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| | | From: Rene (Original Message) | Sent: 11/5/2007 6:39 PM |
You'll find more articles further down the supplement page here too Vitamin D to the Rescue!
Vitamin D is one of the oldest hormones, having been produced by life forms for over 750 million years. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, and most plants and animals that are exposed to sunlight have the capacity to make vitamin D. In humans, vitamin D is critically important for the development, growth, and maintenance of a healthy body, from birth until death.
The Institute of Medicine brought experts together recently to explore the question of whether the RDA or recommended daily allowance, of vitamin D has been set too low. The impetus for the occasion was the mounting evidence for this vitamin's role in preventing common cancers, autoimmune diseases, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain, and osteoporosis.
Studies show that vitamin D deficiency is common in the U.S.
According to Michael F. Holick, MD, PhD, of the Boston University School of Medicine
the typical symptoms are aching bones and muscle discomfort, vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Vitamin D has also been implicated in the cause of various other health disorders including influenza, psoriasis, gout, otosclerosis, interstitial cystitis, decreased pulmonary function, thrombosis, chronic kidney disease, pancreatitis, rheumatology, hepatitis B infections, hemochromatosis, and gastrointestinal diseases.
Research at a Glance Autoimmune Illnesses Autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Reiter’s Syndrome. lupus, asthma, and ulcerative colitis. Researchers are discovering an increasing number of links between the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. Hormones of the endocrine system, such as vitamin D, help the immune and nervous systems defend the body, with defects in this intricate system leading to autoimmune disorders.
Autism
Research has shown that low maternal vitamin D3 has important ramifications for the developing brain. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone with many important functions in the brain, mediated through the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR). Dysfunctional VDR demonstrate altered emotional behavior and specific motor deficits.
Cancer Vitamin D inhibits inappropriate cell division and metastasis, reduces blood vessel formation around tumors, and regulates proteins that affect tumor growth. It also enhances anti-cancer actions of immune system chemicals and chemotherapy drugs. A four-year study of 1,179 healthy, postmenopausal women showed that taking calcium, along with nearly three times the U.S. government's recommendation of vitamin D3, showed a dramatic 60 percent or greater reduction in all forms of cancer.
It’s estimated that if vitamin D levels were increased worldwide, a minimum of 600,000 cases of breast and other cancers could be prevented each year. Nearly 150,000 cases of cancer could be prevented in the United States alone. Studies show that by taking vitamin D (about 2,000 IU/day) females can cut breast cancer incidence by half!
Chronic Pain
In a study involving 150 children and adults with unexplained muscle and bone pain, almost all were found to be vitamin D deficient; many were severely deficient with extremely low levels of vitamin D in their bodies.
Vitamin D deficiency causes muscle weakness and pain in children and adults. Muscle pain and weakness was a prominent symptom of vitamin D deficiency in a study of Arab and Danish Moslem women living in Denmark (20).
In a cross-sectional study of 150 consecutive patients referred to a clinic in Minnesota for the evaluation of persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain, 93% had serum 25(OH)D levels indicative of vitamin D deficiency.
Osteoporosis Maintenance of serum calcium levels within a narrow range is vital for normal functioning of the nervous system, as well as for bone growth, and maintenance of bone density. Vitamin D is essential for the efficient utilization of calcium by the body. A recent study found that supplementation of elderly women with 800 IU/day of vitamin D and 1,200 mg/day of calcium for three months increased muscle strength and decreased the risk of falling by almost 50% compared to supplementation with calcium alone.
Mental Function and Moods
Recent research indicates vitamin D deficiency is associated with low mood and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in various psychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression.
Diabetes
Vitamin D helps maintain adequate insulin levels. Preliminary evidence suggests supplementation can increase insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Prolonged supplementation may help reduce blood sugar levels.
Immune Function
There is considerable scientific evidence that 1,25(OH)2D has a variety of positive effects on boosting the immune system.
Additionally, there is growing evidence that maintaining vitamin D levels in the body during the winter prevent the flu and other viral infections by strengthening the immune system.
Heart Disease
Activated vitamin D has been shown to increase survival in patients with cardiovascular disease. Hyperparathyroidism
Low plasma vitamin D3 has been found to be a major risk factor for hyperparathyroidism.
High Blood Pressure
Clinical and experimental data support the view that vitamin D metabolism is involved in blood pressure regulation and other metabolic processes.
Melanoma
An inability to tan is the number one risk factor for melanoma. Those who tan easily or who have darker skin are far less likely to develop the disease. A new theory is that melanoma is actually caused by sunlight (vitamin D) deficiency and that safe sun exposure actually helps prevent the deadly disease.
Multiple Sclerosis
Vitamin D supplementation may help prevent the development of MS as well as provide for additional treatment.
Osteoarthritis
Low intake and low serum levels of vitamin D appear to be associated with an increased risk for progression of osteoarthritis.
Osteoporosis
Vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in the elderly. Most often the first symptoms are muscle pain, fatigue, muscular weakness, and gait disturbances. More severe deficiency causes osteomalacia (bone weakening and loss) with deep bone pain, reduced mineralization of bone matrix, and bone fractures.
