Vitamin D

The Kansas City Star recently quoted cardiologist James O’Keefe stating that the general population is predominantly deficient in vitamin D.  African-Americans are especially susceptible because the skin pigment blocks the sun’s vitamin D producing rays.  Some of the lowest lab readings of vitamin D occur in black people.

The good news is that a simple vitamin D supplement will solve the problem nicely.  I discussed the remedies including  sun exposure and vitamin D supplements in my last blog.  In the next blog we will be discussing the health implications of vitamin D deficiency.  There are a couple forms of vitamin D available on the market.  The one most active in the body is vitamin D3.

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You should know your cholesterol and your blood pressure numbers.  Now, from current research regarding vitamin D, (technically, it is vitamin D3,)  vitamin D deficiency is becoming a consideration to doctors everywhere.  To have your vitamin D3 level correctly tested by your doctor, ask him/her to do the blood test called (25OH) D3.  Then, when the results come back from the lab, you should be looking at a blood level of 50.  The current lab “normal” levels are around 30 but are soon to be upgraded to more accurately reflect the vitamin D deficiency epidemic we are experiencing. To get your blood levels up to 50 either spend 30 minutes a day with your skin exposed to the sun, or, take 5000 IU of vitamin D3 per day and have the blood level checked again in 2 months.

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My patients are more frequently coming in with a prescription in hand for vitamin D or more correctly, vitamin D3.  Vitamin D deficiency is being recognized by doctors as a contributing factor in many illness from autism to cancer.  According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics,70 percent of U.S. kids have low vitamin D levels.  Of those, 9 percent were actually deficient., having less than half of what their body needs. The problem is kids nowadays spend more time indoors than they should.  Adults, too, for that matter.  To remedy the problem, I recommend 5,000 I.U. of vitamin D3 daily for everyone except children for whom I recommend 2,000 graduating up to 5,000 as they grow to adult size.

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How do I know if my child with autism has a vitamin D deficiency?  It is really very simple.  The Vitamin D Council offers a test kit whereby you can use a drop of blood from a home test kit to get an accurate vitamin D reading.  If you have the wherewithal to prick your child’s finger or your own finger, you can do this test without a trip to the doctor.

Based upon current research, the normal acceptable blood level is now considered to be above 50 ng/ml in both children and adults.  The cool thing about doing the test at home is you can take your vitamin D for a month or so and then retest without repeated visits to the doctor.  If you prefer to go to the doctor for the test, be sure he orders the test called 25(OH) vitamin D.  The doctor’s lab “normal” range will be significantly below the optimal 50 ng/ml so you will want to remember that when you begin your vitamin D supplementation.

Vitamin D is inexpensive and is available on line.  In my practice for people who have vitamin D deficiency, I recommend 5000 IU per day for adults, 1000 IU per day for children under age 2 and from 2000 up to 5000 for older children with dosage graduated based upon body weight.  Remember to retest during summer months. If you and/or your child are  out in the sun a lot the total dose may not be necessary.

You can get your home vitamin D test kits through the Vitamin D Council

The prevalence of autism is now one child in every one hundred ten.  What is interesting is that the researchers are touching upon environmental causes of autism and other childhood diseases.  Of course, vaccines are considered part of the environmental milieu.  They just seem to never hit the issue head on and ask if we are making our children sick.  Meanwhile, it is incumbent upon us all to do what we can to prevent autism and other illnesses in our children.  I am a strong advocate of vitamin D, as are many physicians and researchers.

From a study released online Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., ahead of print publication Wednesday we learn the following:

Researchers analyzed the prevalence of illnesses by surveying the mothers of approximately 5,000 children. Data from three time periods were analyzed: 1988 to 1994, 1994 to 2000, and 2000 to 2006. In each time frame, the children, ages 2 through 8 at the start of each period, were followed for six years.

The rate of chronic conditions increased from 12.8% in 1994 to 26.6% in 2006. Latino and black youths and males were more likely to have health problems.

“We have a whole different set of conditions we’re looking at today and a broader set of definitions for illnesses,” said Halfon, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study. “We’re seeing bigger increases in obesity, attention deficit disorder and other mental and behavioral conditions. Part of that has to do with the kinds of environments in which children are growing up.”

Again, I say, take your vitamin D, give it to your kids.  There is more information on other blog posts listed below.

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There are a few known risk factors for autism, not the least of which is a vitamin D deficiency.  I listed a few risk factors for autism in my last blog and here are some known to be associated with onset of autism symptoms:

• Hepatitis B vaccine given at birth triples autism risk.
• Frequent ear infections.
• Frequent use or overuse of antibiotics. Parents report that their healthy babies get ear infections, treatment with anti-biotics, multiple vaccinations, and then develop autism.  Most of the time we only look at the last trigger to this disease, vaccination.
• History of reacting to vaccines.
• Mother has asthma or allergies.
• Mother has history of Rheumatoid Arthritis or Celiac Disease.
• Either parent has history of Type 1 Diabetes.

Don’t neglect to give your children vitamin D.  Normally children can have about 1000 IU total from supplements up to about age three and then they can have the dosage increased according to their weight up to 5000 IU in adulthood.  If you have children requiring the 1000 IU you can give them ½ a 2000 IU capsule or pearl per day.

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I have said it before and will continue to urge all our readers to not only give your children with autism symptoms vitamin D but take it yourself. In last week’s newsletter, Mercola made a great case for the importance of avoiding vitamin D deficiency. Experts are now saying that vitamin D deficiency may be common in our culture. Vitamin D is inexpensive and easy to take.  I personally take 4000 IU per day.

Most children with autism symptoms suffer from what is termed “regressive autism”. This means that the child was not born with the condition but was developing as a healthy,  normal kid until somewhere between the age of one and three. Then, with no apparent warning, the child regressed into autism symptoms. A high percentage of parents of such children swear that the regression started after a routine childhood immunization. Whether the vaccines are connected with development of autism is hotly debated with the parents on one side and the pharmaceutical industry on the other.  In future blog posts I will discuss preventive measures parents can take, including taking of vitamin D, also previously discussed. Here are some of the known risk factors for development of autism.

• Boys 3 to 4 times greater risk than girls.
• Family History.. 7% of families with one autistic child will have a second autistic child.
• Children with certain neurological disorders.
• Children born to men 40 years or older were almost six times more likely to have autism spectrum disorder than were children born to men younger than 30 years.

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