vitamin D levels are generally considered sufficient when above 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/l). However, some experts claim that blood levels above 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/l) are optimal.
How much vitamin D should you take if you are deficient?
For adults with vitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL, the Endocrine Society guidelines recommend a daily intake of 1,500–2,000 IU to restore healthy levels of vitamin D. There are also treatment options where people with vitamin D deficiency receive 50,000 IU weekly or monthly instead of taking a daily dose.
How can I raise my vitamin D levels quickly?
You can raise your vitamin D levels quickly in three main ways: Getting outside and exposing your skin to sunlight. Taking a vitamin D supplement....Eat foods rich in vitamin DCod liver oil*Trout*Salmon*Mushrooms*Fortified dairy and non-dairy milks.Fortified cereals.Sardines.Eggs.More items...•
What symptoms does low vitamin D cause?
But some of the effects of vitamin D deficiency include:Fatigue or tiredness.Bone pain.Joint pain.Muscle pain.Sour mood.Low energy.More frequent illness.Anxiety.More items...•
10 Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency – And How You Can Fix It
It’s estimated that vitamin D deficiency affects 25 to 50 percent of the population, yet vitamin D plays a critical role in many of your body’s systems. For that reason, it’s imperative that you understand the signs and symptoms of low vitamin D & how to get more in your diet.
20 Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency, According to Medical Experts
Shutterstock. Feeling tired can be the result of any number of different factors in your hectic, over-scheduled life. And while not all of them are so easy to cut out, some are luckily in our control. Vitamin D, for example, may be contributing to that constant tired feeling, according to a 2015 study published in the Global Journal of Health Science.
Normal vitamin D levels: Ranges by age - Medical News Today
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for bone health. Learn the normal vitamin D levels in the blood for children, adults, and older adults.
Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Vitamin D deficiency occurs when the body doesn’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight or diet. Vitamin D deficiency can cause loss of bone density, osteoporosis, and broken bones.
How long can you take 10,000 IU of vitamin D?
Doses of 10,000 IU daily have been used for up to 5 months with no adverse effects and studies suggest that only when more than 10,000 IU of vitamin D is ingested daily for several months to several years will vitamin D intoxication occur (4). So there is little reason for concern, and plenty of reasons to benefit.
What are the factors that reduce the production of vitamin D?
There are several factors that reduce your ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight including living in far northern and southern latitudes, dark skin, increasing age, indoor and city living, air pollution and sun protection such as sunscreen. So even in countries with very high amounts of sunlight and close proximity to ...
How do you know if you have vitamin D deficiency?
The problem with vitamin D deficiency is that you are unlikely to know you have it. Symptoms may include fatigue and muscle pain but often there are no signs at all. The best way to find out is to take a test.
How much vitamin D is in salmon?
Few foods are sources of vitamin D and food sources alone are inadequate for your daily vitamin D requirements. Even the richest sources of vitamin D such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, trout, and fresh tuna only provide 500–1000 IU vitamin D per 100 g. Farmed salmon, which most people eat nowadays, provides a measly 100–250 IU per 100g ...
Why is vitamin D deficiency so common?
The reason vitamin D deficiency is so common is because you need sunshine to make it and modern living means few people are getting enough. You can get vitamin D from food but unless, like a grizzly bear, you only eat wild salmon all day (a rich source of vitamin D) you will never get enough from your diet. It is in your interest to know ...
How long does it take to get vitamin D3 back?
If you are deficient a 5000 IU daily dose of vitamin D3 for three months will get you back to an optimal range in most cases. Another well studied treatment for deficiency is 50,000 IU of vitamin D once a week for 8 weeks. For most people this will approximately double blood levels (4). Once you have finished your vitamin D "top up" take another ...
Is it important to know if you are deficient in vitamin D?
It is in your interest to know if you are deficient because low levels of vitamin D appear to be as important as smoking, not exercising and living on junk food when it comes to your risk of a whole host of serious illnesses (1).
What is the best way to determine vitamin D adequacy?
Vitamin D adequacy is best determined by measurement of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in the blood.
What is the best test to assess body stores of vitamin D?
Thus, measurement of the total 25(OH)D level is the best test to assess body stores of vitamin D.
What is the role of vitamin D in calcium?
As previously noted, vitamin D plays a critical role in each of these processes.
