D-Licious

The media spotlight has been on Vitamin D for the past several years now, and the D-iva loves it. Every month there are new studies (real ones!!) showing how beneficial this vita-MONE is as an immune booster, in prevention of colon and breast cancers, and for the maintenance of brain function. I call it a Vitamone because it is classified as a vitamin but its chemical structure is that of a hormone.
Hot, Vogue, Provocative, Mysterious....Vitamin D is the Lady Gaga of the vitamin world, and I'm her biggest fan.
Most people are Vitamin D deficient. D3 is a very inexpensive vitamin to buy. It works great during cold and flu season for prevention. Hmmm...cheap and necessary....sounds like a deal.
Most of us don’t get enough sun, especially in the winter, to make the amount of vitamin D we need. Getting extra vitamin D is a good idea, either from supplements or from vitamin D–fortified foods. For those looking to supplement to correct or prevent deficiency, a new study shows that of the two forms commonly sold, one of them will impact vitamin D status more efficiently.
The most common form of D used in food fortification is a synthetic variety called vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol. It is also the only available prescription form of vitamin D.
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is made in the body when skin is exposed to sunlight and occurs naturally in foods like eggs and fish. In order to produce vitamin D3 for supplements, some manufacturers are extracting D3 from wool fat that has been exposed to ultraviolet light.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism published a study comparing the effects of vitamin D2 and D3 supplements on vitamin D levels in healthy adults. The participants took capsules providing 50,000 IU of either vitamin D2 or D3 once per week for 12 weeks. Blood samples were drawn every two weeks to measure changes in blood vitamin D levels, and fat biopsies were taken at the beginning and end of the trial to measure changes in tissue vitamin D levels. In addition, a final blood sample was taken six weeks after the last dose. D3 does the trick faster !!
Blood vitamin D levels rose throughout the trial in both groups, but rose more rapidly in the D3 group. By week 12, the average vitamin D level had risen nearly 50% more in the D3 group than in the D2 group. The increase in tissue vitamin D levels from the beginning to the end of the trial was roughly three times as great in the D3 group. Blood levels dropped at a similar rate in both groups after stopping the supplements, but because the D3 group had higher levels by week 12, they maintained an advantage over the D2 group at the 6-week follow up. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011;96:online publication) These results show clearly that D3 produces a substantially larger effect than D2, as measured both by serum vitamin D status and by fat storage of the vitamin.
It is not easy to keep adequate levels of Vitamin D in your blood, but here are some tips:
• Get vitamin D3 from rich natural food sources such as fatty fish and fish oil. Fortified foods are also fine (remember that vitamin D2 raises vitamin D levels in the body, just not as quickly).
• Spend a little time in the sun. Just 15 minutes without sunscreen a few times per week will help keep your D3 production strong.
• Obtain a Vitamin D blood level yearly. Your doctor can order this for you. Aim for a blood level between 55 and 80
• Look for nutritional supplements that contain cholecalciferol or vitamin D3 or be sure to conscientiously use your D2 supplements to ensure maximum benefit.
• I sometimes need to combine the use of Vitamin D2 and D3 in order to achieve optimal levels. Please call me if you are having trouble raising your serum level or maintaining it.
• Difficult to maintain good levels during the winter months. I usually increase the dose for most patients during the gray winter months, and certainly during flu season.

Ok my bloggie babies, if you have any questions on this just shoot me an email or post here.
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