Vitamin D

I've been writing about the importance of vitamin d for some time now. The evidence backing up what I've written continues to pile up. In a recent article by Vital Choice's Craig Weatherby, findings concur that an intake level higher than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) is needed to prevent falls and fractures.

Falls that break hip or pelvis bones often lead to a serious downward health spiral ... and the results of clinical trials indicate that vitamin D pills can reduce the risk of falling among older people. Vitamin D is a critical factor in bone health, but it is clearly better to prevent falls than to hope that stronger bones will withstand the shock.*

As mentioned in several of my articles, preventative medicine is always the best solution. And if we can prevent fractures, especially of the hip - quite common to the elderly, by strengthening the muscular system, which in turn will prevent many of the unnecessary falls, then we will have accomplished our mission.

Now, a new analysis of the best clinical evidence finds that the US recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D intake by adults aged 51 to 70 (400 IU) is only about half the dose needed to reduce the risk of falls among older people (Bischoff-Ferrari HA et al. BMJ 2009).

The current RDA for vitamin D are 400 IU for adults aged 51 to 70 and 600 IU for people over 70. And the RDA for all persons younger than 51 is a scant 200 IU.*

So, how much vitamin d is needed to be effective in producing stronger muscles. And what does vitamin d have to do with stronger muscles. Those are two very important questions that can be answered by the team of researchers that have been conducting studies around the world. First, let's look at the daily doses needed to build stronger muscles.

Though the official safe upper intake limit is only 2,000 IU per day, vitamin D intake is proven safe at 10,000 IU per day … a daily level that’s 25 times the current RDA for adults 51 to 70 (400 IU) and 16 times the current RDA for adults over 70 (600 IU).

Most experts recommend taking at least 1,000 IU via food and supplements, and prefer an intake of 2,000 IU to 4,000 IU per day ... unless most of your skin is exposed to 20 to 30 minutes of strong sunlight per day.*

Is all the research too new for the government to change their position on the RDA of vitamin d? Is there too much money to be made by the medical facilities that preventing fractures will actually take away some of their revenue? I may be talking out loud, or voicing my opinion, but preventing any type of injury or illness makes sense to me.

So, what does vitamin d have to do with building strong muscles?

Vitamin D stimulates synthesis of protein, the building material for muscle (Hamilton B 2009).

And as USDA researchers wrote this year, "Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to improve tests of muscle performance, reduce falls, and possibly impact on muscle fiber composition and morphology in vitamin D deficient older adults." (Ceglia L 2009)*

If you're looking to prevent falls by strengthening your muscular system, try TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D. VitaCal-Mag D nutritionally supports your body to improve muscle, nerve, and enzyme function. The RDA for this vitamin d supplement is 400 IU; however, if you double the dosage, you will be closer to what the authors of the studies recommend.

To learn more about TriVita's VitaCal-Mag D click on this link Vitamin D.

Jeffrey Sloe
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028

* All quotes are taken from the sources article listed below.

Sources:

• http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/e_article001576264.cfm?x=bgbL9MD,bfv5gTb0

The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.