The Great Vitamin D Experiment; Ongoing

[Zuleikaa]

Well it’s that time of year again!!! I’d like to invite you all to join me in another Vitamin D (D3) experiment. I’ve been doing a lot of research of the benefits of vitamin D supplementation and have been taking it now since August 04 and have great results (I have severe SAD). I'm not taking any other meds for SAD though I was before. We did the experiment 2004-2005 also and members had positive results. You can read about it here (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=215413&highlight=Vitamin+Experiment) and didn't feel this good. I’m curious if others would have positive results also. Therefore I’m inviting you to join me in the great vitamin D experiment and report on your results here.

The Experiment

You stay on whatever plan you're currently on.
Take in in 1 dose or 2-3 divided doses/day any time until 4 pm. Taking vitamin D past 4 pm (or whatever your equivalent day’s schedule is) can result in sleeplessness.

The range of supplementation is based upon severity of underlying symptoms and/or vitamin D test results. The starting dose is 4,000-10,000 IU/day. Increase the dose gradually, as needed, up to 50,000 IU depending on the progress of deficiency symptoms subsiding.

Once symptoms have subsided/disappeared, stay on that highest dose for thee months to correct all past deficiencies.

Once the three month high dose period is past you can reduce your vitamin D dose gradually to find your maintenance dose. This maintenance dose of vitamin D will change seasonally.

Any time any deficiency symptoms reappear, dry skin is a common signal, you need to up your vitamin D until symptoms disappear again.

Vitamin D should be supplemented more during winter and less during summer. You need to supplement during summer as well as winter unless you live in the deep south or the tropics and spend a lot of time under the midday sun.

The optimum dose of vitamin D varies greatly with the individual (sex, age, weight, skin color, ethnicity, ancestry, duration of deficiency, number and severity of deficiency diseases, culture, season, and resident location of residence). Vitamin D levels should be gradually increased over a couple of weeks from a lower to a higher target dose.

Take with vitamin D
GTF Chromium 400-600 mcg
http://www.anma.com/mon81.html#ARTICLE2

Calcium 1500 – 2000 mg
(It's recommended that calcium carbonate be taken with food and that calcium citrate be taken without food and at least 1 hour before food for best absorbtion rates)

Magnesium ½ calcium dose up to equal calcium dose
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7913949&dopt=Abstract
http://www.ctds.info/5_13_magnesium.html
http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/8_29_98/food.htm

Vitamin A only from fish liver
20,000-60,000 IU
http://www.hpakids.org/holistic-health/articles/120/1/Simple-Facts-About-Vitamin-D
http://intl.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/49/2/358
http://www.greenpasture.org/content/VitaminA.pdf
http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/NutritionSupplements/VitaminsNaturalvsSynthetic.html

Signs your body hasn’t yet adjusted to the amount are edginess, irritability, and increased hunger/nibbles.

Signs you're getting enough are better, deeper sleep but alertness upon awakening, dry skin spots and rough patches smooth out, cracked skin heals, better energy, clearer mind, better moods, bone and muscle pain disappears, more strength, less tiredness, better health or health issues no colds/flu.

Some info on vitamin D dose/needs:
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/77/1/204
http://www.bioticsresearch.com/PDF/Vitamin%20D%20ATHM2004%20Vasquez.pdf
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/326/7387/469
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/326/7387/469
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/6/1752S
http://www.nutritionj.com/content/3/1/8

Vitamin D safety:
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/73/2/288
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_01_040705/dia10054_fm.html
http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/toxicity.pdf
http://www.bioticsresearch.com/PDF/Vitamin%20D%20ATHM2004%20Vasquez.pdf

Take whatever supplements you regularly take in addition to the above. Levels of the above vitamins are in addition to whatever is in the multi you are taking. Only adjust if you take any of the above vitamins separately.

Vitamin D, without fillers--Some people react to filers used.
Suppliers

US
Drops
2,000 IU, Dcnutrition.com
2,000 IU, www.bayho.com

Gels
1,000 IU, Carlson brand
1,000 IU, NOW brand
2,000 IU, Carlson brand

Capsules
5,000 IU, bio-tech-pharm.com
50,000 IU, bio-tech-pharm.com

Recommendations
Ingest at least 90 ounces of water/day.
Use only the following fat sources where possible: butter, tallow, coconut, olive, canola, peanut, omega 3s, flax, and fish oils.

CAUTIONS
--Do not join the experiment if you have damaged liver or kidneys without your doctor’s permission/supervision.
--Do join the experiment if you have one or more of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. These are obesity, SAD, depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviors, epilepsy, PCOS, infertility, fibromyalgia, CFS, chronic pain, arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, osteoporosis, lack of balance/muscle strength, autoimmune diseases, intestinal diseases, Crohns, heart disease, impaired thyroid, hyperparathyroid, high blood pressure, high blood calcium levels, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, chronic dry skin, tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, or any cancer.
--If you can afford to get tested before starting the experiment, please do so. The correct test to order is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Make sure this is the test you get. Labs often give the test for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active hormone. This test is the wrong test as it offers no meaningful data regarding D status. Optimal values of 25(OH)D are above 70 ng/ml.
--Only natural vitamin D (D3) should be used. Natural vitamin D has been found to be non toxic at levels of 50k/day. Manmade vitamin D (D2) has been found toxic at 20,000 IU/day. Natural vitamin D (D3) is better utilized by the body. Vitamin D (D3) comes in both a gel cap with fish oil and a dry form. Some people find the dry form is better tolerated.
--Cod liver oil, up to 8 tablespoons/day, can be used for part of your vitamin D requirement.

Reactions you Might Have
--For those with pain due to injury, pain can recur at the previously injured site as corrective healing occurs due to supplementation.
--More energy
--Less Depression
--Less Anxiety
--More even disposition
--Easier and more regular bowel movements
--Fewer digestive problems
--Less Pain
--Weight Loss
--Less Edema and swelling
--Clearer skin
--Regular menses
--Fewer PMS symptoms

Please keep track of symptoms/improvements in your journal and here as time passes. I am really interested in what the range of reactions might be.

Here's some more information on D:

Here's some information on D:
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20041009/bob8.asp

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fcd/nutrition/publications/nutrifocus/vitamind.pdf

http://www.bioticsresearch.com/PDF/Vitamin%20D%20ATHM2004%20Vasquez.pdf

http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Pain_linked_to_vitamin_D_deficiency.html

http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/vitamind.html

http://www.icmedicine.co.uk/journal/oct03/002.htm

http://www.spinegroup.com/Back%20Issues/VitD&porosis.html

http://web.mit.edu/london/www/magnesium.html

http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0011/ea0011p107.htm

http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/7227/searchtext/vitamin%20D%20deficiency/

[Zuleikaa]

I'm taking 7,000 IU of D. I expect to reduce this a little and then maintain at that level until November when it will go back up.

[quikdeb]

I'm currently taking 3600 of D and plan to gradually increase over time. I'm trying to find relief from chronic pain that I suspect is probably related to fibromyalgia. I've had a bit of a bout with it for the past 3 weeks and since upping my D dosage this week, the pain is easing away.

I have gained a couple of pounds, but am working on finding a good calcium level for the D to work correctly with my body. Zule is helping me not to obsess too much over the scale issue. I am very much a number person and this is kind of throwing me, but I think given time...it will all straighten itself out.

I took D last year in the winter/spring, but not nearly as much as I'm taking now. I did not take any during the summer.

Deb

[Zuleikaa]

More studies. What can I say, I'm a reader and Vitamin D is my hammer, lol!!!

Low-Dose Vitamin D Prevents Muscular Atrophy and Reduces Falls and Hip Fractures in Women after Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial - Cerebrovasc Dis. 2005 Jul 27;20(3):187-192 - "48 patients received 1,000 IU ergocalciferol daily ... Vitamin D treatment accounted for a 59% reduction in falls ... There were increases in the relative number and size of type II muscle fibers and improved muscle strength in the vitamin D-treated group"
Vitamin d for health and in chronic kidney disease - Semin Dial. 2005 Jul-Aug;18(4):266-75 - "In addition to its role in maintaining calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, vitamin D is now being recognized as important for maintaining maximum muscle strength and for the prevention of many chronic diseases, including type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular heart disease, and many common cancers"

Vitamin D and calcium supplementation prevents severe falls in elderly community-dwelling women: a pragmatic population-based 3-year intervention study - Aging Clin Exp Res. 2005 Apr;17(2):125-32 - "female residents who followed the Calcium and Vitamin D Program had a 12% risk reduction in severe falls"

Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - JAMA. 2005 May 11;293(18):2257-64 - "Oral vitamin D supplementation between 700 to 800 IU/d appears to reduce the risk of hip and any nonvertebral fractures in ambulatory or institutionalized elderly persons. An oral vitamin D dose of 400 IU/d is not sufficient for fracture prevention"

Osteoporosis: the role of micronutrients - Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May;81(5):1232S-9S - "Higher doses than the current US recommendation (600 IU) of vitamin D in the elderly (age >/= 65 y) may actually be required for optimal bone health (800-1000 IU/d)"

Vitamin D and calcium deficits predispose for multiple chronic diseases - Eur J Clin Invest. 2005 May;35(5):290-304 - "calcium and vitamin D deficits increase the risk of malignancies, particularly of colon, breast and prostate gland, of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (e.g. insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis), as well as of metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, hypertension)"

Failure of High-Dose Ergocalciferol to Correct Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis - Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Apr 28 - "In the 33 CF adults who also completed the recommended second course of 800,000 IU of ergocalciferol over two months, none demonstrated correction of their deficiency" - I threw this in because ergocalciferol is vitamin D(2), with is not absorbed as well as vitamin D(3) (cholecalciferol). If your taking supplements containing the D(2), you might want to change.

Pilot Study: Potential Role of Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) in Patients With PSA Relapse After Definitive Therapy - Nutr Cancer. 2005;51(1):32-6 - "Fifteen patients were given 2,000 IU (50 mug) of cholecalciferol daily and monitored prospectively every 2-3 mo. In 9 patients, PSA levels decreased or remained unchanged after the commencement of cholecalciferol. This was sustained for as long as 21 mo. Also, there was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of PSA rise after administration of cholecalciferol (P = 0.005) compared with that before cholecalciferol. The median PSA doubling time increased from 14.3 mo prior to commencing cholecalciferol to 25 mo after commencing cholecalciferol. Fourteen of 15 patients had a prolongation of PSA doubling time after commencing cholecalciferol. There were no side effects reported by any patient"

Why we should offer routine vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy and childhood to prevent multiple sclerosis - Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):608-18 - "Prevention of MS by modifying an important environmental factor (sunlight exposure and vitamin D level) offers a practical and cost-effective way to reduce the burden of the disease in the future generations"
Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels indicative of vitamin d sufficiency: implications for establishing a new effective dietary intake recommendation for vitamin d - J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):317-22 - "The current adult recommendations for vitamin D, 200-600 IU/d, are very inadequate when one considers that a 10-15 min whole-body exposure to peak summer sun will generate and release up to 20,000 IU vitamin D-3 into the circulation ... Recent studies reveal that current dietary recommendations for adults are not sufficient to maintain circulating 25(OH)D levels at or above this level, especially in pregnancy and lactation"

The effects of postmenopausal Vitamin D treatment on vaginal atrophy - Maturitas. 2004 Dec 10;49(4):334-7 - "The mean physical findings score in Vitamin D treatment (VDT) group was significantly lower than the mean physical findings score in the group without treatment ... As maturation indices: in VDT group, superficial cells proportion was significantly higher and basal, parabasal cells proportion was lower than in the group without treatment"

Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease - Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6):1678S-88S - "Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized epidemic among both children and adults in the United States. Vitamin D deficiency not only causes rickets among children but also precipitates and exacerbates osteoporosis among adults and causes the painful bone disease osteomalacia. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risks of deadly cancers, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus"

Functional indices of vitamin D status and ramifications of vitamin D deficiency - Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6):1706S-9S - "For typical older individuals, supplemental oral intakes of approximately 1300 IU/d are required to reach the lower end of the optimal range"

Vitamin D requirements: current and future - Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6):1735S-9S - "Upper levels of vitamin D intake were set at 50 mug/d (2000 IU/d) for all ages. Some individuals would require higher levels than these to achieve serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations for optimal calcium absorption. So much new information on vitamin D and health has been collected since the requirements were set in 1997 that this nutrient is likely the most in need of revised requirements"

Vitamin D2 is much less effective than vitamin D3 in humans - J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Nov;89(11):5387-91 - "Vitamin D(2) potency is less than one third that of vitamin D(3). Physicians resorting to use of vitamin D(2) should be aware of its markedly lower potency and shorter duration of action relative to vitamin D(3)"

Vitamin D insufficiency and fracture risk - Endocrinology & Diabetes. 11(6):353-358, December 2004 - "There is a growing body of evidence for the alarming prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among healthy adolescents, adults, and elders"

Vitamin D in Australia. Issues and recommendations - Aust Fam Physician. 2004 Mar;33(3):133-8 - "In cases of established vitamin D deficiency, supplementation with 3000-5000 IU per day for at least 1 month is required to replete body stores"

Vitamin D Insufficiency and Deficiency in Chronic Kidney Disease. A Single Center Observational Study - Am J Nephrol. 2004 Sep 22;24(5):503-510 - "In the group undergoing maintenance hemodialyis, we found that 97% of the patients had vitamin D levels in the suboptimal range ... vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are highly prevalent in patients with CKD and may play a role in the development of hyperparathyroidism"

Randomized comparison of the effects of the vitamin D3 adequate intake versus 100 mcg (4000 IU) per day on biochemical responses and the wellbeing of patients - Nutr J. 2004 Jul 19;3(1):8 - "winter wellbeing/depression scores improved with both doses of vitamin D"

Supplementation with oral vitamin d3 and calcium during winter prevents seasonal bone loss: a randomized controlled open-label prospective trial - J Bone Miner Res. 2004 Aug;19(8):1221-30 - "Supplementation with oral vitamin D(3) and calcium during winter prevents seasonal changes in bone turnover and bone loss in healthy adults. It seems conceivable that annually recurring cycles of low vitamin D and mild secondary hyperparathyroidism during the winter months contributes, at least in part and over many years, to age-related bone loss. Supplementation with low-dose oral vitamin D(3) and calcium during winter may be an efficient and inexpensive strategy for the primary prevention of bone loss in northern latitudes"

Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and periodontal disease in the US population - Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jul;80(1):108-13 - "Low serum 25(OH)D(3) concentrations may be associated with PD independently of BMD. Given the high prevalence of PD and vitamin D deficiency, these findings may have important public health implications"
Prevalence of vitamin d deficiency among healthy adolescents - Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Jun;158(6):531-7 - "Seventy-four patients (24.1%) were vitamin D deficient"

Why the optimal requirement for Vitamin D(3) is probably much higher than what is officially recommended for adults - J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 May;89-90:575-9 - "If 70nmol/L is regarded as a minimum desirable target 25(OH)D concentration, then current recommendations of 15mcg per day do not meet the criterion of an RDA"

Vitamin D deficiency: new perspectives on an old disease - Endocrinology and Diabetes, 2/04 - "Even though vitamin D deficiency has been thought to be obsolete in developed countries such as the United States, recent data suggest that this diagnosis may exist in epidemic proportions. Chronic vitamin D deficiency may be associated with a susceptibility to hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and various malignancies, problems beyond the more commonly recognized skeletal manifestations"

Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis - Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Mar;79(3):362-71 - "Vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia ... Studies in both human and animal models add strength to the hypothesis that the unrecognized epidemic of vitamin D deficiency worldwide is a contributing factor of many chronic debilitating diseases ... The recommended adequate intakes for vitamin D are inadequate, and, in the absence of exposure to sunlight, a minimum of 1000 IU vitamin D/d is required to maintain a healthy concentration of 25(OH)D in the blood" - See iHerb or Vitacost vitamin D products. Vitamin D can be toxic in high doses.

Vitamin D and prostate cancer prevention and treatment - Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Nov;14(9):423-30 - "The association between either decreased sun exposure or vitamin D deficiency and the increased risk of prostate cancer at an earlier age, and with a more aggressive progression, indicates that adequate vitamin D nutrition should be a priority for men of all ages"
Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in elderly women in Italy: clinical consequences and risk factors - Osteoporos Int. 2003 Jul 11 - "Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common among elderly Italian women ...

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with worsening of the ability to perform activities of daily living and higher hip fracture prevalence. This finding should lead to an urgent population-based strategy to remedy this condition"

Vitamin D Deficiency Masquerading as Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 2 - Journal of The Association of Physicians of India, 6/03 - "Phenytoin and phenobarbitone are well known to cause vitamin D deficiency by decreasing intestinal absorption and increasing metabolism of 25 (OH) D in liver ... vitamin D deficiency can mimic PHP-II and therefore before considering this rare diagnosis vitamin D deficiency must be excluded"

Oral vitamin D3 decreases fracture risk in the elderly - J Fam Pract. 2003 Jun;52(6):431-5 - "Despite a seemingly large dose averaging 800 IU per day, this regimen is a safe, cheap (<$2 per year), and effective therapy for primary prevention of fractures"

Vitamin D in preventive medicine: are we ignoring the evidence? - Br J Nutr 2003 May;89(5):552-572 - "European children and young adults often have circulating 25(OH)D levels in the insufficiency range during wintertime. Elderly subjects have mean 25(OH)D levels in the insufficiency range throughout the year. In institutionalized subjects 25(OH)D levels are often in the deficiency range. There is now general agreement that a low vitamin D status is involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Moreover, vitamin D insufficiency can lead to a disturbed muscle function. Epidemiological data also indicate a low vitamin D status in tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, hypertension, and specific types of cancer. Some intervention trials have demonstrated that supplementation with vitamin D or its metabolites is able: (i) to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients; (ii) to improve blood glucose levels in diabetics; (iii) to improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The oral dose necessary to achieve adequate serum 25(OH)D levels is probably much higher than the current recommendations of 5-15 &mgr;g/d."

Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal women - Am. J. of Clin. Nutr., 2/03 - "Women consuming 12.5 µg vitamin D/d from food plus supplements had a 37% lower risk of hip fracture (RR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.94) than did women consuming < 3.5 µg/d. Total calcium intake was not associated with hip fracture risk (RR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.68, 1.34 for 1200 compared with < 600 mg/d). Milk consumption was also not associated with a lower risk of hip fracture (P for trend = 0.21)"

[Dodger]

I've become a great believer in vitamin D in the last few years. I think it is best to let the body make its own through getting enough sunlight. Unfortunately, during the winter months there is not enough sunlight to start the chemical reaction.

What I have not been able to find out is what level of sunlight is too little to generate the vitamin D. I know summer is good and winter is bad, but I don't know where spring and autumn fit into the scheme of things.

I don't know when in the year to start taking vitamin D supplements and when I can stop taking them. Has anyone been able to find any data that shows what the cutoff point is for sunlight and vitamin D production?

[Gailew]

Zuleikaa,
I have SAD and CFIDS, and so I've read your posts with interest. A couple of months ago I started taking 1 TBS. of cod liver oil in my smoothies every morning, and just recently added 1 TBS. of flaxseed oil to that. I've quit putting on sunblock unless I'm going to be outside for more than twenty minutes. I've ordered a coral calcium product with 400 IU V. D for every 500 mg. Calcium. There's also 250 mg. Magnesium (Oxide, Citrate, and Aspartate). The directions specify 2 a day of this. I also use butter, olive oil, and coconut oil in cooking, so altogether, I guess I'll be at a daily dose of about 3,000 IU of V. D by the end of this week.
I live in the Pacific Northwest, and the gloom is setting in already (weather-wise, I'm still doing ok :) ) I hope this will be enough, but suppose I start having the symptoms...how do you suggest I best increase my dose?
Thanks for all your research. Here's hoping it's successful!~Gail

[Zuleikaa]

Zuleikaa,
I have SAD and CFIDS, and so I've read your posts with interest. A couple of months ago I started taking 1 TBS. of cod liver oil in my smoothies every morning, and just recently added 1 TBS. of flaxseed oil to that. I've quit putting on sunblock unless I'm going to be outside for more than twenty minutes. I've ordered a coral calcium product with 400 IU V. D for every 500 mg. Calcium. There's also 250 mg. Magnesium (Oxide, Citrate, and Aspartate). The directions specify 2 a day of this. I also use butter, olive oil, and coconut oil in cooking, so altogether, I guess I'll be at a daily dose of about 3,000 IU of V. D by the end of this week.
I live in the Pacific Northwest, and the gloom is setting in already (weather-wise, I'm still doing ok :) ) I hope this will be enough, but suppose I start having the symptoms...how do you suggest I best increase my dose?
Thanks for all your research. Here's hoping it's successful!~Gail
Gailew
3,000 IU of D might or might not be enough if you have SAD and CFIDS which are indications of vitamin D deficincy. Or it might be enough now and not enough as fall deepens and winter approaches. A lot of research says that we use 4,000 IU/day and there's a study under dosage that shows that men in Idaho used 7,000 IU/day during the winter. You need to find the dose that you can tolerate where you feel well and your symptoms are much alleviated or disappear. The best thing would be to get tested.

When D should be increased every week or two to give your body a chance to get used to the increasing levels.

And make sure you get enough calcium and magnesium with the D as the three work synergistically.

[Zuleikaa]

I've become a great believer in vitamin D in the last few years. I think it is best to let the body make its own through getting enough sunlight. Unfortunately, during the winter months there is not enough sunlight to start the chemical reaction.

What I have not been able to find out is what level of sunlight is too little to generate the vitamin D. I know summer is good and winter is bad, but I don't know where spring and autumn fit into the scheme of things.

I don't know when in the year to start taking vitamin D supplements and when I can stop taking them. Has anyone been able to find any data that shows what the cutoff point is for sunlight and vitamin D production?

Dodger
I think the definitive research on vitamin D has been done by Drs. Kline and Holick. Unfortunately I can't access the papers as I no longer have access to a subscription. However, they've blown the theory that you can get adequate intake from the sun if you live north of Newport News, SC during the winter out of the water. Further if you look at the link I have listed under dosage needed, there is a study that showed that men in Idaho with no extra winter sun exposure needed 7,000 IU/day to maintain healthy D levels.

I also think getting enough vitamin D production is a fallacy as they've found only lifeguards and landscapers have optimal levels during the summer. That's surely more sun than the 20-25 minutes I've seen recommended all over the net for making adequate D!!

That's why I look for actual studies concerning D and not people reporting lies/old science who are repeating lies/old science, wo are, etc, etc, etc.

D supplementation when and how much is very individual based on many factors such as age, race, heritage, and latitude of residence. It's also based on whether you go in to supplementation with a deficit already. Do read the links when you have a chance.

Meanwhile to get you started:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2839537&dopt=Citation

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988 Aug;67(2):373-8. Related Articles, Compound via MeSH, Substance via MeSH, Cited in PMC, Books, LinkOut


Influence of season and latitude on the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3: exposure to winter sunlight in Boston and Edmonton will not promote vitamin D3 synthesis in human skin.

Webb AR, Kline L, Holick MF.

Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University Medical School, Massachusetts 02118.

Sunlight has long been recognized as a major provider of vitamin D for humans; radiation in the UVB (290-315 nm) portion of the solar spectrum photolyzes 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to previtamin D3, which, in turn, is converted by a thermal process to vitamin D3. Latitude and season affect both the quantity and quality of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface, especially in the UVB region of the spectrum, but little is known about how these influence the ability of sunlight to synthesize vitamin D3 in skin. A model has been developed to evaluate the effect of seasonal and latitudinal changes on the potential of sunlight to initiate cutaneous production of vitamin D3. Human skin or [3 alpha-3H]7-dehydrocholesterol exposed to sunlight on cloudless days in Boston (42.2 degrees N) from November through February produced no previtamin D3. In Edmonton (52 degrees N) this ineffective winter period extended from October through March. Further south (34 degrees N and 18 degrees N), sunlight effectively photoconverted 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 in the middle of winter. These results quantify the dramatic influence of changes in solar UVB radiation on cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis and indicate the latitudinal increase in the length of the "vitamin D winter" during which dietary supplementation of the vitamin may be advisable.
http://www.cfs-recovery.org/vitamin_d.htm
Vitamin D - Part II
Most of us modern humans have only half as much vitamin D in our blood as our ancestors had in theirs.
(New! )
(Modified )
This page and the Parathyroid page are intended to be read together. Please see that page after reading this one.

How is Vitamin D Processed By the Body?
What does it do?
What is the government recommendation?
Are we getting enough?
Should We Try to Get Our Vitamin D From the Sun?
Severe Deficiency
Further Reading
How is Vitamin D Processed By the Body?
As mentioned on the previous page, when the ultraviolet light in sunlight strikes the skin, it creates vitamin D. The only food that contains significant amounts of vitamin D is fish liver. Our ancestors were farmers or hunter/gatherers and spent a lot of time in the sun. They got ten times the amount of vitamin D we get today. They had about double the amount of vitamin D in their blood as the average person today.
Vitamin D initially enters the body in one form and is then converted to a more active form. If you start taking vitamin D everyday, it can take about six weeks before the levels of active D peak in your bloodstream. It can take weeks to see an improvement!
The half life of active vitamin D is about eight weeks. It can take weeks or months for the active forms to leave the body. The levels of vitamin D in the blood depend on many factors.
What does it do?
Vitamin D has many functions. The most important is to help maintain proper levels of calcium in the blood by aiding absorption of calcium. Remember this function. It ties in with the function of the parathyroid gland, which you will read about on another page.
What is the government recommendation?
The government has a recommended daily allowance (RDA) for most vitamins. This is the amount sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all healthy individuals. The government does not have sufficient information to make such a recommendation for vitamin D. Instead the government has what is called an “Adequate Intake” (AI). The AI for children and adults up to 50 years of age is 200 IU, for adults 50 to 70 it is 400 IU, and for adults older than 70 it is 600 IU.
Note that prior to 1997, the recommendation for everyone was 400 IU. The recommendation for most people was lowered at that time! The evidence for doing so is unclear.
How was this determined? The dose of 400 IU was determined by measuring the amount of vitamin D in a teaspoon of cod liver oil. This is the amount taken by children in England for many years and was known to be enough to prevent rickets. But vitamin D does more than protect from rickets. It affects at least 30 different systems in the body. Is this amount adequate to support these other systems? The government admits this is unknown, and it is the reason that vitamin D has an “Adequate Intake” number instead of a “Recommended Daily Allowance”.
Are we getting enough?
In northern areas, there is very little ultraviolet light available in the wintertime. Significant UV light is only available from the hours of 10AM through 2PM (11-3 daylight savings time). Of course, sunscreen filters most UV light. Even untinted windows filter out most UV light. Your commute to work and back in the morning and afternoon doesn't help you get the vitamin D you need!
Many of us simply don't get outside in the middle of the day. Many adults don't drink milk or eat much fish. If we don't get outside and don't take vitamins, there is a very high probability that we have insufficient vitamin D.
Most of our ancestors were farmers and spent most of their time in the sun. Today, we spend more and more time inside. When I was a child, parents encouraged children to play outside to get fresh air and sunshine. We had four TV channels. Today, kids have video games and over 100 channels to keep them inside. They are more likely to have karate classes or other activities that are held indoors.
People are spending less and less time outside. The rate of rickets among children is triple what it was a few years ago according to some reports.
Studies on people that spend a lot of time in the sun such as lifeguards and farmers show that they can have twice as much vitamin D in their blood as other people. Studies show that about 1% of the population has severe deficiency, but 25% to 50% have the lesser condition of vitamin D insufficiency.
In recent years, we’ve been repeatedly advised to stay out of the sun and use sunscreen. Yet, we’re often told that vitamins pills are a waste of time, and that if we eat a balanced diet we don’t need them. If we don’t get out in the sun and don’t drink milk or eat fish, there are no other sources of vitamin D. It is the forgotten vitamin.
Should We Try to Get Our Vitamin D From the Sun?
I've been asked this question several times lately.
I do believe that getting some sun everyday is important. In addition to creating vitamin D, sunlight affects several hormones. It suppresses melatonin which causes sleepiness.
Ultraviolet light which creates vitamin D is only available in the middle of the day. To get the level of vitamin D our caveman ancestors got from the sun, you would have to spend several hours in the sun in the middle of the day wearing very little clothing. This is hardly practical. If you went out in the sun with only your hands and head uncovered you would get about 400 units.
If you get your vitamin D from the sun, it is also very difficult to measure the dose. I personally need to keep the dose very constant.
In addition, there is the problem of skin cancer. Did our ancestors have a high rate of skin cancer or were they somehow protected? We don't know the answer to this question.
When the ultraviolet light in sunlight strikes the skin, it creates vitamin D3. Studies seem to show that taking vitamin D3 orally has the same effect.
Personally, I try to get 30 minutes of sunlight in the morning and another 40 minutes at noon time in addition to the vitamin D supplements that I take.
Severe Deficiency
In some cases of severe deficiency, large doses of vitamin D have been shown to have amazing results. One doctor treated five wheelchair bound patients with large doses of vitamin D. Four completely recovered in a few months. I urge people to see a doctor to have their vitamin D levels tested before starting, but even if your levels are "normal" you may still benefit greatly by taking vitamin D. "Normal" today was far below normal for our ancestors.
Further Reading
This is a wonderful article on the relationship between vitamin D, multiple sclerosis and autoimmune illness:
Vitamin D Supplementation In The Fight Against Multiple Sclerosis
I highly recommend this article published by Dr. Reinhold Vieth in 1999 presenting evidence that vitamin D is safe in doses up to 10,000 IU. It also shows that at least 4,000 units is desirable.
Vitamin D supplementation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, and safety
I highly recommend these articles:
Sunlight Gains Favor As Health Key
Sunlight, health, and vitamin D
The Body's Response To Sunlight
Those that have problems with vitamin D, may wish to consider the possibility that they have Sarcoidosis. This can be treated by mainstream doctors with steroids.

[Zuleikaa]

This is an excellent link, too:
Benefits and requirements of vitamin D for optimal health: a review. http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/10/2/94.pdf

and http://www.newstarget.com/003069.html
Fifteen facts you probably never knew about vitamin D and sunlight exposure.
(Compiled by Mike Adams, based on an interview with Dr. Michael Holick, author, The UV Advantage)
Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis, depression, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and even effects diabetes and obesity. Vitamin D is perhaps the single most underrated nutrient in the world of nutrition (see related ebook on nutrition). That's probably because it's free: your body makes it when sunlight touches your skin. Drug companies can't sell you sunlight, so there's no promotion of its health benefits. Truth is, most people don't know the real story on vitamin D and health. So here's an overview taken from an interview between Mike Adams and Dr. Michael Holick.

Vitamin D is produced by your skin in response to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from natural sunlight.

The healing rays of natural sunlight (that generate vitamin D in your skin) cannot penetrate glass. So you don't generate vitamin D when sitting in your car or home.

It is nearly impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from your diet. Sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in your own body.

A person would have to drink ten tall glasses of vitamin D fortified milk each day just to get minimum levels of vitamin D into their diet.

The further you live from the equator, the longer exposure you need to the sun in order to generate vitamin D. Canada, the UK and most U.S. states are far from the equator.

People with dark skin pigmentation may need 20 - 30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D. That's why prostate cancer is epidemic among black men -- it's a simple, but widespread, sunlight deficiency.

Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial for calcium absorption in your intestines. Without sufficient vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium supplements useless.

Chronic vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight: it takes months of vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body's bones and nervous system.

Even weak sunscreens (SPF=8) block your body's ability to generate vitamin D by 95%. This is how sunscreen products actually cause disease -- by creating a critical vitamin deficiency in the body.

It is impossible to generate too much vitamin D in your body from sunlight exposure: your body will self-regulate and only generate what it needs.

If it hurts to press firmly on your sternum, you may be suffering from chronic vitamin D deficiency right now.

Vitamin D is "activated" in your body by your kidneys and liver before it can be used.

Having kidney disease or liver damage can greatly impair your body's ability to activate circulating vitamin D.

The sunscreen industry doesn't want you to know that your body actually needs sunlight exposure because that realization would mean lower sales of sunscreen products.

Even though vitamin D is one of the most powerful healing chemicals in your body, your body makes it absolutely free. No prescription required.

Diseases and conditions cause by vitamin D deficiency:
Osteoporosis is commonly caused by a lack of vitamin D, which greatly impairs calcium absorption.
Sufficient vitamin D prevents prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, depression, colon cancer and schizophrenia.
"Rickets" is the name of a bone-wasting disease caused by vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate type 2 diabetes and impair insulin production in the pancreas.
Obesity impairs vitamin D utilization in the body, meaning obese people need twice as much vitamin D.
Vitamin D is used around the world to treat Psoriasis.
Vitamin D deficiency causes schizophrenia.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is caused by a melatonin imbalance initiated by lack of exposure to sunlight.
Chronic vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia because its symptoms are so similar: muscle weakness, aches and pains.
Your risk of developing serious diseases like diabetes and cancer is reduced 50% - 80% through simple, sensible exposure to natural sunlight 2-3 times each week.
Infants who receive vitamin D supplementation (2000 units daily) have an 80% reduced risk of developing type 1 diabetes over the next twenty years.


Shocking Vitamin D deficiency statistics:
32% of doctors and med school students are vitamin D deficient.
40% of the U.S. population is vitamin D deficient.
42% of African American women of childbearing age are deficient in vitamin D.
48% of young girls (9-11 years old) are vitamin D deficient.
Up to 60% of all hospital patients are vitamin D deficient.
76% of pregnant mothers are severely vitamin D deficient, causing widespread vitamin D deficiencies in their unborn children, which predisposes them to type 1 diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia later in life. 81% of the children born to these mothers were deficient.
Up to 80% of nursing home patients are vitamin D deficient.


What you can do:
Sensible exposure to natural sunlight is the simplest, easiest and yet one of the most important strategies for improving your health. I urge you to read the book, "The UV Advantage" by Dr. Michael Holick to get the full story on natural sunlight. You can find this book at most local bookstores or through BN.com, Amazon.com, etc. Note: This is not a paid endorsement or an affiliate link. I recommend it because of its great importance in preventing chronic disease and enhancing health without drugs or surgery. This may be the single most important book on health you ever read. If more people understood this information, we could drastically reduce the rates of chronic disease in this country and around the world. Sunlight exposure is truly one of the most powerful healing therapies in the world, far surpassing the best efforts of today's so-called "advanced medicine." There is no drug, no surgical procedure, and no high-tech procedure that comes even close to the astonishing healing power of natural sunlight.

[Dodger]

Very good information, thanks. I haven't had the time to read all the references you posted yet, but I will get to them eventially.

