Nikki Sommer, a nurse practitioner with Key West Surgical Group, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning for Medical Matters.
Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent than you may think.
Sommer said, “Vitamin D is also known as the sunshine vitamin, but you can have a vitamin deficiency even in the warmest or sunniest of climates. So, what exactly is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is often called, like I said, the sunshine vitamin, because our bodies produce it when sunlight hits the skin, so it actually acts more like a hormone in the body rather than a regular vitamin. It plays a huge role in calcium absorption, bone strength, muscle function, immune health, and even mood regulation.”
Without enough Vitamin D, a lot of issues can arise.
Sommer said, “If you’re low in vitamin D the symptoms could be vague. A lot of times you’re deficient in it, and you don’t realize it. Common symptoms include fatigue or low energy, muscle weakness, bone or joint pain, feeling down or depressed, frequent illness or infections that affect your immune system, hair thinning, slow healing, and then again just general body aches all over. A lot of people might say, I don’t feel like myself. In older adults, vitamin D increases fall risk because muscles become weaker as well, so several groups are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency. People with darker skin tones may require more sun exposure, because melanin reduces vitamin D production in the skin. Older adults are also at risk because aging skin becomes less efficient in making vitamin D. Other high-risk groups include people who spend most of their time indoors, individuals who wear extensive sun protection. There’s a controversy. Patients who are obese, people that have kidney or liver disease, people that have malabsorption disorders like Crohn’s or celiac disease, individuals after gastric bypass surgery. After gastric bypass surgery, actually, a lot of people have trouble absorbing a lot of vitamins and nutrients. Nursing home residents and people taking certain medications, like steroids or seizure medications, this puts you at high risk for vitamin D deficiency. Oh, and of course, healthcare workers who spend most of their hours indoors, long hours, like 12, 13, 14 hours.
Can overusing sunscreen create a Vitamin D deficiency?
Sommer said, “I know it becomes one of those habits of extreme, where you cover yourself from head to toe all the time and don’t get any sun. I mean, I know we talk about protecting yourself from the sun, down here it’s hard to all the time, so you are getting some sun exposure, especially when you’re driving in the car. We’re going to tell you to protect yourself from the sun, because skin cancer prevention matters. You can correct vitamin D deficiency by taking the vitamin. It’s harder to fix skin cancer, especially if you have a more aggressive one, and it can spread into your internal organs. So sunscreen hats, sunglasses, photo protective clothing are essential, especially down here, if you’re going to spend a long period of time in the sun, meaning the beach, the boat, the pool. Brief regular exposure to the sun may help with vitamin D levels. However, they still feel that people do need dietary supplements, especially as they age, to help keep their vitamin D levels up.”
Some foods naturally contain Vitamin D.
Sommer said, “There aren’t a lot, but some good sources include salmon, sardines, tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, fortified milk, fortified cereals, some orange juices, and most dairy products have vitamin D. If it has calcium, it usually has vitamin D, because they go together.”
How do doctors test for Vitamin D?
Sommer said, “It’s a simple blood test, and if you see a primary care provider, I worked for one year ago, he tested everybody for vitamin D deficiency, and I mean, we’ve had people that spent hours out in the sun because they work out in the sun, and they were still vitamin D deficient, so go figure. The test is called 25 hydroxy vitamin D level. Different organizations have different ranges, but rule of thumb, if it’s less than 30, you could still be considered insufficient. If it’s less than 20, you are definitely deficient in vitamin D. So, someone that has symptoms or osteoporosis, or recurrent fractures, chronic fatigue, certain medical conditions, checking the levels might be appropriate. You should discuss that with your physician. Vitamin D supplements can absolutely help with vitamin D deficiency, but don’t take too much. It doesn’t mean that it’s better. Recommendations for what you should take for vitamin D, this is per the Endocrine Society, for children and teens, 600 to 1,000 daily, and then 1,500 to 2,000 for many adults to maintain adequate levels.”
Be sure to talk to your doctor.
Sommer said, “Dosing should be individualized, so I would have your level checked, and then speak to your provider on how much vitamin D you should take. Sometimes in severe deficiency, there is a prescription. It’s a high dose prescription strength capsule, I believe it’s 25,000 once a week, but definitely you wouldn’t take that without speaking to a physician, and they prescribe that for you.”
Taking too much Vitamin D can lead to toxicity.
Sommer said, “Taking excessive amounts of vitamin D can cause toxicity, which means you can feel, or you can have nausea, confusion, kidney stones, heart rhythm issues, and mental status changes. So, again, just because it’s sold over the counter doesn’t mean you can take unlimited amounts of it. It’s a fat soluble vitamin too. It’s not water soluble, so it can build up in your system. So, again, check with your primary care provider if you’re concerned that you have a vitamin D deficiency. You have any of those symptoms that we talked about, talk with them first, get your level drawn before you just run to the vitamin section of CVS or Walgreens and start popping vitamin D.”
What role does Vitamin D play in a person’s health?
Sommer said, “It plays a role in immune functions, and researchers are continuing to study the relationship between inflammation and chronic disease. Vitamin D is not a miracle cure, it’s just one piece of your overall health. So good sleep, nutrition, hydration, exercise, stress management, preventative care, and regular follow up with your healthcare provider, that’s all part of it, and understanding what your needs are, what you’re deficient in. The biggest takeaway for today is, don’t ignore any persistent fatigue, muscle aches, weakness, or feeling run down all the time. There could be an underlying reason, and it may not be vitamin D, but it may be something else. Those are kind of vague symptoms that you can have, and you go thinking you have one thing and you come out with something else. Protect your skin, you still need to protect it, avoid burns. A little bit of sunshine to get that vitamin D is okay, just not for prolonged periods of time. You don’t want to get one of those ugly sunburns, where you blister, peel and lose skin, not fun. Stay hydrated, make sure you eat a balanced diet. You can incorporate those foods that we discussed, if you’re concerned about a vitamin D deficiency. And then talk to your doctor before starting hydro supplements, or any supplementation, really. Don’t guess about what your body is deficient in. Start with talking to your provider.”
For more information on how Key West Surgical Group can help, click here: https://www.keywestsurgicalgroup.com/