Excerpt from Naked at Noon, Understanding Sunlight and Vitamin
D, Krispin Sullivan, CN- All materials are copyrighted and may not be copied,
quoted, reproduced or used in any form without permission from the author.
The fat-soluble
vitamins A and D store in the human body. The upside of storage? Mechanisms and
capacity for storage imply we have the ability to hold onto a reserve available
for use when environmental or dietary sources are low. The downside? This
capacity for storage can be dangerous. Hypervitaminosis is the term used to
indicate the presence of excess A or D and the metabolic consequences, which in
the case of too much D can be very serious indeed. '''
Storage studies, all using excessive D, have firmly entrenched the idea we
store D in fat, as a reserve. From this premise experts suggest getting D
from sunlight in summer produces excess vitamin D, which is stored and may
be accessed by the body in winter to maintain vitamin D. This assumption is
either not true or we are gravely 'under-sunned'.
'''
Studies in the United States and other countries, many of them in tropical
or sub-tropical countries, show winter time levels of D to be deficient or
insufficient and frequently associated with bone loss.(5-9).(10-18)'
'''
These studies all confirm that while D might be sufficient in summer women,
men, children, seniors, healthy, or infirm, all have lower values of D
during winter months, frequently dropping to seriously deficient values. So
much for storage.
'''
The data suggests that, in the real world with real people, storage is not a
large factor in year round vitamin D sufficiency, especially if summer D is
insufficient. In persons living at latitudes greater than 35° only those who
spent significant time (months) in the tropics during the winter maintained
optimal D. All others using sunlight their major source of D saw a
significant drop in serum 25(OH)D by the end of October with a slow but
continuous further decline until spring.
At no time, ever, from any
source, could the human or animal body have gotten the massive doses of
vitamin D being used today in research, in medicine and as additives in feed
in animal husbandry. This storage study
helps to show some of the difficulties encountered in understanding the
relationship between our bodies and vitamin D. As there is general acceptance
within and outside of the medical community that vitamin D stores in the body as
a natural process clinicians have developed the protocol of giving high dose
vitamin D. The idea is very user friendly. An injection once every three months
or a pill once a week or other prescription allows the physician to treat the
condition and not have to be concerned about compliance. '''
The test showing 95 ng/ml was done in July. All supplements were stopped and
foods with vitamin D, fish, eggs and fortified dairy were avoided. Summer
sunlight was neither avoided nor sought out. In November 25(OH)D reached 110
ng/ml. Vitamin D levels dropped slowly over the next six months, about 8 ng/ml
per month. At last testing her D was 61 ng/ml.
Message: Don't take vitamin D in
amounts beyond the 400-800 IU range without testing and when you begin to
take D test every three or four months the first year and every six months
the second and third year to make sure you have the right dose.
'''
Retest if you move to a
different latitude or increase or decrease your exposure to UV-B (summer or
tropical sun). Find a healthcare provider that will support you in this
process. Studies using high doses of D, in excess of 2,000 IU, to my
knowledge have never lasted longer than 6 months. In many cases elevated D
doesn't appear until the second or third year of supplementation. '
If you suffer from any
autoimmune disease and/or chronic fatigue syndrome, have both your 25(OH)D
and 1,25(OH)2D tested. If either number is elevated seek help from a health
care professional experienced in vitamin D abnormalities. There are several important points to consider in
these real stories. I have seen an advertisement on TV for a calcium
supplement that seems to suggest very high levels of vitamin D and calcium are
safe and will cure any number of things. I have also visited websites produced
by well-meaning persons suggesting massive doses of D, cod liver oil or a
'natural' source, is safe in any amount and providing 'references' to prove
this. The references are without merit and the statements are completely and
dangerously false.
You can take too much of anything but the
consequences of too much D are extreme and many of these consequences are not
reversible. In seeking light we must use moderation. We need a little sunlight
and D, more perhaps than we get right now but not ever levels higher than
reasonably available from food or natural sunlight.
The moral of all of these stories is simple.
