April 27. 2011 20:10

Once one is tested for vitamin D and is told that their level is 25, what should one do to find out why their body is not absorbing D. I have been using the bone health vitamins from women to women since August 2010, taking the alkiline acid test and in the normal range. eating the recommended diet. I have been exercising a little less due to my work schedule. However, prior to three months ago, i was in the gym doing aerobic exercise, yoga, and weights at least three times a week. I was also told that my level two years ago was 40 but that a different type of vitamin d was tested. I want to find out what is causing the problem. Do you have any suggestions?

Tina Levine

April 28. 2011 17:38

Hi Tina,

You want at least a 32 ng/ml vitamin D to protect bone, and I think a 50 ng/ml level is better.  If your are taking the 2 packets of our Better Bones Builder product daily you are receiving 2,000 IU of vitamin D a day.  I presume you new vitamin D test was taken in the winter, and thus it looks like the 2,000 IU vitamin D is not enough for you in the winter (was your earlier test in the summer, I wonder?).  Looks to me like there is no big problem, you just need to take more vitamin D for the season you were tested.  Generally each additional 1,000 IU of vitamin D raises you r level 10 ng.  If want additional personalized help you can call my office for information on our telephone consultations (888-206-7119).  Best wishes, Susan Brown

Susan Brown

May 2. 2011 19:12

I love the idea of research, Dr Brown.  I imagine it would be somewhat expensive. And I can't help but wounder what would be the benefit to the indigenous. I know Dr. Lee reported on the hormone levels with saliva testing, don't remember who did the project.  If only there were a saliva test for vitamin D3.

Pat Shenofsky RN,

August 11. 2011 13:10

Dr. Brown -  I was really surprised to get your BetterBones Blog today mentioning the Motilone Indians. I-just this morning- read the book Bruchko  by Bruce Olson in which the Motilone Indians figure prominently.  I had never heard of the Motilone Indians prior to this.  They are a fascinating people and I am anxious to hear -in some future date- the results of your research!

N. Venhuizen

August 15. 2011 17:58

What a wonderful opportunity for the two of you. It will be more than interesting hearing of your findings.  I wonder re diet, which is so different than ours.  Also, the tribes that live under the canopy can't possibly get enough vitamin D via sunlight, so what do they use to get theirs?

Good luck and keep us posted!

Lee Tignor

S. Lee Tignor

August 16. 2011 10:23

Very interesting! It seems that my experience confirms this. Bear with me, this is a long story.

I had the menopause from hell that lasted 8 years. It ruined my career and my self confidence (didn't want HRT). After liver/gall bladder problems flared up 2 years ago I started Googling as my doctor (I live in France) did not inspire confidence AND he prescribes all kinds of medicines at the drop of a hat. Began losing 200g weight per day!! I learnt how important the liver is in regulating hormones and how my fuzzy brain symptoms were probably due to a poorly functioning liver/gall bladder - I've always a problem with eating too much fatty food and dairy products- naseau/vomiting. But fats are necessary for the brain.

Having calmed down the liver/gall bladder symptoms by altering my diet, a problem developed with the stomach - nausea straight after eating some things, stomach staying full, burping. Back to Google to discover fructose malabsorption. Fructose is broken down in the liver, not the small intestine as with other types of sugar. So too much high fructose fruit & veg and their allied products can result in a fatty liver when you think you are doing the right thing by eating lots of fruit & veg, as I did. High acidity food issue comes into this as well.

It became obvious that I had nutrient malabsorption issues, possibly lifelong, that were reaching a crisis point. So consumed minerals were always being lost. Finally had a bone density test last year that revealed borderline osteoporosis. The French approach prescribes Calcium with VitD, all with sorbitol that is similar to fructose, so back came those symptoms along with constipation from the Ca so I stopped. More Googling and Better Bones popped up - thank goodness. But my doctor thought a Vit D blood test a waste of time/money because the levels are always low and besides I did a lot of gardening he reminded me (but I am always covered up due to once having had a melanoma, I told him). I decided to find another doctor!

Finally the last jigsaw piece fell into place after more Googling about my continuing stomach problem. Digestive enzymes! At the beginning of the menopause I ended up with a frozen shoulder for 6 months and finally went to an acupunturist who,diagnosed a depleted pancreas - common amongst women he said. This blocked the meridians going to the shoulders and so blocked their natural healing process. His treatments immediately got the shoulder moving again and he later also eased some menopause symptoms with Trad. Chinese medicine as supplements.

Anyhow, I finally remembered this and put 2&2 together - lifelong pancreatic insufficiency manifesting in insufficent digestive enzymes coming to a head in middle age (logically) as serious digestion problems. I now take enzyme supplements before every meal and ensure that each meal contains raw or 'living' food still containing its naturally occurring enzymes that digest the food containing them and more. Am also aware of food containing enzyme inhibitors. In fact, it would seem that many digestion problems would be solved by more awareness of how these enzymes work and don't work. For example, my liver/gall bladder now seems to produce more bile.

So I must have had low bone density all along; certainly had a lifelong tendency to tendonitis in forearm, back and shin muscles.

The ignorance amongst many doctors is appalling. My Dutch doctor (a woman!) refused to prescribe a bone density test 8 years ago (when I lived in Holland) because I should simply consume 2 litres of dairy products per day (a Dutch thing - aggressive advertising by the Dairy Board). But I have digestion problems with milk products!! With great reluctance she agreed to writing out a blood test prescription; she did not not believe in preventive measures, one should wait until illness sets in. The staff at the lab. even volunteered that doctors don't like check-up prescribing blood tests

In Holland it's the medical insurance companies who call the shots with doctors, in France it's the big pharmaceutical companies (a visit to the doctor leads to a prescription 90% of the time, resulting in more than €500 per person per year spent on medicines, 40% more that other European countries!) Most of these costs are reimbursed by the national and mutal medical insurance schemes, costs the USA govt. continues to be nervous about taking on - as I understand it.

I mention that because it would be interesting to compare the occurance of osteoporosis in these 2 countries and the results of the different 'traditional' treatments.

So in my case it seems to have been an inadequate supply of digestion enzymes that was the root cause of my heavy menopause and the (probably accelerated) bone density loss.
Less enzymes - more load on the liver & less bile - impaired endocrine function & poor absorption of nutrients - bone density loss, heavy menopause symptom, etc.

Are there cultures where predominantly more raw food is eaten and where the menopause is minor and bone density loss significantly less? That should get your anthropological itch going!

Jennifer

August 18. 2011 21:38

Dr. Brown, This wonderful opportunity for you to investigate natural women and their health parameters will be more fun and enlightening than we can imagine! I will be praying that you go soon and find amazing things.  Your articles have helped me gain the information to reverse my osteoporosis without drugs and I am grateful! Thanks!

Susan