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Robbed, Starved, and Pale or D-lighted
by Michael Olivier, MD
Luke 11:36 If thy whole body be full of light, having no part dark...
Malachi 4:2 ...shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings...
Dogma is being erased day by day (pun intended). We were taught in the eighties and nineties 'no tan is a good tan.' 'Stay indoors or wear sunblock from 10AM-3PM.'
But day by day the pale are being robbed and starved of calcium in the bones. The reason: a light tan is essential for vitamin D production. When inadequate amounts of vitamin D (a hormone that begins to be manufactured by the stimulus of sun UVB rays on a cholesterol derived fat in the skin) are produced we absorb less calcium from the gut and tend to leach more calcium from the bones.
Actually the benefits of the sun-derived vitamin D extend far beyond bone health. Higher vitamin D levels are associated with less cancer (even skin cancer), less autoimmune disease, less hypertension, less preeclampsia (pregnency induced hypertension), less depression, less hyperlipidemia, and less infection.
African-Americans have a natural sun screen requiring more sun exposure to get adequate vitamin D.
Fair-skinned individuals can only afford to spend a short time in direct sunlight due to lack of natural sun screen. But that's okay because 15-20 minutes of sun exposure in these individuals results in sufficient tanning to generate as much as 10-20,000 Units of vitamin D ( African-Americans need 2 hours of sun exposure to achieve an equivalent amount of vitamin D production).
Besides being African-American, obese and elderly individuals, as well as those living more than 40 degrees above or below the equator are especially at risk of vitamin D deficiency during the winter and spring months. If you fall within one of these categories taking a supplement at a minimum dose of 1,000 U a day, and for greater security 2,000 U a day would be helpful.
Better yet a blood test (25-OH vitamin D) should be performed - ideally using the chemiluminescence method, LIAISON; LabCorp uses it.
If your level is <32ng/dl you are vitamin D deficient. Some sources indicate that unless your level is >50ng/dl the supplemented vitamin D isn't captured and stored by the tissues for later use. On the other hand a blood level >100ng/dl is believed to be toxic.
Rather than be robbed, starved, and pale, get a sensible dose of sunshine between the hours of 10AM-3 PM, to as much skin as possible, and be D-lighted.
Michael Olivier, MD
Originally Posted: Jun 22, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Last Updated: Jun 22, 2009 at 8:23 AM
-- Current Rating: 5 of 5
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