America is a BIG melting pot with latitudes tropical, subtropical, temperate,
and arctic and skins from very light to very dark. We are all different. We get
different light. We respond to light and supplements differently. We live in
different places. We have different skin colors and varied ability to produce
and store D. We can all avoid damage by testing and responding sensibly to the
results. A complicating addition to Dr. Adams' comments:
Remember the two women with optimal D, the lucky ones who got to spend winters
in the tropics? Both women were postmenopausal and candidates for a blanket
prescription. of calcium and D. ANY supplementation would have elevated D to
unnecessary levels. Even Dr. Adams' moderate dose of 800 IU is inappropriate if
25(OH) D is adequate. Testing really is critical. In our examples the elevated vitamin D came from
supplements or sunlight or a combination of both. Remember the complex systems
model and my warning about the devil being in skipping the details? Not getting
enough vitamin D is clearly an issue in many parts of the world and so is
getting too much. With all the voices, research, opinion, sales, media, the only
safe path is working out your own need and your response and knowing that it
works, safely, because you have tested.
The
following list concerns low level hypervitaminosis D as that seen with Adam's
cases of bone loss or the calcification of arteries in the southern Indians NOT
clinical intoxication with elevated serum calcium.
How Humans Store D And Why This Is Really Important
''' In 1972 a team from the University Department of Medicine,
The Royal Infirmary, Manchester, England set out to determine if and where
vitamin D is stored in the human body. Vitamin D metabolites, including the
three we are focusing on, are very very very small. Vitamin D in blood and
tissue is measured in nanogram or nanomole amounts. To give you an idea of just
how small, a nanogram is one billionth of a gram and if you haven't got around
to metrics yet it takes 28,349,520,000,000 nanograms to make one ounce. As our
bodies contain 'nano' amounts of any of the D metabolites, tissue storage
studies need comparatively large amounts of tissue to analyze.
''' The Royal Infirmary study design used radioactively labeled
vitamin D3. As the study explains 'Because of the small dose of radioactivity
used in these studies, large samples were required…adequate material could be
obtained only at autopsy or from an amputated limb.' The authors explain further
that this is an 'opportunistic study' which I will define as meaning, 'under
these conditions, dying or having a limb amputated to be able to complete the
study, you take whatever you can get'. 60 patients volunteered and received the
radioactively labeled vitamin D injection. Of these 60 an unfortunate 6 supplied
the samples for the study. Two other patients, who did not receive the D3
injection, but had been treated with oral ergocalciferol (D2) up until time of
their deaths, also provided tissue samples.
''' With one exception all tissue donors were patients suffering
from illness or injury serious enough to cause death or amputation. Four died
from chronic renal (kidney) failure, one from cancer, one from post-operative
complications, and one from biliary disease. In addition to the problem of
serious illness possibly clouding the outcome, one of the subjects had been
treated with large amounts of ergocalciferol (D2) before receiving the injection
of radioactive vitamin D3. The remaining volunteers receiving the injection were
low or deficient in vitamin D. A few of the limitations of the storage study
include small sample size, time elapsed between the injection and analysis of
samples, possible complications due to kidney failure as the kidney plays a
major role in D metabolism and prior treatment with vitamin D. Even considering
the limitations the study does offer us an approximation of D storage.
''' The researchers analyzed tissue samples of liver, spleen,
kidney, heart, lung, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, intestine, skin, bone, marrow;
muscle, tendon, and fat to see where the radioactive vitamin D ended up and how
much ended up in each part. They looked for just two of our Ds, cholecalciferol,
and 25(OH)D.
''' And the results: Every tissue studied demonstrated vitamin D
activity. This is interesting because at the time very little was known about
the actions of D in tissues other than bone. Later researchers would locate
receptors for vitamin D in all parts of our bodies as you have learned.(1)
'''
After the injection the cholecalciferol cleared rapidly from the blood. Quick
review: Whether from skin production, oral intake or an injection vitamin D
travels first to the liver where the cholecalciferol begins its metabolic
journey by conversion to metabolite 25(OH)D and other less well known
metabolites. In this study some of the injected cholecalciferol was excreted in
bile, either unchanged or as one of several metabolites of D, some was converted
to 25(OH)D circulating in the bloodstream, and some, both cholecalciferol and
25(OH)D, was removed from circulation by being partitioned off into fat cells or
bound to tissue proteins. Our livers play an important role in handling all of
the fats and fat-soluble substances we ingest or produce in our bodies.
''' Your body has metabolic pathways designed to break down and
get rid of excesses thereby maintaining the normal balance, homeostasis,
necessary for functioning. The liver breaks down fat-soluble toxins and other
fat-soluble elements such as estrogen and excretes them in bile. Fat-soluble
toxins, drug residues from antibiotics or chemicals such as DDT or PCBs that
overload the system are unable to be metabolized and excreted in bile. Excesses
can be kept out of the bloodstream by being stored in fat tissues as a
protection from toxicity. In this study the path of vitamin D excess appears to
be similar. When serum levels were elevated by the injection the body responded
by storing excess in fat cells.