What I have been looking for is something like the model that is discussed belowA model has been developed to evaluate the effect of seasonal and latitudinal changes on the potential of sunlight to initiate cutaneous production of vitamin D3. Human skin or [3 alpha-3H]7-dehydrocholesterol exposed to sunlight on cloudless days in Boston (42.2 degrees N) from November through February produced no previtamin D3. In Edmonton (52 degrees N) this ineffective winter period extended from October through March. Further south (34 degrees N and 18 degrees N), sunlight effectively photoconverted 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 in the middle of winter. These results quantify the dramatic influence of changes in solar UVB radiation on cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis and indicate the latitudinal increase in the length of the "vitamin D winter" during which dietary supplementation of the vitamin may be advisable.Somethiing where I input my latitude, altitude, time of year, time of day, relative skin darkness, etc. and the output is the amount of vitamin D produced per inch of exposed skin per hour. That way I could determine when supplementation was required.

I live slightly south of Boston, but 5000 feet higher.

[Dodger]

I think that I have found what I was looking for through the sunarc.org web site.

The site http://www-med-physik.vu-wien.ac.at/uv/uv_online.htm has a vitamin D daily forecast. I just need to figure out the units.

[Zuleikaa]

That looks interesting. Tell me what you get when you get it, please.

I can't figure out how to use it. I'm sure it would help if I could.

[Zuleikaa]

I thought this was interesting and helps to show why it's a fallacy that you can just look at the daily prediction for vitamin D production and supplement for the rest. One, if you have a deficit, the deficit needs to be treated/filled first. And two, vitamin D production, especially at certain latitudes or in fall/winter (if it's possible at all) has a very narrow window of availability (a short time when the sun is most intense) that a lot of people won't be able to take advantage of because of life constraints.

It's doctors arguing the findings of a study.

I also thought the agrument was interesting because the supporters of the study (originators) pointed out that vitamin D deficiency has now been found in regions where you wouldn't think it would be a problem. I really think vitamin D deficiency is related to industrialization and modern culture.

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/inside.asp?AID=556&UID=

MAYO CLIN PROC. 2004;79:694-709 © 2004 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Letters to the Editor
Vitamin D Deficiency and Chronic Pain: Cause and Effect or Epiphenomenon?
KEVIN J. MYERS, MD
Arthritis Specialists of Nashville, Inc Nashville, Tenn
To the Editor: Because of the article on hypovitaminosis D in the December 2003 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, I now have patients with chronic pain requesting measurement of their vitamin D levels in addition to the usual list of unjustified tests. Plotnikoff and Quigley1 propose that the management of an exceedingly common condition—musculoskeletal pain of indeterminate origin—should include a routine assessment of vitamin D status. This conclusion is not supported by any data presented in the article, and the accompanying editorial by Holick2 challenges none of the authors’ hypotheses. The patient group analyzed in the study—patients with “persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain”—is by definition an amalgam of disparate physical and emotional problems. The presence of biochemical vitamin D deficiency in this group indicates only that such a deficiency can be recognized commonly in Minnesota. In the absence of a concurrent comparison group, the study says nothing about whether vitamin D deficiency is more common in such patients than in the population at large or whether it has any role in causation. The comparison groups provided from historical controls are predominantly white, and it is not surprising that their 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are higher than those of the selected ethnic groups in this study. Furthermore, this hypothesis immediately leads to several conclusions that are inconsistent with observed patterns of illness. If vitamin D deficiency is an important contributor to chronic musculoskeletal pain, why is the incidence of the disorder not profoundly different in different races once socioeconomic status is accounted for? Similarly, why is there no dramatic decrease in the incidence of chronic musculoskeletal pain on moving from northern to southern latitudes? Working as a rheumatologist in Tennessee, I am unfortunately certain that this entity is not a rare diagnosis in the South.
Before proposing a new clinical care standard for a common health problem, a confirmatory case-control study followed by an evaluation of the effects of vitamin D repletion would be advisable. To quote the authors, “The findings may simply reflect the background prevalence of hypovitaminosis D.”

1. Plotnikoff GA, Quigley JM. Prevalence of severe hypovitaminosis D in patients with persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2003;78:1463-1470.
2. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency: what a pain it is [editorial]. Mayo Clin Proc. 2003;78:1457-1459.


In reply: Dr Myers’ letter questions the value of quantified serum vitamin D levels in patients with musculoskeletal pain of indeterminate origin. He asserts that such pain is, by definition, an amalgam of disparate physical and emotional problems. This is unfortunate. By definition, physical problems are determinable and “emotional problems” are diagnoses of exclusion.
In Table 2 in our article, we summarized findings in 5 of our patients with pain of indeterminate origin. Although these patients had consumed considerable health care resources with minimal benefit, no one had considered and ruled out a known cause of their musculoskeletal pain symptoms, osteomalacia. At best, these 5 patients had vitamin D levels of only 2 ng/mL (the lowest level of detection is 3 ng/mL). Surprisingly, 3 were women of childbearing age.
Dr Myers assumes that residents of Nashville, Tenn (36° north), are not at risk of vitamin D deficiency. However, significant deficiency in young people has been documented at similar latitudes in both the boreal hemisphere (including Beirut, Lebanon [34° north],1 and Niigata, Japan [38° north]2) and the austral hemisphere (including Melbourne [37° south] and Sydney [34° south], Australia,3,4 and Buenos Aires, Argentina [34° south]5). This is true despite the austral hemisphere’s approximately 2° difference in effective latitude (W. B. Grant, PhD, personal communication, February 2004). Even at 33° south (Cape Town, South Africa), winter sun has comparatively less than one third the capacity of summer sunlight to promote production of vitamin D.6 Furthermore, this limited capacity is restricted to precisely the hours that people are urged to avoid the sun.
Although vitamin D deficiency in young people across the United States is significant,7 we cannot afford to screen everyone. However, can we afford $10 to $15 billion each year in direct costs for treatment of osteoporosis and its complications?8 Our study justifies screening patients with persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain because it documented that many patients considered at low risk for vitamin D deficiency were, in fact, severely or even profoundly deficient. Testing does not place the patient at risk—failure to diagnose deficiency may.
Gregory A. Plotnikoff, MD, MTS Keio University Medical School Tokyo, Japan

1. Gannage-Yared MH, Chemali R, Yaacoub N, Halaby G. Hypovitaminosis D in a sunny country: relation to lifestyle and bone markers. J Bone Miner Res. 2000;15:1856-1862.
2. Nakamura K, Nashimoto M, Matsuyama S, Yamamoto M. Low serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in young adult Japanese women: a cross sectional study. Nutrition. 2001;17:921-925.
3. Nozza JM, Rodda CP. Vitamin D deficiency in mothers of infants with rickets. Med J Aust. 2001;175:253-255.
4. Lipson T. Epidemic rickets in migrant families in Melbourne and Sydney. J Paediatr Child Health. 1995;31:483-484.
5. Fassi J, Russo Picasso MF, Furci A, Sorroche P, Jauregui R, Plantalech L. Seasonal variations in 25-hydroxyvitamin D in young and elderly and populations in Buenos Aires City [in Spanish]. Medicina (B Aires). 2003;63:215-220.
6. Pettifor JM, Moodley GP, Hough FS, et al. The effect of season and latitude on in vitro vitamin D formation by sunlight in South Africa. S Afr Med J. 1996;86:1270-1272.
7. Nesby-O’Dell S, Scanlon KS, Cogswell ME, et al. Hypovitaminosis D prevalence and determinants among African American and white women of reproductive age: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76:187-192.
8. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel. Osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. NIH Consens Statement. 2000;17(1):7.


In reply: Dr Myers makes several good points about the incidence of nonspecific musculoskeletal pain as it relates to race, socioeconomic class, and latitude. Unfortunately, what he does not take into account is that vitamin D deficiency is common and widespread in both children and adults of all races throughout the United States.1,2 In many patients (especially those with lower socioeconomic status) who complain of muscle aches and bone pain, these symptoms are simply dismissed by their doctors, or more urgent concomitant medical problems overshadow these nonspecific complaints, which are discounted or considered associated with the patient’s poor health. Malabanan et al3 reported that an African American woman with excruciating bone pain and muscle aches responded dramatically to vitamin D therapy; the bone pain and muscle discomfort resolved completely, and she had a 25% increase in bone density in just 2 years. Gloth et al4 and Glerup et al5 reported that bone pain and myopathy are common features of vitamin D deficiency, and Bischoff et al6 reported that muscle weakness is commonly associated with vitamin D deficiency. Thus, substantial data in the literature support the role of vitamin D deficiency in the nonspecific musculoskeletal pain syndrome. Myers may be unaware that the lower limit of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D assay that is used to determine vitamin D status is inadequate. A 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of less than 20 ng/mL should be considered as vitamin D deficiency, not the less than 10 ng/mL level that most commercial laboratories report.7-9 Furthermore, a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of between 30 and 50 ng/mL is preferred.10 I suspect that most of Myers’ patients are vitamin D deficient, which is why he has not appreciated the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the nonspecific musculoskeletal pain syndrome. I agree that a controlled trial should be conducted to define the role of vitamin D deficiency in nonspecific musculoskeletal pain that is not associated with a rheumatologic disorder. Finally, in my experience, patients who receive 50,000 IU of vitamin D once or twice a month feel better, and when they stop the medication, they often develop muscle weakness and nonspecific aches and discomfort. I encourage Dr Myers to prescribe this regimen for his patients.
Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD Boston University School of Medicine Boston, Mass

1. Nesby-O’Dell S, Scanlon KS, Cogswell ME, et al. Hypovitaminosis D prevalence and determinants among African American and white women of reproductive age: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76: 187-192.
2. Holick MF. Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;79:362-371.
3. Malabanan AO, Turner AK, Holick MF. Severe generalized bone pain and osteoporosis in a premenopausal black female: effect of vitamin D replacement. J Clin Densitom. 1998;1:201-204.
4. Gloth FM III, Lindsay JM, Zelesnick LB, Greenough WB III. Can vitamin D deficiency produce an unusual pain syndrome? Arch Intern Med. 1991;151:1662-1664.
5. Glerup H, Mikkelsen K, Poulsen L, et al. Commonly recommended daily intake of vitamin D is not sufficient if sunlight exposure is limited. J Intern Med. 2000;247:260-268.
6. Bischoff HA, Stahelin HB, Dick W, et al. Effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on falls: a randomized controlled trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2003;18:343-351.
7. Malabanan A, Veronikis IE, Holick MF. Redefining vitamin D insufficiency [letter]. Lancet. 1998;351:805-806.
8. Souberbielle JC, Lawson-Body E, Hammadi B, Sarfati E, Kahan A, Cormier C. The use in clinical practice of parathyroid hormone normative values established in vitamin D-sufficient subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:3501-3504.
9. Holick MF. The parathyroid hormone D-lema [editorial]. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:3499-3500.
10. Heaney RP, Dowell MS, Hale CA, Bendich A. Calcium absorption varies within the reference range for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003;22:142-146.

[KittenLady]

Hi Zule,
I'm still on the D3 from last time! Even though I was out in the sun during the summer, I kept up with 800 IU a day. I'm up to 1200 IU a day, as is DH. All with my doctor's blessing. Since I have the "dry" form (figured out that I'm allergic to soybean oil -- it comes right back out the "other end"), I should be able to stick to it this year. :agree: So, count me in again!

And greetings to you, Mike! A fellow Coloradan! :wave:

[Zuleikaa]

I'm feeling good. No SAD symptoms and weight is dropping.

I will be posting research abstracts of D related topics once a week or so.

[Dodger]

Zule,

Have you had your 25(OH)D levels measured to see how your D3 intake affects the level?

[Zuleikaa]

Mike
My Dr. won't order it. The curse of taking a boatload of supplements and being beyond textbook healthy but obese, lol!!! I've been looking online for a direct order lab that does it. Finally found one. It's called lab-safe.com and costs $148. I will talk to my dr one more time and if refused again will order it.

Meanwhile I'm not worried about the amount I'm taking. At 7,000 IU/day, I'm well within safe tolerances. There are quite a few women I know, relatives, friends, coworkers who are on 50,000 IU/wk, prescribed from their doctors. I'm African American, 50, live above Newport News, SC, have a long history of severe SAD, a family history of high blood pressure and heart disease, and I had undetermined muscle pain. Plus I'm obese which has been shown to require twice the dose of D because of impaired absorbtion. So based on research I've done, I think I'm in the ball park for now. After a month or so I plan to cut down a tad to 4-5 until deep winter when I'll go back up.

When I do finally have the test I will look at it as a measure to help keep my levels at the optimum level. So far I'm looking to have my levels tested every winter, probably every Dec-Jan. If the test were less expensive, I'd probably test seasonally to to determine nessessary vitamin D supplementation by season.

I thought this was an interesting case/result of D toxicity.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/116/3/e453

[Zuleikaa]

http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/prostate.shtml

Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer


Prostate cancer kills 31,000 American men every year, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. This year, more than 220,000 American men will be diagnosed with the disease, making prostate cancer the leading cancer among men. Early diagnosis is important as surgery can be curative. After the cancer has spread, especially to bone, treatment options are more limited. Castration, usually chemical, will delay the cancer from spreading for several years, but then the treatment options are quite limited.

No matter what cancer you have, or are trying to prevent, the real question is should cancer patients be left vitamin D deficient? Many experts will tell you that vitamin D should not be taken for prostate cancer until well controlled scientific studies prove it helps. The problem with that approach is two-fold. First, you may die waiting for the studies to be conducted and two, it misses the point. The point is this: men with prostate cancer should not allow themselves to be vitamin D deficient and neither should their doctors.

If you have prostate cancer, please remember that vitamin D is not a cure-all and should never be used as the main treatment for your cancer. Your oncologist will prescribe treatment that has proven efficacy and you should carefully follow his/her advice as the mainstay of treatment. At the same time, you should know that evidence suggests that the proper amount of vitamin D may help you in your fight against prostate cancer.

Next, let's look at selected studies from the scientific literature to see what clues exist about the role vitamin D may play in preventing, and treating, prostate cancer.

In 1990, Schwartz proposed that Vitamin D deficiency may underlie the major risks for prostate cancer, including age, Black race, and northern latitudes. He pointed out that all these factors are associated with decreased synthesis of Vitamin D. Mortality rates from prostate cancer in the U.S. are inversely correlated with ultraviolet radiation, the principal source of Vitamin D.
Anticancer Res. 1990 Sep-Oct;10(5A):1307-11.

In 1992, Hanchette and Schwartz again proposed that sunlight and vitamin D may play a role in prostate cancer. They pointed out that men in the United States were ten times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men in Japan, where men consume higher amounts of vitamin D due to their consumption of fatty fish. Although the authors did not mention it, Japanese men also consume soy, which inhibits the breakdown of calcitriol (activated vitamin D) in the tissues. Furthermore, traditional Japanese men consume higher quantities of omega-3 fatty acids their American counterparts and such fats are now known to dissociate vitamin D metabolites from their binding protein, thus raising the free, or active, levels of those metabolites in the blood.

To support their hypothesis, Hanchette and Schwartz analyzed American prostate cancer deaths in relation to sunlight and discovered a .0001 negative correlation, a very significant association. That is, they found that men who received more sunlight were less likely to die from prostate cancer.
Cancer. 1992 Dec 15;70(12):2861-9.

In the same year, Schwartz discovered that death rates from prostate cancer were correlated with death rates from multiple sclerosis, another disease know to be associated with lack of sunlight. Again, he proposed that lack of vitamin D may a causative factor in both diseases.
Neuroepidemiology. 1992;11(4-6):244-54.

In 1993, Skowronski and colleagues discovered that all three of the prostate cancer cell lines they studied possessed a vitamin D receptor and the active form of vitamin D, calcitriol, "dramatically inhibited" the growth of two of the three cell lines.
Endocrinology. 1993 May;132(5):1952-60.

Over the next several years, four studies appeared to disprove the vitamin D hypothesis. In each case, various metabolites of vitamin D were drawn on large numbers of men who were then followed over many years to see which men developed prostate cancer. Although some of the studies found that activated vitamin D (calcitriol) levels in the blood protected against colon cancer, none of the studies showed that low calcidiol levels (25 hydroxy-vitamin D) were associated with risk of developing prostate cancer. Schwartz's hypothesis appeared to be disproved.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1993 Sep-Oct;2(5):467-72.
Cancer Causes Control. 1995 May;6(3):235-9.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1996 Feb;5(2):121-6.
Cancer Causes Control. 1998 Aug;9(4):425-32.

However, in 1995 Miller and colleagues expanded their earlier work and examined seven prostate cancer cell lines. They found all seven lines had receptors for vitamin D. They also showed that activated vitamin D (calcitriol) inhibited the growth of four of seven prostatic carcinoma cell lines and found that the more vitamin D receptors, the greater the inhibition. Furthermore, they found that the enzyme that breaks down calcitriol in the tissues (24-hydoxylase) reduced that inhibition. That is, the more 24-hydroxylase, the less the cancer cells were inhibited by activated vitamin D. Not only did this mean that activated vitamin D may retard prostate cancer growth, it suggested that substances which interfere with 24 hydroxylase may also prove useful in treating prostate cancer.
Clin Cancer Res. 1995 Sep;1(9):997-1003.

Later in 1995, Feldman and colleagues at Stanford University confirmed Miller's findings and stated, "Based on these findings, we postulate that vitamin D may have protective actions on the development and/or progression of prostate cancer. . . We further hypothesize that vitamin D supplementation may have beneficial effects on retarding the development and/or progression of prostate cancer." For the first time, cancer researchers at a major university seemed to be saying that evidence existed that cholecalciferol (plain vitamin D) may be useful in preventing and treating prostate cancer.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 1995;375:53-63.

