Low Vit D Linked To Increase In Dementia And Broken Bones (You Can Prevent It)

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Low vitamin D levels are associated with a substantial acceleration of memory loss and cognitive decline, a new study shows.

 

Published Sept 14, 2015 in JAMA Neurology, researchers looked at baseline vitamin D levels and mental status change in over 380 adults (average age 75 years old.)

 

Here is what they found:

 

  • 35% of participants were vit D insufficient.
  • Average vit D levels were lowest among participants found to have dementia (average levels were 16 ng/mL — goal vit D levels are 40 ng/mL or higher according to the Vitamin D Council.)
  • Followed for almost 5 years, the rates of memory decline and mental function was significantly greater in participants with vit D deficiency and insufficiency.
  • Vit D deficient adults with serum concentrations of vit D lower than 20 ng/mL declined 3 times faster in cognitive function and in memory impairment compared to those with serum vit D levels of greater than 20 ng/mL.

 

The bottom line?

Low Vit D levels were associated with a significantly more rapid decline in both memory capability and functional cognitive performance… both deteriorating 3 X faster… and increased rates of dementia.

 

rollerblade

 

On the heels of that study (sorry for the bad pun) a new study just published in the January issue of the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery found that at over half of the patients that present with stress factors of the bone have vit D insufficiency.

 

Vit D concentrations are linked to the absorption of dietary calcium and phosphorus… … in fact, if you are vitamin D deficient, you are only absorbing approximately 10 – 15% of your dietary calcium and only roughly half of the dietary phosphorus you consume. So it’s easy to see how vit D deficiency can lead quickly to a decrease in bone mineralization and density… allowing for more stress fractures to occur.

The details:

    Researchers looked at over 50 patients presenting with confirmed stress fractures.
    The average vit D level of patients with fracture diagnosis was 31 ng/mL, with 83% of the patients having inadequate vit D levels (levels lower than 40 ng/mL according to the Vit D Council.)
    Half had levels lower than 30 ng/mL, levels considered insufficient by the US Endocrine Society.
    Researchers recommended high dose Vit D supplementation (3000 to 5000 IU daily) during the first 8 weeks of fracture healing, and a subsequent maintenance dose of 2000 IU daily to maintain serum concentrations above 35 ng/mL thereafter.

running

 

Stress fractures are a common sports injury…

…so it’s important to be sure your Vit D levels are high enough to be protective if you are active and have a moderate or high physical demand on your body.

 

Any athletes, military personnel, and even just fun loving weekend warriors need to be protective of their bone strength by being proactive about assessing their vit D levels.

 

elder

 

Taken together, these two studies show that it’s important to have adequate D levels no matter what your age — to protect your bone integrity and decrease risk of breaks, and to protect your mental function and decrease risk of dementia. Young or old, good vit D levels are crucial to good health.

 

Want more reasons to be sure you are not Vit D deficient?

1. Vit D decreases diabetes risk

2. Vit D increases the health benefits of weight loss by decreasing whole body inflammation

2. Vit D decreases risk of depression

3. Higher Vitamin D levels predicts better cancer recovery and outcome

4. Prevent dementia and boost brain health with this Vitamin D goal

5. Vitamin D even boosts fertility!

 

 

My fav vitamin D supplement?

Emulsified and highly bio-available, once daily Biotics Vit D drops.

 

Each drop has 2,000 IU of Vit D, which is the dosage I recommend most.

One drop a day, and you’ve protected the long term health of your bones, your brain, your entire body!

 

xoxoxoxo, Laura

 

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P.S. I have a video for you right here with 5 crucial ways to protect your bone strength and decrease fracture risk.

And yep, checking Vit D levels is tip #2 out of the 5.

Click here to find out the other 4 things you can do right now to decrease your osteopenia risk and protect your bones today!