'''
Perhaps this occurred because the dose given was much greater than a
physiological dose, like a toxin needing to be trapped outside of circulation to
prevent damage. Circulating in the bloodstream high levels of vitamin D can be
dangerous causing damage to arteries and promoting calcification of soft
tissues.(2;3) At a minimum, excessively elevated serum D may disrupt normal
feedback mechanisms necessary to regulate the D endocrine system. Perhaps this
occurred as a natural process to keep blood levels of vitamin D within normal
ranges and store any extra for later use.
.''' Back to the study-The tissues containing the highest amounts
of vitamin D, totals that include both cholecalciferol and 25(OH)D, were fat and
bone marrow (high in fat content). Total D activity recovered from voluntary
muscle nearly equaled that found in fatty tissue because while concentrations of
D were lower, total body mass was greater; the body contains more muscle than
fat. As discussed before vitamin D goes through many changes over time becoming
any one of a number of metabolites. The time between the initial injection and
the analysis of tissue ranged from 4 days to 90 days. At any time point the
blood and skin samples contained primarily 25(OH)D with one exception. In the
samples from patients on prior vitamin D therapy the blood and skin contained
higher levels of unmetabolized D, cholecalciferol. The liver, kidney and lung
tissues had a significantly higher percentage of 25(OH)D than cholecalciferol.
As the interval of time increased, D in muscle shifted from cholecalciferol to
the metabolite 25(OH)D. In bone marrow and fat there was a mix of
cholecalciferol and 25(OH)D with the unmetabolized cholecalciferol predominating
in most samples.
'''
GP overview: An injection of D moderately raises levels of serum 25(OH)D over a
number of days. Excess (my word, not the study's) is stored in tissues, in fatty
tissues as the unmetabolized D, cholecalciferol, and in muscle initially as
unmetabolized D but shifting to 25(OH)D over time. The skin contains vitamin D
primarily as the metabolite 25(OH)D.
'''
Vitamin D's fate is to be finally broken down and excreted in bile, as is the
fate of all fat-soluble substances in our bodies. D is also removed as our
bodies shed the cells of our mucous linings and skin, both of which contain all
3 metabolites of vitamin D. Traveling from initial intake, by mouth or skin, to
active metabolites to degradation and elimination takes a significant period of
time.
'''
When vitamin D supplies are diminished or absent vitamin D stored in tissues and
organs is rapidly released while fat stores of D release very slowly.(2) In
patients who had previously been on extended D therapy large amounts of vitamin
D activity were detectible in tissues even after 15-20 months.
''' What this study doesn't tell us: It does not offer any
insight into optimal levels of vitamin D, in blood or in tissues. It doesn't
tell us if storage in fat offers a useful reserve of vitamin D when serum levels
decline. Holmes and Kummerow found vitamin D in fat (also from excess doses of
D) loath to leave, dispersing extremely slowly.(4)
''' This storage study doesn't tell us what normal humans,
getting their D from sunlight and diet, actually do with vitamin D. Do they have
D stored in their fat? If so in what form and how much is where?
''' In a study published in 2002 Barger-Lux and Heaney checked
the 25(OH)D levels of men spending the summer out of doors participating in
activities including landscaping, construction, farming and recreation. The
average value of D reached at summer's end was 48.8 ng/ml. Approximately 5 ½
months later the average of the 26 participants dropped to 29.6 ng/ml. Three of
the men had values less than 20 ng/ml and 15 had less than 30 ng/ml.(19) GP, the
reality of storage looks quite different from the premise doesn't it?
''' Studies evaluating the system overload of an injection, with
or without prior D therapy, or single or chronic high dose D as used in animal
storage studies, may offer clues to D metabolism. The doses of D used in these
studies may also completely imbalance the system so that the primary question
answered is 'What happens to vitamin D in the human or animal body when an
overload is given?' (4)
''' Many of the studies using D for osteoporosis or other D
related disorders used tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of
International Units of vitamin D. The current prescription vitamin D supplement
Calciferol, contains 50,000 IU of vitamin D2. Protocols for various conditions
continue to suggest 50,000 IU to as much as 700,000 IU daily or intermittently
(weekly, monthly or once every 3 or 6 months) to treat hyperparathyroidism,
vitamin D resistant rickets, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, vitamin D myopathies or
just to build or maintain levels of 25(OH)D.(20-23)
''' When these doses are given they must be given by prescription
and monitored by the physician. At the doses used there is always a possibility
of toxicity(24) and if the patient inadvertently combines the treatment with sun
exposure(25) or with supplements that contain vitamin D the possibility for
toxicity increases exponentially. What is unclear to me is why these doses were
ever used. Physiological doses of D and sunlight are effective.