In 1998, Gross and colleagues at Stanford conducted the first clinical trial of a vitamin D metabolite in treating advanced prostate cancer. However, instead of raising the tissue levels of activated vitamin D (calcitriol) by supplementing with oral vitamin D (cholecalciferol), they chose to give calcitriol itself. In spite of circumventing the natural system to raise prostate calcitriol levels, they found calcitriol decreased the rate of progression of PSA blood levels (a test of prostate cancer's progression) in 6 of the 7 patients. Elevations in blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia) seriously limited the use of calcitriol and the cancer eventually progressed. (No one knows what would have happened to those seven men if they had been given equipotent doses of vitamin D (cholecalciferol). Cholecalciferol has to be given in massive doses (40,000 units) over an extended period of time (months) to cause significant hypercalcemia. In addition, the tissue production of calcitriol is not rate limited, suggesting that oral cholecalciferol is effective in raising tissue levels of calcitriol).
J Urol. 1998 Jun;159(6):2035-9

In 1998, Schwartz, the same scientist who had first postulated that vitamin D deficiency played a role in prostate cancer, confirmed that prostate cells, including most prostate cancer cell lines, were able to activate vitamin D. Schwartz and his colleagues concluded that "these data suggest a potential role for 25-OH-D (calcidiol) in the chemoprevention of invasive prostate cancer." As the easiest way to raise calcidiol is through oral supplementation with vitamin D, this meant scientists at another major American medical school were suggesting that plain, cheap, non-prescription vitamin D may help prostate cancer.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1998 May;7(5):391-5.

In the year 2000, Ahonen and colleagues conducted a careful study of calcidiol levels in young men and followed them for the development of prostate cancer. Unlike earlier studies, he found a relationship between low vitamin D blood levels and prostate cancer. Ahonen found young men with calcidiol levels below 40 nm/L (16 ng/ml) were three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than were men with higher levels.

Just as important, he found these men were six times more likely to develop invasive cancers. This finding implied a treatment effect for vitamin D as the prevention of invasiveness is a key goal of treatment.
Cancer Causes Control. 2000 Oct;11(9):847-52.

Later in 2000, Barreto and colleagues at Wake Forest University School of Medicine were the first see if calcidiol inhibited prostate cell growth. They found that calcidiol was just as effective as calcitriol in inhibiting growth. The concluded that their findings "support the use of 25 (OH)D (calcidiol) as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of prostate cancer." As oral cholecalciferol is the best way to raise calcidiol levels, it became clear that another group of cancer researchers at a major university medical center was calling for the use of vitamin D in prostate cancer.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2000 Mar;9(3):265-70.

Chen and colleagues at Boston University School of Medicine then demonstrated that calcidiol was just as effective as calcitriol in inhibiting growth of prostate cancer cell lines in the test tube. They also found that a vitamin D analogue already on the market, one known to cause less hypercalcemia that other analogues, was also effective in inhibiting cancer growth. (Vitamin D analogues are patentable modification of calcitriol.) However, their findings about calcidiol again emphasized that readily available vitamin D should help fight prostate cancer. In fact, the authors concluded calcidiol might be a good candidate for "human trials in prostate cancer." Now four different groups of scientist, from four major university medical centers, were calling for the use of vitamin D in prostate cancer.
Clin Cancer Res. 2000 Mar;6(3):901-8.

In 2001, Luscombe and colleagues at the School of Medicine in North Straffordshire Hospital in England published three studies linking ultraviolet exposure and skin type to the development of prostate cancer. They found that cumulative outdoor exposure, outdoor occupations and skin type was associated with reduced risk of advanced stage tumors. They also found that childhood sunburns dramatically reduced the risk of developing prostate cancer, probably because those with fair skin are more likely to burn but also find it easier to make vitamin D in their skin. Furthermore, the found that people who have difficulty making a skin pigment called melanin (a natural sun screen) are much less likely to develop prostate cancer.
Br J Cancer. 2001 Nov 16;85(10):1504-9.
Carcinogenesis. 2001 Sep;22(9):1343-7.
Lancet. 2001 Aug 25;358(9282):641-2.

In addition, in 2001, Zhao and Feldman at Stanford University studied the one prostate cancer cell line (DU 145) that does not respond to calcitriol. They found this cell line, which is poorly differentiated and derived from brain metastasis, can be made to respond to calcitriol by adding drugs which inhibit the breakdown of calcitriol. This raised the possibility that prostate cancers which did not respond to vitamin D could be made responsive by the addition of a metabolic inhibitor. Farhan and colleagues at the University of Vienna Medical School soon showed that the isoflavonoid, genistein, (which is found in soybeans) is a powerful metabolic inhibitor of the enzyme that breaks down calcitriol.
Steroids. 2001 Mar-May;66(3-5):293-300.
J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2002 Sep 25;777(1-2):261-8.

In 2003, Chen and Holick at Boston University School of Medicine reiterated their call for the use of vitamin D in prostate cancer. After reviewing most of the research on the subject, the authors concluded, "adequate exposure to sunlight or oral supplementation might provide a simple way to increase synthesis of calcitriol in the prostate and, therefore, decrease the risk of prostate cancer." They added, "adequate vitamin D nutrition should be maintained, not only for bone health in men and women, but because it might decrease the risk of prostate cancer and mitigate metastatic disease should it develop."
Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Nov;14(9):423-30.

In 2003, Bodiwala and colleagues in England studied sun exposure and skin type and again found that men who sunbathed or otherwise exposed themselves to sunlight were less likely to develop prostate cancer. They also identified men with various combinations of skin type and reduced sun exposure, which were up to 13 times more likely to develop prostate cancer.
Cancer Lett. 2003 Oct 28;200(2):141-8.
Carcinogenesis. 2003 Apr;24(4):711-7.
Cancer Lett. 2003 Mar 31;192(2):145-9.

Also in 2003, Beer and colleagues at the Oregon Health and Science University again tested calcitriol as a treatment for prostate cancer. They found a significant reduction in the rate of increase in PSA, a marker of the cancer's growth although no patient achieved the hoped for 50% reduction. Unfortunately, none of the patients received oral vitamin D supplementation, which would more effectively raise prostate calcitriol levels. In fact, none of the patients were even tested or treated for vitamin D deficiency.
Cancer. 2003 Mar 1;97(5):1217-24.

In 2003, two studies from at the University of Vienna Medical School confirmed that the isoflavonoids in soy dramatically reduce the breakdown of calcitriol in prostate cancer cells. In fact, they found that such products profoundly inhibit the enzyme that metabolizes calcitriol, reducing its activity to almost zero. This again raised the possibility that such compounds could be combined with vitamin D to treat prostate cancer.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003;164:413-25.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Mar;84(4):423-9.
J Nutr. 2004 May;134(5):1207S-1212S.

Three studies in 2004 examined the association between vitamin D levels and prostate cancer. Two of the studies found no association between vitamin D levels and the subsequent risk of developing prostate cancer. A third study, from Finland, actually raised the possibility that both low and high vitamin D levels are associated with prostate cancer.

Careful analysis of the Finnish paper revealed 57 of the 67 men with high vitamin D blood levels who subsequently developed prostate cancer were from Norway. In Norway, increased consumption of vitamin A (associated with increased risk of prostate cancer) through cod liver oil is common.

In addition, in a letter to the editor, Reinhold Vieth proposed that that the Finnish finding was best explained by annual variations in calcidiol levels causing low tissue calcitriol levels. In their response to Vieth, the authors accepted his explanation as the probable cause for their findings and also proposed that tissue calcidiol levels, not just tissue calcitriol levels, may be protective.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 May;89-90(1-5):533-7.
Cancer Causes Control. 2004 Apr;15(3):255-65.
Int J Cancer. 2004 Jan 1;108(1):104-8.

Then, researchers in Norway showed that patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in the summer and fall, when vitamin D levels are the highest, have a significantly better prognosis than patients diagnosed in the winter or spring. The authors concluded that their "study supports the hypothesis that vitamin D may influence cancer specific mortality in a beneficial way. A possible mechanism to explain our results might be a combined action of vitamin D and cancer treatment that amplifies the treatment effect. In confirmed, in addition to traditional cancer treatment, vitamin D would be of particular importance in the primary prevention of deaths from cancer."
Cancer Causes Control. 2004 Mar;15(2):149-58.

Lu and his group from Finland then demonstrated for the first time that calcidiol [25(OH)D] is an active steroid hormone in prostate cells. Up until this time, most scientists believed calcidiol was only a prehormone and had to be metabolized into calcitriol before it could regulate genes. Although much less potent than calcitriol, calcidiol is present in much higher concentrations. It now appeared calcidiol is a steroid hormone as well and active in suppressing cell proliferation in prostate tissue.
FASEB J. 2004 Feb;18(2):332-4. Epub 2003 Dec 04.

Young and his group at Boston University School of Medicine then confirmed that tissue calcitriol concentrations are virtually uncontrolled. That is, the usual mechanisms that regulate blood calcitriol concentrations, calcium and parathormone, do not regulate tissue calcitriol levels in prostate cells. In fact, calcitriol did not exhibit negative feedback, and reduce its own production, until pharmacological amounts of calcitriol were introduced. The authors also pointed out that soy would further increase tissue levels and concluded their finding should "encourage the further development of nutritionally-based models for prostate cancer chemoprevention using vitamin D."
Carcinogenesis. 2004 Jun;25(6):967-71. Epub 2004 Jan 16.

In late 2004, Woo, Vieth and colleagues from the University of Toronto presented a groundbreaking paper at the November NIH conference on vitamin D and cancer. They showed that 2,000 units of simple vitamin D (cholecalciferol) either reduced or prevented further increases in PSA in the majority of men with advancing prostate cancer. For the first time, a human interventional trial indicted that simple vitamin D was effective in fighting cancer.

What does this mean? It may mean a lot if you have prostate cancer. Of course, many questions are unanswered. However, many questions are always unanswered, that is the nature of science. It certainly looks as if vitamin D supplementation may help reduce the rate of the growth of prostate cancer.

Only one human study shows that vitamin D helps prostate cancer, but, tragically, no other studies have been done to address that simple question. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world will die this year from prostate cancer and many will be vitamin D deficient.

If asked, most scientists will tell you that vitamin D should not be given to prostate cancer patients until vitamin D is proved to be both safe and effective. However, that is not the question. The question is, should prostate cancer patients be allowed to die from their cancer while not being treated for their vitamin D deficiency. We don't think so, and neither would most victims.

The questions is, what can you do now, based on what is known now. Say you cannot wait for science? The Vitamin D Council will not tell you what to do. We are a non-profit educational organization but we are not your doctors. We will not make any recommendations. In the future, we plan to publish an e-book that will tell you what we would do if we developed prostate cancer.

[Dodger]

traditional Japanese men consume higher quantities of omega-3 fatty acids their American counterparts and such fats are now known to dissociate vitamin D metabolites from their binding protein, thus raising the free, or active, levels of those metabolites in the blood.You learn something new every day. Now I have another reason to increase my intake of omega-3 fats.

[Zuleikaa]

Interesting the things you learn, huh?

I think vitamin D is a miracle!!!

I must admit it's become my "hammer", lol!!!

I'm going to post, weekly, an article of interest on vitamin D.

If people don't visibly join the "experiment, it will get a lot of people thinking and dosing. They'll be the "silent majority", lol!!

[Zuleikaa]

Vitamin D and Lupus
http://www.warf.ws/technologies.jsp?techfield=Pharmaceuticals&msnum=875&casecode=P00062US
http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/full/15/14/2579
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7586974&dopt=Citation
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_7/ai_85523005

[Sango]

Just wanted to post and say that I'm doing this. I was taking 2000 IU but am now aiming for 4000.

[Dodger]

Some Vitamin D studies from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/3/575
Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and gingival inflammation
Conclusions: Vitamin D may reduce susceptibility to gingival inflammation through its antiinflammatory effects. Gingivitis may be a useful clinical model to evaluate the antiinflammatory effects of vitamin D.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/3/675
Dietary pattern, inflammation, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in women
Results: Through the use of reduced rank regression, we identified a dietary pattern that was strongly related to inflammatory markers in the nested case-control study. This pattern, which was high in sugar-sweetened soft drinks, refined grains, diet soft drinks, and processed meat but low in wine, coffee, cruciferous vegetables, and yellow vegetables, was associated with an increased risk of diabetes

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/3/685
Diabetes mellitus and serum carotenoids: findings of a population-based study in Queensland, Australia
Conclusions: Serum carotenoids are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/3/690?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=+Holick+&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1128446200457_10758&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=1&journalcode=ajcn
Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity
Conclusions: Obesity-associated vitamin D insufficiency is likely due to the decreased bioavailability of vitamin D3 from cutaneous and dietary sources because of its deposition in body fat compartments.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/3/517
Hypovitaminosis D is associated with reductions in serum apolipoprotein A-I but not with fasting lipids in British Bangladeshis Conclusions: In this study of British South Asians, the data showed a positive relation of fasting apo A-I concentrations to serum 25(OH)D concentrations, independent of glycemia and other dietary, anthropometric, and lifestyle risk factors for type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease after multiple regression analyses. Subjects with hypovitaminosis D are likely to have an increased risk of ischemic heart disease independent of their increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

[Dodger]

A few more vitamin D articles:

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/6/1645
Tanning is associated with optimal vitamin D status (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration) and higher bone mineral density Conclusion: The regular use of a tanning bed that emits vitamin D–producing ultraviolet radiation is associated with higher 25(OH)D concentrations and thus may have a benefit for the skeleton.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/6/1678S
Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease
ABSTRACT
Most humans depend on sun exposure to satisfy their requirements for vitamin D. Solar ultraviolet B photons are absorbed by 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin, leading to its transformation to previtamin D3, which is rapidly converted to vitamin D3. Season, latitude, time of day, skin pigmentation, aging, sunscreen use, and glass all influence the cutaneous production of vitamin D3. Once formed, vitamin D3 is metabolized in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and then in the kidney to its biologically active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized epidemic among both children and adults in the United States. Vitamin D deficiency not only causes rickets among children but also precipitates and exacerbates osteoporosis among adults and causes the painful bone disease osteomalacia. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risks of deadly cancers, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Maintaining blood concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D above 80 nmol/L (http://www.ajcn.org/math/sim.gif30 ng/mL) not only is important for maximizing intestinal calcium absorption but also may be important for providing the extrarenal 1http://www.ajcn.org/math/agr.gif-hydroxylase that is present in most tissues to produce 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Although chronic excessive exposure to sunlight increases the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer, the avoidance of all direct sun exposure increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency, which can have serious consequences. Monitoring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations yearly should help reveal vitamin D deficiencies. Sensible sun exposure (usually 5–10 min of exposure of the arms and legs or the hands, arms, and face, 2 or 3 times per week) and increased dietary and supplemental vitamin D intakes are reasonable approaches to guarantee vitamin D sufficiency.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/79/3/362
Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis
The purpose of this review is to put into perspective the many health benefits of vitamin D and the role of vitamin D deficiency in increasing the risk of many common and serious diseases, including some common cancers, type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. Numerous epidemiologic studies suggest that exposure to sunlight, which enhances the production of vitamin D3 in the skin, is important in preventing many chronic diseases. Because very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, sunlight supplies most of our vitamin D requirement. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is the metabolite that should be measured in the blood to determine vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in infants who are solely breastfed and who do not receive vitamin D supplementation and in adults of all ages who have increased skin pigmentation or who always wear sun protection or limit their outdoor activities. Vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia. A new dietary source of vitamin D is orange juice fortified with vitamin D. Studies in both human and animal models add strength to the hypothesis that the unrecognized epidemic of vitamin D deficiency worldwide is a contributing factor of many chronic debilitating diseases. Greater awareness of the insidious consequences of vitamin D deficiency is needed. Annual measurement of serum 25(OH)D is a reasonable approach to monitoring for vitamin D deficiency. The recommended adequate intakes for vitamin D are inadequate, and, in the absence of exposure to sunlight, a minimum of 1000 IU vitamin D/d is required to maintain a healthy concentration of 25(OH)D in the blood.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/76/1/187
Hypovitaminosis D prevalence and determinants among African American and white women of reproductive age: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994
Results: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 42.4 ± 3.1% (http://www.ajcn.org/content/vol76/issue1/fulltext/187/f1.gif ± SE) among African Americans and 4.2 ± 0.7% among whites. Among African Americans, hypovitaminosis D was independently associated with consumption of milk or breakfast cereal <3 times/wk, no use of vitamin D supplements, season, urban residence, low body mass index, and no use of oral contraceptives. Even among 243 African Americans who consumed the adequate intake of vitamin D from supplements (200 IU/d), 28.2 ± 2.7% had hypovitaminosis D.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/76/1/3
Too little vitamin D in premenopausal women: why should we care?
Therefore, increasing our vitamin D intake or casual exposure to sunlight may decrease the risk of some of the most common cancers, type 1 diabetes, and possibly multiple sclerosis. The only way to know a person's vitamin D status is to measure 25(OH)D. Thus, it is reasonable for everyone to have his or her 25(OH)D concentration measured once a year.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/61/3/638S
Environmental factors that influence the cutaneous production of vitamin D
All vertebrates, including humans, obtain most of their daily vitamin D requirement from casual exposure to sunlight. During exposure to sunlight, the solar ultraviolet B photons (290-315 nm) penetrate into the skin where they cause the photolysis of 7-dehydrocholesterol to precholecalciferol. Once formed, precholecalciferol undergoes a thermally induced rearrangement of its double bonds to form cholecalciferol. An increase in skin pigmentation, aging, and the topical application of a sunscreen diminishes the cutaneous production of cholecalciferol. Latitude, season, and time of day as well as ozone pollution in the atmosphere influence the number of solar ultraviolet B photons that reach the earth's surface, and thereby, alter the cutaneous production of cholecalciferol. In Boston, exposure to sunlight during the months of November through February will not produce any significant amounts of cholecalciferol in the skin. Because windowpane glass absorbs ultraviolet B radiation, exposure of sunlight through glass windows will not result in any production of cholecalciferol. It is now recognized that vitamin D insufficiency and vitamin D deficiency are common in elderly people, especially in those who are infirm and not exposed to sunlight or who live at latitudes that do not provide them with sunlight-mediated cholecalciferol during the winter months. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency exacerbate osteoporosis, cause osteomalacia, and increase the risk of skeletal fractures. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency can be prevented by encouraging responsible exposure to sunlight and/or consumption of a multivitamin tablet that contains 10 micrograms (400 IU) vitamin D.

