A Banner Publication
February 4, 2010 – Vol. 4 • No. 6

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Born and raised in Haiti, Gerda Paulissaint, 46, came to Boston about 12 years ago and a funny thing happened. She started having all sorts of aches and pains. Walking up a flight of stairs was particularly painful. “It was as if my legs were talking back to me,” she remembers.

She knew she had high blood pressure, but that didn’t explain that sort of pain or her restless sleep. She dismissed all of her symptoms as simply the result of stress. Without much further thought, she quietly went on with her work as a community health advocate at Mattapan Community Health Center.

And then a light switch turned on.

Many of her patients were complaining of similar aches and pains and most of them had received blood test results showing they lacked a sufficient amount of vitamin D.
Full story


The man to see on vitamin D

Of all Douglas Fairhurst’s medical problems, the most bewildering were his weakening muscles. An avid bicyclist, Fairhurst, 74, could barely lift his leg much less pedal a bike. “I could hardly walk,” he said.

That’s when Fairhurst turned to Dr. Douglass Bibuld, the medical director of Mattapan Community Health Center.

An expert on vitamin D, Dr. Bibuld was well aware of the benefits that accrue from the aptly named “Sunshine Vitamin.” Received primarily from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, vitamin D is known for its ability to maintain healthy bones. Full story

OTHER STORIES:

Calcium and vitamin D: The dynamic duo click here

Where’s the calcium? click here

February is Vitamin D Deficiency Month

A closer look

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common in young people. So much so that rickets, or bone weakness, has made a comeback. Full story

So many choices click here

Who’s at risk? click here

Links to low levels click here

Want to know the score? click here

Looking for vitamin D? click here

How to get your D click here

Questions & Answers click here

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