The Dangers of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency in the UK is such a health problem that there has actually been a sharp rise in the bone disease rickets. In addition, a clinical review paper in the British Medical Journal by Professor Simon Pearce and Dr. Tim Cheetham revealed that “more than 50% of the UK’s adult population have insufficient vitamin D levels, and 16% have a severe deficiency during winter and spring. (Most vitamin D is synthesized by the absorption of sunlight through the skin, so deficiency rises when there is least sunshine.)
Why is Vitamin D Deficiency Dangerous?
In addition to being vital for bone health, being instrumental in preventing rickets and osteoporosis in older people, vitamin D has also been found to
- play a major role in breast and bowel cancer treatment, regulating and controlling the growth and spread of malignant cells
- give men aged 40-79 greater mental agility
- help with other conditions as diverse as diabetes, heart disease, joint disease, MS, dementia, birth difficulties, autoimmune diseases, autism, and allergies
- protect us from flu by dampening down the immune system. Particularly helpful in winter, when there are more viral infections around.
And if you suffer from winter depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD), you might be interested to know that one study found that after just 5 days of supplementation at 400 or 800 iu per day, winter mood improved. Further research showed that SAD sufferers responded more positively to a single dose of 100,000iu of Vitamin D than those treated with light therapy.
Are You D Deficient?
Vitamin D deficiency can do untold damage that you may not notice until it’s too late. Rickets, osteoporosis, and SAD are clear indicators that there may be a deficiency, but the only way to really find out if you are one of the 50% of people in the UK with harmfully low vitamin D levels, is to take a blood level assessment test.
For more information about a simple laboratory test for vitamin D deficiency, please follow this link
Why not just increase my vitamin D supplementation?
Apart from the fact that you may be throwing good money away on a quantity of supplement that you don’t really need, vitamin D can be toxic at high levels. For around just £70 for the test, you can have peace of mind that you are taking the correct dosage. We suggest retesting again at 3 months. If your vitamin D blood levels are back to normal, you can simply maintain that with a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement.
How do I test for vitamin D deficiency?
It’s simple, and you can do it at home. When you order the test, we’ll send you a special kit, with full instructions. You then just take a simple finger prick blood sample, which you then send directly to the laboratory in the packaging provided. After analysis, you’ll be sent the results, along with recommendations to correct the deficiency if you have one.
Follow this link for more information and to order:
What vitamin D supplement should I take to correct a deficiency?
The test results will tell you exactly what supplement and what dose you should be taking. Not all vitamin D supplements are the same. When taking vitamin D you always need it be as D3 – cholecalciferol. There is another form of vitamin D, D2 –ergocalciferol found in some ‘high street’ brands but this form is not as efficient as D3 in helping to correct low levels or deficiencies of vitamin D in the body. In fact, research has shown that vitamin D3 is twice as effective as D2 in correcting deficiencies.
Also the one we recommend, Bio D Mulsion is only available through nutritionists. It is of the highest quality, has been used in a number of clinical trials, and is the most absorbable and most cost-effective vitamin D on the market. It is a liquid and you rub it into your gums for quick absorption so it does not need to be digested. Because vitamin D is fat-soluble, for best absorption take it with your biggest meal of the day.
For more information about Bio D Mulsion, please follow the link below:
To order a test kit, please follow this link:
If you would like to talk to someone about the Vitamin D test or supplements please call 0845 880 0915