[Zuleikaa]

More:
Review
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2005.01487.x
European Journal of Clinical Investigation
Volume 35 Issue 5 Page 290 - May 2005
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2362.2005.01487.x

Vitamin D and calcium deficits predispose for multiple chronic diseases
M. Peterlik and H. S. Cross

Abstract
There is evidence from both observational studies and clinical trials that calcium malnutrition and hypovitaminosis D are predisposing conditions for various common chronic diseases. In addition to skeletal disorders, calcium and vitamin D deficits increase the risk of malignancies, particularly of colon, breast and prostate gland, of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (e.g. insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis), as well as of metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, hypertension). The aim of the present review was to provide improved understanding of the molecular and cellular processes by which deficits in calcium and vitamin D cause specific changes in cell and organ functions and thereby increase the risk for chronic diseases of different aetiology. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and extracellular Ca++ are both key regulators of proliferation, differentiation and function at the cellular level. However, the efficiency of vitamin D receptor-mediated intracellular signalling is limited by the negative effects of hypovitaminosis D on extrarenal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 -hydroxylase activity and thus on the production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Calcium malnutrition eventually causes a decrease in calcium concentration in extracellular fluid compartments, resulting in organ-specific modulation of calcium-sensing receptor activity. Hence, attenuation of signal transduction from the ligand-activated vitamin D receptor and calcium-sensing receptor seems to be the prime mechanism by which calcium and vitamin D insufficiencies cause perturbation of cellular functions in bone, kidney, intestine, mammary and prostate glands, endocrine pancreas, vascular endothelium, and, importantly, in the immune system. The wide range of diseases associated with deficits in calcium and vitamin D in combination with the high prevalence of these conditions represents a special challenge for preventive medicine.
Eur J Clin Invest 2005; 35 (5): 290 304

Can anyone obtain the full article? I would love to have it but a subscription fee is required. Perhaps someone in an educational environment can obtain it.

[Dodger]

Well, I've decided that vitamin D supplementation is something that I will do this coming season. I feel that I have a 'full' amount of D in my body now as I have been getting one to two hours of sun on my arms and legs most days of the summer. I could use some advice on a recommended level to take. I take a multi that has 400IU and a calcium supplement that gives 133IU (to be taken 3 times a day). Taking both the multi and the calcium supplements will give me 800IU of vitamin D per day. How much should I add to that?

[Zuleikaa]

Mike
Read the links under dosage at the start of the thread. Dose depends on so many individual factors. Supplementation ranges from 800-4000 IU/day. Most suggest you start with 1000 IUs unless you show symptoms of deficiency like any of the diseases listed. The rest may be obtained from food and sun if you are outdoors a lot at a high elevation. From 1000 IU, you gradually work up to where you feel good, alert and have energy. It's recommended that levels should be increased gradually over two week stretches with each increase.

Though D is not toxic, reactions if you have too much D are irritability, increased appetite, edginess, inability to sleep, and skin itchiness. Some people get headaches.

And don't forget your calcium and magnesium with the D.

[Dodger]

I read the links and found there to be a huge variation in the recommendations. I think that I will start with 1200 IUs and see how it goes.

What is strange is that skin itchiness is listed as a vitamin D reaction. Every winter I get really itchy legs without taking any D (other than what is in the multi).

[Zuleikaa]

What is strange is that skin itchiness is listed as a vitamin D reaction. Every winter I get really itchy legs without taking any D (other than what is in the multi).[/QUOTE]

This itchiness is in the face. The itchiness of legs in winter denotes dry skin and dry skin denotes a lack of D, and of essential oils.

[quietone]

Hi, Zule, I'm with you again.

Not taking anything else for my SAD this year yet. Still have the light but haven't felt the need for it yet.

Started upping the dose the last week of September and am now at 1,200 a day.

Wish I could get everyone in my family to realize the issue!!!

[kebaldwin]

How are the optimal levels of vitamin D different between men and women?

I have often wondered if women require a lot more vitamin D - hence they are always wanting to lay out in the sun.

[Zuleikaa]

The only natural difference between men and women vitamin D requirements that I can find are due to pregnancy and lactation, women need more then because they are providing the vitamin D for themselves and an infant at the same time.

All other differences in vitamin D production and therefore difficulty filling of D requirements naturally and thus requiring greater supplementation are cultural and environmental. Women, IMO, are naturally indoors more than men. Certainly in most environments they are more covered, less skin exposed than men.

[kebaldwin]

Women, IMO, are naturally indoors more than men. Certainly in most environments they are more covered, less skin exposed than men.

Then count me in on supporting your cause to help women take more off ! :lol:

I'm sorry I shouldn't take cheap shots when you are doing something serious.

[Zuleikaa]

Vitamin D and Breast Cancer

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Search&db=PubMed&term=Vitamin+D+analogs+and+breast+cancer%2E&tool=QuerySuggestion

1:
Milliken EL, Zhang X, Flask C, Duerk JL, Macdonald PN, Keri RA.
Related Articles, Links


EB1089, a vitamin D receptor agonist, reduces proliferation and decreases tumor growth rate in a mouse model of hormone-induced mammary cancer.
Cancer Lett. 2005 Nov 18;229(2):205-15. Epub 2005 Aug 22.
PMID: 16115727 [PubMed - in process]
2:
Sergeev IN.
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Calcium signaling in cancer and vitamin D.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Aug 1; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 16081284 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
3:
Lowe LC, Guy M, Mansi JL, Peckitt C, Bliss J, Wilson RG, Colston KW.
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Plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations, vitamin D receptor genotype and breast cancer risk in a UK Caucasian population.
Eur J Cancer. 2005 May;41(8):1164-9. Epub 2005 Apr 14.
PMID: 15911240 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
4:
Zinser GM, Tribble E, Valrance M, Urben CM, Knutson JC, Mazess RB, Strugnell SA, Welsh J.
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1,24(S)-dihydroxyvitamin D2, an endogenous vitamin D2 metabolite, inhibits growth of breast cancer cells and tumors.
Anticancer Res. 2005 Jan-Feb;25(1A):235-41.
PMID: 15816543 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5:
DeMasters GA, Gupta MS, Jones KR, Cabot M, Wang H, Gennings C, Park M, Bratland A, Ree AH, Gewirtz DA.
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Potentiation of cell killing by fractionated radiation and suppression of proliferative recovery in MCF-7 breast tumor cells by the Vitamin D3 analog EB 1089.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 Dec;92(5):365-74. Epub 2004 Dec 21.
PMID: 15698541 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6:
Wietzke JA, Ward EC, Schneider J, Welsh J.
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Regulation of the human vitamin D3 receptor promoter in breast cancer cells is mediated through Sp1 sites.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2005 Jan 31;230(1-2):59-68.
PMID: 15664452 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7:
Li F, Ling X, Huang H, Brattain L, Apontes P, Wu J, Binderup L, Brattain MG.
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Differential regulation of survivin expression and apoptosis by vitamin D3 compounds in two isogenic MCF-7 breast cancer cell sublines.
Oncogene. 2005 Feb 17;24(8):1385-95.
PMID: 15608672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8:
Banwell CM, O'Neill LP, Uskokovic MR, Campbell MJ.
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Targeting 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 antiproliferative insensitivity in breast cancer cells by co-treatment with histone deacetylation inhibitors.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 May;89-90(1-5):245-9.
PMID: 15225779 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
9:
Valrance ME, Welsh J.
Related Articles, Links


Breast cancer cell regulation by high-dose Vitamin D compounds in the absence of nuclear vitamin D receptor.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 May;89-90(1-5):221-5.
PMID: 15225775 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10:
Demin S, Van Haver D, Vandewalle M, De Clercq PJ, Bouillon R, Verstuyf A.
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Synthesis and biological activity of 22-oxa CD-ring modified analogues of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: cis-perhydrindane CE-ring analogues.
Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2004 Aug 2;14(15):3885-8.
PMID: 15225690 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11:
McGaffin KR, Acktinson LE, Chrysogelos SA.
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Growth and EGFR regulation in breast cancer cells by vitamin D and retinoid compounds.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 Jul;86(1):55-73.
PMID: 15218361 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
12:
Kailajarvi ME, Salminen EK, Paija OM, Virtanent AM, Leino AE, Irjala KA.
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Serum bone markers in breast cancer patients during 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) therapy.
Anticancer Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;24(2C):1271-4.
PMID: 15154659 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
13:
Christensen GL, Jepsen JS, Fog CK, Christensen IJ, Lykkesfeldt AE.
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Sequential versus combined treatment of human breast cancer cells with antiestrogens and the vitamin D analogue EB1089 and evaluation of predictive markers for vitamin D treatment.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 May;85(1):53-63.
PMID: 15039597 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14:
Punj V, Graves JM, Mehta RR.
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Effect of vitamin D analog (1alpha hydroxy D5) immunoconjugated to Her-2 antibody on breast cancer.
Int J Cancer. 2004 Mar 1;108(6):922-9.
PMID: 14712498 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15:
Shen Q, Brown PH.
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Novel agents for the prevention of breast cancer: targeting transcription factors and signal transduction pathways.
J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2003 Jan;8(1):45-73. Review.
PMID: 14587863 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
16:
Colston KW, Pirianov G, Bramm E, Hamberg KJ, Binderup L.
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Effects of Seocalcitol (EB1089) on nitrosomethyl urea-induced rat mammary tumors.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2003 Aug;80(3):303-11.
PMID: 14503802 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
17:
Chen YJ, Gao LJ, Murad I, Verstuyf A, Verlinden L, Verboven C, Bouillon R, Viterbo D, Milanesio M, Van Haver D, Vandewalle M, De Clercq PJ.
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Synthesis, biological activity, and conformational analysis of CD-ring modified trans-decalin 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D analogs.
Org Biomol Chem. 2003 Jan 21;1(2):257-67.
PMID: 12929421 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
18:
Guyton KZ, Kensler TW, Posner GH.
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Vitamin D and vitamin D analogs as cancer chemopreventive agents.
Nutr Rev. 2003 Jul;61(7):227-38. Review.
PMID: 12918875 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
19:
Lowe L, Hansen CM, Senaratne S, Colston KW.
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Mechanisms implicated in the growth regulatory effects of vitamin D compounds in breast cancer cells.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003;164:99-110. Review.
PMID: 12908448 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
20:
Hussain EA, Mehta RR, Ray R, Das Gupta TK, Mehta RG.
Related Articles, Links


Efficacy and mechanism of action of 1alpha-hydroxy-24-ethyl-cholecalciferol (1alpha[OH]D5) in breast cancer prevention and therapy.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003;164:393-411. Review.
PMID: 12899538 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Items 21 - 40 of 143 Previous

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21:
O'Kelly J, Koeffler HP.
Related Articles, Links


Vitamin D analogs and breast cancer.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003;164:333-48. Review.
PMID: 12899532 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
22:
Friedrich M, Rafi L, Mitschele T, Tilgen W, Schmidt W, Reichrath J.
Related Articles, Links


Analysis of the vitamin D system in cervical carcinomas, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003;164:239-46.
PMID: 12899526 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
23:
Banwell CM, Singh R, Stewart PM, Uskokovic MR, Campbell MJ.
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Antiproliferative signalling by 1,25(OH)2D3 in prostate and breast cancer is suppressed by a mechanism involving histone deacetylation.
Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003;164:83-98.
PMID: 12899515 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
24:
Bettoun DJ, Burris TP, Houck KA, Buck DW 2nd, Stayrook KR, Khalifa B, Lu J, Chin WW, Nagpal S.
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Retinoid X receptor is a nonsilent major contributor to vitamin D receptor-mediated transcriptional activation.
Mol Endocrinol. 2003 Nov;17(11):2320-8. Epub 2003 Jul 31.
PMID: 12893883 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
25:
Swamy N, Persons KS, Chen TC, Ray R.
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1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3-3beta-(2)-bromoacetate, an affinity labeling derivative of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 displays strong antiproliferative and cytotoxic behavior in prostate cancer cells.
J Cell Biochem. 2003 Aug 1;89(5):909-16.
PMID: 12874825 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
26:
Place AE, Suh N, Williams CR, Risingsong R, Honda T, Honda Y, Gribble GW, Leesnitzer LM, Stimmel JB, Willson TM, Rosen E, Sporn MB.
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The novel synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO-imidazolide, inhibits inflammatory response and tumor growth in vivo.
Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Jul;9(7):2798-806.
PMID: 12855660 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
27:
Welsh J, Wietzke JA, Zinser GM, Byrne B, Smith K, Narvaez CJ.
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Vitamin D-3 receptor as a target for breast cancer prevention.
J Nutr. 2003 Jul;133(7 Suppl):2425S-2433S. Review.
PMID: 12840219 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
28:
Flanagan L, Packman K, Juba B, O'Neill S, Tenniswood M, Welsh J.
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Efficacy of Vitamin D compounds to modulate estrogen receptor negative breast cancer growth and invasion.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Feb;84(2-3):181-92.
PMID: 12711002 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
29:
Wietzke JA, Welsh J.
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Phytoestrogen regulation of a Vitamin D3 receptor promoter and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 actions in human breast cancer cells.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Feb;84(2-3):149-57.
PMID: 12710998 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
30:
Polar MK, Gennings C, Park M, Gupta MS, Gewirtz DA.
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Effect of the vitamin D3 analog ILX 23-7553 on apoptosis and sensitivity to fractionated radiation in breast tumor cells and normal human fibroblasts.
Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2003 May;51(5):415-21. Epub 2003 Apr 11.
PMID: 12690516 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
31:
Zinser GM, McEleney K, Welsh J.
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Characterization of mammary tumor cell lines from wild type and vitamin D3 receptor knockout mice.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2003 Feb 28;200(1-2):67-80.
PMID: 12644300 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
32:
Mehta RG, Hussain EA, Mehta RR, Das Gupta TK.
Related Articles, Links


Chemoprevention of mammary carcinogenesis by 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D5, a synthetic analog of Vitamin D.
Mutat Res. 2003 Feb-Mar;523-524:253-64.
PMID: 12628523 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
33:
Dolezalova H, Shankar G, Huang MC, Bikle DD, Goetzl EJ.
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Biochemical regulation of breast cancer cell expression of S1P2 (Edg-5) and S1P3 (Edg-3) G protein-coupled receptors for sphingosine 1-phosphate.
J Cell Biochem. 2003 Mar 1;88(4):732-43.
PMID: 12577307 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
34:
Osborne JE, Hutchinson PE.
Related Articles, Links


Vitamin D and systemic cancer: is this relevant to malignant melanoma?
Br J Dermatol. 2002 Aug;147(2):197-213. Review.
PMID: 12174089 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
35:
Chodynski M, Wietrzyk J, Marcinkowska E, Opolski A, Szelejewski W, Kutner A.
Related Articles, Links


Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of side-chain unsaturated and homologated analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(2). (24E)-(1S)-24-Dehydro-24a-homo-1,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol and congeners.
Steroids. 2002 Aug;67(9):789-98.
PMID: 12123791 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
36:
Mathiasen IS, Sergeev IN, Bastholm L, Elling F, Norman AW, Jaattela M.
Related Articles, Links


Calcium and calpain as key mediators of apoptosis-like death induced by vitamin D compounds in breast cancer cells.
J Biol Chem. 2002 Aug 23;277(34):30738-45. Epub 2002 Jun 18.
PMID: 12072431 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
37:
Colston KW, Hansen CM.
Related Articles, Links


Mechanisms implicated in the growth regulatory effects of vitamin D in breast cancer.
Endocr Relat Cancer. 2002 Mar;9(1):45-59. Review.
PMID: 11914182 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
38:
Tsai MS, Bogart DF, Li P, Mehmi I, Lupu R.
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Expression and regulation of Cyr61 in human breast cancer cell lines.
Oncogene. 2002 Jan 31;21(6):964-73.
PMID: 11840342 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
39:
Bortman P, Folgueira MA, Katayama ML, Snitcovsky IM, Brentani MM.
Related Articles, Links


Antiproliferative effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on breast cells: a mini review.
Braz J Med Biol Res. 2002 Jan;35(1):1-9. Review.
PMID: 11743608 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
40:
Posner GH, Crawford KR, Peleg S, Welsh JE, Romu S, Gewirtz DA, Gupta MS, Dolan P, Kensler TW.
Related Articles, Links


A non-calcemic sulfone version of the vitamin D(3) analogue seocalcitol (EB 1089): chemical synthesis, biological evaluation and potency enhancement of the anticancer drug adriamycin.
Bioorg Med Chem. 2001 Sep;9(9):2365-71.
PMID: 11553477 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
Items 41 - 60 of 143 Previous