How is vitamin D obtained?
Therefore, for most people, vitamin D is primarily obtained by cutaneous production from sun exposure. However, many variables influence the amount of UVB from sunlight that reaches the skin and its effectiveness. These include time of day, season, latitude, altitude, clothing, sunscreen use, pigmentation, and age.
What is the best calcium supplement for achlorhydria?
For patients with achlorhydria due to gastric reduction or bariatric surgery, or during gastric acid suppressive therapy (eg, protein pump inhibitor use), calcium supplementation with the more acidic calcium citrate is preferred over calcium carbonate.
Where does vitamin D3 come from?
Vitamin D3(D3), also known as cholecalciferol, is obtained primarily from skin exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in sunlight, ingestion of food sources such as oily fish and variably fortified foods (milk, juices, margarines, yogurts, cereals, and soy), and oral supplements.
Can you get vitamin D from diet alone?
Many patients and physicians think that adequate vitamin D intake can be obtained via diet alone. This assumption is erroneous. With the exception of fatty fish, the vitamin D content of most foods, including fortified dairy products, is relatively low to nonexistent.
How much vitamin D is needed for diabetes?
Research has shown that those with blood vitamin D levels over 25 ng/mL had a 43% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those with levels under 14 ng/mL. Adequate vitamin D levels have been associated with improved blood sugar levels and decreased insulin resistance in some studies.
How many people are affected by vitamin D deficiency?
The truth is that a lot has changed, and vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are now a global public health problem affecting an estimated 1 billion people worldwide.
What is the best vitamin for rickets?
Vitamin D was discovered to be essential when it was found to be needed for the treatment of rickets. Vitamin D is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). There are two forms of vitamin D : D2 and D3.
What is the role of vitamin D in the brain?
It's been shown that vitamin D plays a crucial role in brain development, brain function regulation, and a healthy nervous system. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be common in patients with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, dementia, and older adults with cognitive decline. A meta-analysis reported a 2.4-times greater risk of cognitive impairment in people with low vitamin D levels versus those with adequate levels. It's been suggested that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D levels throughout life may help to prevent age-related neurological disorders.
How old are children when they are deficient in vitamin D?
Children: A study done in Ethiopia found that schoolchildren between the ages of 11-18 years were more likely to be overweight or obese when they were deficient in vitamin D. Another study of 301 students aged 11-19 years found that 12% of the students were deficient, and 53% had insufficiency.
What is the RDA for vitamin intake?
The RDA is the average daily intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97.5%) healthy individuals.
Can vitamin D deficiency cause muscle weakness?
Yes, deficiency of vitamin D can cause bone pain and muscle weakness. However, mild vitamin D deficiency is not necessarily associated with any symptoms. Vitamin D has been referred to as the "sunlight vitamin" because it is made in our skin when we are exposed to sunlight.
How much vitamin D is needed for a person?
Overdose. When to see a doctor. Summary. For most adults, a normal level of vitamin D in the blood is 20 nanograms per milliliter or above. The amount of vitamin D a person needs per day depends on their age. The body depends on vitamin D for a variety of reasons, but it is especially important.
How to determine if someone has enough vitamin D?
Doctors use blood tests to determine if someone has adequate levels of vitamin D. They measure vitamin D using one of two measurements: nanomoles per liter (nmol/l) or nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). The following table provides rough ranges. Trusted Source.
How do you know if you have a vitamin D deficiency?
The symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency can be subtle. Trusted Source. , but the classic symptoms are bone aches and muscle weakness. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, some people are more at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency than others.
What to do if you don't have vitamin D?
A person should also see their doctor if they notice symptoms of a lack of vitamin D. A doctor may do a physical examination, ask questions, or perform a blood test to see if the person has a deficiency.
Why is vitamin D important?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, both vital minerals for building strong bones. Without adequate vitamin D, a person may develop soft, weak, or brittle bones. This can cause.
Can you get vitamin D from sunlight?
People can get at least some of their daily vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. However, as light levels vary, depending on location and the time of year, a person may not be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. A 2019 study in Switzerland found that only 10–15 minutes.
Is vitamin D good for bone health?
Those who are older or at risk for a deficiency may require more. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for a variety of reasons, particularly for bone health. A person will often get enough vitamin D from sunlight, but if they are at risk for a deficiency, they may benefit from taking a supplement.
