Parents concerned about wayward teen Levels of vitamin D and bone mass loss
Dear Amy: We are at loss as how to deal with our 17-year-old sonHe frequently argues with us, refuses to help at home, and needs multiple prompts to get to school or work. He is failing all of his classes.
He is smoking marijuana at home. Recently, after getting upset, he started breaking things and came very close to getting physical with his father.
We have taken away privileges and even tried a few bribes. Nothing seems to work. He seems miserable, and we are too. — Parents in Despair
Dear Parents: This not be a goal-problem, pot-problem.
An article published in Forbes Magazine distilled recent studies on the chronic effects of smoking pot: “the drug is linked to reduced learning, memory, and attention. One study found a reduction in IQ of 8 points in long-time users, the greatest decline being in people who’d started using as teenagers and continued daily into adulthood.” Other side effects are paranoia, and an overall lack of motivation. Some users experience psychosis. Sound familiar?
Your son has pot in his system 24 hours a day. He may have started using to mitigate other problems such as anxiety or depression. But now his drug use is the primary problem. At 17, his brain is still growing. He is literally altering his brain by pumping it full of THC. Under these circumstances, how can you reasonably expect him to make healthy choices?
If you are able to afford it, residential treatment where they concentrate on the “whole person” (as well as his drug use) might work for him.
You should try to communicate with him about a workable plan for when he turns 18. You should let him know that you will never give up on him, but that you won’t be housing him as long as he is using. might but a
Dear Dr. Roach: I’m 70, Caucasian and slim. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis five years ago.
Before that, I took for five years.
The only things I take are 1,000 mg calcium citrate, 3 mg boron and a multivitamin containing 2,000 IU vitamin D.
An X-ray showed three compression fractured vertebra.
I read that taking more than 1,000 IU of vitamin D can cause bone mass loss! I started crying thinking that I caused the fractures from taking too much vitamin D.
I’ve stopped the multivitamin and just take 500 IU of the vitamin D. I’m outside an hour a day.
Do you know of bone mass loss from too much? — V.W.
Low levels of vitamin D are a common and treatable cause of bone loss, which can ultimately lead to fractures.
It’s a good idea to check the vitamin D level in people with known osteoporosis.
There remains some controversy about the optimum level of vitamin D, but a level between 30 and 50 ng/mL is generally considered safe.
Very high levels of vitamin D can cause calcium to come out of bones, and can cause risk of kidney stones as well as symptoms.
However, this is almost unheard of in a dose less than 4,000 units daily.
I think it is very unlikely that you were taking too much vitamin D, so there’s no need to blame yourself.
Although people with boron deficiency are at higher risk of bone loss, using boron as part of osteoporosis treatment has never been shown to reduce fracture rates.
I don’t recommend supplementation.
Leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale are good sources in the diet. Fosamax boron