Last week at the doctor’s I was told I was stellar. My cholesterol panel was good and the kidney/liver functions were within normal limits. The blood pressure OK and the PSA was WNL. There was one blemish: my cholecalciferol level was subtherapeutic. I have cholecalciferol deficiency syndrome, commonly called low Vitamin D.
Having a low Vitamin D level is a bit of an embarrassment. I keep a good diet and I live in the Valley of the Sun. So what the hey?
There are three main types of Vitamin D, of which D3, cholecalciferol, is the most important. It is technically not a vitamin, for the body can make it. Exposure to sunshine causes the skin to convert cholesterol to a vitamin D precursor. This is sent to the liver for a modification then onto the kidneys for a final refinement. Once vitamin D3 is complete, it acts as a hormone to regulate the absorption of calcium into bone. Vitamin D probably does a lot of other things like cardiovascular health and prevention of cancer.
And I don’t have enough of the stuff. The irony is we are all paranoid here in the Valley of the Sun about getting skin cancer from the perpetual sunshine. When we go out (if we go out at all) we dip ourselves in sunscreen. So we don’t get enough sunshine to make Vitamin D. I can take a vitamin D supplement or I get some rays.
On the other hand, I am a bit dubious about ‘fixing’ this for I have enough training in nutrition to know it wasn’t too long ago when we were all taking Vitamin E only to find out this was either a waste of time or bad for us. Vitamin D could follow the same fate.
But I am a good patient and will start to take some Vitamin D supplements. When it is warm enough I hope to go outside ‘sky clad’ in order to get as much ratio of sun to skin as possible.
If anyone objects to my lying around sans clothes I will reply I am only taking my vitamins.
13 comments
January 28, 2013 at 9:50 PM
anne marie in philly
WOO HOO for a good checkup! you will live another 50 years!
January 28, 2013 at 10:31 PM
Jay
Good news on the check-up. Molly sends her love.
January 29, 2013 at 1:46 AM
javabear
Sky clad is probably the best decision. But don’t stay in the sun too long and burn. That would be unfortunate.
January 29, 2013 at 5:13 AM
Sky Clad Therapy
Sounds like a good plan to me, Doctor – time to take your vitamins au naturel, please. 🙂 Pics to follow ???
January 29, 2013 at 6:08 AM
Ron
Congratulations on your good check-up! I have mine next week. My only problem other than a high PSA score (consistently over 4.0) is a high bilirubin level (liver). After several tests and doctors at the VA they determined I have “Gilbert’s Syndrome”, which is a non-life threatening condition. And of course I have the actinite keratosis which is a precursor to skin cancer. Nothing about a lack of vitamin D deficiency. We all get our turn at something breaking down in our old car chassis body. Glad to hear you’re good for another year.
Ron
January 29, 2013 at 6:36 AM
wfregosi
Don’t do anything rash. In six months a new study will come out stating authoritatively that cholecalciferol causes cancer, tuberculosis, dementia, tired blood and the heartbreak of psoriasis in lab animals. And the drug industry will start mass marketing cholecalciferol blockers.
January 29, 2013 at 6:50 AM
Urspo
They already make cholecalciferol blockers – it’s called sunscreen 15.
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January 29, 2013 at 7:03 AM
Laurent
We only object to the sans clothes treatment if there is no photos for the Fan club.
January 29, 2013 at 7:28 AM
Urspo
Spo-fans requesting photos of Vitamin D treatments in progressmust submit an application for such to The Board of Directors Here at Spo-Reflections. The form isn’t too bad but the handling fee is a bit of a sticker shock.
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January 29, 2013 at 2:10 PM
jefferyrn
You are so adorable. How could you possibly have any health problems. I am sure this D fish in sea is only temporary. Best not to post “treatment” pictures, even though we are all curious. Save those for “Someone”.
January 29, 2013 at 4:22 PM
Jay M.
Hmmm, perhaps I need to lay out more…that was only one of the things my doctor fussed about last time he had labs done.
Glad most everything was pretty much perfect for you!
Peace ❤
Jay
January 29, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Stan
I wish I were in the Valley of the Sun. The Sun seems to have taken a long vacation from us here on the East Coast.
January 30, 2013 at 4:40 AM
Sassybear
I will put a chair out in my yard!