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Middle Eastern women may have vitamin D deficiency

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Andy Battaglia:
I have noticed during my visits to Asia, that many people also wear long sleeve shirts and long pants or dresses and also avoid exposure to much sun, along with the women who totally cover. I wondered about vitamin D and this study answered my questions. Even in the sunniest climates, people don't necessarily get enough exposure to sunlight, and as a result, are D deficient. This study is also very interesting in its implications for people in colder climates where the sun is not a good source of vitamin D for many months each year, and also for the information on dosages used in this study. Another recent study showed that people with dark skin need longer exposure to light than fair skinned people, in order for their bodies to manufacture sufficient vitamin D. I have to use vitamin D supplements during the colder months to lessen seasonal affective disorder and I would think people living in less sunny climates than their ancestors did, may also need to watch their vitamin D intake in winter to make sure they get enough. Simply put, if you don't get much exposure to the sun, you may need extra vitamin D.

The dosages in this study were much higher than what has been recommended in the past, yet only 30% of the women studied had raised their D levels to normal by the end of the study. The recommended dosage of vitamin D needs to be rethought.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSHAR56610220070625


--- Quote ---Middle Eastern women may have vitamin D deficiency
Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:22PM EDT

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In certain Middle Eastern and other countries where conservative dress curtails exposure to sunlight, high levels of vitamin D supplementation may be needed to raise serum levels sufficiently in women, investigators report.

"When sunlight exposure -- the main source for vitamin D in humans -- is limited," Dr. Hussein F. Saadi told Reuters Health, "much higher dietary intake of vitamin D is needed than currently recommended," especially for women who are breast-feeding.

As reported in the June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Saadi and colleagues at the United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, studied vitamin D levels in 90 women who were breastfeeding and 88 women who had never given birth. Many dressed to cover their whole bodies, including their hands and faces, while outside of their homes.

Only two of the women, one in each group, were not vitamin D deficient at study. All the women were randomly assigned to receive 2000 IU of vitamin D2 daily or 60,000 IU in one dose each month. The investigators note that vitamin D2 is the only high-dose calciferol available in the UAE.

Althoughboth monthly and daily dosing significantly and safely increased vitamin D levels, only 21 of the 71 women (30 percent) who completed the 3-month study reached the recommended blood levels.

Vitamin D2 doses "as high as 2000 IU per day were marginally effective in ensuring adequate vitamin D status," Saadi commented. He and his colleagues suggest that "if the more potent vitamin D3 preparation is not available, higher doses of vitamin D2 than currently studied may be needed."

Dr. Saadi added, "When compliance or adherence with a daily regimen of vitamin D supplementation is an issue, monthly dosing appears to be a safe and effective alternative in ensuring adequate vitamin D status in subjects at risk for vitamin D deficiency."

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2007.
--- End quote ---

Dori:
Can a shortage of vit D be linked to depression?

Manal:
Yes Dore, i have read many studies that linked general depression and seasonal depression in addition to body aches with the deficency of vitamin D

Here is one of the links

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/depression.shtml

manal

Andy Battaglia:
Yes, and my own experience backs this up. Like many people, I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the winter months. I tried light bulbs that mimic the sun's rays but had only minimal positive results. When I started taking vitamin D during the winter months, things improved. This winter, I doubled my dose to 2000 IU daily and have had a much easier time coping with SAD and by doubling the dose, I was able to rid myself of the pain in my legs that was making my life miserable.

Vitamin D has been shown to have a positive effect on SAD and also on depression in older adults. I think that with more study, we will see more evidence to back up the value of vitamin D. As more research has emerged in recent years, we have seen that D has a dramatic effect on the ability of other vitamins and minerals to be used by the body. A few years ago the rage was calcium, but now the advice to take calcium is almost always accompanied by the advice that vitamin D needs to be taken with calcium for it to be properly absorbed. Vitamin D has become the current "hot" vitamin and for good reason. I think that many thals, minor through major can benefit from daily D supplements.

Sharmin:
Andy,

Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to certain autoimmune disorders.  My son's blood test revealed a vitamin D deficiency last spring.  Could this have had some link to his AIHA?  I have since supplemented him with osteocare and progressives which both have vitamin D. 

Thanks,

Sharmin

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