Continuing excerpts-
Too Much Vitamin D?
''' A review from the section on testing: Normal values of
25(OH)D range from 20 ng/ml - 57 ng/ml Optimal levels are probably 35-60 ng/ml
or the range may turn out to be as broad as 30-70 ng/ml. In Vieth's review of
vitamin D he was unable to find studies showing toxicity at levels of 25(OH)D
below 56 ng/ml.(26) As mentioned earlier chronically sun-exposed individuals in
the tropics or subtropics reach higher values. Some researchers have made
comments that these naturally derived elevations of D, such as found in one
farmer in Puerto Rico, 90 ng/ml, are from sun and therefore normal and without
danger. Past and recent research suggests the safety of elevated levels of D
from sun is less clear.
'''
When I first began exploring vitamin D in 2000 I spoke with Barbara Boucher,
M.D. from the Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Medicine, Medical and Dental
School, Queen Mary, University of London, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel,
London, U.K. Dr. Boucher is one of the world's top researchers regarding vitamin
D and Syndrome X, that is the complex comprised of insulin resistance, obesity,
hypertension and adult onset non-insulin dependent diabetes. At the time of our
conversation I had mentioned Reinhold Vieth's idea of higher doses of D being
safe and perhaps even necessary. Dr. Boucher was unaware of Vieth's work but
strongly disagreed with any suggestion that D in high doses for extended periods
of time would be safe and suggested that I review this problem carefully. Her
tone was so very intense and serious the caution stuck with me over the three
years of book preparation.
''' Studies, however scientific, don't prove as much as the
researchers, health promotion agencies, media and advertising would like us to
think. Journals are filled with researchers comments arguing among themselves on
why results often differ. Methods, testing procedures, number of participants,
kind of participants and contrary results ruffle feathers frequently. Studies
don't give us truth they give us approximations. While there may not be
sufficient evidence to say levels of 25(OH)D above 70 ng/ml are absolutely
harmful there is equally no sufficient evidence to support values above 70 ng/ml
as natural, necessary, optimal, or safe.
''' Hypervitaminosis D indicates excess intake of vitamin D
leading to elevated levels of 25(OH)D though D2 or D3, the vitamin you take or
make, can also be elevated in hypervitaminosis Vitamin D toxicity, intoxication,
or poisoning are terms reserved for very high levels of D accompanied by
elevated serum calcium and potential or actual calcification of soft tissues. As
usual the research community continues to discuss these terms among themselves
and define what they might 'really mean'.
''' For our purposes I use the term hypervitaminosis D to
expressly mean chronically elevated, >70 ng/ml, levels of 25(OH)D, caused by
supplementation and/or UV-B light exposure whether from sunlight or UV-B lamps.
'''
In August 1997 a letter was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The
title,- Gains in Bone Mineral Density with Resolution of Vitamin D Intoxication,
should give us pause. The authors, Dr. John S. Adams and Gene Lee found 4
patients they determined to have hypervitaminosis D. These patients were
discovered during a 1992-93 admittance screening at the Cedar-Sinai Bone Center
in Los Angeles, CA. The purpose of the screening was to determine if a policy of
giving a standard testing profile including fasting blood levels of parathyroid
hormone, TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), calcium and 25(OH)D and fasting
urine levels of calcium and creatinine would help evaluate patients for
osteoporosis or low bone mineral density. (27)
''' The four women had high levels of calcium in fasting urine,
three times greater than normal values, demonstrated bone loss, and a 25(OH)D
>50 ng/ml. There were no other abnormalities in the blood with the exception of
a lower level of parathyroid hormone. TSH, 1,25(OH)2D and serum calcium were all
within normal ranges. All four patients had experienced demonstrable bone loss.
