Tag Archives: vitamin D

There are things you can do to increase your vitamin D levels. Here is some general advice:

• Make sure to get a certain amount of unprotected sun exposure (suncreen wit h a factor above 7-8 is known to block the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin.
• Eat plenty of fish.
• Use supplements with Vitamin D in an oil solution. Researh shows that it increases the absorbtion of the nutrient.

After a recent story in the BBC News, we thought it would be useful to pass on some information regarding vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of serious ailments, such as:

• Osteoporosis
• Bone fractures (and falls – especially in elderly women)
• Rickets in children – up to 25% of toddlers in the UK are deficient!
• Infectious diseases (vitamin D can act as an up-regulator for anti-viral and anti-bacterial proteins)
• Cardiovascular diseases

More and more people are taking a daily supplement of vitamin D, a nutrient that is touted for its huge impact on human health. Obtaining vitamin D3 through daily supplementation all year round is the safest way to increase vitamin D levels within the body.

Our modern lifestyles are depriving us of the sunshine we need as they keep us in our homes and offices for extended periods. The foods we eat rarely contain enough vitamin D3, if any at all. We need at least 2 hours unprotected sun exposure per week to satisfy our basic physical requirements for vitamin D3 and the British weather is not helping!

What makes a good supplement?

Vitamin D is lipisoluble (which means it needs fat to be absorbed by the body). This is a very important factor. Also, look out for supplements that:

1. Contain at least 800 IU of vitamin D3 (many studies have used 800+ IU to obtain their compelling results)
2. Use the biological form of vitamin D, which is D3 (cholecalciferol). This is bio-identical and used more effectively by the body.
3. Contain natural, healthy oils (such as olive oil) to enhance the absorption of the vitamin D3
4. Use blister packaging. Most vitamins are very sensitive to light and atmosphere. Blister packs prevent all the capsules being damaged before they are taken
5. Prioritise pharmaceutical standards. This ensures consistency and quality. Ask for certificates of analysis.

That familiar crunching sound when you bend over is just part of old age right? Wrong!

We expect the aches and pains to start kicking in as we get into our late 40′s and 50′s, so we often just accept them. Some people may resort to medical drugs or physiotherapy sessions. But what are the causes and are there simple solutions?

Life-long wear and tear on joints is bound to result in some degree of deterioration. We’re not much different from a machine, with moving parts that wear out. Joints are cushioned with a protective cartilage ‘pad’ that prevents bone ends from rubbing against each other, but there are some common factors that cause the cartilage to deteriorate:

• Improper use of joints (such as wrong lifting techniques or sports activities that are particularly hard on the joints).
• Being overweight, strains your joints.
• Immobility. Cartilage needs to be stimulated by motion in order to maintain its integrity.
• Age-related enzymatic deterioration.
• Poor diet. Foods lacking in omega 3 for good circulation, low levels of vitamin D for bone health plus a total absence of glucosamine for cartilage health.

Everyone develops signs of joint wear at some point, but with a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and a healthy body weight, you can delay the process and look after your bones and joints.

E-mail us at info@multivits.co.uk or give us a call for advice on maintaining healthy joints. We’ll ‘bend over backwards’ to help you!

Studies have revealed that an alarmingly large proportion of the nothern European population with poor UV exposure have lower than normal vitamin D levels.

A recent report has suggest that exposing your skin to UV radiation in order for your body to produce vitamin D3 could be “highly irresponsible”.  Obtaining vitamin D3 through daily supplementation all year round is the safest way to increase vitamin D levels within the body. *

It is estimated that intakes of up to 75 IU per kilo of bodyweight per day would be a safe alternative to extended sun exposure and would reduce the risk of skin damage.  Also, during the months of October through to March, people living in the northern hemisphere won’t get enough of the correct UV light needed, due to the sun being too low in the sky.

The half-life of vitamin D is estimated to be up to 8 weeks, so don’t expect your summer holiday to keep your levels up throughout the winter.

Why should we care so much about vitamin D?

