The Surprising Risks of Too Much Vitamin D for Seniors

#vitamind #aging #seniors #seniorliving #seniorcitizens #agingwell #vitd

Geriatrician Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH, explains what older adults should know about vitamin D, and the recent research suggesting that less is actually more, when it comes to vitamin D supplements. Learn why vitamin D is important, what the research shows about optimal blood levels, and what daily dose seems to be best for aging adults. Dr. K also covers the research on vitamin D and its effect on falls, cardiovascular health, cognition, cancer and more.

Video Chapters:
00:00 Why is vitamin D dosing important in aging?
00:02:06 What is vitamin D?
00:06:00 What is an optimal level of vitamin D?
00:08:27 When to test vitamin D levels?
00:09:58 What is vitamin D deficiency?
00:16:34 Official vitamin D intake recommendations
00:17:02 Key vitamin D research findings
00:20:21 Vitamin D and fall prevention
00:23:53 What the latest vitamin D research means
00:24:19 Be careful about these popular vitamin D beliefs
00:26:52 Dr. Kernisan’s vitamin D recommendations
00:27:58 If you’ve been taking high doses of vitamin D
00:29:48 Recap: what to know about vitamin D in aging

LEARN – ONLINE COURSES:

Related Videos:

Episode #2 – 10 Causes of Memory Loss in Old Age

Episode #4 – 10 Warning Signs of Early Alzheimer's Disease:

Episode #5 – Can Exercise Reverse Aging? How to Exercise to Age Well

_____
Dr. Kernisan's website, podcast, and YouTube channel all provide practical information on how to deal with common health issues that affect older adults.

This video is your comprehensive guide to understanding MCI, from its symptoms and causes to the latest in treatments and management strategies. Whether you're an older adult experiencing changes in cognition or a family member seeking information, Dr. Kernisan's expert advice, grounded in science and practice, offers hope and actionable steps.

[jimpowers]

I’m a retired medical technologist. This is totally flawed research. Not necessary to test levels? Come on doc. Get a grip.

[harrybarrow]

In the winter in more northern latitudes, most people will be deficient in vitamin D. There is just not enough sunlight.
In addition, if you have a darker skin, you will probably have a deficiency.
I am in the UK. My doctor, who is Asian, told me that he and all his family take vitamin D supplements.
You should take K2 with vitamin D because D increases calcium in the blood. K2 helps direct the calcium to the bones so it is not deposited in the arteries.

[MikeG-jsjt]

You may be following guidelines created from remarkably limited studies, including the current ridiculous RDA

[chickenlittle]

I only became eligible for vitamin d testing after I was diagnosed with osteopenia, and learned I was deficient. At that time I had only been getting about 400IU of vitamin D from cod liver oil, plus a little more from fortified yogurt and fish—little direct sun because I had also had skin cancer.
But the amount of supplemental vitamin D required to get my level up to 40ng/100nmol was 4400IU per day for 3 years! Since then I have dropped back to 3000IU/day, but I have halted my bone loss, reduced the number of respiratory infections, and improved my mood. If I had never been tested, and had only started taking 800IU/day, I think I would be in much worse shape, if I would even still be alive.

[Wsumner]

The studies cited were the products of the endocrinology discipline. You might want to include opinions of immunologists because Vitamin D has integral immune function. In particular you might review COVID-19 deaths and Vitamin D levels.

[bettyhappschatt]

I am working in an psychiatric outpatient clinic. 25% of patients are not vitamin D dedicient and there is evidence, that the deficiency can contribute to low mood so any psychiatric symptom is a reason to measure vitamin D.

[gionet]

I hate to say it you are a wonderful person in the doctor, medical school teaches people wrong. I’m sorry..😮 I did my own research on myself. I read all kinds of papers. I have melanoma stage four and I got over it. They said stay away and stay away from the sun. I felt awful. I was taking 1000 IU vitamin D3, my sinus were terrible every day I had a sons pill I couldn’t get in the sun again I would burn up, I started taking 5000 IU vitamin D3 and K2, twice a day that’s 10, 000 IU, after several weeks, my sinuses were clear I was sitting in the sun in the winter time for a half hour a day I got golden Brown. I never felt better. This is been four years now and the studies I come across., you can take 50, 000 Iu a day and nothing will happen, and statins no way in shape or form take a statin, it kills all the cholesterol, and you did some research about cholesterol. We need cholesterol so badly and nobody died. Nobody died of too much cholesterol., it’s the drug companies pushing their product. I’m sorry but I’m a living proof. I’m 64 and I’m so much better now.

