Vulvodynia and Vitamin D

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Everyone. Please, please see the Vitamin D Council site:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Consider the fact that sunscreen blocks vitamin D and that you may have a

deficiency.

You can go through your doctor or you may be able to get tested through the site

(see

Links). Get tested. Keep in mind that the application of sunscreen with an SPF

factor of 8

reduces production of vitamin D by 95%. In latitudes around 40 degrees north or

40

degrees south (Boston is 42 degrees north), there is insufficient UVB radiation

available for

vitamin D synthesis from November to early March. Ten degrees farther north or

south

(Edmonton, Canada) the " vitamin D winter " extends from mid-October to mid-March.

If you do get your vitamin D tested and it is below 50 ng/mL please report back

to this

site. It has been reported that your level will need to be at or above 50 for

at least 3

months for symptoms to improve. They recommend vitamin D3. Once it has been

that

high for 3 months let us know if you have improved. Continue to test. Optimal

vitamin D

has lots of health advantages.

Here is a small part of what the site says:

SUNSHINE AND YOUR HEALTH If one regularly avoids sunlight exposure, research

indicates

a necessity to supplement with at least 5,000 units (IU) of vitamin D daily. To

obtain this

amount from milk one would need to consume 50 glasses. With a multivitamin more

than

10 tablets would be necessary. Neither is advisable.The skin produces

approximately

20,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure—100 times more

than the US government's recommendation of 200 IU per day!There are 3 ways for

adults

to insure adequate levels of vitamin D:

regularly receive midday sun exposure in the late spring, summer, and early

fall, exposing

as much of the skin as possible.

regularly use a sun bed (avoiding sunburn) during the colder months.

take 5,000 IU per day for three months, then obtain a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test.

Adjust

your dosage so that blood levels are between 50–80 ng/mL (or 125–200 nM/L) year

around.