Vitamin Information Center

By Skowron, Jared M

Myth 1: Vitamin D is a vitamin. The Truth: Vitamin D is a hormone. It’s derived from cholesterol. It activates cellular processes and does not do so as a co-factor. Vitamin D receptors nave direct effects on the following cells: adipose, adrenal, bone, brain, breast, cancer, cartilage, colon, endothelium, epididymis, ganglion, hair follicle, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, osteoblasts, ovary, pancreatic B, parathyroid, parotid, pituitary, placenta, prostate, skin, stomach, testis, thymus, thyroid and uterus.

Myth 2: Normal activity provides us enough vitamin D from sun exposure.

The truth: Most people do not get enough sunshine to maintain adequate vitamin D levels. Our ancestors spent most of the day in the sun, farming, fishing and hunting. Our bodies physiologically developed to need that much vitamin D. Today’s indoor society of office workers, television watchers and hermits gets much less sun exposure and vitamin D production. Add on clothing and sunscreen, which also inhibit vitamin D production, and you understand the problem.

Myth 3: Supplemented vitamin D in foods is adequate.

The truth: Vitamin D^sub 2^ is one-third as effective in the body as naturally occurring vitamin D^sub 3^. Most foods have D^sub 2^ added. A study that analyzed vitamin D^sub 2^ levels in milk off supermarket shelves showed almost 50 percent had less than the label claim of 400 IU of D^sub 2^. A support scientist from the USDA believes no food-label claims are accurate and these labels cannot be trusted.

Myth 4:1,25(OH)D3 is the best analysis for vitamin D levels.

The truth: Vitamin D is mostly stored in adipose and should not be routinely measured. It then converts to 25(OH) D3, which has a long half-life and is the best analysis of vitamin D levels. It then converts to bi-hydroxy forms such as 1,25(OH)D3, 24,25(OH) D3 and other forms, which have the actual action of the cell receptors. However, this form has a short half-life and is not a good measurement.

Myth 5: The reference range for vitamin D levels is accurate.

The truth: The reference range for 25(OH)D3 is horribly inaccurate and is maintaining our vitamin D deficiency in this country. The current reference range of 20-100 is too low. Levels <25 are disease level. Levels between 25 and 75 are suboptimal. Levels between 75 and 200 are optimal.

Myth 6: Vitamin D supplementation is nontoxic.

The truth: The major consequence of vitamin D toxicity is hypercalcemia, which should be monitored periodically while under therapy. Changes in cardiac rhythms or lithiasis are common concerns. Urine calcium monitoring is not accurate. Serum calcium .should be monitored monthly to check vitamin D toxicity, which normally occurs at 40,000 IU/day. Right now, 10,000 IU/day is being proposed as the safe upper limit.

Myth 7: The RDA for vitamin D is accurate.

The truth: People taking only the RDA of vitamin D will lower their 25(OH) D3 levels. The RDA is too low. When treating with vitamin D supplementation, three months of daily dosing is sufficient to max out 25(OH)D3 levels. Five thousand IU/day for three months should elevate 25(OH) D3 by 80 nmol/L, and 10,000 IU/ day for three months should elevate 25(OH) D3 by 120 nmol/L. People on 1,000 IU/day will elevate their levels by only 10 nmol/L.

Myth 8: Different forms of vitamin D are all the same.

The truth: Vitamin D^sub 3^ is the preferred form. Avoid D^sub 2^ at all costs. D^sub 3^ is derived either from plant sources or from lanolin. Lanolin-derived D^sub 3^ is more active and absorbable. I take the 10,000 IU capsules of D^su 3^.

Myth 9: Vitamin D only treats osteoporosis and rickets.

The truth: The therapeutic benefits of vitamin D are still being discovered. Benefits relative to cancer, cardiac, immune-boosting, diabetes and neurological (such as multiple sclerosis) therapies, as well as low bone density, are just the tip of the iceberg. I test all of my patients for vitamin D deficiency and supplement regularly up to the 75-200 reference range of 25(OH)D3.

