Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency in Women over 50
There are several causes of Vitamin D deficiency in women over 50 including:
- Age
- Season
- Latitude
- Obesity
- Use of Sunscreen
As we age our skin begins to lose it’s ability to convert sunshine to Vitamin D, and the older we get the greater the loss of receptors to convert sunshine Vitamin D. This begins our decline of Vitamin D levels and an increase in disease and illnesses. Until recently the medical community have not been aware of the value of optimum Vitamin D levels on our health or the causes of Vitamin D deficiency.
The medical community has been adamant about using strong sunscreens whenever we are in the sun so we have all but elimated getting the best Vitamin D which comes from sunlight. We certainly shouldn’t get sunburned, but according to the top researchers we need 15 to 20 minutes of sun on bare arms and legs several times a week to raise our Vitamin D levels.
Those of us who live in latitudes north of Atlanta will only be able to get enough Vitamin D for about 5 months of the year. After that the sun isn’t strong enough to produce Vitamin D on our skin. Women over 50 are really in short supply because our skin has lost some of the receptors to make Vitamin D.
As we age, some of the causes of Vitamin D deficiency are from aging kidneys that have trouble absorbing Vitamin D to useful forms.
Due to bad eating habits and lack of excerise we have become overweight, some to the point of obesity. Fat and obese people absorb Vitamin D but it gets trapped in fat cells and cannot easily exit. Researchers have found that overweight people need about twice the Vitamin D as average weight individuals.
There is very little Vitamin D in our food chain. Oily fish, fish liver oil, beef liver, and egg yolks are the main sources, milk and a few other foods that have Vitamin D which has been added. We can barely get enough Vitamin D from these sources to keep us from getting rickets ( which is a childrens disease of soft bones) and osteomalacia ( which is the eqivalent of rickets in adults).
To eliminate Vitamin D deficiecy our only sources are sunlight, and a small amount through our food and supplements. According to new research we need a minimum of 1000 IU per day to keep optimum levels of Vitamin D. The only way to know if you are Vitamin D deficient is to have your blood tested by your doctor. Keep in mind when you go for the test that there are TWO Vitamin D tests 1,25(OH)D and 25(OH)D. The 25(OH)D is the better marker of overall Vitamin D status. The correct test your doctor needs to order is 25(OH)D, also known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
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