How much vitamin D does the average person need?
In the summer, those with at least 15 minutes of sun exposure on their skin most days should take around 1,000 mg of vitamin D3 each day. In the winter, those with dark skin, or those who have little sun exposure on their skin, should take up to 4,000 mg each day. Those who have darker skin, are older, avoid sun exposure or live in the northern US should take the higher amounts, around 2,000mg a day.
Vitamin D is remarkably safe; there have been no deaths caused by the vitamin. People consuming only government-recommended levels of 200-400 IU/day often have blood levels considerably below 50 ng/ml. This means the government’s recommendations are too low, and should be raised for optimal health function.
High Dose Vitamin D can be purchased at a number of health food or big name drug stores. However, please be advised that not all vitamin D is equal. I recommend using only pharmaceutical grade, naturally-occurring Vitamin D3. References
1. The Vitamin D Council, [http://www.vitamindcouncil.com]
2. Garland CF, Gorham ED, Mohr SB, Grant WB, Giovannucci EL, Lipkin M,Newmark H, Holick MF, Garland FC. Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 2007. Mar;103(3-5):708-11.
3. Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP.Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. Amer J Clin Nutrition, 2007. Vol. 85, No. 6, 1586-1591,
June. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/6/1586
4. Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF, Grant WB, Madronich S, Garland CF, Giovannucci E. Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect, 2006. Dec;134(6):1129-40. Epub 2006 Sep 7. [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=469543]
5. Saul AW. Vitamin D: Deficiency, diversity and dosage. J Orthomolecular Med, 2003. Vol 18, No 3 and 4, p 194-204. [http://www.doctoryourself.com/dvitamin.htm] From: October 26, 2007, Dr. Rodger Murphree's Newsletter
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| | | From: Rene | Sent: 11/23/2007 6:12 PM |
Vitamin D deficiency linked to greater pain By Clarisse Douaud 10/15/2007- A new study has linked vitamin D and a reduction of chronic pain, lending to voices calling for increased fortification or supplementation of the nutrient in diets. The study, presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists 2007 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, found that one in four patients who suffer from chronic pain also have inadequate blood levels of vitamin D. As such, the researchers put forth that the vitamin D deficiency possibly contributed to the patients' ongoing pain. Vitamin D deficiency - which can lead to osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases - s been found to be lacking particularly in inhabitants of colder climates. A recent study, for example, indicated that the median adult intake of vitamin D in the US is only 230 IU per day, versus the researchers' recommended 2000 IU per day. The latest study, undertaken at the Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center in Rochester, Minnesota, involved 267 adults undergoing outpatient treatment for chronic pain. The researchers recorded their serum vitamin D levels, pain medication (morphine), as well as general health, and found patients lacking sufficient vitamin D also required higher doses of morphine for a longer period of time. Of these patients, 26 per cent had vitamin D inadequacy and needed almost twice the dose of morphine of the group with adequate vitamin D levels. The vitamin D inadequacy group were also reported as using morphine for an average of 71.1 months compared to 43.8 months for the other group. As well, the vitamin D deficient group showed lower levels of physical functioning and poorer overall health. "…this is the first time that we have established the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy among a diverse group of chronic pain patients," said study author, Michael Hooten, medical director and anesthesiologist at the Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center. However, inadequate levels of vitamin D has long been associated with causing pain and muscle weakness and studies have suggested that pain-related symptoms of vitamin D inadequacy respond poorly to pain medications. One possible outcome is supplementing patients with vitamin D. "The implications are that in chronic pain patients, vitamin D inadequacy is not the principal cause of pain and muscle weakness, however, it could be a contributing but unrecognized factor," said Hooten. Vitamin D inadequacy can be easily and inexpensively treated using a prescription supplement, once or twice a week for four to six weeks, according to Hooten. Deficiency in vitamin D affects inhabitants of colder climates, because sunlight induces synthesis of vitamin D in humans. As such, if a consumer is not getting adequate exposure to the sun for vitamin D and its subsequent impact on their serum 25 (OH)D levels, they should be supplementing with vitamin D. Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The former, produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm), is said to be more bioactive. The latter is derived from plants and only enters the body via the diet. [http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=80574-mayo-american-society-of-anesthesiologists-vitamin-d] |
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Reply
| | | From: Rene | Sent: 10/2/2008 12:03 AM |
Vitamin D: Half of all children are deficient by Healthy News Service Monday, September 01, 2008:- Children today just don’t get out enough. As a result, more than half of all infants and toddlers are low in their levels of vitamin D and, even at their young age, their bones are beginning to suffer.
Aside from a diet of fatty fish, sunshine is one of the principal sources of vitamin D �?but outdoors play has been replaced by the DVD, the TV and the computer games.
In a study of 380 healthy infants and toddlers, researchers discovered that 12 per cent were deficient in vitamin D and a further 40 per cent had levels that were below those needed to maintain and grow healthy bones. The researchers found that a third of the children tested were already showing signs of skeletal problems. (Source: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2008; 162: 538-43).