How to increase vitamin D levels?
Getting plenty of sunlight is the best way to increase your blood vitamin D levels. That’s because your body makes dietary vitamin D3 out of the cholesterol in the skin when it is exposed to the sun’s UV rays ( 1. Trusted Source. ).
Why do we need more vitamin D?
There are many reasons why people need to consume more vitamin D with age. For starters, your skin gets thinner as you grow older. This makes it harder for your skin to make vitamin D3 when it is exposed to sunlight ( 24 ). Older people also often spend more time indoors.
Why is vitamin D important?
Vitamin D is commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin.”. That’s because your skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight ( 1. Trusted Source. ). Getting enough vitamin D is important for optimal health.
What is the lowest vitamin D level?
Scientists found that people with the highest blood levels of vitamin D (over 33 ng/ml or 82.4 nmol/l) had a 50% lower risk of colorectal cancer than people with the lowest levels of vitamin D (less than 12 ng/ml or 30 nmol /l).
What is the storage form of vitamin D?
This is the form that is measured in blood tests. Later, the storage form is converted by the kidneys to the active form of vitamin D that’s used by the body ( 5. Trusted Source. ).
How many people in the US have vitamin D deficiency?
It helps maintain strong and healthy bones, aids your immune system and may help protect against many harmful conditions ( 2. ). Despite its importance, roughly 42% of people in the US have a vitamin D deficiency. This number rises to a staggering 82.1% of black people and 69.2% of Hispanic people ( 4.
Which is better for vitamin D: sunlight or vitamin D3?
It is better at raising your blood levels of vitamin D ( 6 ). Summary: Sunlight is the best. source of vitamin D, but many people can’t get enough for various reasons.
What is the highest level of vitamin D?
high levels: higher than 125 nmol/L (50 ng/mL) If your vitamin D levels are low and you’re having symptoms of bone pain, a doctor may recommend a special scan to check bone density. Doctors use this painless scan to evaluate a person’s bone health. Low blood levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D usually mean one (or more) of the following: ...
How long before a vitamin D test can you eat?
Your doctor will tell you not to eat anything for four to eight hours before the test. The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test requires a common blood test. Your healthcare provider will draw blood from a vein in your arm using a needle. A quick finger prick will more than likely provide enough for a blood sample in children and infants.
What happens if you take too many vitamin D?
High vitamin D blood levels generally result from taking too many vitamin pills and other nutritional supplements. High doses of vitamin D can result in a condition called hypervitaminosis D. Hypervitaminosis is a rare but serious condition that could put you at risk for liver or kidney problems.
What is the best vitamin for bones?
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and maintain strong bones throughout your entire life. Your body produces vitamin D when the sun’s UV rays contact your skin. Other good sources of the vitamin include fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products. It’s also available as a dietary supplement. Vitamin D must go through several processes in your ...
Why do doctors do 25 hydroxy?
Why is a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test done? Your doctor may request a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test for several different reasons. It can help them figure out whether too much or too little vitamin D is causing bone weakness or other abnormalities. It can also monitor people who are at risk for having a vitamin D deficiency.
What does 25 hydroxyvitamin D mean?
The amount of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your blood is a good indication of how much vitamin D your body has. The test can determine if your vitamin D levels are too high or too low. The test is also known as the 25-OH vitamin D test and the calcidiol 25-hydroxycholecalcifoerol test. It can be an important indicator of osteoporosis (bone weakness) ...
Where does the first transformation of vitamin D occur?
The first transformation occurs in the liver. Here, your body converts vitamin D to a chemical known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, also called calcidiol. The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the best way to monitor vitamin D levels. The amount of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your blood is a good indication of how much vitamin D your body has.
What is the recommended vitamin D level for perimenopausal women?
In addition, certain populations will require that vitamin D level of 20 ng/ml or higher. This can include perimenopausal women, people diagnosed with osteopenia (reduced bone density, but not osteoporosis) and osteoporosis or other skeletal disorders, as well as pregnant and lactating women.
Why do we measure 25 OH D3?
