Kaitlan

As periodontal disease is a common chronic inflammatory disease in middle-aged and older persons and Vitamin D is an anti inflammatory agent it's not surprising having a high vitamin D status is associatd with lower incidence of peridontal disease.

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, particularly in older persons and tooth loss is an important determinant of nutrient intakes and quality of life. Several studies show the link between osteoporosis, low bone density and tooth loss, This Boston study shows 700 IU/d plus calcium 500mg/d significantly reduced tooth loss in older persons over 3yrs when Vit d status improved from 71 to 112 nmol/L. Using a higher amount may have raised status higher/quicker and produced even more improvement. Ahigher amount would be needed to achieve the same result north of Boston.

Vitamin D and Autoimmune conditions research

Post edited by: Ted_Hutchinson, at: 12/25/2007 14:06

Do you happen to have any information on what levels the vitiman D should be at with someone with lupus?

of low vitamin D supply. in this paper you will see what happens if your supply of Vitamin D3 is too low to meet your daily needs.

Figure 2B. Metabolism of vitamin D under conditions

of adequate vitamin D supply. shows how all systems operate when adequate supplies are available.

I keep coming back to this paper Circulating Vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Humans: because figures 1 and 2 show us the levels needed to keep those two tanks at the top of Vieth's diagram full. Where Vieth's diagram shows the D3 tank as smaller than the 25(OH)D tank we now know that HOLLIS has shown the body regulates the 25(OH)D tank and rather than simply filling it up to overflowing given ample sunshine/supplements it regulates it to keep the level between 100-150nmol/L and simply boostS the bodies store of D3 Cholecalciferol.

Look at Hollis's figure 2 and you see 25(OH)D hovering in the main between 45-55ng/ml while the D3 tank gets more stores.

The message therefore is to try to raise your Vitamin d status to over 100nmol/l 40ng/ml and try to keep it above that level the whole year. To do that requires the summer peak status to be over 130nmol/L or 52ng/ml to allow for the winter drop.

Each 400iu of vitamin D 3 daily results in approximately 9nmol/l rise in 25(OH)D therefore the daily total from all sources has to be around 4000iu. During the winter therefore when UVB isn't available 4000iu/d is a sensible amount as you will also get a little more from food sources. In the summer, when you are able to go outside (bearing in mind your lupus this may be infrequent) only 2000iu/daily would be necessary.

Regular short sun full body (or mini bikini) exposure building up to 15mins/daily would be ideal but if this isn't feasible then continue with the 4000iu/daily.

I wish the lack of vitamin D was known years ago and doctors regualerlly check for it. Then again that would put the insurance companies out of business, calling it unnecessary testing. But a simple test for a defiency of vitiamn D could save them lots too.

For an example of the price see

Direct Labs—Vitamin D TestVitamin D 25-Hydroxy (Calcidiol) $95

But do bear in mind, if you cannot organise or afford a test, taking up to 10,000iu/daily is perfectly safe.

But in practice the evidence shows most people can achieve optimal status with 4000-5000iu daily.

Dose response to vitamin D supplementation among postmenopausal African-American women" explains how much Vitamin D to use for black USA women.

and

Not enough vitamin D Health consequences for Canadians

But the fact is that if you DON'T or CAN'T be exposed to sunlight so you stay indoors or always wear sunblock/screen/spf cosmetics you may, as far as your vitamin d status is concerned, regard yourself as black because you are in exactly the same position Vitamin D wise.

Risk assessment for vitamin D -- Hathcock et al. 85 (1): 6 ... explains how to cause adverse events you have to take 40,000iu daily for weeks and weeks months and months before getting your 25(OH)D over 350nmol/l.

Taking 5000iu/daily can only raise your status to 130nmol/l and even if you have other sources of Vit d in your diet you have no chance of getting over 150nmol/L so will always be well under half the safe upper limit. So yes get a 25(OH)D if money is no object or someone else is paying but it is safer to take an effective amount of Vitamin D than to remain Vitamin D deficient.

Post edited by: Ted_Hutchinson, at: 12/29/2007 04:02

My rheumatologist has prescribed 50,000 units of Vit. D. I had been taking a Calcium +D supplement for years, but due to the steroids developed osteoporosis.

I am one of the few without a malar rash; so if you do have the rash, check with your doctor about anykind of light (fluorescent lights bother me) exposure.

And though it's recommended that a sunscreen be used when outdoors, keep in mind that the properties of sunscreen lotions do block adequate sunlight for the production of Vit. D in adequate quantities. I use a low SPF (15) and limit my exposure.

My rheumatologist has prescribed 50,000 units of Vit. D. One does have to be aware that for many people the form of Vitamin D often prescribed (Ergocalciferol D2) may not be absorbed or may not be utilised by some people.

See The case against Ergocalciferol as a vitamin supplement.

For this reason the natural form the human body evolved to deal with (Cholecalciferol D3) may be a better, cheaper, safer, more efficient, longer lasting alternative.

I buy mine from Bio tech but you can also get Carlson 4000iu in oil capsules from Vitacost pretty cheap and Iherb do similar high strength cheapo vitamin D3.

Your body ideally likes to use around 4000-5000iu/daily. It is a fat soluble vitamin you need to take it with food. Because it has a half life or around 3 weeks it matters not if you take it daily or weekly or even every 10 days.

So ONE 1 X 50,000iu every 10 days is equal to 1 x 5000iu daily for 10 days. In fact if you are forgetful about taking your Vit d then taking ONE 1 X 50,000iu every TENTH day may be a better option.

If you are just starting to raise your Vitamin D3 status taking ONE ONLY X 50,000iu ONCE a WEEK for EIGHT 8 weeks (that works out at 7000iu/daily approx) will help you catch up. (You will be taking in more daily than your body uses daily thereby raising your stores.)

From the end of MARCH (in the Northern Hemisphere ) those living above latitude 35 will be able to get FREE vitamin d3 from 20minutes full body sun exposure. However I am aware this is unfortunately NOT an option for many with lupus. However this research UV hardening therapy: a novel intervention in patients with photosensitive cutaneous lupus erythematosus. indicates there may with careful preparation over the winter be a possibility of improving that scenario somewhat. I don't have lupus so have no problem at all with sunlight (not that we get much in the UK) but I have found drinking Green Tea as my main beverage, improving my Omega3 status with EPA fish oil and ground linseed, using plenty of tomato puree (lycopene) and ensuring a high level of anti-oxidants in my diet, seem to have improved my skins ability to tolerate sunshine.

Do be aware that sunburn is related to skin cancer incidence and this is because the process of Vitamin D synthesis in the skin is both heat driven and self limiting. The self limiting bit means you cannot overdose on Vitamin d from sunlight (it's pretty hard from supplements) because further heat, from UVB, changes the newly made D3 into products the body does not use. This means that just prior to your skin burning the anti cancer proliferation potential of Vitamin D is destroyed.

Therefore if you want to benefit from the anti microbial, anti cancer proliferative properties of Vitamin d3 you need SHORT, REGULAR LIMITED sessions in the sun.

Only ever half the time it takes to acquire a suntan.

There is absolutely no need to go pink or to get anywhere near to getting sunburnt.