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41:
Wang Q, Lee D, Sysounthone V, Chandraratna RAS, Christakos S, Korah R, Wieder R.
Related Articles, Links


1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and retonic acid analogues induce differentiation in breast cancer cells with function- and cell-specific additive effects.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2001 May;67(2):157-68.
PMID: 11519864 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
42:
Yang L, Yang J, Venkateswarlu S, Ko T, Brattain MG.
Related Articles, Links


Autocrine TGFbeta signaling mediates vitamin D3 analog-induced growth inhibition in breast cells.
J Cell Physiol. 2001 Sep;188(3):383-93.
PMID: 11473365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
43:
Akhter J, Lu Y, Finlay I, Pourgholami MH, Morris DL.
Related Articles, Links


1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analogues, EB1089 and CB1093, profoundly inhibit the in vitro proliferation of the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2.
ANZ J Surg. 2001 Jul;71(7):414-7.
PMID: 11450917 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
44:
Hansen CM, Binderup L, Hamberg KJ, Carlberg C.
Related Articles, Links


Vitamin D and cancer: effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 and its analogs on growth control and tumorigenesis.
Front Biosci. 2001 Jul 1;6:D820-48. Review.
PMID: 11438443 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
45:
Chaudhry M, Sundaram S, Gennings C, Carter H, Gewirtz DA.
Related Articles, Links


The vitamin D3 analog, ILX-23-7553, enhances the response to adriamycin and irradiation in MCF-7 breast tumor cells.
Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2001 May;47(5):429-36.
PMID: 11391859 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
46:
Gewirtz DA, Sundaram S, Magnet KJ.
Related Articles, Links


Influence of topoisomerase II inhibitors and ionizing radiation on growth arrest and cell death pathways in the breast tumor cell.
Cell Biochem Biophys. 2000;33(1):19-31. Review.
PMID: 11322510 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
47:
Verlinden L, Verstuyf A, Quack M, Van Camp M, Van Etten E, De Clercq P, Vandewalle M, Carlberg C, Bouillon R.
Related Articles, Links


Interaction of two novel 14-epivitamin D3 analogs with vitamin D3 receptor-retinoid X receptor heterodimers on vitamin D3 responsive elements.
J Bone Miner Res. 2001 Apr;16(4):625-38.
PMID: 11315990 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
48:
Hisatake J, O'Kelly J, Uskokovic MR, Tomoyasu S, Koeffler HP.
Related Articles, Links


Novel vitamin D(3) analog, 21-(3-methyl-3-hydroxy-butyl)-19-nor D(3), that modulates cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and induction of PTEN in leukemic cells.
Blood. 2001 Apr 15;97(8):2427-33.
PMID: 11290607 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
49:
Akutsu N, Bastien Y, Lin R, Mader S, White JH.
Related Articles, Links


Amphiregulin is a vitamin D3 target gene in squamous cell and breast carcinoma.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2001 Mar 9;281(4):1051-6.
PMID: 11237771 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
50:
Larsen SS, Heiberg I, Lykkesfeldt AE.
Related Articles, Links


Anti-oestrogen resistant human breast cancer cell lines are more sensitive towards treatment with the vitamin D analogue EB1089 than parent MCF-7 cells.
Br J Cancer. 2001 Mar 2;84(5):686-90.
PMID: 11237391 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
51:
Rashid SF, Mountford JC, Gombart AF, Campbell MJ.
Related Articles, Links


1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) displays divergent growth effects in both normal and malignant cells.
Steroids. 2001 Mar-May;66(3-5):433-40.
PMID: 11179752 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
52:
Pirianov G, Colston KW.
Related Articles, Links


Interaction of vitamin D analogs with signaling pathways leading to active cell death in breast cancer cells.
Steroids. 2001 Mar-May;66(3-5):309-18.
PMID: 11179739 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
53:
Pirianov G, Colston KW.
Related Articles, Links


Interactions of vitamin D analogue CB1093, TNFalpha and ceramide on breast cancer cell apoptosis.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2001 Feb 14;172(1-2):69-78.
PMID: 11165041 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
54:
Sundaram S, Chaudhry M, Reardon D, Gupta M, Gewirtz DA.
Related Articles, Links


The vitamin D3 analog EB 1089 enhances the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of adriamycin in MCF-7 breast tumor cells.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2000 Sep;63(1):1-10.
PMID: 11079153 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
55:
[No authors listed]
Related Articles, Links


Drugs for prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Med Lett Drugs Ther. 2000 Oct 16;42(1090):97-100. No abstract available.
PMID: 11035622 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
56:
El Abdaimi K, Dion N, Papavasiliou V, Cardinal PE, Binderup L, Goltzman D, Ste-Marie LG, Kremer R.
Related Articles, Links


The vitamin D analogue EB 1089 prevents skeletal metastasis and prolongs survival time in nude mice transplanted with human breast cancer cells.
Cancer Res. 2000 Aug 15;60(16):4412-8.
PMID: 10969786 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
57:
Swami S, Krishnan AV, Feldman D.
Related Articles, Links


1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 down-regulates estrogen receptor abundance and suppresses estrogen actions in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
Clin Cancer Res. 2000 Aug;6(8):3371-9.
PMID: 10955825 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
58:
Byrne IM, Flanagan L, Tenniswood MP, Welsh J.
Related Articles, Links


Identification of a hormone-responsive promoter immediately upstream of exon 1c in the human vitamin D receptor gene.
Endocrinology. 2000 Aug;141(8):2829-36.
PMID: 10919269 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
59:
Norman AW, Manchand PS, Uskokovic MR, Okamura WH, Takeuchi JA, Bishop JE, Hisatake JI, Koeffler HP, Peleg S.
Related Articles, Links


Characterization of a novel analogue of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)-vitamin D(3) with two side chains: interaction with its nuclear receptor and cellular actions.
J Med Chem. 2000 Jul 13;43(14):2719-30.
PMID: 10893309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
60:
Mehta RR, Bratescu L, Graves JM, Green A, Mehta RG.
Related Articles, Links


Differentiation of human breast carcinoma cells by a novel vitamin D analog: 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D5.
Int J Oncol. 2000 Jan;16(1):65-73.
PMID: 10601550 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Zuleikaa]

Vitamin D and pregnancy:

1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 as new immunotherapy in treatment of recurrent spontaneous abortion.
Med Hypotheses. 2004;63(2):250-3.
PMID: 15236784 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy: a risk factor not only for fetal growth and bone metabolism but also for correct development of the fetal immune system?
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May;81(5):1177; author reply 1177-8. No abstract available.

PMID: 15883446 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Vitamin D for the prevention of preeclampsia? A hypothesis.
Nutr Rev. 2005 Jul;63(7):225-32. Review.
PMID: 16121476 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Benefits and requirements of vitamin D for optimal health: a review.
Altern Med Rev. 2005 Jun;10(2):94-111. Review.
PMID: 15989379 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Maternal and seasonal predictors of change in calcaneal quantitative ultrasound during pregnancy.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Sep;90(9):5182-7. Epub 2005 Jun 28.
PMID: 15985491 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Bone status during adolescence, pregnancy and lactation.
Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Aug;17(4):435-9.
PMID: 15976553 [PubMed - in process]

Review of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy: who is affected?
Int J Circumpolar Health. 2005 Apr;64(2):112-20. Review.
PMID: 15945281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Transient prenatal vitamin D deficiency is associated with subtle alterations in learning and memory functions in adult rats.
Behav Brain Res. 2005 Jun 20;161(2):306-12.
PMID: 15922058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Seizures in foreign newborns due to maternal vitamin-D deficiency]
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005 Apr 23;149(17):958-9. Dutch. No abstract available.
PMID: 15884412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Multiple micronutrients in pregnancy and lactation: an overview.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May;81(5):1206S-1212S. Review.
PMID: 15883453 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in northern India.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May;81(5):1060-4.
PMID: 15883429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Hypovitaminosis D, insulin resistance and hypertension in pregnancy.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jun;59(6):805-6. No abstract available.
PMID: 15841094 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Neonatal hyperparathyroidism due to maternal hypoparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency: a cause of multiple bone fractures.
Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2005 Apr;44(3):267-9. No abstract available.
PMID: 15821853 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Calcium homeostasis and bone turnover in pregnancy and breast feeding]
Ugeskr Laeger. 2005 Feb 28;167(9):1005-9. Review. Danish. No abstract available.
PMID: 15803993 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[The effect of vitamin-mineral supplementation on vitamins D, A (beta-carotene) and E concentration in blood of matched maternal-cord pairs]
Przegl Lek. 2004;61(7):755-9. Polish.
PMID: 15792015 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Calcium and vitamin D metabolism during pregnancy and lactation]
Clin Calcium. 2003 Jul;13(7):892-6. Japanese.
PMID: 15775163 [PubMed]

Developmental Vitamin D3 deficiency alters the adult rat brain.
Brain Res Bull. 2005 Mar 15;65(2):141-8.
PMID: 15763180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The vitamin D receptor is not required for fetal mineral homeostasis or for the regulation of placental calcium transfer in mice.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jul;289(1):E133-44. Epub 2005 Mar 1.
PMID: 15741244 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Seizures in foreign newborns due to maternal vitamin-D deficiency]
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005 Jan 29;149(5):257-60. Dutch.
PMID: 15719838 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Zeni SN, Ortela Soler CR, Lazzari A, Lopez L, Suarez M, Di Gregorio S, Somoza JI, de Portela ML.
Interrelationship between bone turnover markers and dietary calcium intake in pregnant women: a longitudinal study.
Bone. 2003 Oct;33(4):606-13.
PMID: 14555265 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Quinn JM, Fujikawa Y, McGee JO, Athanasou NA.
Rodent osteoblast-like cells support osteoclastic differentiation of human cord blood monocytes in the presence of M-CSF and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 1997 Jan;29(1):173-9.
PMID: 9076952 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Caplan RH, Wickus GG.
Reduced calcitriol requirements for treating hypoparathyroidism during lactation. A case report.
J Reprod Med. 1993 Nov;38(11):914-8.
PMID: 8277494 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Pittard WB 3rd, Geddes KM, Hulsey TC, Hollis BW.
How much vitamin D for neonates?
Am J Dis Child. 1991 Oct;145(10):1147-9.
PMID: 1928007 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Caplan RH, Beguin EA.
Hypercalcemia in a calcitriol-treated hypoparathyroid woman during lactation.
Obstet Gynecol. 1990 Sep;76(3 Pt 2):485-9.
PMID: 2381632 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Wilson SG, Retallack RW, Kent JC, Worth GK, Gutteridge DH.
Serum free 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and the free 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D index during a longitudinal study of human pregnancy and lactation.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1990 May;32(5):613-22.
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Newman V, Lyon RB, Anderson PO.
Evaluation of prenatal vitamin-mineral supplements.
Clin Pharm. 1987 Oct;6(10):770-7.
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Lamberg-Allardt C, Larjosto M, Schultz E.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in maternal and cord blood at delivery and in maternal blood during lactation in Finland.
Hum Nutr Clin Nutr. 1984 Jul;38(4):261-8.
PMID: 6088438 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Whitehead M, Lane G, Young O, Campbell S, Abeyasekera G, Hillyard CJ, MacIntyre I, Phang KG, Stevenson JC.
Interrelations of calcium-regulating hormones during normal pregnancy.
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1981 Jul 4;283(6283):10-2.
PMID: 6788241 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Dodger]

I started the vitamin D supplements today. The switch off of daylight savings got me motivated. I ended up taking 1200 IU total.

[Zuleikaa]

Let me know if you notice any difference after 3-7 days, would you?

[tokenyanke]

I'm still on the D since last fall/winter. I cut back this summer to 800-1000 IU most days. I'm currently 1400-1600 IU and am trying to sneak in an extra 200 IU here and there, but I still tend to get headaches if I'm not careful and they really wipe me out so I have to back off when they hit. Other than that, I'm doing good on it and after about 5 weeks at my increased level, my weight has dropped back down to 148#(it had been hanging around 152-154 for most of the summer). I think part of it is that I seem to be able to lose more easily in the winter as the humidity really zaps me in the summer with me being a runner... And I also cut out the splenda in my coffee that I had developed a bad habit of this summer. So, probably a combination of all of the above, but I do think the D plays a big part in helping.

[Zuleikaa]

Cindi
What form of D are you taking? Are you taking the gels?

Many are having reactions to the D in gels: it seems to be a reaction to the soy oil and not the D.

Vitamin D and Depression
J Nutr Health Aging. 1999;3(1):5-7. Related Articles, Links

Vitamin D vs broad spectrum phototherapy in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder.
Gloth FM 3rd, Alam W, Hollis B.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed


MAJOR DEPRESSION AND VITAMIN D
Corresponding author:
John Jacob Cannell, MD
http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/major_depression.htm


J Am Coll Nutr. 2000 Apr;19(2):220-7. Related Articles, Links


Micronutrients and the premenstrual syndrome: the case for calcium.
Thys-Jacobs S.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed


The Magnesium Web Site
MAGNESIUM ONLINE LIBRARY
http://www.mgwater.com/clmd.shtml


Int J Psychiatry Med. 1989;19(1):57-63. Related Articles, Links

Depression and magnesium deficiency.

Rasmussen HH, Mortensen PB, Jensen IW.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed


Neuropharmacology. 2004 Dec;47(8):1189-97. Related Articles, Links


Magnesium-deficient diet alters depression- and anxiety-related behavior in mice--influence of desipramine and Hypericum perforatum extract.
Singewald N, Sinner C, Hetzenauer A, Sartori SB, Murck H.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed


Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2004 Nov;28(11):1702-9. Related Articles, Links


Magnesium treatment of primary alcohol-dependent patients during subacute withdrawal: an open pilot study with polysomnography.
Hornyak M, Haas P, Veit J, Gann H, Riemann D.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15547457&query_hl=26


Intern Med. 2004 May;43(5):410-4. Related Articles, Links


Depressive state and paresthesia dramatically improved by intravenous MgSO4 in Gitelman's syndrome.
Enya M, Kanoh Y, Mune T, Ishizawa M, Sarui H, Yamamoto M, Takeda N, Yasuda K, Yasujima M, Tsutaya S, Takeda J.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed


Magnes Res. 2002 Mar;15(1-2):49-66. Related Articles, Links


Biorhythms and possible central regulation of magnesium status, phototherapy, darkness therapy and chronopathological forms of magnesium depletion.
Durlach J, Pages N, Bac P, Bara M, Guiet-Bara A.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed


Med Hypotheses. 2002 Jan;58(1):47-60. Related Articles, Links


The central role of magnesium deficiency in Tourette's syndrome: causal relationships between magnesium deficiency, altered biochemical pathways and symptoms relating to Tourette's syndrome and several reported comorbid conditions.
Grimaldi BL.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed

[Dodger]

This is the wrong time of the year, for a northern hemisphere person, to post this but if anyone is worried about gettin skin cancer from sunning to get vitamin D, here is something to reduce the odds.

http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/afx/2005/11/07/afx2320586.html

Australian research shows aspirin may prevent skin cancer

SYDNEY (AFX) - The common painkiller aspirin, already found to be effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, may also help lower the incidence of skin cancer, Australian researchers said.

According to a study undertaken by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, regularly taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin could offer increased protection against skin cancer and sunspots.

'We found that people who regularly used aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) had significantly lower risks of developing skin cancer than people who did not use them,' researcher David Whiteman said.

'Moreover, we found that among people who had never had skin cancer, those who regularly used aspirin had significantly lower numbers of sunspots.'

Whiteman said that aspirin-type drugs shut down an enzyme known as cyclo-oxygenase (COX) which allows some types of skin cancer to develop.

'Aspirin blocks the COX enzyme and it just so happens that these enzymes are involved in inflammation... and these enzymes are also used by cancer cells to stimulate blood cells,' he told Agence France-Presse.

[Zuleikaa]

That's very interesting news Dodger!!! That means you can get out and make your vitamin D, take your vitamin D to protect against 32 kinds of cancer and take an aspirin to protect against the one not covered!!!

[lizzyLC]

Hi
Interesting thread. Guess I'll go get some sun and take some aspirin.
LizzyLC

[Dodger]

Relationship Between Serum Parathyroid Hormone Levels, Vitamin D Sufficiency, and Calcium Intake

Laufey Steingrimsdottir, PhD; Orvar Gunnarsson, MD; Olafur S. Indridason, MD, MHS; Leifur Franzson, MSc, Pharm; Gunnar Sigurdsson, MD, PhD

JAMA. 2005;294:2336-2341.

Context Adequate vitamin D status for optimum bone health has received increased recognition in recent years; however, the ideal intake is not known. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the generally accepted indicator of vitamin D status, but no universal reference level has been reached.

Objective To investigate the relative importance of high calcium intake and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D for calcium homeostasis, as determined by serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional study of 2310 healthy Icelandic adults who were divided equally into 3 age groups (30-45 years, 50-65 years, or 70-85 years) and recruited from February 2001 to January 2003. They were administered a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, which assessed vitamin D and calcium intake. Participants were further divided into groups according to calcium intake (<800 mg/d, 800-1200 mg/d, and >1200 mg/d) and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (<10 ng/mL, 10-18 ng/mL, and >18 ng/mL).

Main Outcome Measure Serum intact PTH as determined by calcium intake and vitamin D.