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of serious ailments, such as:

• Osteoporosis
• Bone fractures (and falls  – especially in elderly women)
• Rickets in children – up to 25% of toddlers in the UK are deficient!
• Infectious diseases (vitamin D can act as an up-regulator for anti-viral and anti-bacterial proteins)
• Cardiovascular diseases

What makes a good supplement?

Vitamin D is lipisoluble (which means it needs fat to be absorbed by the body).  This is a very important factor.  Also, look out for supplements that:

1. Contain at least 800 IU of vitamin D3 (many studies have used 800+ IU to obtain their compelling results)
2. Use the biological form of vitamin D, which is D3 (cholecalciferol).  This is bio-identical and used more effectively by the body.
3. Contain natural, healthy oils (such as olive oil) to enhance the absorption of the vitamin D3
4. Use blister packaging. Most vitamins are very sensitive to light and atmosphere.  Blister packs prevent all the capsules being damaged before they are taken
5. Prioritise pharmaceutical standards.  This ensures consistency and quality.  Ask for certificates of analyis.

Everyone should take a vitamin D supplement.  Pharma Nord’s Bio-Vitamin D3 D-Pearls are tiny, easy to swallow, safe and inexpensive at only £6.95 for 120 blister-packed capsules.

*Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, June 2010, Vol 62, Iss 6.

Vitamin D-sensitive diseases causes more than half of global deaths. Based on existing research, researcher WB Grant estimated that by doubling the blood levels of vitamin D, the total life span could be increased by an average of 2 years, making Vitamin D supplementation the most cost-effective method to reduce global mortality.

Research on vitamin D has virtually exploded over the past decade. Now vitamin D is no longer just about the regulation of calcium in the body, but about many different areas, with nearly every cell in the body having a vitamin D receptor.

Human and economic benefits
The types of disease that are susceptible to the body’s vitamin D levels are cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory infections, tuberculosis and diabetes. Additionally Alzheimer’s disease, falls, meningitis, Parkinson’s disease, maternal sepsis, maternal hypertension and multiple sclerosis account for a further 2-3 percent of global deaths. A doubling of blood vitamin D content of 54 to 110 nmol / l is estimated to reduce mortality by approx. 20%. Also society’s economic burden from these diseases is estimated to be reduced by approx. 10%!

The value 54 nmol / l which is used in this study is an average value calculated on the basis of a meta-analysis of vitamin D content in the blood of people worldwide.

The reduction in all-cause mortality rates range from 7.6% for African females to 17.3% for European females. Reductions for males average 0.6% lower than for females. The estimated increase in life expectancy is 2 years for all regions.

Researchers are generally cautious in their recommendations and usually complete their articles to recommend more research before they dare to recommend their findings put into practice. In this case, Dr. Grant believes that such reservations are unnecessary and will only delay the acceptance of such approach. The reason is that vitamin D is not medicine but a natural, inexpensive product necessary for optimal health.

There have been studies concluding that vitamin D only benefits the bones and that blood levels at 50 nmol / l is sufficient. These studies have however been severely criticized for being inadequate.

2-3 ordinary Bio-Vitamin D3 D-Pearls a day
Dr. Grant mentions several possible methods for raising blood levels of vitamin D. There is food fortification, but this has to be adapted to individual communities. You can also encourage people to get more sunlight on their skin, possibly from tanning beds, and finally vitamin D in the form of supplements can be made more accessible. (In practice, it only requires e.g. 2-3 capsules of 20 ug Bio-Vitamin D3 D-Pearls a day. Ed. Note).

Ref.
Grant WB. An estimate of the global reduction in mortality rates through doubling vitamin D levels. Eur J Clin Nutr 2011. E-pub. ahead of print.

About Bio-Vitamin D3 800IU D-Pearls
Pharma Nord produces Bio-Vitamin D3 D-Pearls which are 800IU (20mcg) vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) dissolved in cold pressed olive oil to improve absorption. Bio-Vitamin D3 800IU D-Pearls come in hygienic blister packs and are manufactured to strict Danish pharmaceutical standards.