Just yesterday there was a press release which addressed recent research on vitamin D. I have to say that the report was frustrating to me as a health professional, as the press release seemed to skew the discussion between the government-organized panel. It seemed they were trying to discourage or scare people away from supplementation when ongoing research clearly shows that modern populations, especially those with darker skin and those who live further from the equator, are deficient in vitamin D, and even more so in the winter months.
They missed a number of important and critical points that need to be taken into consideration such as the great body of ongoing research that is available to us. These studies document double-blind, placebo-controlled research that is in direct contradiction with the IOM's "findings" that were reported in this press release.
Supplements of any sort can be overdosed. This does not mean we should take the matter lightly, this simply means we need to understand our individual needs when it comes to supplementation. Ask yourself these questions: "how is my diet?" "Do I eat foods rich in vitamin D?" "Do I live in the Northeast" The truth of the matter is that most people are not eating adequately during the day to get the needed vitamins and minerals for optimal heath through their foods. People's eating patterns vary - some days eating well, other days making poor choices; money is tight for a large majority of the population meaning, people are buying fewer nutrient-rich foods and more processed foods; things come up and don't go as planned, which means grabbing quick and often processed foods; we eat too much at times and don't eat regularly enough other days. My point is that these reasons are why supplementation with at least a multi-vitamin IS important - in an effort to make-up for this "gap" in our every-day nutrition.
Medical supervision is also important when it comes to individualizing supplementation. Not everyone needs the same dosages or types of supplements. When it comes to vitamin D, tests such as a 25(OH)D can be done at a doctor's office to determine an individuals' overall D status. It is this marker that should be done regularly in Dr.'s offices as a preventative measure since it is this marker that is most strongly associated with overall health.
I hope this information helps to clear up some of the confusion from the recent press release. Feel free to contact me with any questions or to discuss this topic in more detail.
Healthy wishes,
Alissa Robertson, MS, RD
They missed a number of important and critical points that need to be taken into consideration such as the great body of ongoing research that is available to us. These studies document double-blind, placebo-controlled research that is in direct contradiction with the IOM's "findings" that were reported in this press release.
Supplements of any sort can be overdosed. This does not mean we should take the matter lightly, this simply means we need to understand our individual needs when it comes to supplementation. Ask yourself these questions: "how is my diet?" "Do I eat foods rich in vitamin D?" "Do I live in the Northeast" The truth of the matter is that most people are not eating adequately during the day to get the needed vitamins and minerals for optimal heath through their foods. People's eating patterns vary - some days eating well, other days making poor choices; money is tight for a large majority of the population meaning, people are buying fewer nutrient-rich foods and more processed foods; things come up and don't go as planned, which means grabbing quick and often processed foods; we eat too much at times and don't eat regularly enough other days. My point is that these reasons are why supplementation with at least a multi-vitamin IS important - in an effort to make-up for this "gap" in our every-day nutrition.
Medical supervision is also important when it comes to individualizing supplementation. Not everyone needs the same dosages or types of supplements. When it comes to vitamin D, tests such as a 25(OH)D can be done at a doctor's office to determine an individuals' overall D status. It is this marker that should be done regularly in Dr.'s offices as a preventative measure since it is this marker that is most strongly associated with overall health.
I hope this information helps to clear up some of the confusion from the recent press release. Feel free to contact me with any questions or to discuss this topic in more detail.
Healthy wishes,
Alissa Robertson, MS, RD
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