Provided by What Doctors Don't Tell You on 9/1/2008
http://www.healthy.net/scr/news.asp?Id=9897 |
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Reply
| | | From: Rene | Sent: 10/2/2008 12:07 AM |
Low Vitamin D May Increase Heart Attack Risk
Simply optimizing vitamin D may be 40 times more effective at preventing heart attack deaths than cholesterol lowering medications—without the cost or toxicity! In a study of 3,258 subjects (average age 62 years) suspected of having heart disease, those with low vitamin D levels had over twice the risk of dying from heart attack—or dying period—over the ~7-8 years they were followed in the study. The study compared the 50% of subjects with the lowest levels to the 25% with the highest vitamin D levels. In addition, low levels of vitamin D were associated with higher levels of inflammation chemicals in the blood (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels), and lower levels of the antioxidant glutathione. These are problems for both those with heart attacks and people with CFS/fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, the RDA (a.k.a. "Ridiculous Dietary Allowance") for vitamin D is ~ 400 units daily. Because of the deadly advice to avoid sunshine, which makes 90% of our vitamin D, deficiency is now rampant. Vitamin D deficiency is estimated to cause over 85,000 unnecessary American cancer deaths yearly—in addition to many other problems (see Vitamin D Could Save Your Life!). The proper advice? Avoid sunburn—not sunshine! I recommend 1,000-2,000 units of vitamin D a day, with higher levels in cancer patients (doses of 10,000+ units a day are very safe, unless you have high blood calcium from cancer in the bones, in which case check with your physician). The Energy Revitalization System vitamin powder has 600 units (high for multi vitamins) and we will be increasing the amount in the powder soon. For those with loss of bone density (osteoporosis), the Bone Health product contains 4,000 units of vitamin D daily, along with many nutrients that improve bone health dramatically. Vitamin D is also easy to find in health food stores. Meanwhile, get some sun! Lying on the beach for 15-30 minutes produces ~ 15,000-30,000 units of vitamin D. References "Independent association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin dand 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin d levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality," Dobnig H, Pilz S, et al, Arch Intern Med, 2008; 168(12): 1340-9. [http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_f-n_2/Heart-low_vitamin_d_increases_risk_of_heart_attack.html] |
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| | | From: Rene | Sent: 10/2/2008 12:11 AM |
Low Vitamin D Increases Early Death by 26%
Another study (from Johns Hopkins) showed that having vitamin D levels in the lowest quarter of the population increase the likelihood of dying (over the 6-12 years of the study) by 26%. This study was in healthy people 20 years of age and higher. This study by Johns Hopkins researchers connected vitamin D deficiency to a higher risk of death, according to study author Erin Michos, assistant professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. Michos and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 13,000 people who represented a realistic sample of Americans over 20 years old. Vitamin D levels were measured from 1988 through 1994. By 2000, Michos says, 1,807 deaths had occurred, 777 from heart disease. Those with vitamin D levels under 17.8 ng/mL were 26% more likely to be dead at the end of the study than those with higher vitamin D levels. “We found a new risk factor for death,�?Michos says. Instead of waiting 20 years while they do more research, I recommend you get 1,000-2,000 units of vitamin D a day—NOW. 90% of our vitamin D comes from sunshine. Healthy advice? Avoid sunburn—not sunshine! References Low Vitamin D Linked to Early Death (AOL News) [http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_t-z/Vitamin_d-increases_early_death_by_26_percent.html]
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| | | From: Rene | Sent: 10/2/2008 3:10 AM |
Vitamin D and Chronic Widespread Pain (e.g., Fibromyalgia)
Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be very common in chronic pain. This study looked at vitamin D levels in 6,824 white British adults who were 45 years old. Chronic Widespread Pain (CWP) was present in 14.6% of those with a vitamin D level (25 OHD) under < 25 nmol/l, 14.7% for a vitamin D level of 25-49 nmol/l, 11.5% for 50-74 nmo/l, 7.7% for 75-99 nmol/l, and 9.7% for participants with > 100 nmol/l. That means those with a low vitamin D level had almost twice the risk of having widespread pain (and likely also fibromyalgia). This connection was only found in women (3/4 of those with fibromyalgia are women).
I recommend that those with chronic pain or fibromyalgia take 2,000 units of vitamin D a day. You can also get vitamin D by going outside and getting sunshine, which is how your body gets 90% of its vitamin D. Remember. Get sunshine—not sunburn! For more information on vitamin D deficiency, see Vitamin D Could Save Your Life! References Vitamin D and chronic widespread pain in a white middle-aged British population: evidence from a cross-sectional population survey. Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 12 August 2008. doi:10.1136/ard.2008.090456. Kate Atherton,1 Diane J Berry,1 Tessa Parsons,1 Gary J Macfarlane,2 Chris Power1 and Elina Hypponen1*
[http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_c/CFS-FM-vitamin_d_chronic_widespread_pain.html]
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