Doctor Says 50,000-Unit Doses May Be Needed as Sunlight Falls Short for Vitamin D Deficiency
Updated
Updated · WBAL TV Baltimore · May 25
Doctor Says 50,000-Unit Doses May Be Needed as Sunlight Falls Short for Vitamin D Deficiency
1 articles · Updated · WBAL TV Baltimore · May 25
50,000-unit weekly supplements may be needed for some patients with confirmed vitamin D deficiency, Mercy Medical Center physician assistant Jaelyn Heyliger said, warning that sunlight alone often will not correct low levels.
Sun exposure carries skin-cancer risk, she said, and people with darker skin tones absorb vitamin D less efficiently, making outdoor time an unreliable treatment.
Women face higher stakes because they are 4 times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis, while menopause can further lower bone mineral density.
Fatigue, muscle aches, weakness and bone pain can signal deficiency, but Heyliger said testing is needed to confirm it and guide dosing rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
For routine intake, she said a multivitamin-level daily dose is generally appropriate, while standalone vitamin D supplements should be checked with a doctor.
If 94% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D, why are doctors now being told to stop routine screening?
As bone fractures rise, why do 96% of at-risk patients miss the crucial screening that could prevent debilitating injury?