Vitamin D - The sunshine vitamin

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin Philadelphia Integrative Medicine

Lauren Houser CRNP Dr. Georgia Tetlow MD Rachel Hershberer MS CNS Danielle Huntsman MS AADP

What is Vitamin D? 

Fat soluble vitamin

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Acts as hormone

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Affects over 1000 genes and their expression

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Nearly every cell has Vitamin D receptor

Sources; Sun, Salmon and Supplements 

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Cholecalciferol D3 is produced in the skin by UVB radiation 

Sun interfaces with a form of cholesterol in your skin to make D3

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D3 is converted to active 25D in your liver

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25D transformed in kidneys to 1,25D3

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Other tissues can metabolize 25D into 1,25D2

Food sources 

Salmon, Sardines, Black cod

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Sun-exposed mushrooms

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Fortified dairy

Supplements 

D2 Ergocalfierol and D3 cholecalfierol

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Cod liver oil

Vitamin D and Your Bones

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Regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorous

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Helps improve balance and muscle strength thus reducing fracture risk

Cancer prevention ď ľ

Regulates immune system

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Found to inhibit cancer cell growth, especially in breast, colon, prostate and ovarian tissue

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Prevents cancer by promoting cellular differentiation, decreasing cancer cell growth, stimulating cell death (apoptosis), and reducing tumor blood vessel formation (angiogenesis)

Vitamin D and Your Heart 

Suboptimal Vitamin D levels linked with a twice the risk of heart attack

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Helps regulate blood pressure in the kidney

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Helps regulate blood sugar levels in the pancreas

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Anti-Inflammatory properties

Vitamin D and Mood

Deficiency and how to test for it

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Estimated that 70% of US population has level below 30ng/ml

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Symptoms of Deficiency: fatigue, weight gain, muscle aches, joint pain, low immunity, blood sugar stability issues, mood changes

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Micronutrient Test

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Serum 25(OH) D Concentration 

Range is 30-100

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Goal is 50-80

Factors that inhibit absorption 

Poor fat absorption

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Genetic

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Darker skin tones

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Sunscreen

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Medications

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Obesity

How to get enough Vitamin D

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Soak up the sunshine!

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Take Active Vitamin D3 with meals

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Take D3 with Vitamin K

Too much of a good thing… 

Recheck level 2-3 months after supplementing if deficiency

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Important to check PTH and ionized Calcium levels

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Kidney stones

Philadelphia Integrative Medicine Our PIM Team: Dr. Georgia Tetlow MD Lauren Houser CRNP Rachel Hershberger MS CNS Danielle Hunstman MS AADP

contact us for more information: info@philly-im.com