'''
Two of the four women had unknowingly been taking supplements containing high
levels of vitamin D. All of the women had been taking a minimum of 1,000 mg of
calcium prior to and at the time of their diagnosis. This is important to note
because the extra calcium did not protect them from the loss of bone attributed
to excess 25(OH)D. In a manner as yet undetermined the elevated level of
25-hydroxyvitamin D caused or contributed to loss of calcium in the urine and
increased bone loss.
''' While there are some arguments among experts about whether
these women actually had hypervitaminosis D and whether it was the cause of
their bone loss all four patients regained bone mass when elevated 25(OH)D and
urinary calcium decreased to more normal values. The drop in D and decrease in
urinary calcium took several months. Bone mass increased by an average of 2% a
year following the resolution of hypervitaminosis D, very good news.
''' In the two women with the highest levels of 25(OH)D, 89 ng/ml
and 80 ng/ml, the vitamin D causing the elevation was being taken without their
knowledge. The high amounts of vitamin D were found to be an unlisted ingredient
in preparations purchased from health food stores. None of the patients
KNOWINGLY took more than 1,200 IU of vitamin D daily. One of the supplements
tested contained 3,600 IU of D, not listed on the label.
According to the vitamin D endocrine system model 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol) is the
active D, the hormone. All of the women with hypervitaminosis D had normal
levels of 1,25(OH)2D. Only 25(OH)D was elevated. Adams doesn't know why bone
loss occurred but he suggests that the high levels of 25(OH)D may have displaced
1,25(OH)2D in cell function, potentially stopping or slowing the formation of
new bone or otherwise altering production of elements necessary for bone
maintenance.
''' Adams, Holmes, Kummerow, and the next study from India have
documented damage to bones or arteries when 25(OH)D is elevated. In some of the
studies done by them or reviewed by them damage occurred when the only
abnormalities were elevated 25(OH)D and excess calcium in the urine.(3;4;27-29)
Some very experienced vitamin D researchers believe there isn't a known upper
limit on 25(OH)D if serum calcium remains normal. They accept hypercalcemia (too
much calcium in the blood) as the indicator of excess D. This may be a mistake.
'''
Researchers from the Department of Cardiology and Achutha Menon Centre for
Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and
Technology, Trivandrum, India considered that high levels of D are used to cause
heart disease in experimental animals.(30;31) They wondered if high levels of
25(OH)D generated from exposure to tropical sun would also contribute to heart
disease. In comparing 25(OH)D3 levels between a control group of 70 men without
heart disease and 143 men with known heart disease, either recent heart attack
or coronary artery blockage, levels equal to or greater than 89 ng/ml were
present in 22.1% of the controls and 59.4% of the heart disease patients. The
numbers indicate a strong association yet to be understood.(32) As low and high
levels of D may contribute to heart disease I asked one of the studies authors
the percentage of those with heart disease in the range I believe is optimal,
40-60 ng/ml. Fifteen percent had 25(OH)D within this range, 85% had levels
higher or lower.
''' The researchers in India knew these elevated levels were from
sunlight, not supplements, because the test was specifically for 25(OH)D3. D3 is
only produced on the skin or taken in vitamin D3 supplements such as cod liver
oil. Vitamin D3 supplements are not generally available in many parts of the
world including India. The test used commonly in the U.S. tests total 25(OH)D,
which includes 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3. Both D2 and D3 supplements are available
here and both will raise 'total' 25(OH)D. This is important because the Indian
research suggests the possibility of too much D from sun, generally thought not
to be possible. (That old assumption trap.)
'''
In December of 2001 a client being medically treated for psoriasis with a
special narrowband UV-B light prescribed by his dermatologist tested 25(OH)D at
97 ng/ml. The light treatment was immediately stopped by the choice of the
client, not the dermatologist. The client then left for his yearly trip to
Hawaii staying three months from Jan-March of 2002. He did not intentionally
avoid the sun, believing, as I did at the time, hypervitaminosis D from natural
sunlight was impossible. He ate local Hawaiian foods, including eggs and fish.
On his return to northern California his 25(OH)D had risen to 127 ng/ml.
''' This man used no supplements containing D. His calcium
supplementation was between 1,000-1,200 mg daily in addition to food sources.
His D dropped slowly, just 6 ng/ml each month with complete avoidance of
sunlight and any foods that might contain a significant amount of D. After 8
months of sun avoidance and avoidance of fish and eggs his D dropped to 78
ng/ml.
