Info on Vitamin D Deficiency?

I found this article on Hair loss in women that might provide some helpful information. I hope you can get to the bottom of your hair loss issue.

DEAR SUEHELEN,

YOU NEED SOME SUN. 15 TO 20 MINUTES A DAY. FRONT AND BACK. THAT'S WHAT DR. CHRISTIANE NORTHRUP, JUST TOLD US AT A WOMEN'S CONFERENCE I'M CURRENTLY ATTENDING IN ASPEN, TODAY.

GO OUTSIDE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CLOTHES ON AND LET YOUR SKIN ABSORB THE SUNS RAYS. YOU SHOULD FIND THAT YOUR VITAMIN D LEVEL SHOULD GO UP.DON'T USE SUNSCREEN OR YOU'LL NEGATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

ALSO, YOUR VITAMIN D LEVEL SHOULD BE AROUND 40 ACCORDING TO DR. NORTHRUP

BEST IN HEALTH,

MICHELLE

Thank you both for sharing your issues and concerns and all the information. Although I spend a good deal of time outdoors, I know I've had a vitamin D deficiency since childhood, and don't get enough Calcium, because I'm lactose intolerant and can't drink whole milk. I do take a multivitamin, but am not really good about taking my Calcium supplement. I've also had to take Prednisone to control lupus flare ups (fortunately, not for a couple of years, now).

I'm just hoping that the foods I eat are enough to get a decent amount of vitamin D.

Vitamin D-rich foods:

Selected food sources of vitamin D
The following lists suggests dietary sources of vitamin D. Fortified foods are a major source of vitamin D. Breakfast cereals, pastries, breads, crackers, cereal grain bars and other foods may be fortified with 10% to 15% of the recommended daily value for vitamin D. It is important to read the nutrition facts panel of the food label to determine whether a food provides vitamin D.

* Cod Liver Oil, 1 Tbs: 1,360 IU
* Salmon, cooked, 3 1/2 oz: 360 IU
* Mackerel, cooked, 3 1/2 oz: 345 IU
* Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 3 1/2 oz: 270 IU
* Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D fortified, 1 c: 98 IU
* Margarine, fortified, 1 Tbs: 60 IU
* Pudding, 1/2 c prepared from mix and made with vitamin D fortified milk: 50 IU
* Dry cereal, Vitamin D fortified w/10% of the recommended daily value, 3/4 c: 40-50 IU (other cereals may be fortified with more or less vitamin D)
* Liver, beef, cooked, 3 1/2 oz: 30 IU
* Egg, 1 whole (vitamin D is present in the yolk): 25 IU

Source: Medical College of Wisconsin

Also:

* tuna, canned in oil (3 oz)
* swiss cheese (1 oz)

Hi SueHelen, Thanks for your question. Vitamin D, known as the Sunshine vitamin, has received a lot of attention from the media lately as new studies emphasize its importance:

Lack of Sunshine Vitamin May Cloud Survival Odds

Lack of Vitamin D Boosts Death Risk

Vitamin D May Help Prevent type 1 Diabetes

Based on your age, it looks like you should be getting about 10 mcg (400 IU) of vitamin D daily. Based on your understanding, is this how much you're getting? And you're on the right track in wanting to take more in through diet -- especially through salmon, eggs and milk -- which are some of the foods that are highest in vitamin D.

While it sounds like you're taking necessary steps to get the vitamin D you need, there may be factors as to why you're not getting enough:

Age: Americans aged 50 and older are at increased risk of developing vitamin D insufficiency. The reason is as people age, the skin cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently and the kidney is less able to convert vitamin D to its active hormone form;

People with fat malabsorption: As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D requires some fat in the gut for absorption. People who have a reduced ability to absorb dietary fat might require vitamin D supplements;

Obesity: Obesity does not affect skin's capacity to synthesize vitamin D, but greater amounts of subcutaneous fat sequester more of the vitamin and alter its release into the circulation.

Steroids: Corticosteroid medications such as prednisone, often prescribed to reduce inflammation, can reduce calcium absorption and impair vitamin D metabolism., says the Office of Dietary Supplements.

Medications: Weight-loss drugs orlistat (brand names Xenical® and alli™) and the cholesterol-lowering drug cholestyramine (brand names Questran®, LoCholest®, and Prevalite®) can reduce the absorption of vitamin D and other fat-soluble vitamins. Both phenobarbital and phenytoin (brand name Dilantin®), used to prevent and control epileptic seizures, increase the hepatic metabolism of vitamin D to inactive compounds and reduce calcium absorption.

Would any of those scenarios apply to you? If so, I would definitely bring them to the attention of the endocrinologist.

Also, while your intake is solid, you may want to use caution as too much vitamin D can actually be considered toxic. Vitamin D toxicity can cause nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss.