I blog so much about the importance of checking and supplementing wound care patients with Vitamin D, that’s it’s probably getting old. However, I just can’t help myself. This is one of the few problems that is simple and cheap to fix. In addition to the fact that low Vitamin D levels are associated with poor wound healing, low Vitamin D levels are linked to an increased incidence of cancer risk, diabetes development, and death from COVID-19 (to list only the topics I have blogged about below).
In case anyone out there is still not on the Vitamin D band wagon, there’s now an association between low Vitamin D and the severity of pediatric sleep apnea. Bluher and colleagues just published the results of a study in JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, evaluating 72 children with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing adenotonsillectomy at a tertiary care pediatric otolaryngology clinic. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured and assessed for correlation with polysomnography metrics. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D level less than 20 ng/mL (I use a level less than 30 as my definition of “deficiency” in adults with chronic wounds). They found that 37.5% had vitamin D deficiency and that lower vitamin D serum levels were associated with higher obstructive Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) index scores.
I have no idea if there is a relationship between low Vitamin D levels and adult sleep apnea severity, but I do know that a huge percentage of patients with chronic wounds have sleep apnea. It’s just one more reason to check their level. Be aware that the payment policy surrounding the testing of Vitamin D levels has not kept up with the science. If anyone has inside knowledge about coverage policy for Vitamin D levels, please message me. I know it is covered for patients with a history of falls or fracture (hint, hint).
Here are past blogs about the topic. Note that in these blogs are some truly amazing photos of wounds that resolved with Vitamin D3 supplementation:
- Vitamin D Intake, Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin-D (25(OH)D) Levels, & Cancer Risk – Caroline Fife M.D.
- “You Are Liable For This Charge (For a Vitamin D Level)” – Caroline Fife M.D.
- Daily “Higher Dose” Vitamin D May Help Delay Diabetes – Caroline Fife M.D.
- Nutritional Screening and Vitamin D Groundhog Day – Caroline Fife M.D.
- Vitamin D: Don’t Overlook the Sunshine Vitamin
- Don’t Miss This! The Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic (…and yes, that is a pulsating Dorsalis Pedis artery)
- Vitamin D Insufficiency and Death from COVID-19… And Why a Math Error Means We Don’t Take Enough Vitamin D
- Wound Whisperer: Shhhh… My Secret Vitamin D Treatment for a Surgical Wound Dehiscence
- Food as Medicine – Part 4 – Caroline Fife M.D.
- Why I Can’t Be a Wound Care Doctor Without SPP & Nutritional Supplementation – Caroline Fife M.D.
- Virtually Disappointing Wound Management – Caroline Fife M.D.
Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality driven care. Please visit my blog at CarolineFifeMD.com and my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/carolinefifemd/videos
The opinions, comments, and content expressed or implied in my statements are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of Intellicure or any of the boards on which I serve.