Results A total of 944 healthy participants completed all parts of the study. After adjusting for relevant factors, serum PTH was lowest in the group with a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of more than 18 ng/mL but highest in the group with a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of less than 10 ng/mL. At the low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (<10 ng/mL), calcium intake of less than 800 mg/d vs more than 1200 mg/d was significantly associated with higher serum PTH (P = .04); and at a calcium intake of more than 1200 mg/d, there was a significant difference between the lowest and highest vitamin D groups (P = .04).

Conclusions As long as vitamin D status is ensured, calcium intake levels of more than 800 mg/d may be unnecessary for maintaining calcium metabolism. Vitamin D supplements are necessary for adequate vitamin D status in northern climates.

Author Affiliations: Public Health Institute of Iceland (Dr Steingrimsdottir); University of Iceland (Drs Gunnarsson and Sigurdsson); and Department of Medicine (Drs Indridason and Sigurdsson) and Clinical Chemistry (Dr Franzson), Landspitali-University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.

[Zuleikaa]

That's great!! It means I can reduce my calcium intake.

Mike, I find this stuff so fascinating. I can't get enough of it. And all I've found/heard is positive!!

How are you doing on the D now?

[lizzyLC]

So how much should women be taking? I can't possibly wade through all those studies although they seem fascinating. I live in AZ so we have a lot of sun, year round - maybe that means I wouldn't need as much. On the other hand, I'm not in the sun this time of year - too cold to swim. Confusing. Even though we are in AZ you can still suffer from SAD - gets dark early - not anything like up north though - I'm from the NE so I can dig it.

[acadkate]

Very interesting thread, although too much technical reading for me ;)
I avoid the sun like the plauge since being diagnosed with basal cell carcenoma and my brother with malignant melanoma. I wear long sleeve shirts and pants and hats and use sunscreen when ever outside, I also limit my time outside to mornings and only for a few hours at most.

So, will vit D, magnesium, and calcium supplements alone help or will I have to expose myself to the sun more? Also, does time of day in the sun make a diff?

[quietone]

Hi, ...kate

At this time of year, in Utah, you can forget getting enough sun to stimulate Vit D production.

Yes, the supplements you are speaking of will help, but you will probably need additional Vit D, unless you are sticking with the bare minimum, which these days is controversial anyway, but ranges from 800-1200.

Even if the sun won't stimulate Vit D, you can be out in it and let it stimulate the pineal gland.

A lot of people (as in tanned people) get the Vit D during the summer and it is stored for the winter. People who have fair skin and avoid the sun will most likely not get enough and not store enough.

My daughter is a prime example of how good it can be...she spent the summer past at the beach and got really tan and stayed outside every day and she had the best winter ever last winter. this year, she's right back to being very SAD indeed.

[Zuleikaa]

There is another side of the sunlight and skin cancer argument:

http://www.healthresearchforum.org.uk/reports/sunlightrobbery.pdf
page 23-26
Oliver Gillie Sunlight robbery ■
Part 3: Risks and benefits of sunlight
Melanoma
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. There are some 7,000 cases a year in the UK and about
1750 deaths. Other types of skin cancer cause only a few hundred deaths annually, making altogether around
2,000 deaths annually from skin cancer in the UK. Melanoma is some six times more common in northern tropical
parts of Australia than in the colder southern parts [183]. These and similar observations have given rise to the
widely held belief that melanoma is caused by sunlight.
However, there are real doubts about the way in which sun exposure causes melanoma [17]. Adults who
work outdoors and children who play outdoors are regularly exposed to the sun and are less likely to develop
melanoma than those who work or play more indoors [184, 185]. While people who have irregular exposure to the
sun and those who recall being sunburnt have a higher risk of melanoma, especially if they have a fair skin type [186].
Occasional exposure of skin to sunlight appears to carry the greatest risk of melanoma, while regular exposure of
skin to sunlight appears to protect against melanoma, probably because it provides higher levels of vitamin D which
are protective against cancer in general.
Furthermore, melanomas occur most commonly on the backs of men and the upper legs of women, areas
which do not get so much exposure to the sun as face or hands [187]. In people under 50 melanoma is most
frequent on sites which are exposed irregularly to the sun [188]. In black people melanomas occur predominantly
on the lower legs and commonly on the sole of the foot, an area which gets virtually no sun at all [189].
This evidence shows that the relationship between melanoma and sunlight is not simple.
It is widely accepted that as many as two-thirds of melanomas are caused by excessive exposure to the
sun [190]. However, other methods of analysis challenge this figure. A person who has had melanoma may
develop a second primary melanoma which occurs completely independently of the first tumour. Analysis of data
on second primary melanomas has enabled the importance of risk factors such as sun exposure, skin and eye colour,
and skin type to be calculated. Using this method it has been found that these known risk factors account for only
about 23% of variation of melanoma risk [191]. Since skin type is a very important variable it leaves sun
exposure accounting for perhaps 10-15% of the overall risk of melanoma according to this method.
Other risk factors that increase the risk of melanoma include increased body weight (obesity), lack of
exercise [192], and diet [193]. Indeed the steady increase in incidence of melanoma over the last 10 to 20 years
(24% increase in the last five years) parallels the increase in other cancers such as breast, colorectal, prostate,
testis, leukaemia and lymphoma [194].
The increase in obesity and decrease in regular exercise in the UK over this period may account for the increase
in melanoma [195, 196]. Much of this epidemic of obesity appears to be the result of increased consumption of
fast foods and snacks with a high energy density [197] and these should be identified as a likely cause of
melanoma.
These considerations are enough to explain why the SunSmart programme has not been successful in
reducing deaths from melanoma in the UK where the average intensity of sunlight is much less than in Australia.
Indeed it is possible that reduction of exposure to the sun in the UK actually increases the incidence of melanoma
rather than decreases it, and that regular careful exposure of skin to the sun in the UK would actually reduce the
incidence of melanoma. The evidence certainly does not provide adequate support for a policy favouring
reduction of sun exposure.
The risk of a person suffering from melanoma is about 10 in 100,000 which is described as ‘very low’ in
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman’s ‘language of risk’ [17]. Only part of this very low risk, perhaps 10-15%,
may be attributable to sunlight. So the risk of contracting melanoma as a result of exposure to sunlight could be
as low as one in a 100,000. So even the most forceful campaign advocating sun avoidance could be expected to
prevent only a few hundred deaths [198].
For practical purposes the risk of death from any kind of skin cancer caused by exposure to sunlight is negligible
when compared with the high risk of other diseases of many different types which are caused, at least in part,
by D deficiency.
Health Research Forum Occasional Reports: No 1 24
Oliver Gillie ■ Sunlight robbery
Non-melanoma skin cancer
More than 60,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer occur every year in the UK. In the vast majority of cases the
lesions are removed without problems as a simple out-patient procedure.
But problems associated with these cancers should not be underestimated. These cancers cause a few hundred
deaths each year in the UK. In a relatively small proportion of people the lesions are in an awkward position that
requires delicate surgery or the lesion may be extensive and require a more difficult procedure. Some of these
cancers require surgery which leaves a disfiguring scar or causes disfiguring removal of tissue.
Basal cell carcinoma, which generally grows quite slowly, is the most common type of non-melanoma skin
cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma which can spread to other parts of the body if untreated is the second commonest
type. Both types occur most commonly in old people. Regular exposure to sunlight during work outdoors is a risk
factor for squamous cell carcinoma but probably not for basal cell carcinoma. While squamous cell carcinoma is
clearly caused by sun exposure the relationship between basal cell carcinoma and sunlight, like that of melanoma,
is more complicated.
Basal cell carcinoma had an incidence of 114 per 100,000 population in South Wales in 1998 compared with 726
per 100,000 in Australia, suggesting an association with sunlight. In the United States it has recently increased in
incidence at a rate of 10% a year. Exposure to sunlight is widely accepted to be a cause of basal cell carcinoma but
it does not explain why particular people get these tumours and others do not, or the fact that these tumours
often occur on the body in clusters, and are found mainly on the trunk rather than on areas such as the head that
are exposed for longer periods [199].
Diet appears to have an important effect on susceptibility to skin cancer and actinic keratosis, a form of skin
aging [200, 201] that may lead on to squamous cell carcinoma. A trial at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas,
has shown that a low fat diet can reduce recurrence of skin cancer and actinic keratosis over a period of two years.
Patients who had suffered skin cancer (basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma) were randomised to one of two groups
at the beginning of the study. One group continued with their normal diet which contained 36% fat. The second group
were given dietary advice and reduced fat to under 21%, while also losing 2-4kgs of body weight. The number of skin
cancers in the diet group declined from eight to one over 16 months of the study compared with a steady six in the
first eight months and six in the second eight months for the control group. The reduced risk of skin cancer (both
basal cell and squamous cell) in the diet group may be the result of loss of body weight or the change to a low fat
diet.
Other types of study have produced equivocal results. The view that excess energy consumption is a cause of
basal cell carcinoma is supported by a cohort study of 73,366 women in the Nurses’ Health Study [202]. But the Health
Professionals Follow-up Study of some 43,000 men has failed to confirm a link between basal cell cancer and fat
consumption [203].
Nevertheless the randomised studies suggest that there is an effect of diet on recurrence of skin cancer, and that
much more is involved in the initiation of these cancers than simply exposure to the sun. It may be that
only certain people who have a relatively rich diet, those who are relatively overweight, or, have a high calorie
consumption compared with energy output, are at high risk of developing these skin cancers. More research is
needed in this area but it is a mistake to assume that sunlight is necessarily the most important risk factor for these
two cancers.
Risks to children and young people
Current skin cancer prevention programmes warn of a special risk to children and young people from
exposure to the sun. Official literature asserts that exposure to the sun in childhood may disproportionately increase
the risk of skin cancer many years later [204, 205]. In fact this idea is controversial and has been challenged by
several authors.
Whiteman et al [206] undertook a systematic review of the literature and found that the way in which sun
exposure was measured made a striking difference to the association between melanoma and age at which
exposure occurred. Case/control studies produced no consistent associations between melanoma
and childhood sun exposure. On the other hand ecological studies (which measure sunlight exposure of geographical
areas rather than of individuals) did show a relationship between early exposure and melanoma risk. However it is
unwise to come to firm conclusions when these two types of study produce widely differing results.
A recent study of 603 melanoma cases and 627 controls in seven European countries concludes
that there is no evidence for a critical period of high susceptibility in childhood when solar radiation is more
likely to induce melanoma [207]. The study concluded that more than five different sunburns doubled the risk of
Health Research Forum Occasional Reports: No 1 25
Oliver Gillie Sunlight robbery ■
melanoma regardless of their timing in life. Another study has found that outdoor activities in childhood are associated
with a lower risk of melanoma [185].
Basal cell carcinoma has also been reported to be more common after sunburn in childhood [208, 209] but the
research findings are not clear. One study found that living in a region of high solar radiation in childhood does not
increase risk of basal cell carcinoma whereas living in such a region as an adult does increase the risk [210].
This study found that risk of basal cell carcinoma was proportional to lifetime accumulation of blistering sunburns
[210]. Other studies have found no clear link between sunburn in adulthood and basal cell carcinoma [209].
On the other hand an Italian study found that an average summer holiday exposure of eight weeks per year
throughout childhood increased the risk of basal cell carcinoma almost fivefold [208]. The research results are
conflicting and so it is by no means certain that childhood and adolescence are critical periods for this cancer.
A skin cancer policy for children and young people
Summarising the scientific evidence reviewed above: sunburn or sunlight exposure in childhood may
possibly increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma, the commonest form of skin cancer, but this is not firmly
established. On the other hand sunburn/sunlight exposure in childhood does not seem to increase the risk of the
most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma. Relevant evidence appears to be lacking for the third type of skin
cancer, squamous cell carcinoma.
Children should obviously be protected against sunburn but they also need exposure to the sun so that they can
synthesise vitamin D. This may mean accepting an uncertain risk of causing basal cell carcinoma in later life.
The vast majority of basal cell carcinomas are readily treated and so the risk of serious consequences is small. This
small, and possibly non-existent, risk may be further reduced by avoiding sunburn.
In conclusion, children can safely be allowed to run about in strong sun wearing brief clothing without suncreams
for limited periods of time, so long as care is taken to avoid burning. This will enable children to benefit from
vitamin D production in the skin. Suncreams cannot be relied upon to prevent cancer (see discussion in Part 4,
section 8), so burning is best avoided by encouraging children to seek the shade after a suitable time in the sun.
Time that may safely be spent in the sun depends upon skin type, previous exposure to the sun, time of day,
season (early, middle or late summer), latitude, and whether or not the sky is at all overcast. Suncreams can be used
when extended exposure cannot easily be avoided e.g. when playing sports.
Skin wrinkling and aging
Warnings that exposure to the sun may cause wrinkling and aging of skin are frequently made at the same
time as warnings about skin cancer. Although sunlight can cause wrinkling this does not seem to be common in
the UK.
Studies in Japan have found that the average 40-year-old woman from Kagoshima (32ºN) in the south of the
country has facial wrinkling equivalent to that of a 48-year-old woman living further north in Akita (40ºN) [211],
suggesting that sunlight induces wrinkles. However, a study of 792 people over 60 in South Glamorgan, UK, found
no association between sun exposure and wrinkling of skin on the face, neck or back of the hand [212]. This is
probably because the average person in Glamorgan gets relatively little intense exposure to the sun compared with
people in Japan. Glamorgan is located at latitude 51ºN, a great deal further north than either of the Japanese
locations.
On the other hand, daily cigarette smoking has been found to be closely associated with the development of
wrinkles in people in Glamorgan, as in other parts of the world. Smoking 20 cigarettes a day in Glamorgan increased
wrinkles sufficient to give a person the appearance of someone 10 years older. Strangely, people with wrinkles have
been found to be less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma, one of the common types of skin cancer, showing that
other factors, and not just sunlight, must be involved in these skin changes [213]. Another study has found that a diet
with a high intake of vegetables, legumes (beans and peas), olive oil, apples, prunes or tea is associated with fewer
wrinkles [214].
In summary, sun exposure is only one factor influencing wrinkling of skin and not necessarily the most
important one. In the UK sunlight does not seem to be a significant cause of wrinkling for most people. Nevertheless
regular sunbathing in the UK could cause wrinkling. A healthy ‘five a day’ fruit and vegetable diet
recommended for prevention of cancer and heart disease may reduce or prevent wrinkling.
While wrinkling is obviously undesirable it seems a small, perhaps even insignificant risk to take, in return for the
benefits of increased vitamin D levels that follow from sunbathing. Anyone choosing to avoid sun exposure for fear
of wrinkling should take a vitamin D supplement all year round.
Health Research Forum Occasional Reports: No 1 26
Oliver Gillie ■ Sunlight robbery
Cost of disease caused by vitamin D deficiency
The large number of chronic diseases caused at least in part by vitamin D deficiency make a formal estimate of the
total cost very difficult to make. Nevertheless the cost of vitamin D deficiency diseases in the UK or USA has been
put at billions of pounds or dollars per year [215].
There is no doubt that the cost of disease caused by D deficiency is much greater than the cost of disease caused
by excessive exposure to sunlight. This is clear from the fact that the 2,000 deaths per year from skin cancer in the
UK are a tenth of the deaths from other types of cancer that are attributable to D-deficiency [139, 216]. Sunlight is
our primary source of vitamin D. So it must be concluded that any public health policy regarding sunlight should
favour exposure to sunlight rather than avoidance of it. This conclusion is reinforced when it is considered that a
substantial proportion of skin cancer deaths are not caused by sunlight and that many other chronic diseases apart
from cancer are caused at least in part by D deficiency.

http://vvv.com/healthnews/dsunscre.html
Sunscreens and Cancer

by Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE

In 1991 Professor Johan Moan of the Norwegian Cancer Institute made an astounding discovery. He found that the yearly incidence of melanoma in Norway had increased by 350% for men and by 440% for women during the period 1957 to 1984. He also determined that there had been no change in the ozone layer over this period of time. He concludes his report in the British Journal of Cancer by stating "Ozone depletion is not the cause of the increase in skin cancers"(1).

SKIN CANCER
There are three major forms of skin cancer.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA is the most common form of skin cancer. It occurs most frequently in men who spend a great deal of time outdoors and primarily produces lesions on the head and neck(2). Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads throughout the body but can invade neighbouring bone and nerves(3).

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA is the second most common skin cancer. It primarily affects people who sunburn easily, tan poorly, and have blue eyes and red or blonde hair. Squamous cell carcinoma most commonly develops from actinic keratoses and can metastasize if left untreated. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip is 12 times more common among men than among women(4).

MALIGNANT MELANOMA is the rarest form of skin cancer but is the most deadly. It affects the cells which produce melanin and seems to be more prevalent among city-dwellers than among people who work out-of-doors. It does not necessarily occur on sun-exposed areas of the body and is thought to be linked to brief, intense periods of sun exposure and a history of severe sunburn in childhood or adolescence. Malignant melanoma metastasizes easily and is often fatal if not caught in time(2,5).

The skin cancer epidemic is a worldwide phenomenon. In 1978 there were approximately 480,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States alone. This is expected to rise to over one million in 1994(6). Malignant melanoma is growing at a rate of 7% per year in the United States. In 1991 cancer experts estimated that there would be about 32,000 cases during the year of which 6,500 would be fatal(7). In Canada melanoma incidence rose by 6% per year for men and by 4.6% per year for women during the period 1970-1986(8). Australia has the highest melanoma rate in the world. For men the rate doubled between 1980 and 1987 and for women it increased by more than 50%(9). It is now estimated that by age 75 two out of three Australians will have been treated for some form of skin cancer(10).
If the ozone layer has not yet changed significantly except at the poles, then what is causing the enormous increase in skin cancer?

