New Year's Problem Solving

The only item that applied to me in the New Year's Day "How to fix your life in 2009" article in the Wall Street Journal was this one. And many retirees need to be on the alert--especially if you live in the the mid-west.

Problem: You work indoors, live in a cold climate and wear sunscreen to protect your skin -- and you wonder if you're getting enough vitamin D.

Solution: Have your vitamin D level checked. Experts think many people aren't getting enough these days, and that can put you at higher risk for a variety of problems, including osteoporosis, heart attacks, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration, mental illness, chronic pain and many cancers. Your doctor can check your D level with a blood test, which costs about $100 and is usually covered by insurance. Make sure the test measures 25-hydroxyvitamin D, not 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D. A concentration of less than 20 nanograms per milliliter is considered deficient, and more than 30 npm is healthier.

If you are low, you can boost your level with inexpensive supplements. Current U.S. guidelines call for 200 international units per day from birth through age 50; 400 IUs from 51 through 70 and 600 IUs from age 71 on. Many medical organizations now think that's too low. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children should have 400 IUs a day, and the National Osteroporsis Foundation thinks adults over age 50 should have at least 800 to 1,000.

In most of the U.S., being in the sun for at least 20 minutes a day can boost your D level nicely but also raise your risk of developing skin cancer.

—Melinda Beck

I was tested for Vit. D levels about 2 years ago as part of my annual exam, and must say, I failed miserably. I'd never heard of "low vit. D" but my wonderful internist, Dr. Bill Wulf is always ahead of me.