Lipids, Vitamin D, and Heart Health
When was the last time you went to the MD?
Hopefully recently – not because you were sick, but instead to hopefully prevent you from getting sick.
I just had my annual check up a few weeks ago. And I’ve got some bad news…
I mentioned my mom has super high triglycerides – in the 500ish range (they should be less than 150). Yet she eats well, exercises, doesn’t drink alcohol, supplements with added omega-3 fats, and so on.
This is 100% genetic as my grandfather had the same thing. Lo and behold, I go annually to keep things in check.
Well, the triglycerides aren’t the “bad news.” My basic lipid panel showed I’m right where I need to be …
- Triglycerides: 87 (goal is <150 mg/dL )
- Total Cholesterol: 147 (goal is <200 mg/dL)
- HDL Cholesterol: 50 (goal is > 40 mg/dL)
- LDL Cholesterol: 80 (goal is <130 mg/dL)
- Fasted Glucose: 87 (goal is <100 mg/dL)
And then I got my vitamin D test back.
According to my MD and the “normal range” from the lab, perfecto!
But according to the majority of vitamin D experts throughout the world…
DEFICIENT! Ahhhhh!
My blood levels of vitamin D 25-OH (the most reliable vitamin D test), put me at 39 ng/mL.
And experts suggest optimal levels are > 50 ng/mL (but less than 100 ng/mL). I currently supplement with 2000 IU’s of vitamin D3 each day. I also eat many of the food sources of vitamin D on a regular basis – I don’t get much sun because, well, it’s February in Louisville and there isn’t much sun to be seen.
The sun may also not be strong enough where we live, even when it is out …
Moral of the story.
Get your Vitamin D, 25-OH levels tested too! I’ve upped my supplemental vitamin D3 to 4000 IU’s each day. I’ll get my blood work redone in 6 weeks and report back.
February 18th, 2010 at 8:07 am
I thought I would respond to this comment. My Vit D levels too would be considered low, and like yourself my total cholesterol is considered normal at 151. However, some interesting literature I found on the Weston A Price foundation's website, the lower the cholesterol the higher rate for disease. So, too low or too high cholesterol levels are a risk, 151 being too low. I also found out that (as you, I supplement with the same Vit D) without higher cholesterol levels the body cannot synthesize Vit D. So where most people are aiming to lower their cholesterol levels, I am aiming to raise mine so that my body can better use Vit D.
http://www.westonaprice.org/The-Benefits-of-High-Cholesterol.html (Article regarding benefits of high cholesterol; very interesting!)
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February 18th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Hi Chris
Are you taking a liquid or a capsule form of vitamin D3? I've found with the pts I work with in my clinic that drops are much more effective for reaching optimal blood D levels than capsules are. I can send you links to a few different companies that we use with success. You know my email
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Chris and Kara Mohr Reply:
February 18th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Hey Cass — I’m currently taking capsules. I’d be curious to see/hear why the drops are much more effective than capsules assuming doses are the same. I know when my grandma was deficient they were giving her drops but they were giving 50,000 IU’s in the liquid form.
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February 18th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Greetings from California—-Known for our sunny warm weather, one would think that by getting outside on a regular basis here that we Sun Bunny's would not have to worry about low levels of Vitamin D. WRONG!!!! Over the past 10 years I have done labs on all of my clients (Nutra-Eval) and have borne witness to such low levels as 8-10 (Ref. Range 0-100) for people who are tan-tan -tan from being out doors. I feel that looking toward what assists Vit. D for absorption is beneficial as well. The cholesterol connection certainly warrants further discussion as well as looking towards one's Epigentics (think Aguti Mice and the recent Harvard research).
Certainly, this a a great topic to discuss as Vitamin D appears to be the one of the primary 'Key Masters' to correcting many health issues that Americans are faced with today. Best Regards,, LoRayne
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February 21st, 2010 at 11:50 am
Yup, couldn’t agree more. And I’d like to add that you’ve got a great colour scheme on your site, I suffer with colour blindness and many webmasters don’t give us a second thought!
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