Disclaimer:  As I am not an MD, please note this article is not a prescription, it is informational only and should be used as educational information for you to discuss with your healthcare practitioner.

Vitamin D has become a hot topic recently.  For those like me who have used it with clients for over a decade, some of the new advice is a bit unsettling and some critical aspects are being overlooked.  I hope this article offers a clearer picture of this important supplement and how to use it safely with your healthcare practitioner.

When we think about Vitamin D, we often think of the sun because this particular supplement has gone through decades of being touted as the vitamin our bodies make naturally when we are in sunlight.  Yet, this isn't always the case as I'll discuss below, not everyone can create vitamin D from sunlight and, as most people nowadays use a lot of sun block, the possibility of getting it from being in the sun is greatly diminished.

Here are a few things anyone even considering taking Vitamin D as a supplement should know.

First of all, Vitamin D is misnamed, it is not a vitamin.  Vitamins are obtained from our diet, Vitamin D is made from our bodies.  In my opinion, and I do get a lot of flack for this opinion, it is a hormone and as such, can affect not only overall energy but also mood, hormones and blood chemistry.

For example, I had a client who was having some horrible mood swings and was reacting rather severely to the estrogen and progesterone creams.  After a Vitamin D test showed her levels at 14 (sadly, her doctor said nothing about this to her and I requested she get a copy for herself so PLEASE don't expect your doctor to call you with the results) she started on 4000 mcg of a specific form of Vitamin D (which I'll explain next) and within 2 weeks was having positive results affecting her mood and several months later her hormones had 'miraculously' rebalanced (this ISN'T what happens to everyone, this is an instance where Vitamin D was unusually helpful in balancing hormones.  If you don't need it or respond strongly to it it can actually create problems so if you have hormone challenges, you need to find what works for you.)

Now for type of Vitamin D. I feel it is shameful that as a society we create supplements that are useless for the body. When all of the tests show that Vitamin D-3 is what is used best by the body and that it needs to be in liquid/oil form, how can people still be prescribing Vitamin D-2 in tablet form.

Seriously, this one irks me. I can't count how many times someone comes in taking tablets and feeling horrible only for me to offer that they try the oil form I like (see the brand I like next) and suddenly everything changes.

The one that I like most at the current time is NOW brand Vitamin D-3 softgels. It is cheap, effective and easy to find as it should be.  Also, the other ingredients in this particular supplement are ones that are accepted well by most of my clients.  I say most because, as I'll discuss in my 2011 newsletters, we are individuals and therefore our supplements must meet our individual needs.

Next, Vitamin D is not like most other supplements.  Vitamin D-3 is one of the few supplements - some others are Vitamin K, E and Iron - that BUILD UP in the system.

This means that you can take too much and it can cause you problems so you need to keep on top of testing your vitamin D levels with your doctor. Most doctors/ health professionals say at the beginning to test every 6 months. 

This also means, as is true of any supplement that you take, this one can cause some side effects.

I'm offering this information as education only as what I've seen with clients is that too much Vitamin D and/or a sensitivity to taking too much in one dose can cause anger bursts, gall bladder cramps, heavy periods and sluggishness. What I tell clients is go off of it for 3-5 days and see if things get better. If they do, you might be taking either too much, too high a dose at one time (ie. split doses) or there is something else in the supplement you aren't doing well with so try a different brand.  Next year I'll be discussing this very topic of what else is in your supplements.

And lastly, being in the sun doesn't seem to move levels much over the long term for those who are truly deficient.  I do see it help the moods of my clients to spend time in the sun and outdoors but I don't know that is due to any vitamin D conversion - I think it's just darn nice to be outdoors and do something for ourselves - healthy selfishness I like to call it.

My opinion on Vitamin D - Truly, I don't think we know much about Vitamin D right now beyond the fact that it can be very useful, help the immune system function better in some clients, aid in mental and hormonal stability in some people and provide other valuable health effects.  I've seen benefits at times of increased energy and clearer thinking and I've also seen problems with it which, interestingly at times have been very similiar to the problems I've seen with prozac of increased anger and irritability.  I've also seen it be even more effective in depression than prozac for some clients AND I've seen it do absolutely nothing in mood stabilization for others. 

Basically, I don't feel everyone responds to it the same way and I don't feel that even the numbers of the current Vitamin D Panel testing are values things we can truly go on.  This is just my opinion but my clients have used Vitamin D for over a decade and for me, I'm looking forward to more thorough testing and better understanding of this interesting supplement.

I hope this helps you to understand this supplement more thoroughly and please note that I am going to be moving my supplement articles to my blog  soon so check back often or see the information in my upcoming newsletter on how to stay informed with up to date information on supplements and healing options.

Many Blessings and I Hope You Found This Helpful!

Jenifer