His dermatologist refused to request the initial test for vitamin D. After being
presented with the results the dermatologist stated he had no information on
elevations of vitamin D from UV-B light treatment nor did he know if this was
good, bad, or insignificant. After several attempts to get medical advice the
client was referred to an endocrinologist who also didn't know anything about
elevated D and UV-B light treatment. He was willing to order testing, one time.
The clients last test reported a 25(OH)D of 57 ng/ml. after 12 months of
complete sun avoidance and no fish, eggs, or supplements containing vitamin D.
''' His elevated 25(OH)D was caused by prescription psoriasis
treatment with narrowband UV-B light made worse by exposure to tropical sun.
This is iatrogenic (induced by a physician's treatment) hypervitaminosis D. When
he first reported the elevation of vitamin D to his dermatologist a partner in
the practice admitted they had seen excessively elevated levels of 25(OH)D
before in persons treated with narrowband UV-B before. They did not know what it
meant, or whether or not it might be a problem, nor was it their policy to
monitor D. They demonstrated no interest in testing serum calcium, PTH, or
fasting urinary calcium and refused a request to do so. Narrowband UV-B light
can raise 25(OH)D to hypervitaminosis D levels.
''' A woman with severe osteoporosis, demonstrating a lumbar SD
-4.6 and low 25(OH)D began taking D3, cholecalciferol, 3,000 IU a day. Her serum
25(OH)D rose from below 20 ng/ml to 42 ng/ml within 4 months and a follow up
bone scan after 8 months of D supplementation showed some not significant (very
slight) bone gain had occurred. The client did not want the expense of testing,
it was not supported by her physician or HMO, so did not test D again. She
continued to take the original 3,000 IU of D about five days a week. This dose
is slightly lower than the dose of 4,000 IU sometimes suggested or used by some
D researchers and clinicians. She also took between 1,000-1,500 mg calcium in
addition to food sources and did not avoid foods containing D. The next bone
scan, about 1 year after the scan showing a slight gain and 2 years after
starting vitamin D, showed normal PTH (43 ng/ml); 25(OH)D 95 ng/ml; and lumbar
SD -4.8 in addition to more loss in the femur for SD -2.2 to -2.5. Overall she
experienced a 6% loss of bone density.
''' Her blood and urine tests confirmed her bone loss to be a
case of hypervitaminosis D. She had the requisite elevated calcium in the urine
with all other tests normal, serum calcitriol, PTH and serum calcium, just as
Dr. Adams had found in his screenings.
When the clients second scan showed bone loss her doctor, an osteoporosis
specialist, did not want to test her D. Her physician believed the problem was
hormonal and insisted on tests for TSH and PTH, both normal, and other similar
studies. The only reason the patient got her D tested is because she stood her
ground and demanded it, forcing her doctor to order the test.
''' Had the vitamin D test not been done her physician would have
determined 'bone loss with unknown cause'. The physician had immediately
prescribed Fosamax and estrogen for treatment. These treatments would have been
ineffective in treating the problem, excess supplementation of vitamin D, though
they do help correct bone loss from hypervitaminosis D.''' What
she needed to do was to stop taking the D.
''' For about six months prior to the July test showing 95 ng/ml
she had been experiencing 'bone ache', fatigue and depression. Within several
weeks of stopping vitamin D the pain resolved and energy and mood returned to
normal, interesting because her 25(OH)D continued to climb during this time. Her
serum calcium remained normal at all times.
'
Lessons To Be Re-learned
'
'
Sunning midday in summer in latitudes between 35-40° has rarely produced
levels of calcidiol beyond the mid 50-60 ng/ml in light skinned persons.
This does not prove more intense exposure levels of UV-B rays from sunlight
in the tropics can't raise D to unhealthy levels, especially in persons with
little melanin. Narrowband UV-B and tropical sun clearly can and in certain
situations does raise 25(OH)D beyond known safe values. While we wait for
further research to clarify this issue response is ALWAYS individual,
whether to supplements or light. Test, test, and retest.
'
You have to make a choice. Because you have enough D, from supplements or
food, you do not stop producing D in your skin. Levels just increase. You
may take D and avoid the sun or figure out your winter D dose and stop in
the summer or combine some D and some sun. To do any of these safely you
must test, test, and retest.
Am I sounding like someone's mother? I worry. I remember Dr. Barbara
Boucher's voice from the U.K. She had seen the problems with too much D
given in infant formulas and fortified foods. There the problem stemmed from
well-intentioned but unwise supplementation. The U.K. far north, across the
ocean from Canada, with often overcast skies. Getting excess D from sunlight
at any season would be extremely difficult. Here in the U.S. the situation
is much more complex. We have a higher UV-B range at any season and in some
areas subtropical sun. I firmly believe that we all need vitamin D and
having too little contributes to both chronic and acute conditions that
could be corrected if we got enough.
