Santiago to miss SONA, Senate session

MANILA, Philippines – The usually energetic Sen Miriam Defensor-Santiago will be absent during Monday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) due to chronic fatigue syndrome. She will also miss the first Senate session.

A statement from the senator’s office said her blood test showed her Vitamin D level at almost half normal levels.

“The blood test taken at St Luke’s QC showed that while the normal level for Vitamin D is 30 to 80 units, Santiago only has 17 units, and is thus suffering from Vitamin D deficiency,” the statement read.

The senator will be taking a megadose of Vitamin D — consisting of 2,000 units daily — as part of the treatment.

Santiago said her Vitamin D deficiency could also have triggered her hypertension and high cholesterol, citing a 2012 study at the European Society of Human Genetics.

She added it is important to educate the public about the issue.

“I want to share this information with the millions of Filipinos suffering from chronic fatigue, because in our country, Vitamin D deficiency is often overlooked,” Santiago said.

“All patients with moderate to severe chronic fatigue syndrome should be encouraged to have sufficient sun exposure and with foods high in Vitamin D,” said a recommendation from a study published in the 2012 International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, the press statement said.

Because of chronic fatigue, Santiago has, over the years, gone on medical leave from her jobs as immigration commissioner and senator. – Rappler.com