Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is obtained through sunlight exposure and dietary sources like fatty fish and fortified foods. It plays an important role in bone and immune health by aiding calcium absorption and promoting bone mineralization. Testing for vitamin D levels has increased in recent years due to research linking vitamin D deficiency to diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and depression. While vitamin D shows promise for many health benefits, more research is still needed to fully understand its therapeutic potential.

1. Vitamin D
Spikes in testing and miracle cures
PFC Eaker

2. What is Vitamin D?
• Fat Soluble Vitamin
• Found in food
• Absorbed through sunlight exposure
• Converted to hormone form through liver and
kidney

3. Two Major Forms of Vitamin D
• Vitamin D2, ergocalciferol
• Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol

4. Other Forms of Vitamin D
• Vitamin D1: molecular compound of
ergocalciferol with lumisterol, 1:1
• Vitamin D4: 22-dihydroergocalciferol
• Vitamin D5: sitocalciferol (made from 7-
dehydrosisterol)

9. What are the sources?
• 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

10. Exposure to sunlight
• Important source of vitamin D
• Season, latitude, time of day

11. What does Vitamin D do?
• Maintain normal blood levels of Calcium and
Phosphorus
• Aids in absorption of calcium
• Promotes bone mineralization
• Prevents rickets in children and Osteomalacia in
adults

12. Role in immunomodulation
• Binds to nuclear Vitamin D receptors (VDR)
• Immune enhancing and immunosuppressive
effects
• Increase activity of NKCs
• Increased production of cathelicidin
• Therepeutic Clinical Applications

13. How much Vitamin D do we need?
• Ages 19-50: 200 International Units (IU)
• Ages 51-69: 400 IU
• Age 70 and older: 600 IU

15. When can vitamin D deficiency occur?
• Rickets
• Osteomalacia

16. Rickets/Osteomalacia

17. Who may need extra vitamin D to
prevent a deficiency?
• Older Americans (greater than age 50)
• individuals with limited sun exposure
• occupations that prevent exposure to sunlight
• reduced ability to absorb dietary fat
• exclusively breast-fed infants

18. What is the health risk of too much
vitamin D?
• nausea
• vomiting
• poor appetite
• constipation
• weakness
• weight loss

19. When is it ordered?
• 25 OH Vitamin D test
• 1,25 di OH Vitamin D test

20. Testing

21. Testing

22. Testing

23. Testing

24. Testing

25. Testing

26. Testing

27. Testing

28. Testing

29. Testing

30. Testing

31. Testing

32. Testing

33. Testing

34. Testing

35. What does the test result mean?
• 25 OH Vitamin D test
Low blood levels = not getting enough exposure
to sunlight
problem with absorption from the intestines
High levels = supplementation from vitamin pills
or other nutritional supplements
• 1,25 di OH Vitamin D test
Low levels = kidney disease
one of the earliest changes to occur in persons
with early kidney failure.
High levels = excess parathryoid hormone
diseases such as sarcoidosis or some lymphomas, that can make
1,25 di OH Vitamin D outside of the kidneys

36. Spike in Vitamin D testing
• ABC NEWS - NEW YORK, NY, USA
“Sunshine Vitamin May Cut Death Risk”
• BBC NEWS - UNITED KINGDOM
“Pain Linked With Low Vitamin D”
• BLOOMBERG.COM
“Death May Be Nearer For People Who lack
Vitamin D”
• BRITTANIA RADIO
“Vitamin D Can Heal Tuberculosis?”

37. Current Research
• Cancers
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Muscle Weakness
• Birth Defects
• Obesity

38. Role in cancer prevention and
recovery
• Calcitriol – Induces
death of cancer cells
• Regulates Cell growth,
Differentiation etc.
• Daily intake of 1,000IU/day
reduces risks

39. Vitamin D and Obesity
• Seasons
• Altitude
• Calcium
• Link between other
diseases
• Treatable

40. Vitamin D and Diabetes
• Low serum levels at greater risk
• Lack of Vitamin D interferes with insulin secretion

41. Vitamin D and depression
• SAD
• 130 patients
• 600 or 4,000 IU supplements
• Re-evaluated 1 year later

42. Conclusion
• Vitamin D – The wonder drug?
• LabCorp – Testing volume doubled every ear for
the past four years
• Quest Diagnostics – Testing volume tripled
between May 2006 and May 2008

43. Questions?