I also firmly believe getting too much vitamin D from supplements or light
or a combination can create a serious and potentially dangerous situation.
There are rarely obvious symptoms of D marginal deficiency or overabundance.
Conditions associated with too much or too little vitamin D involve
inappropriate mineralizaton or demineralization of bone, or joints or
calcification of tissues and organs that include arteries, bone, kidneys,
brain, or muscles.
'
Below I quote Dr. Adams in his reply to criticism regarding his observations as
published in the Annals of Internal Medicine Letter, March 1998:
"The most crucial point raised is the importance of detecting the opposite
condition, vitamin D deficiency. We agree with the recommendation to increase
the current recommended daily allowance for oral vitamin D consumption by 50% to
100% (from 400 to 600 or 800 IU daily), particularly in elderly persons who have
limited sunlight exposure and cutaneous vitamin D synthetic capacity. This
intake level is safe and will not cause hypercalciuria. What is not always safe
and reliable is the label of a food supplement not regulated by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration. In our patients, the vitamin D content of the
supplement was at least one order of magnitude greater than that advertised on
the label. It is fortunate that the serum 25(OH)D level is the best screen for
both hypervitaminosis D and hypovitaminosis D. Physicians should take better
advantage of this versatile screening tool." (Underlining and bold added by me.)
The Causes- A Review
The Complications Of Too Much D
''' Our few examples showed bone loss and calcification of soft
tissue, in this case the arteries. In research extremely high levels of vitamin
D are given to lab animals, rats in most cases, to cause a condition similar to
heart disease with calcifications in arteries. While the doses of vitamin D used
to cause artery damage in rats are extreme after considering the Indian study,
with a strong association between heart disease and elevated 25(OH)D, there
should be a concerned response and more research in this area. It certainly
appears that both low and elevated levels of vitamin D may contribute to heart
disease.
''' Holmes and Kummerow found elevations of 25(OH)D, independent
of serum calcium, caused damage to tissues. Excess 25(OH)D was found primarily
in the kidney, liver, lung, aorta, and heart. places known to develop
calcifications with D intoxication. As in our cadaver storage study Holmes found
unconverted D primarily in fat and 25(OH)D in blood. Remember DBP prefers
25(OH)D. Research suggests DBP entry into cells may be a normal process. Usually
only 1% of DBP contains vitamin D, any of its metabolites. Holmes suggests
elevations of vitamin D may increase DBP binding of D to as much as 40%.
''' The question of what constitutes hypervitaminosis D revolves
around whether deposits of calcium in soft tissues are a result of excess
calcium in the blood or excess 25(OH)D. Holmes and others have found calcium
deposits related most to elevations of 25(OH)D. The pathologic changes he found
in tissues, calcium infiltration of cells, occurred at levels lower than those
causing elevated serum calcium. His theory as to why this happens suggests
D-binding protein excess 25(OH)D may alter cell membrane permeability allowing
entry of calcium.(4;37) Increased calcium influx in a cell leads to calcium
deposits, cell damage or death.(38;39)
''' Most researchers have noticed excess calcium in the urine as
25(OH)D levels increase and this has been attributed to improved absorption of
calcium. Dr. Adams did not find that to be true and even if you aren't concerned
about arteries or bone loss consider this- Excess calcium in the urine combined
with elevated 25(OH)D has been associated with kidney stones.(40)
''' Vitamin D moves calcium around our bodies; into and out of
bone, muscle, hair, arteries, and cells. Both low and high levels of vitamin D
appear to contribute to misbehaving calcium. Goldilocks Rule: Not too much, not
too little, just right.
''' In vitamin D poisoning calcification of the kidney and kidney
failure are listed as cause of death. These unfortunate conditions have occurred
in rare instances when children or adults have unknowingly been exposed to
hundreds of thousands of units in a very short period of time or a somewhat
lower dose of vitamin D over weeks or months. It is unlikely that any of you
will find yourself suffering from poisoning in any of these ways. My concern is
that in trying to be as healthy as you can be you may, in your enthusiasm, raise
levels of 25(OH)D above the upper limit of safety, which to my mind is lower
than some experts seem to believe.
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