Whenever I hear someone complain of kidney stones, I URGE them to get their vitamin D levels tested! I suffered kidney stones for years (including one stint in the hospital where I couldn’t pass two stones on my own) before a doctor FINALLY tested my vitamin D levels to find I had a severe deficiency. They’re finding that WAY more people have vitamin D deficiency than previously thought. So I think people should get it tested if they have any symptoms. I’m rather angry my UROLOGIST never thought to do that . He was going to put me on medication. Vitamin D is imperative for proper calcium absorption and among other things, vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone density loss (osteroperosis) and hyperparathyroidism (another problem I suffered).
Once foods were fortified with vitamin d and rickets appeared
to have been conquered, many health care professionals thought the major
health problems resulting from vitamin D deficiency had been resolved. However,
rickets can be considered the tip of the vitamin D–deficiency iceberg. In fact,
vitamin D deficiency remains common in children and adults. In utero and during
childhood, vitamin D deficiency can cause growth retardation and skeletal deformities
and may increase the risk of hip fracture later in life. Vitamin D deficiency in adults
can precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia and osteoporosis, cause osteomalacia and
muscle weakness, and increase the risk of fracture.Source: http://www.uvadvantage.org/portals/0/pdf/NEJournalofMedicine.pdf
I think it’s incredibly frustrating when doctors don’t do basic bloodwork on people. Vitamin D is a SIMPLE BLOOD TEST… yes, my endrocrinologist also made me do a 24 urine test to see how much calcium was lost in my urine (rather than absorbed), but now they just run a simple blood test to check my vitamin D levels.
Also – I say BAH to just fortifying foods and talking about sunlight. Granted, I don’t spend time in the sun because I BURN (I do not tan) and since cancer runs in my family I am NOT Risking skin cancer.
My soy milk is fortified with vitamin D – 30% RDA in 8 ozs I believe, so drinking my soy milk ALONE I probably get enough vitamin D. (As my friends will attest, I put a LOT of milk in my coffee.) I also eat eggs and fortified cereal. I took a multi-vitamin for years that had more vitamin D. I WAS STILL WAY DEFICIENT IN VITAMIN D.
First of all, once you’re deficient you have to MAKE UP for the deficiency – so I was taking 50,000 IU once weekly for eight weeks. For comparison, RDA is 200 IU per day for women in my age group. At present, I am STILL drinking soy milk, eating eggs, and eating fortified cereals. I also have to take 1,000 IU supplemented each day.
IMO, one of my issues is that vitamin D is a FAT-soluble vitamin. My body, IMO, has a fat malabsorption issue as evidenced in that I have IBS (digestive issues) that seems triggered by fat in my diet.
People with fat malabsorption
As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D requires some dietary fat in the gut for absorption. Individuals who have a reduced ability to absorb dietary fat might require vitamin D supplements [46]. Fat malabsorption is associated with a variety of medical conditions including pancreatic enzyme deficiency, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestines, and some forms of liver disease [15].
However, I also feel you should not just TAKE vitamin D thinking maybe that will help, as vitamin D can be OVERDOSED.
Vitamin D toxicity can cause nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss [74]. More seriously, it can also raise blood levels of calcium, causing mental status changes such as confusion and heart rhythm abnormalities [8]. The use of supplements of both calcium (1,000 mg/day) and vitamin D (400 IU/day) by postmenopausal women was associated with a 17% increase in the risk of kidney stones over 7 years in the Women’s Health Initiative [75]. Deposition of calcium and phosphate in the kidneys and other soft tissues can also be caused by excessive vitamin D levels [5]. A serum 25(OH)D concentration consistently >200 ng/mL (>500 nmol/L) is considered to be potentially toxic [15]. In an animal model, concentrations ≤400 ng/mL (≤1,000 nmol/L) were not associated with harm [16].
Great article. You make me more aware of my health and diet needs.
Steven T.
My granddaughter has Vitamin D deficiency rickets and I have been told that this is primarily a genetic problem and less to do with lifestyle or diet. True or false?
Hi John,
I feel both genetics and lifestyle play a part.
Genetics in, for example, darker-skinned people are more likely to develop deficiency as they manufacture less vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
Lifestyle in, for example, people that spend less time in sunlight are more likely to be deficient.
Lynette