[Ernesto]

In this video there are basic, serious flaws that make it completely untrustworthy. WHERE does this idea come from that such an important substance as vitamin D should not be tested unless its value can cause a symptom??? IS this how medicine should be practiced ??? And the excuse is: because it burdens the medical practice! One more lab-work data among tens of others is so important? A second serious flaw is to dictate the DOSE of this vitamin to ingest, which has such a variable absorption rate!! This is PRECISELY the reason to test it.

[denniscerletti]

I would recommend when you take vita D3 to take vita K2 with it. I have read D3 alone would have the tendency to take calcium from the blood and put it into the soft tissue whereas K2 would help put the calcium into the bone.

[kurtvega]

I'm sorry not checking seniors vit D levels is a terrible idea.

[teresamexico]

"You probably don't need to have levels checked" ...if any dr tells me that, I would run faster away from them.

[harrybarrow]

The studies reported in this video seem to focus on completely the wrong (random) things, like falls.
Vitamin D is vital for the immune system and it is consumed when you are fighting infection.
I recall a study that said people who were hospitalised with Covid were found to have vitamin D deficiency.
The death rate for Covid at my age (76 then) was about 20%.
So, in 2019 I started taking vitamin D daily to support my immune system. Currently I am taking 4000 IU of vitamin D3 (plus K2).
In October 2019, I experienced what was one of the worst bouts of “flu” I had ever had. I wonder whether it might have been Covid….
But I survived. I am now 81, still taking D3+K2 and a few other supplements, and I feel great. 😄

[alfredadrianjr.]

Interestingly nothing on the relationship of vit D supplementation and immunity. Remember SARS Cov-2 studies that showed a signific effect of latitude and low vit D levels to inc mortality/morbidity? Why didn't health professionals mention these studies?

[jameskantor]

Not checking Vitimin D3 levels is wrong! Say not to do testing is malpractice

[janiceimel]

I went to my PC due to a strange rash on both my lower legs. She gave me a salve with minimal results and did not want to even look at my blood work results I had done on my own which showed a very low level of Vitamin. D. Luckily, I went for a consultation with a doctor who was doing stem cell therapy for joints and I showed him the rash & he immediately said “you have low vit D” I showed him the blood work which confirmed his diagnosis. Started taking very high vit D w/K supplement for one month and the rash disappeared entirely. Your advice to not check for Vit D routinely in elderly is awful. I’m very disappointed in this podcast as I have been watching your podcasts for a while. BTW I’m 78 yo.

[rodpettet]

I think you should review this video doctor. I'm 80 and take between 5000 and 10000 IU daily. Much less my lumbar spine aches and I have dreadful sciatica. I boost the dose and the pain resolves in a few hours.

I started taking 1000 IU a few years ago with K2 and magnesium and my chronic sinusitis that had been troubling me for years cleared along with my no longer needing asthma medications. I was also able to cease my cpap therapy. I feel so much better than 5 years ago.

We all have different metabolism and maybe mine is not so efficient. D3 in isolation is pointless and possibly dangerous.

[lynndietz]

The studies cited did not seem to consider the benefits of Vitamin D3 taken with vitamin K2/MK-7 on a person's immunity system.

[DavidHenderson-nm]

You have not said anything about vitamin K2 which is supposed to migrate calcium away from artery walls and into the bones. I take a vitamin K2-vitamin D combination for this reason. Question: lifeguards have had their vitamin D levels measured at 80-90 ng/mL - do they suffer any ill effects from too much sun and vitamin D ?

[withidea]

I'm not entirely sure about this presentation, but I want to share my experience with vitamin D. Since I increased my vitamin D level to over 100 nmol/L, I haven't had a single cold. I used to get a week-long cold twice a year, which I thought was normal due to seasonal changes. This was six years ago.

Before that, I visited my GP because I was constantly feeling tired. After running several tests, he recommended checking my vitamin D levels, which turned out to be 18 nmol/L at that time. I didn't know much about the importance of vitamin D back then, but now I aim to keep my level around 125 nmol/L and have it checked regularly. My mood swings improved dramatically as well.

Vitamin D is more than just a vitamin; it's more like a pre-hormone that aids in hundreds, if not thousands, of functions in the body. It also acts as a natural sunblock, and I hardly get sunburned anymore (I avoid using chemical sunscreen products). Also, I never got COVID-19, even though most of my family and friends had it at least once (I did take the initial rounds of vaccines, though).

All of this may or may not be related to vitamin D, but this is my experience, and for me, it is convincing enough. The research in this clip should be cited.

[marioct]

So, don't test for vitamin d deficiency until after a person shows signs of osteoporosis?