This week I am going to discuss a syndrome which is associated with abnormal intestinal permeability; commonly referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Leaky Gut Syndrome is a condition that is seen when the walls of the small intestine are damaged. A healthy intestine allows only nutrients to pass into the bloodstream. However, when the gut wall is damaged, larger molecules such as incompletely digested fats, proteins, starches, and even bacteria, also permeate the intestinal wall.

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This week I am going to discuss Vitamin D. This fat soluble compound exists in many forms however the form utilized primarily by humans is vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).

Vitamin D is a regulator of calcium and phosphorus status; both of which are vital for normal functioning of the nervous system, as well as for bone growth and density. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autism and asthma, among other conditions (see below for more information). Evidence has shown that vitamin D is not stored in our bodies until a level of 50ng/ml is reached, which is why at Kingsway we recommend that patients use a starting dose of 50,000IU daily for three days, and then drop back to a maintenance dose of 4000-5000IU daily.

Animals (including humans) convert cholesterol to 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is a precursor to vitamin D3. Exposure to ultra violet light in sunlight (UVB radiation) converts 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to vitamin D3. In fact, adequate exposure to sunlight can eliminate the requirement for vitamin D in the diet, making it only “conditionally essential.” Vitamin D3 is not itself biologically active, but must be modified by the body to have any physiological effects.

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