Prominent Physician Admits Error in Dismissing Single Nutritional Supplement as Essential
Rewritten Article:
** Want to Maintain Optimal Vitamin D Levels? Listen To This NHS Doctor**
In a shocking revelation, a leading NHS doctor, Dr. Karan Rajan, has urged the public to regularly get a blood test to check for vitamin D deficiency after he discovered he had seriously low levels of this vital nutrient, despite his healthy diet and lifestyle.
Dr. Rajan, who is a surgeon working in NHS hospitals, admitted that his scare made him revise his previous skepticism about vitamin D supplements and led him to recommend them to his patients.
Speaking candidly in a video viewed over 45,000 times, Dr. Rajan warned about the little-known dangers of vitamin D deficiency, including bone deformities, muscle weakness, and improper growth patterns.
It's estimated that approximately one in six adults in the UK suffer from vitamin D deficiency [1], a condition that could be harmful to their health.
Nicknamed the 'sunshine vitamin', vitamin D can be sourced from exposure to sunlight, as well as from foods like fatty fish, red meat, and egg yolks [2].
"I was wrong about vitamin D," admitted Dr. Rajan. "At first, I thought only certain people needed it at certain times, but now I believe everyone should consider taking it."
To help promote the production of useable vitamin D, Dr. Rajan mentioned the importance of other nutrients such as magnesium found in almonds, spinach, and avocados [3].
The NHS guidelines suggest taking a vitamin D supplement during winter months, but Dr. Rajan, who had long dismissed the need for this practice, admitted that his health scare changed his perspective.
"When I realized my vitamin D levels were dangerously low, I had a decision to make," he shared. "I could have changed my diet and spent more time outdoors, but I wanted to restore my body to optimal levels as quickly as possible."
Following his records, Dr. Rajan found that his vitamin D blood levels were 15.7 ng/ml, well below the recommended threshold of 20 ng/ml set by the Institute of Medicine in the US [4].
Although the UK threshold for deficiency is only 12 ng/ml, an amount criticized by international health experts as too low, Dr. Rajan took the matter into his own hands.
He experimented with megadosing vitamin D supplements (a dose of 17,000 units for 12 days followed by a maintenance dose of 6,000 units) and found that his vitamin D levels surged to 66.2 ng/ml within four weeks [4].
Despite not knowing whether these practices would be recommended by experts, Dr. Rajan emphasized the importance of testing vitamin D levels regularly, particularly for adults over the age of 30 [5].
"I would advise everyone to test, don't guess," he said. "Get a blood test at least once a year to check your overall health and vitamin D levels."
In light of his experience, Dr. Rajan offered tips on how to boost vitamin D levels, maintain optimal levels, and minimize the risk of bone fractures when taking supplements.
So, if you're concerned about your vitamin D levels, make sure to get a blood test and speak to a healthcare provider about the best way to keep your levels within a healthy range.
Sources:
[1] NHS UK. Vitamin D - Overview. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-d/
[2] NHS UK. Vitamin D: How to keep your bones healthy. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/maintaining-healthy-bones/
[3] National Institutes of Health. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Consumers. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-Consumer/
[4] Rajan, K. (2022). From Vitamin D Skeptic to Advocate: One Surgeon's Journey to Boosting His Vitamin D Levels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWPI6LJ4Y0Y
[5] turmericpages.com. Boost Your Vitamin D Levels for Better Health. https://turmericpages.com/guide/vitamin-d/
- Dr. Rajan, a renowned NHS doctor who advocates for healthy diets, was surprised to find he had a vitamin D deficiency despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Apart from sunshine, vitamin D can also be derived from foods such as fatty fish, red meat, and egg yolks, but Dr. Rajan discovered that supplements might be necessary for some individuals, including himself.
- Dr. Rajan's research revealed that approximately one in six adults in the UK suffer from vitamin D deficiency, which could negatively impact their health.
- He noted the significance of magnesium, a nutrient found in foods like almonds, spinach, and avocados, for facilitating the use of vitamin D.
- Initially dismissive of NHS guidelines recommending vitamin D supplements during winter months, Dr. Rajan reconsidered his stance after his health scare.
- In the pursuit of optimal vitamin D levels, Dr. Rajan recommends regular blood testing and consulting with a healthcare provider about the appropriate supplement dosage and dietary adjustments.
