I would like to introduce Vitamin D and it's fat soluble nutrient partner Vitamin A. These lipid-based molecules intricately work together as an "ancient clan" and hence, they balance and enhance each other to impact our genes, immunity, inflammation and health as a whole. With this small added knowledge, some of the readers may be sighing an "Ah Ha", as they reflect on all the powers that have been bestowed upon Vitamin D in both the medical research and the media for the past decade.
Overwhelming evidence exists to substantiate that blood levels between 50-80 ng/ml, 25 OH D, prevents higher rates of every known pathology studied to date. Did you know that vitamin D levels have dropped in the U.S. population from 30 ng/ml between 1988-1994 to 24 ng/ml between 2001-2004? Did you know that the optimal level of vitamin D in the blood at that time and still is considered to be 32 ng/ml? You can do the math; there has been a pandemic vitamin D deficiency in the U.S. since at least 1988! Lack of sun exposure is widely accepted as the primary cause of epidemic low vitamin D status worldwide. There is a band of light known as ultraviolet-B which must be absorbed by our skin for the body to create the active form of vitamin D used by our body. As we work inside, wear protective clothing and slather sun screen on to protect ourselves from UV-linked damage and skin cancer, we block our natural ability to create essential vitamin D from sunlight!
So, if vitamin D deficiency is actually "sun deficiency" how do we explain the low vitamin D status in individuals despite their abundant sun exposure in those studies aimed at documenting the 25(OH)D status of healthy individuals who live in habitually high sun exposure? Rather than a pharmacological model (one nutrient isolated from others), we need a nutritional model that takes into account the diet and lifestyle with which we originally evolved, and the way our receptors respond to these nutrients.When our ancestral lines are considered, a genetic variability in the ability to convert vitamin D through sun exposure is a likely factor. Consider that in the U.S. alone the population has predecessors who evolved and adapted to high and low sunlight between Africa and Scandinavia, respectively . For example in a recent 2011 study, a very significant negative correlation between multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence and available ultraviolet (UV) radiation was made. This same meta-analysis study revealed that latitude and longitude are also significant factors. Like so many MS prevalence studies, the analysis suggests a strong association between UV radiation and MS distribution, and an increase in risk for MS in those areas with a low UV light exposure in higher latitude areas. So, let's put the pieces together: high latitude areas---> low UV light exposure--->;low vitamin D conversion--->;high prevalence of multiple sclerosis. Make sense? Yes. Vitamin D is currently one of the most studied environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis and clinically, most MS patients have low serum levels of vitamin D.
Going back to the concept of evolution cited above, what about the ancient relationship between vitamins D and A? Because these fat-soluble molecules share receptors and work in balance with each other, let's talk about vitamin A and it's relationship to vitamin D. Receptors for vitamin A and vitamin D are found in every cell and share an ancient receptor in the nucleus of the cell known as retinoid X receptor (RXR). Though vitamin A binds to its own retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and vitamin D binds to its own vitamin D receptor (VDR), they then bind to their shared retinoid X receptor, RXR. Due to the common receptor they share,these two pro-hormones are responsible for crosstalk with all the other steroid receptors on cells in the body such as the immune and endocrine system cells. Crosstalk occurs when molecules bind to the same receptor together and initiate a cascade of responses in the body. Vitamin D and A crosstalk with all the cells in our body and are much more than vitamins! Together, they have effects on every tissue in the body as they work together at the cell receptor level. Adequate levels of these two molecules are essential for our cell health, so we must get enough of them both! Most of us do not get enough vitamin A . The carotenes (e.g. beta-carotene) are our richest source of vitamin A presently consumed in the American diet. Yet carotenoids must first be be converted into vitamin A in the body to become active. Many individuals cannot make this conversion in their body for reasons that are out of the scope of this writing. Vitamin A is unjustly condoned as a toxic fat soluble vitamin and as a result is replaced with the water soluble carotenoids in our diet and most supplements. Lastly, the vitamin A rich foods such as whole milk, butter, eggs and liver are often avoided for poorly substantiated "fat conscious" health reasons. Vitamin D is found in many foods, including fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. Although the sun also helps the body produce vitamin D in as little as 10 minutes of sunlight exposure daily, this is dependent on geographic location and time of year.
As many of you know, The Cometa Wellness Center has it's own Holistic Pharmacy. This pharmacy was created to provide only the most advanced, safest and well tested supplements to our community. We are able to do this because I have studied not just the research on the various herbs and nutriceuticals which we offer, but the companies which sell us our supplements that we provide to you as the consumer. From the inception of my medical education in 1988, I have always intergrated my convention medical training with my continuing research in the field of medical herbs and nutriceuticals to provide my patients and The Cometa Wellness Center community with the benefits of this integrated approach aimed to augment the health of the whole person, mind, body and soul.
With a Masters in Biology, I have always been intrigued and have loved the study of Molecular Biology as it applies to medicine. I have never "followed the pack" so to speak in medicine, and pride myself on the work I have done with doctors and other medical experts to provide what I consider to be the most current medical approach for the patient. Honestly, this has often put be ahead of my conventional medical community of doctors, when it comes to medical treatment plans that are safe, effective and natural.
Recommendations for Vitamin A and Vitamin D supplementation are dependent on current circulating vitamin D levels and are assuming a vitamin D level below or in proximity to 32 ng/ml.
