Vitamin D Deficiency

‍The seriousness of Vitamin D deficiency has recently gained greater recognition.

Over 3000 articles have been published on Vitamin D were published in 2010 , making it the most prolific area in medicine that year.

Sunlight is integral to vitamin D production, yet sun exposure is associated with increased skin cancer rates.  We need to use sunblock, but it will lower our vitamin D level.

Lower rates of vitamin D have been associated with:

• A doubling of the rate of heart attacks and strokes
• Cancer (breast, ovary, lung, bowel, lymphoma, uterus)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Alzheimers and Parkinsons Disease
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Infections
• Auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Depression
• Pregnancy complications (pre-eclampsia , gestational diabetes, pre-term delivery)

Fortunately we can avoid the sun, yet maintain our vitamin D stores with safe and inexpensive supplementation.

In the mid 1990's, our clinic alerted our patients to the benefits of vitamin D3, importing D3 , at a time when only the inferior vitamin D2 was commercially available. Since the mid 2000's, Vitamin D3 is now readily available in Australia

• A simple blood test demonstrates vitamin D level.
• Current recommended blood levels are 75-250 nmol/L.
• The lower levels have consistently been revised upwards.
• Aim to have a blood level over 100, don't settle for a level of 50.
• Vitamin D is fat soluble and it is rare for the levels to become toxic.
• Following supplementation, stores balance at around three to four months. Retest after that time.

If you have children, remember to think of them.  Children's vitamin D dosage is more intricate and they are less comfortable with blood tests.

Most of us need an oral vitamin D supplement.

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About Dr. Phillip Liefman (MBBS, MMed)

Dr. Philip Liefman is the owner and lead doctor of Bayside Skin Cancer and Medical Clinic located in Beaumaris, VIC. With over 45 years experience in medicine, Dr. Liefman is dedicated to providing personalised care to his patients and has a special interest in skin cancer and longevity medicine. Dr. Liefman earned his medical Degree from Monash University in 1980. He later completed his Master of Medicine Degree in Skin Cancer in 2008 at The University of Queensland, he also holds a Certificate of Advanced Dermoscopy. Dr. Liefman is a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practioners, Skin Cancer College of Australia and New Zealand and the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine.

AHPRA registration - MED0001066428