Patients with kidney problems cannot convert vitamin D to the active 1, 25-OH vitamin D levels and need to take calcitriol which is 1, 25-OH vitamin D. Additionally, patients with hypoparathyroidism are usually placed on the calcitriol as well.
Conclusion
Vitamin D appears to have many effects besides being related to calcium and bone health. Some patients with low vitamin D levels have fatigue and bone pain, which is easily reversible with proper replacement of vitamin D. Vitamin D may protect against heart disease and some types of cancer. Vitamin D may also have some role in regulating the immune system and also reducing blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Proper vitamin D levels are needed to prevent osteoporosis. In conclusion, proper vitamin D levels are essential for one’s health, especially if you have thyroid problems. Unless a patient is exposed to sunlight or foods containing vitamin D, screening for Vitamin D deficiency is recommended for all thyroid patients.
This article is not intended to offer medical advice and is offered for information purposes only. Do not act or rely upon information from this article without seeking professional medical advice. For more information about Dr. Friedman or to schedule an appointment, please go to goodhormonehealth.com
Add a Comment7 Comments
i never knew vitamin d deficiency could cause thyroid problems. what is the best way to treat this? Exposure to sunlight?
August 13, 2010 - 11:05amThis Comment
Well, to make the long story short, my friend had thyroid problems. Later they found out he has some nodules in her thyroid too. After that he was diagnosed with Vitamin D Deficiency. She had never heard of such thing. It's always about checking her cholesteral and all that, but never anyone told her to check her vitamin d level.
June 15, 2010 - 7:13pmSO the lesson here is to have your levels checked by your doctor!
There is a mistake in your article.
Dr., You've mixed up your Vit. D types. In the article you say, " cholecalciferol (vitamin D2) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D3)." You have it reversed. Actually, Vit. D3 is cholecalciferol and Vit. D2 is ergocalciferol.
If you need extra proof, just check out the National Osteoporosis Foundation's website at http://www.nof.org/prevention/vitaminD.htm
June 25, 2009 - 7:33amI am a gastric bypass patient of 5 years. My vitamin D -25 hydroxy levels was a 5. My question is if I can not absorb the 50,0000 IU am i just taking pils? I am in alot of pain and aches with my joints and hand and leg pain and have family history of arthritis, and cushing syndrom and ankloysis.
April 18, 2009 - 3:34pmWhat do i do or what r my options? I have an appt with Endo in a month....thanks Ann
Mothers that are breast feeding and are worried about the lose of D-3. Just get the baby out in the sun when possible.............Pete
March 29, 2009 - 9:01amI understand the concern that vitamin D deficiency in infants may increase with breast feeding may be misconstrued as advice against breast feeding babies. What I think the point here is that if a mother is breast feeding, she should also give her child a vitamin D supplement in addition to breast milk rather than forgo breast feeding the baby.
It amazes me that the importance of vitamin D has been so ignored. I have just been floored by the articles that have been coming out the last two years relating low vitamin D to everything from diabetes to MS to obesity to stroke to heart disease to back pain to cancer. Now thyroid disease too. How much money could we save on medical treatment and improve our quality of life just by taking a cheap vitamin D supplement? I started.
March 29, 2009 - 7:53amDear Dr Friedman,
Thank you for your article however there is one point which I disagree with.
Your inference that vitamin D could relate to increased breast feeding is I think and bad inference to make to mothers. There are so many benefits from breast feeding and so many negatives attached to formula that you just have to look at the third world (yes even if we have better water although that could be debated). What you will find is a bigger correlation between vitamin D deficiency and the use of sun block (particularly on children) and the common vitamin D deficiency past on from parent to child. Pre conception health of both parents is key.
March 28, 2009 - 8:01am