Overwhelming evidence exists to substantiate that blood levels between 50-80 ng/ml, 25 OH D, prevents higher rates of every known pathology studied to date. Did you know that vitamin D levels have dropped in the U.S. population from 30 ng/ml between 1988-1994 to 24 ng/ml between 2001-2004? Did you know that the optimal level of vitamin D in the blood at that time and still is considered to be 32 ng/ml? You can do the math; there has been a pandemic vitamin D deficiency in the U.S. since at least 1988! Lack of sun exposure is widely accepted as the primary cause of epidemic low vitamin D status worldwide. There is a band of light known as ultraviolet-B which must be absorbed by our skin for the body to create the active form of vitamin D used by our body. As we work inside, wear protective clothing and slather sun screen on to protect ourselves from UV-linked damage and skin cancer, we block our natural ability to create essential vitamin D from sunlight!
So, if vitamin D deficiency is actually "sun deficiency" how do we explain the low vitamin D status in individuals despite their abundant sun exposure in those studies aimed at documenting the 25(OH)D status of healthy individuals who live in habitually high sun exposure? Rather than a pharmacological model (one nutrient isolated from others), we need a nutritional model that takes into account the diet and lifestyle with which we originally evolved, and the way our receptors respond to these nutrients.When our ancestral lines are considered, a genetic variability in the ability to convert vitamin D through sun exposure is a likely factor. Consider that in the U.S. alone the population has predecessors who evolved and adapted to high and low sunlight between Africa and Scandinavia, respectively . For example in a recent 2011 study, a very significant negative correlation between multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence and available ultraviolet (UV) radiation was made. This same meta-analysis study revealed that latitude and longitude are also significant factors. Like so many MS prevalence studies, the analysis suggests a strong association between UV radiation and MS distribution, and an increase in risk for MS in those areas with a low UV light exposure in higher latitude areas. So, let's put the pieces together: high latitude areas---> low UV light exposure--->;low vitamin D conversion--->;high prevalence of multiple sclerosis. Make sense? Yes. Vitamin D is currently one of the most studied environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis and clinically, most MS patients have low serum levels of vitamin D.
Going back to the concept of evolution cited above, what about the ancient relationship between vitamins D and A? Because these fat-soluble molecules share receptors and work in balance with each other, let's talk about vitamin A and it's relationship to vitamin D. Receptors for vitamin A and vitamin D are found in every cell and share an ancient receptor in the nucleus of the cell known as retinoid X receptor (RXR). Though vitamin A binds to its own retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and vitamin D binds to its own vitamin D receptor (VDR), they then bind to their shared retinoid X receptor, RXR. Due to the common receptor they share,these two pro-hormones are responsible for crosstalk with all the other steroid receptors on cells in the body such as the immune and endocrine system cells. Crosstalk occurs when molecules bind to the same receptor together and initiate a cascade of responses in the body. Vitamin D and A crosstalk with all the cells in our body and are much more than vitamins! Together, they have effects on every tissue in the body as they work together at the cell receptor level. Adequate levels of these two molecules are essential for our cell health, so we must get enough of them both! Most of us do not get enough vitamin A . The carotenes (e.g. beta-carotene) are our richest source of vitamin A presently consumed in the American diet. Yet carotenoids must first be be converted into vitamin A in the body to become active. Many individuals cannot make this conversion in their body for reasons that are out of the scope of this writing. Vitamin A is unjustly condoned as a toxic fat soluble vitamin and as a result is replaced with the water soluble carotenoids in our diet and most supplements. Lastly, the vitamin A rich foods such as whole milk, butter, eggs and liver are often avoided for poorly substantiated "fat conscious" health reasons. Vitamin D is found in many foods, including fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. Although the sun also helps the body produce vitamin D in as little as 10 minutes of sunlight exposure daily, this is dependent on geographic location and time of year.
As many of you know, The Cometa Wellness Center has it's own Holistic Pharmacy. This pharmacy was created to provide only the most advanced, safest and well tested supplements to our community. We are able to do this because I have studied not just the research on the various herbs and nutriceuticals which we offer, but the companies which sell us our supplements that we provide to you as the consumer. From the inception of my medical education in 1988, I have always intergrated my convention medical training with my continuing research in the field of medical herbs and nutriceuticals to provide my patients and The Cometa Wellness Center community with the benefits of this integrated approach aimed to augment the health of the whole person, mind, body and soul.
With a Masters in Biology, I have always been intrigued and have loved the study of Molecular Biology as it applies to medicine. I have never "followed the pack" so to speak in medicine, and pride myself on the work I have done with doctors and other medical experts to provide what I consider to be the most current medical approach for the patient. Honestly, this has often put be ahead of my conventional medical community of doctors, when it comes to medical treatment plans that are safe, effective and natural.
Recommendations for Vitamin A and Vitamin D supplementation are dependent on current circulating vitamin D levels and are assuming a vitamin D level below or in proximity to 32 ng/ml.
I recommend:
Vitamin D3 5000 IU daily with a meal and a minimum of Vitamin A as Retinyl Palmitate 6000IU in your multivitamin daily.
We also carry Vitamin D3 Complete Daily Balance with A and K2. This product by Allergy Research Group has your Vitamin A and D together with: Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol) 2000 IU and Vitamin A (as Retinyl Palmitate) 3000 IU per capsule. I recommend 2 daily.
Ariane Cometa MD, the holistic doc