Myth 10: Vitamin D should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The truth: Pregnant women should receive 4,000 IU of daily vitamin D supplementation. Breast-feeding women should receive 6,000 IU of daily vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D, not 25(OH)D3, crosses into the breast milk, and daily doses are preferred over weekly doses. Avoid supplementing the infant and instead supplement the breast-feeding mother directly. If the infant is bottle-fed, supplement with 400-800 IU/day.

By Jared M. Skowron, ND

Bio

Dr. Jared M. Skowron is in private practice in Hamden, Conn., where he specializes in pediatrics and treating autistic spectrum disorders in children. He is the senior naturopathic physician with Metabolic Maintenance and an adjunct professor at the University of Bridgeport, teaching pediatrics, CPD and EENT.

Healthy hair is not only a pleasure to behold; it is pleasing to the person that has it. A single follicle on the human scalp produces approximately .35 millimeters of hair shaft per day. The cycles of growth of each follicle consist of the building up and tearing down of the structure. After a period of rest the follicle is built anew from raw materials and each hair follicle goes through these identical processes, as it grows longer and stronger. A high-quality liquid multivitamin supplies the body with the proper amino acids, vitamins and minerals that you may not be receiving in your diet to help create beautiful hair.

Taking proper, daily vitamins and minerals plays a huge role in keeping your hair healthy. Any nutritional deficiencies can lead to thinning hair or even total baldness. It is a well-known fact that an under-active thyroid can result in frizzy or brittle hair while an overactive thyroid turns hair greasy and limp. The goal is proper supplementation and proper nutritional balance.

Keeping your body healthy reflects on the health of your hair. If your lifestyle is not healthy, it will eventually reflect on your head. You will start to lose your hair and fulfill your genetic coding. To keep healthy, as a reminder, you need to eat in the proper fashion, exercise, and stay away from any kind of drugs – both medical and recreational.

There are many minerals that are equally important in order to achieve healthy hair. Among these are silica, iron, iodine, copper and chromium, all of which helps to prevent hair loss. Copper also helps maintain the hair´s natural color and is important to the weight and structure of the hair. Iodine also prevents dryness of the hair as does zinc which teams up with Vitamin A for this purpose. Silica also helps to strengthen the hair. Sulfur is one of the prime building blocks of the hair and is essential to its structure. Selenium is important to keeping the scalp elastic and flexible. Potassium helps in the circulation in the scalp, encouraging the healthy growth of hair. Calcium, magnesium and manganese are all essential minerals for hair growth.

Vitamin A - an antioxidant that helps produce healthy sebum (oil) in the scalp. Vitamin C - helps develop healthy hair and skin. Vitamin E - improves scalp circulation and blood flow. Vitamin B12 - helps to control hair loss and to increase metabolism

Vitamin B6 - slows hair loss and boosts melanin.

Selenium – Promotes scalp health. Can be found in fish, whole grains, certain meats, and broccoli. Silica – Creates stronger hair. Can be found in seafood, rice, and green vegetables. Sulfur – Creates stronger hair. Can be found in garlic, eggs, onions, milk, cheese, and fish. Zinc – Prevents dry hair and oily skin by working with Vitamin A. Can be found in mushrooms, spinach, whole grains, and red meat.

Eating of cold water fish, nuts, soy products, millet, oats, brewer’s yeast, wheat-germ and special nutritional supplements for hair and nails gives your hair the strength it needs to withstand daily exposure to sun, frequent shampooing, bathing, chemicals, bacteria and damage from blow dryer heat.

Increase protein intake. Many peoples shun protein sources like nuts and cheese because of their high calorie content. As a result they depend on carbohydrates and suffer from protein related hair loss, along with fatigue, lowered immunity, and blood sugar imbalances.

Hair Loss - Hair Knowledge

What is our hair made of?

Your hair is mainly contains with protein called keratin. It is the same substance that makes up our finger and toe nails. Your will also find water, fats, pigment, vitamins, and minerals in your hair.
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Hair loss can be of great concern to both men and women at some time in their lives. This concern mainly centers on fears of looking prematurely old, unattractive to the opposite sex, lack of self-esteem and, without any real justification, of being thought of as lacking virility and of even being regarded as impotent. Continue Reading…