Because it is important.
Investigating vitamin D levels is still one of the first things I do at the beginning of a new programme with a client.
In most cases I find lower than optimal levels, which it is easy to rectify.
In most cases their GP would not think it necessary to test, even in the presence of a cancer diagnosis.
This is despite the ever accumulating evidence indicating that a deficiency in vitamin D is associated with a higher susceptibility to various types of cancer.
This meta-analysis has just been published for example, where the authors examined the relationship between VITAMIN D status and the RISK OF THYROID CANCER.
They analysed the evidence from 21 trials involving 2,434 patients with thyroid cancer and 7,398 controls.
They found that:
Vitamin D levels in the patients was likely to be 13% lower than in the controls
Vitamin D deficiency might potentially increase the risk of thyroid cancer by 49%
There was a 6% increase in the risk for each 10 ng/ml decrease in vitamin D levels
Granted that association doesn't mean causation, it's clear that this vital nutrient is important in maintaining a healthy body terrain.
Sunshine on the skin is what stimulates the production of vitamin D in the body, so the Summer is an ideal time to top up our storages (trying to be optimistic here!). Always practice caution when standing in the sun for longer than usual, it is not for everyone, a gradual approach is best in most cases.
Many foods can provide it too, for example oily #fish, #eggs, #mushrooms, to name a few.
The next best thing is supplements, and for this it is important to test your levels first, so that the correct dose can be given (and overdosing prevented), with or without other important nutrients (for example vitamin K2, see my recent blog post here), if appropriate for your individual circumstances (if in doubt about what is best for you, ask a #nutrition professional).
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