Tuesday, May 08, 2007
My mother has always been a big proponent of calcium supplements. She had me swallowing those green pills in elementary school and was equally diligent about taking them herself. As a physician, she knows the importance of calcium for healthy bones; as the daughter of an osteoporosis patient who has suffered multiple fractures, she knows of the pain caused by brittle ones.
After her bone density scan last October, however, my mother received disturbing news: She was diagnosed with osteopenia, a level of bone loss that is a gateway to osteoporosis. The T-score of her spine was - 1.65; her hip was even worse at -1.93. (Osteoporosis is defined at below -2.5, or two-and-a-half standard deviations below normal bone mass.) She decided to step up her efforts by adding to her regimen – and mine, of course – regular supplements of Vitamin D.
While Vitamin D has long been recognized as a nutrient essential to overall health, only now are researchers fully appreciating both its significance to a number of organ systems and the consumption levels required for us to benefit fully. Most recently, the National Osteoporosis Foundation raised its daily recommendations of Vitamin D intake to 800-1000 units for adults 50 and older. Previously, they had suggested 400-800 units for people of all ages.
Specifically, Vitamin D is very important to maintaining bone and mineral balance. It sends a message to intestines to absorb calcium, and numerous studies have shown that adequate intake can contribute to strong bones that are less likely to break in a fall.
"We are beginning to get a deeper appreciation for how important Vitamin D is to health," says Dr. Susan Nayfield, chief of the Geriatrics Branch at the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Md.
In addition to the bones, however, scientists have recently begun to understand the impact of Vitamin D receptors on muscles, including the small muscles in blood vessels, Dr. Nayfield says. While an outright Vitamin D deficiency can cause obvious medical problems, even a subtle deficiency, or "insufficiency" – in which the Vitamin D being used in the body exceeds intake – can play a negative role in one's well being.
This can pose a problem for older people whose sun exposure is limited, since the skin is able to produce Vitamin D with exposure to direct sunlight. However, as people age they cannot synthesize Vitamin D as efficiently, and their kidneys are less able to convert it to active form, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. Also, individuals with darker skin, especially African-Americans, convert sunlight to Vitamin D less efficiently than those with fairer skin. Studies have shown that individuals with darker complexions can be especially prone to hypovitaminosis D, a term used to describe low blood levels of Vitamin D.
Related SharePost: For Bone Health: Ways to Get Vitamin D
Dr. Robert Recker, vice president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, said the previous requirements were sufficient to prevent diseases associated with severe deficiency of Vitamin D, specifically rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. "It takes a larger dose beyond that to supply all the other needs," says Dr. Recker, who is also chief of the Endocrinology Division at Creighton University Medical Center's Osteoporosis Research Center. "To put it simply, we have till now not realized what an adequate intake should be."
After her bone density scan last October, however, my mother received disturbing news: She was diagnosed with osteopenia, a level of bone loss that is a gateway to osteoporosis. The T-score of her spine was - 1.65; her hip was even worse at -1.93. (Osteoporosis is defined at below -2.5, or two-and-a-half standard deviations below normal bone mass.) She decided to step up her efforts by adding to her regimen – and mine, of course – regular supplements of Vitamin D.
While Vitamin D has long been recognized as a nutrient essential to overall health, only now are researchers fully appreciating both its significance to a number of organ systems and the consumption levels required for us to benefit fully. Most recently, the National Osteoporosis Foundation raised its daily recommendations of Vitamin D intake to 800-1000 units for adults 50 and older. Previously, they had suggested 400-800 units for people of all ages.
Specifically, Vitamin D is very important to maintaining bone and mineral balance. It sends a message to intestines to absorb calcium, and numerous studies have shown that adequate intake can contribute to strong bones that are less likely to break in a fall.
"We are beginning to get a deeper appreciation for how important Vitamin D is to health," says Dr. Susan Nayfield, chief of the Geriatrics Branch at the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Md.
In addition to the bones, however, scientists have recently begun to understand the impact of Vitamin D receptors on muscles, including the small muscles in blood vessels, Dr. Nayfield says. While an outright Vitamin D deficiency can cause obvious medical problems, even a subtle deficiency, or "insufficiency" – in which the Vitamin D being used in the body exceeds intake – can play a negative role in one's well being.
This can pose a problem for older people whose sun exposure is limited, since the skin is able to produce Vitamin D with exposure to direct sunlight. However, as people age they cannot synthesize Vitamin D as efficiently, and their kidneys are less able to convert it to active form, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. Also, individuals with darker skin, especially African-Americans, convert sunlight to Vitamin D less efficiently than those with fairer skin. Studies have shown that individuals with darker complexions can be especially prone to hypovitaminosis D, a term used to describe low blood levels of Vitamin D.
Related SharePost: For Bone Health: Ways to Get Vitamin D
Dr. Robert Recker, vice president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, said the previous requirements were sufficient to prevent diseases associated with severe deficiency of Vitamin D, specifically rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. "It takes a larger dose beyond that to supply all the other needs," says Dr. Recker, who is also chief of the Endocrinology Division at Creighton University Medical Center's Osteoporosis Research Center. "To put it simply, we have till now not realized what an adequate intake should be."
