Vitamin D Facts For Life

Vitamin D is regularly in the medical news headlines being credited as a treatment and preventive measure for diseases ranging from the common cold to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and Alzheimer's.  Now we can add improved stamina and physical performance as we age.  

By promoting muscle strength, bone growth and repair, Vitamin D has demonstrated the ability to delay age-related illnesses and improve the quality of life in aging adults.  Vitamin D supports the healthy function of our cells at the genetic level and it's essential that we maintain proper blood levels to ensure continued health and longevity.

Vitamin D Linked With Improved Physical Performance

As we age many of our body's natural defense systems we have taken for granted all our life begin to weaken, leading to reduced physical performance and poor quality of life.  It's estimated that as high as 90% of the senior population is deficient in Vitamin D, and those with the lowest blood levels are directly associated with the most loss of mobility and physical performance using tests of walking, balance, endurance and strength.

Conversely, those individuals with the highest blood levels of Vitamin D retained a much higher degree of physical mobility and muscle function, and suffered a reduced incidence from other significant health concerns.  Even higher levels of Vitamin D, achieved only through targeted supplementation and blood testing will result in better outcomes for an aging population.

Vitamin D Prevents and Treats Heart Disease

Heart disease or atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the US.  The risk of sudden death from a heart attack can by reduced by as much as a third by ensuring the highest level of Vitamin D through blood testing.  Every cell in our body carries a Vitamin D receptor which is required to perform genetic replication.  Insufficient levels in the blood means that all the cells are not being saturated with the vitamin and heart disease incidence increases dramatically.

Research shows that those people with the lowest levels of Vitamin D are 45% more likely to develop heart disease and 77% more likely to die from any cause.   These studies suggest that Vitamin D may provide these significant health benefits due to its ability to reduce blood pressure, regulate blood sugar and control inflammation, all factors which contribute to heart disease.

Vitamin D Enhances Immune Function

People who supplement with Vitamin D know that they rarely suffer from the common cold or influenza when everyone around them is coughing and sneezing.  Researchers have shown how Vitamin D activates our primary immune system component known as the T cell.  The T cell has a Vitamin D receptor which allows it stretch out like an antenna, engulfing the microbial invader and keeping us from becoming ill.

A supercharged immune response is important in the defense against cancer.  Everyday cancer cells develop in our body and are normally picked up by an alert immune system.  As we age and Vitamin D levels drop, cancer cells escape detection, eventually developing into a tumor.  By increasing blood levels of Vitamin D, our T cells are placed on high alert which has been shown to reduce the incidence of 17 different cancers by as much as 77%.

With mounting evidence about the health benefits of Vitamin D, there is still much confusion about how much is needed to maintain proper levels in the blood.  Due to variations in body weight, sun exposure, dietary intake and genetic factors, every person will need to supplement independently based on the result of a simple blood test.  Most normal weight adults should begin by supplementing with 5000 IU of Vitamin D per day for the first 90 days, and then have a 25OH(D) blood test to check levels.  Experts believe that the optimal target range is 50 - 70 ng/ml.  Adjust Vitamin D supplementation in 1000 IU increments to increase or decrease blood levels by 10 ng/ml.

Vitamin D has been shown to prevent and treat a wide range of diseases, and targeted supplementation is essential for every adult to prevent illness and extend a healthy life.