The reason for measuring serum 25 (OH)D3 levels is that dose response varies greatly from one individual to the next. Obese subjects require much more vitamin D3 supplementation to raise their serum levels than do non-obese people, for example. Outdoor occupations in Southern latitudes likely make participants replete in vitamin D3 without supplementation, as would a diet heavy in fatty fish. Basing medical studies upon dosage instead of serum levels is a serious error, as is lumping the doses (for improved compliance). Many historic studies of vitamin D seem almost to have been designed to fail.
Is milk a vitamin D supplement?
It is important to remember that milk is fortified with Vitamin D in North America (mandatory in Canada and almost universal in the US). However in Europe and most of the world this is not done. The pandemic means that vitamin D deficiency is widespread across the world and rickets is returning in many countries in the northern hemisphere, and elsewhere, especially among dark skinned immigrants totally covered for religious reasons. It is also being seen globally in teenagers as well who are in classrooms all day and at their computers on Facebook all evening. The discussion of Vit D deficiency should also include pregnant women and infants who should receive supplements. The problem of Vit D deficiency is not being exaggerated; it is being under addressed. In my view, the NEJM article was not responsibly written and should not be given a high place in discussing this important global health issue.#N#Ted Tulchinsky MD MPH#N#Deputy Editor, Public Health Reviews,#N#Emeritus, Braun School of Public Health, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel#N#Head of School of Health Professions, Ashkelon College, Israel
Can we get vitamin D from the sun?
… osteoporosis expert Dr. Joel Finkelstein, … “Yes, we can get vitamin D from the sun, but our bodies evolved to create darker skin in the parts of the world that get the most sun. If vitamin D is so critical to humans, why would we evolve in this way, to require something that is hard to come by, and then evolve in such a way as to make it harder to absorb?”#N#Because evolution can involve compromises. Melanin, which hinders vitamin D production, provides protection from skin cancer, and preserves serum levels of folic acid. With vitamin supplementation we might overcome this compromise.#N#https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22116700
Is there vitamin D in blood?
But there are many forms of vitamin D in blood (1), and in our lab we measured 12 different forms using the new technology (2,3). The water soluble sulfate forms have significant abundance and so far the activity of which are not studied, possibly due to the lack of methods to measure them.
Is vitamin D good for bones?
Mostly, they want to know that they’re doing everything they can to keep their bones strong. Vitamin D is critical for healthy bones. But when we check that blood level, how to act on the result is the subject of great controversy in medical-research land.
Does vitamin D cause fractures?
Finkelstein and his colleagues published a study of over 2,000 perimenopausal women who had been followed for almost 10 years, and they found that vitamin D levels less than 20 were associated with a slightly increased risk of nontraumatic fractures.
How much vitamin D should I take daily?
For many older patients, a vitamin D supplement containing anywhere between 800 to 2000 IUs daily, which can be obtained without a prescription, can be both safe and beneficial.
How to know if you have vitamin D deficiency?
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include muscle weakness, pain, fatigue and depression. To get enough D, look to certain foods, supplements, and carefully planned sunlight. Appointments & Access. Contact Us. Overview. Symptoms and Causes. Diagnosis and Tests. Management and Treatment. Prevention.
Why is vitamin D important for obese people?
Obesity often makes it necessary to take larger doses of vitamin D supplements in order to reach and maintain normal D levels. Kidney and liver diseases: These diseases reduce the amount of an enzyme needed to change vitamin D to a form that is used in the body.
What does it mean when you don't have enough vitamin D?
Vitamin D deficiency means that you do not have enough vitamin D in your body. Vitamin D is unique because your skin actually produces it by using sunlight. Fair-skinned individuals and those who are younger convert sunshine into vitamin D far better than those who are darker-skinned and over age 50.
What is the function of vitamin D?
This vitamin has many functions, including: Keeping bones strong: Having healthy bones protects you from various conditions, including rickets. Rickets is a disorder that causes children to have bones that are weak and soft.
How much sun exposure is needed to absorb vitamin D?
Getting some exposure to sunshine—but not too much: Exactly how much sun exposure is needed isn’t clear. 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure two to three times a week to the face, arms, legs or back may be all that is needed to absorb a suitable amount of vitamin D.
Is vitamin D in breast milk?
Skin color : Dark-colored skin is less able to make vitamin D than fair-colored skin. Human breast milk: A woman's breast milk only contains a small amount of vitamin D. Often infant formulas also only include a small amount of D also. Therefore infants are at risk of not receiving enough vitamin D.