One of my most beloved vitamins in practice is vitamin D– which is technically a hormone, despite its name. Interestingly, it's one of the supplements I prescribe the most, though I feel as though it can often be overlooked and under-prescribed, elsewhere.
I wanted to shed some light on why I feel comfortable being heavy-handed with vitamin D supplementation at times, especially now, living within our perpetual viral landscape. This, combined with the fact we're heading into the cooler months, it's safe to say that I really see the benefit of vitamin D use in patients here at Darling Health.
Did You Know?
Vitamin D is an emerging front runner in the race to solve the COVID-19 puzzle. Swiss data revealed supplementation of vitamin D can not only prevent severe symptoms of the viral respiratory illness, but also reduce the severity of transmission and mortality1,2
Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 3,4,5
Vitamin D can protect against influenza and other Winter respiratory illnesses and reduce wheezing in children 6,7,8
Supports both innate (natural) and acquired or developed immunity, which means it helps to modulate and regulate the function of our entire immune system, including autoimmunity and its diseases.
Acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Vitamin D helps relieve anxiety/depression and OCD9,10,11 conditions that are becoming an epidemic themselves. This is due to the hormonal action of vitamin D, as it helps us make cortisol, serotonin, oestrogen & thyroid hormones.
Deficiency of vitamin D is a global health disease– more than one billion children and adults are deficient12
Here’s the Why... The unprecedented and rapid spread of COVID-19 has forced most of us to change the way we conduct our daily lives, with so many of us being forced to spend a lot of time indoors. This, in combination with the recent floods and heavy rainfall has also reduced the lack of available sunlight in general. Considering vitamin D is best obtained and absorbed from from regular sunlight exposure, highlights the greater need for supplementation, of late. There are also a few additional factors to consider as to why you might land in the deficient or sub-optimal category when it comes to vitamin D:
If you have naturally darker or pigmented skin
If you have a pre-existing autoimmune condition including conditions such as endometriosis, eczema, psoriasis, thyroid disorders, and allergies.
If you have digestive disorders - IBD, Crohn's disease, Coeliac disease, SIBO & malabsorption.
If you need to a lot of pharmaceutical medications
If you are peri or post-menopausal?
For babies & children - whether your baby is/was exclusively breastfed & also maternal status. Or perhaps are constantly unwell from day-care or school illness.
Genetic Factors – there are quite a few studies on genetic factors that can influence vitamin D levels, in particular, data from twin and family-based studies have reported that circulating (meaning in the blood) vitamin D concentrations are partially determined by genetic factors. It has been shown that genetic variants (e.g. mutation) and alteration (e.g. deletion, amplification, inversion) in genes involved in the absorption, breakdown and transportation or binding of vitamin D to its receptors, might affect the presentation of your actual vitamin D levels. 13
If you are unsure of your vitamin D status and would like to have it thoroughly assessed or evaluated and/or supported, please reach out. This is a big area of interest and speciality to me, and I would love to hear from you.
Enquire further about appointments with Carmen via reception: 02 9555 8806, or via email: reception@darlinghealth.com.au. You can read more about Carmen here, or book in for a consultation with Carmen here. Reference List
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770157
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29030989
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