GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - There's a lot of confusion surrounding the topic of vitamin D.
Many people are being told they are vitamin D deficient and could benefit from taking dietary supplements. But what can supplements do?
Lisa Geiselhart has no windows near her desk where she works at KARE. She said, "I don't get any sun here."
But on her desk she keeps what she thinks is the next best thing, vitamin D. She was diagnosed with a deficiency five years ago. Geiselhart said, "I had been to my doctor. I was kind of worn out, tired, wanting to sleep a lot, no energy." She said taking a vitamin D supplement has helped.
Dr. Ron McGown practices family medicine at Park Nicollet's Plymouth Clinic. He said, "We get vitamin D from our skin when it's exposed to the sun. And in this part of the world we're not exposed to the sun very much."
McGown said during this particular time of the year up to 70% of Minnesotans are likely vitamin D deficient.
Vitamin D helps build strong bones. Studies show it may also protect the body from high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancer. McGown said it could help with heart disease, neurologic development and even prevent migraines.
Still, he said he is not convinced vitamin D is the miracle drug some of his colleagues hoped it would be when the research about deficiencies first came out a few years ago.
McGown said, "We don't know that that isn't true. But we haven't seen a lot of follow up studies that show then adding vitamin D back in makes all of these things better."
The Institute of Medicine recommends 600 to 800 international units (IU's) of vitamin D daily.
McGown says it is fine to take 1,000 to 1,200 IU's especially during the winter months.
Geiselhart was prescribed 3,000 units. She takes it daily and said, "I have noticed a huge difference when I don't take it."
She says for her vitamin D works.
Multi-vitamins can contain anywhere from 400 to 1000 international units of vitamin D.
Some doctors may prescribe tens of thousands of units if a patient has a severe deficiency. But that should only be done under the care of a doctor because McGown says such high amounts over time could make you lethargic or even anemic.
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