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Low Vitamin D
linked to Health Conditions and Hair Loss
“I’ve come down with yet another
winter virus and there’s still a month of the season
to endure.”
“I’m now mid-life and the
illnesses of old age loom large and concern me – how
can I avoid the ravages of Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s disease, or brittle bones?”
These seemingly disparate illnesses
all have a common factor – they are associated with
Vitamin D deficiency in humans. Endemic diseases
such as diabetes, high blood pressure, ‘stroke’,
heart disease, depression, gum disease, seasonal
influenza – as well as certain forms of cancer,
multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, autism in children
or body muscle mass wasting also share this link.
The potential to develop autoimmune
conditions such as alopecia areata, vitiligo,
psoriasis, & inflammatory bowel disease is believed
to increase with Vitamin D deficiency. The risk of
skin cancer is – paradoxically – decreased
with adequate levels of Vitamin D.
“But don’t we get Vitamin D from the sun?”
Whilst exposure to sunlight remains
the most efficient & effective means to maintain
optimal Vitamin D levels, this is always regularly
possible for many people living in North America or
northern Europe. Winters are long, and even in the
milder seasons of spring & fall, it’s often still
too chilly to be outdoors with one’s upper body
exposed.
Australians – who have the world’s
highest incidence of melanoma – now take
extraordinary precautions to avoid the sun. As a
consequence four out of five patients routinely
tested show decreased Vitamin D levels ranging from
‘insufficient’ to ‘severely deficient’. Government
health screening of nursing home residents found
extensive Vitamin D depletion among the elderly.
So
what is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D (as Cholecalciferol) is
synthesised from sunlight when our bare skin is
exposed to it. In a further conversion cascade
involving enzymes from the liver & kidneys, the
active & most potent form of Vitamin D – termed
Calcitriol – is produced & stored in the liver &
to a lesser extent, the tissues of the body.
Although commonly referred to as a
‘vitamin’, Calcitriol is a biological
response-modifying steroid hormone – considered
the most potent steroid hormone in the body.
Vitamin D is essential for the
active absorption of Calcium & Phosphorus from
the gut; regulating their utilisation within the
body. Vitamin D is also integral to the production &
balance of cells that constantly remodel our bones,
the conversion of inactive thyroid hormone to the
active form which influences every body cell, and
aids in preventing Calcium and some other minerals
from being excreted via the kidneys.
How
much do we need?
In adult requires around 4,000
International Units (IU) i.e. 100 micrograms of
Vitamin D per day. Approximately 20-30 minutes of
strong sunlight on bare, non-sun screened skin –
avoiding the hottest part of the day - will produce
approximately 20,000 IU of Vitamin D,
and provide a ready reserve of stores.
Melanin is conjugated in the skin to
protect us against UV light. When a level of 20,000
IU of Vitamin D is achieved, melanin combines with
ultra-violet light to (co-incidentally but
purposely) limit Vitamin D production; corrupting
excess Cholecalciferol so it cannot be further
converted. According to Vieth (1999) there has never
been a substantiated case of Vitamin D toxicity from
sun exposure alone.
What food sources provide Vitamin D?
Dietary sources of Vitamin D are egg
yolk; ‘oily’ fish such as salmon & sardines,
cod liver oil – or EPA/DHA nutritional supplements,
Vitamin D fortified bread & cereals, or milk. Be
mindful though a standard glass of milk will provide
about 100 IU of Vitamin D only – so you’d
need to drink 40 glasses of milk per day to achieve
4,000 IU!
Who’s most at risk to be Vitamin D deficient?
-
All folk who
because of old age, frailty, infirmity or
disability are predominantly confined to the
indoors.
-
Those who for
religious or cultural reasons completely cover
themselves whenever in public.
-
Darker
skinned people such as those of African-American
descent, immigrants from North Africa,
full-blood Aborigines, or Pacific Islanders.
These groups may require 5-10 times longer
exposure to synthesise the same amounts of
Vitamin D that a fair skinned person would
produce in 10-30 minutes. Because of their
skin’s deeper pigment, many younger people and
women within these groups tend to avoid exposing
their bare skin to the sun.
-
Skin
& Health problems:
· Severe,
systemic eczema/psoriasis or other skin
disorder.
· Liver
disease may inhibit the conversion of
Vitamin D to its active form.
· Malabsorption
due to its many causes can prevent dietary
Vitamin D uptake and utilisation.
· ‘Lactose
intolerant’ people cannot properly digest
milk, so they will not absorb the Vitamin D
it contains.
-
Those who take Phenytoin Sodium (Dilantin)
in long-term anti-convulsant therapy may acquire
a ‘medication-induced’ Vitamin D deficiency due
to this drug.
-
Vegetarians often have difficulty
raising their Vitamin D levels through oral
supplementation as the fatty acid content of
meals is required to facilitate absorption.
Daily sunlight exposure of 15-30 minutes is the
better option (avoiding the hottest period of
the day), or Vitamin D injections may be
considered.
About the Author: Tony Pearce is a Specialist
Trichologist & Registered Nurse. He is a founding
member of the Society for Progressive Trichology &
the official lecturer for Analytical Reference
Laboratory (ARL) for hair loss & hormone imbalance.
In Australia he can be contacted on +61 2 9542 2700,
or through his website at
www.hairlossclinic.com.au.
Copyright Anthony Pearce
*A qualified
Trichologist has studied & successfully completed a
recognised Academic Trichology Educational
Program.
References for this article are available on
request.
Copyright
Anthony Pearce 7/2007
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