By Sarah Rense, Esquire
Have
you been tested for a vitamin D deficiency? According to a recent study
conducted in Maine, one in five patients had been tested once, and a
third had been tested at least twice over a three-year period. Which is
pretty crazy, considering for the most part, their bones were doing just
fine.
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vitamin D is snake oil. It helps the body process calcium for stronger
bones. It's good for the immune system. But according to The New York Times,
studies have not conclusively proven that, for example, it helps
prevent cancer or heart disease—though some suggest just that. Nor is it
a sure fix for fatigue or depression—though again, some research might
suggest that. For every pro-vitamin D study, there's another that claims
the supplement is a waste of time, or even harmful.
The
only medically solid reason to get a vitamin D test is bone-related.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with rickets and osteoporosis, for
example, yet more and more people are getting the test done either on
their own accord or via a doctor's recommendation.
The National Institutes of Health says that about 20 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D is sufficient for healthy humans. However, as The Times
reports, lab results tell people they have "insufficient" levels of
vitamin D, even if that level is between 20 and 30 nanograms.
A
perceived deficiency leads to overuse of vitamin D supplements, which
can raise levels above 50 nanograms per milliliter, potentially causing
urinary problems, nausea, and vomiting, among other signs of toxicity.
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Humans don't produce their own vitamin D unless they are exposed to the
sun, and regular (safe) sun exposure helps your body get the proper
amount of vitamin D, according to Mayo Clinic
guidelines. Low-key supplementation can be useful when people don't
naturally see the sun all that often, as can diets with milk, mushrooms,
and fatty fish, like salmon and tuna. It's worth being aware of a
potential vitamin D deficiency, but it's likely not worth swallowing
fistfuls of pills just to be safe.