The sunscreen connection
The Australian experience provides the first clue. The rise in melanoma has been exceptionally high in Queensland where the medical establishment has long and vigorously promoted the use of sunscreens. Queensland now has more incidences of melanoma per capita than any other place. Worldwide, the greatest rise in melanoma has been experienced in countries where chemical sunscreens have been heavily promoted(11).

Drs. Cedric and Frank Garland of the University of California are the foremost opponents of the use of chemical sunscreens. They point out that, although sunscreens do protect against sunburn, there is no scientific proof that they protect against melanoma or basal cell carcinoma in humans(11). There is, however, some evidence that regular use of sunscreens helps prevent the formation of actinic keratoses, the precursors of squamous cell carcinoma(12).

The Garland brothers strongly believe that the increased use of chemical sunscreens is the primary cause of the skin cancer epidemic. They emphasize that people using sunscreen tend to stay longer in the sun because they do not get a sunburn - they develop a false sense of security(7). Chemical sunscreens are formulated to absorb UVB radiation, they let most of the UVA rays through(7). UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are strongly absorbed by the melanocytes which are involved both in melanin production (sun tanning) and in melanoma formation(11). UVA rays also have a depressing effect on the immune system(13).

ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
UVA rays constitute 90-95% of the ultraviolet light reaching the earth. They have a relatively long wavelength (320-400 nm) and are not absorbed by the ozone layer. UVA light penetrates the furthest into the skin and is involved in the initial stages of suntanning. UVA tends to suppress the immune function and is implicated in premature aging of the skin(2,13,14).

UVB rays are partially absorbed by the ozone layer and have a medium wavelength (290-320 nm). They do not penetrate the skin as far as the UVA rays do and are the primary cause of sunburn. They are also responsible for most of the tissue damage which results in wrinkles and aging of the skin and are implicated in cataract formation(2).

UVC rays have the shortest wavelength (below 290 nm) and are almost totally absorbed by the ozone layer. As the ozone layer thins UVC rays may begin to contribute to sunburning and premature aging of the skin(2).

All forms of ultraviolet radiation are believed to contribute to the development of skin cancer(2).

Most chemical sunscreens contain from 2 to 5% of benzophenone or its derivatives (oxybenzone, benzophenone-3) as their active ingredient. Benzophenone is one of the most powerful free radical generators known to man. It is used in industrial processes to initiate chemical reactions and promote cross-linking(15). Benzophenone is activated by ultraviolet light. The absorbed energy breaks benzophenone's double bond to produce two free radical sites. The free radicals desperately look for a hydrogen atom to make them "feel whole again"(15). They may find this hydrogen atom among the other ingredients of the sunscreen, but it is conceivable that they could also find it on the surface of the skin and thereby initiate a chain reaction which could ultimately lead to melanoma and other skin cancers. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School have recently discovered that psoralen, another ultraviolet light-activated free radical generator, is an extremely efficient carcinogen. They found that the rate of squamous cell carcinoma among patients with psoriasis, who had been repeatedly treated with UVA light after a topical application of psoralen, was 83 times higher than among the general population(16).

The benefits of sunlight
Some scientists believe that UV light causes skin cancer through the combined effect of suppression of the immune system and damage to DNA(10,17). Exposure to UV light is, however, not all bad. Most of the body's vitamin D supply, about 75% of it, is generated by the skin's exposure to UVB rays(18). Using a sunscreen drastically lowers the cutaneous production of vitamin D3(19). A low blood level of vitamin D is known to increase the risk for the development of breast and colon cancer and may also accelerate the growth of melanoma(18,19,20).

Dr. Gordon Ainsleigh in California believes that the use of sunscreens causes more cancer deaths than it prevents. He estimates that the 17% increase in breast cancer observed between 1991 and 1992 may be the result of the pervasive use of sunscreens over the past decade(20). Recent studies have also shown a higher rate of melanoma among men who regularly use sunscreens and a higher rate of basal cell carcinoma among women using sunscreens(11,21).

Dr. Ainsleigh estimates that 30,000 cancer deaths in the United States alone could be prevented each year if people would adopt a regimen of regular, moderate sun exposure(20).

Although the medical establishment still strongly supports the use of sunscreens there is a growing consensus among progressive researchers that the use of sunscreens does not prevent skin cancer and, as a matter of fact, may promote skin cancers as well as colon and breast cancer.

The bottom line
So what should you do to protect yourself as much as possible against these cancers? Summarizing current research the following recommendations appear reasonable:

DO NOT rely on the use of sunscreens to protect you against skin cancer.
DO NOT try to get a tan by visiting a tanning studio. The rays from their UV lamps are extremely harmful and the tan produced does not have the protective effect of a sunlight-induced tan(2,7).
DO try to develop a moderate natural suntan unless you have extremely sensitive skin and burn easily. Regular and moderate unprotected sun exposure in the early morning or late afternoon will help maintain a protective tan and keep your vitamin D stores at an optimum level(20).
DO wear protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when you are outside. Avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM if at all possible. Remember that UV rays, particularly UVA, are present even on cloudy days(7).
DO wear sunglasses that filter out 100% of the ultraviolet light to protect yourself against the development of cataracts(7).
DO remember that sunlight is strongly reflected from sand, snow, ice, and concrete and can increase your direct sunlight exposure by 10 to 50%(2).
DO make sure you get enough vitamin D3 and beta-carotene, if necessary through supplementation. Recent research has shown that taking 30 mg of beta-carotene a day protects against the suppression of the immune system by UVA rays(13).
DO make sure to supplement your diet with antioxidants. Dr. Abram Hoffer in Victoria, Canada recommends that vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium be used as a protection against the damages of excessive ultraviolet radiation. He suggests daily dosages of 3 grams or more of vitamin C, 800 IU of vitamin E, and 200 micrograms of selenium (l-selenomethionine)(22). Vitamins C and E also protect against cataract formation(23,24).
DO cut down on the fat in your diet. Recent research has shown that patients with non- melanoma skin cancers can reduce their risk of developing additional actinic keratoses (precursors to skin cancer) by switching to a low fat diet(25).

SUNSCREENS
Sunscreens are designed to protect against sunburn (UVB rays) and generally provide little protection against UVA rays. They come in two forms:

CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS contain chemicals such as benzophenone or oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) as the active ingredient. They prevent sunburn by absorbing the ultraviolet (UVB) rays(2).

PHYSICAL SUNSCREENS contain inert minerals such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or talc and work by reflecting the ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays away from the skin(2).

A sunscreen with a SPF of 15 filters out approximately 94% of the UVB rays. One with a SPF of 30 filters out 97%. The SPF applies for UVB rays only. The protection provided against UVA rays in chemical sunscreens is about 10% of the UVB rating(26).

DO wear a physical sunscreen with a SPF of 15 if you absolutely must be out in the sun for extended periods of time(22). Physical sunscreens containing titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or talc work by reflecting the UV radiation rather than by absorbing it. Sunscreens are tested by using artificial UV light and a screen with a SPF of 30 is not twice as effective as one with a factor of 15(17). Also, reapplying sunscreen during the day does not extend the period of protection. Even "broad-spectrum" sunscreens are not very good in filtering out UVA rays(26). A natural suntan is probably more effective.

DO see your healthcare provider if you spot any unusual moles or growth on your skin - particularly if they are irregular in shape, bleed, itch, or appear to be changing. Most skin cancers can be cured if caught in time(27).
The saga of sunscreens and skin cancer is far from over. Research is continuing and new findings are being published at an accelerated pace. But until we know the whole story, it would seem prudent to take precautions based on what we do know.

REFERENCES

Moan, J. & Dahlback, A. The relationship between skin cancers, solar radiation and ozone depletion. British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 65, No. 6, June 1992, pp. 916-21
Harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 262, No. 3, July 21, 1989, pp. 380-84
Haynes, Harley A. Primary cancer of the skin. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, McGraw- Hill, 7th ed., 1974, pp. 2024-25
Hacker, Steven M. & Flowers, Franklin P. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 93, No. 8, June 1993, pp. 115-26
Lee, John A.H. The relationship between malignant melanoma of skin and exposure to sunlight. Photochemistry and Photobiology, Vol. 50, No. 4, 1989, pp. 493-96
Miller, Dena L. & Weinstock, Martin A. Nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States: incidence. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 30, No. 5, Pt. 1, May 1994, pp. 774-78
Skolnick, Andrew A. Revised regulations for sunscreen labelling expected soon from FDA. Journal of the American Medical Assocation, Vol. 265, No. 24, June 26, 1991, pp. 3217-20
Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Statistics 1991.
Reynolds, Tom. Sun plays havoc with light skin down under. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 84, No. 18, September 16, 1992, pp. 1392-94
Ozone depletion and health. The Lancet, December 10, 1988, p. 1377
Garland, Cedric F., et al. Could sunscreens increase melanoma risk? American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 82, No. 4, April 1992, pp. 614-15
Dover, Jeffrey S. & Arndt, Kenneth A. Dermatology. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 271, No. 21, June 1, 1994, pp. 1662-63
Fuller, Cindy J., et al. Effect of beta-carotene supplementation on photosuppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity in normal young men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 56, 1992, pp. 684-90
Fitzpatrick, T.B. & Haynes, H.A. Photosensitivity and other reactions to light. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, McGraw-Hill, 7th ed., 1974, pp. 281-84
Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Vol. 13, 3rd ed., 1981, pp. 367-68
Stern, Robert S. and Laid, Nan. The carcinogenic risk of treatments for severe psoriasis. Cancer, Vol. 73, No. 11, June 1, 1994, pp. 2759-64
Wright, Brett. Sunscreens and the protection racket. New Scientist, January 22, 1994, pp. 21-2
Garland, Frank C., et al. Geographic variation in breast cancer mortality in the United States: a hypothesis involving exposure to solar radiation. Preventive Medicine, Vol. 19, 1990, pp. 614-22
Koh, Howard K. & Lew, Robert A. Sunscreens and melanoma: implications for prevention. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 86, No. 2, January 19, 1994, pp. 78-9
Ainsleigh, H. Gordon. Beneficial effects of sun exposure on cancer mortality. Preventive Medicine, Vol. 22, February 1993, pp. 132-40
Garland, Cedric F. et al. Effect of sunscreens on UV radiation-induced enhancement of melanoma growth in mice. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 86, No. 10, May 18, 1994, pp. 798-801
Goodall, John & Hoffer, Abram. Protection against ultraviolet radiation. Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol. 147, No. 6, September 15, 1992, pp. 839-40
Robertson, J.M., et al. Vitamin E intake and risk of cataracts in humans, Annals of the New York Academy of Science, Vol. 570, 1989, pp. 372-82
Knekt, Paul, et al. Serum antioxidant vitamins and risk of cataracts. British Medical Journal, Vol. 305, December 5, 1992, pp. 1392-94
Black, Homer S., et al. Effect of a low-fat diet on the incidence of actinic keratosis. The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 330, No. 18, May 5, 1994, pp. 1272-75
Kaidbey, Kays & Gange, R. William. Comparison of methods of assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 16, No. 2, Pt. 1, February 1987, pp. 346-53
McDonald, Charles J. Status of screening for skin cancer. Cancer (supplement), Vol. 72, No. 3, August 1, 1993, pp. 1066-70

This article was first published in the International Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine,
Vol 12, No 12, December 1994, pp.17-19

[acadkate]

Wow, it seems we are damnd if we do damnd if we don't.
My family has a very very high risk of cancer:
Mom died from breast cancer at 62
Dad survivor of prostate cancer
brother died from malignant melanoma at 42
Niece survivor of non-hodkins lymphoma
me basel cell carcenoma, blond and blue eyed, sunburnd severely too many times and spent a lot of time in the garden as a kid. Always "layed" out to get a tan and "fake baked" as a teen. 32 when diagnosed with basel cell skin cancer with severe skin damage and age spots on face and hands. Lesian was on the ridge of my nose, my brothers was on his back. This experiece was not an insignificant one like the article hinted. The dr took 6 layers of skin off with mohs surgery to remove all of the cancer and cut down to the bone. 6 months of skin regrowth and still had to have a skin graph from inside my left ear to replace the skin on my nose, and dermasanding to sand away the ridge scare around the graph and it still looks bad. The skin color is blotchy and red and the pgraph is sunken in.
So, I'll avoid the sun when I can and start taking a vit d supplement.

[quietone]

Good idea on the spplements. I'm not fearful of the sun, I just know there isn't enough this time of year.

I've also had basel cell carcinomas and the doctor said that the longer you wait the more skin has to go. If you get it taken care of right away, there is much less of a scar. And my mom had melanoma, which we all saw immediately and sent her to the doctor and it was removed easily and she needed no chemo or anything else and has been free of it since (so far). She's a red head.

I've had three now, all on my left leg, which hardly ever sees the sun. So I know for a fact the sun is not the only factor. If I'd had them on my arms or face or neck then yes, I would have believed that. But two were on the back of my left leg and the third on the front of the same leg (the doctor also said if you get more than one, it's usually in the same place). And at the time of the discovery of the first, I wore long pants every day of my life. I didn't even own a pair of shorts because my legs are so white. I believe that it also has something to do with the skin in the area. My legs are extreemly dry and have very little natural oil in them, so I think that has something to do with it.

[Zuleikaa]

Wow, it seems we are damnd if we do damnd if we don't.
My family has a very very high risk of cancer:
Mom died from breast cancer at 62
Dad survivor of prostate cancer
brother died from malignant melanoma at 42
Niece survivor of non-hodkins lymphoma
me basel cell carcenoma, blond and blue eyed, sunburnd severely too many times and spent a lot of time in the garden as a kid. Always "layed" out to get a tan and "fake baked" as a teen. 32 when diagnosed with basel cell skin cancer with severe skin damage and age spots on face and hands. Lesian was on the ridge of my nose, my brothers was on his back. This experiece was not an insignificant one like the article hinted. The dr took 6 layers of skin off with mohs surgery to remove all of the cancer and cut down to the bone. 6 months of skin regrowth and still had to have a skin graph from inside my left ear to replace the skin on my nose, and dermasanding to sand away the ridge scare around the graph and it still looks bad. The skin color is blotchy and red and the pgraph is sunken in.
So, I'll avoid the sun when I can and start taking a vit d supplement.
I'm guessing...I might not be accurate...that your family has a Northern European heritage. Northern Europeans, especially from Sweden, Norway, and Greenland have a hereditarily impaired ability to produce adequate vitamin D levels from the sun. Thus your family's cancer history is based on this. JMO.

I suggest you get your vitamin D tested. Or you and your family can take megadoses of vitamin D. Especially have your Dad take a lot of vitamin D. There are a lot of articles posted on the vitamin D and prostate cancer connection on a previous page of this thread.

[lizzyLC]

Acadkate - I'm sorry for your loses - my heart goes out to you. We have cancer in my family too - like you my Mom and Brother.

I get a lot of sun in the summer here since I swim most days - but I barely ever burn cause I'm in the water before ten - still I worry.
LizzyLC

[Trinigirl]

Hi Everyone, :help:
I am from Trinidad and of mixed parents, so my skin tone is very light brown. In Trinidad it's sunny 99% of the time, I now live in Canada and find the winters very difficult, not because of the cold, I can dress to suit, but the grey days (like today) without sunshine, gets me very down. I don't feel to do anything with my day. I work from home and live out in the country. So most days there is not a need to leave the house, in the summer when it is warm I am very active and outside every day. I must need Vit. D3 I am guessing. I take aM.Vit. which has a low dose of Vit. D. now I need to know how much I need to get me through this Winter. Also there is a type of light that one can purchase to help with this. I need to buy one but I do not know where to find same and the correct name.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance.
Warmest Regards,
Joy.

[Zuleikaa]

Hi Everyone, :help:
I am from Trinidad and of mixed parents, so my skin tone is very light brown. In Trinidad it's sunny 99% of the time, I now live in Canada and find the winters very difficult, not because of the cold, I can dress to suit, but the grey days (like today) without sunshine, gets me very down. I don't feel to do anything with my day. I work from home and live out in the country. So most days there is not a need to leave the house, in the summer when it is warm I am very active and outside every day. I must need Vit. D3 I am guessing. I take aM.Vit. which has a low dose of Vit. D. now I need to know how much I need to get me through this Winter. Also there is a type of light that one can purchase to help with this. I need to buy one but I do not know where to find same and the correct name.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance.
Warmest Regards,
Joy.I have a light box. You can do a google for "Seasonal Affective Disorder"and "light" and sellers will come up. However, with enough vitamin D in my system I no longer need my light. I would start with 4,000 IU vitamin D and keep increasing it on a weekly bases until you feel more alert and like your normal self. Don't be afraid to take it up to 7,000-10,000 IU if necessary. Vitamin D is not toxic at anywhere near those levels. I suggest you get the dry form of vitamin D3 as some people react to the soy oil that's in the vitamin D gels. I buy the dry vitamin D in the 1,000 IU dose per capsule.

When you take vitamin D be sure that you take at least 1200 mg of calcium and 600-800 mg magnesium with it as they work together. If your body does not have enough calcium to work with the D, the D will pull it out of your bones.

[acadkate]

[QUOTE=Zuleikaa]I'm guessing...I might not be accurate...that your family has a Northern European heritage. Northern Europeans, especially from Sweden, Norway, and Greenland have a hereditarily impaired ability to produce adequate vitamin D levels from the sun. Thus your family's cancer history is based on this. JMO.QUOTE]

Zule you hit it right on the head, I'm of Swedish and English heritage. I'm very fair and blue/green eyes and blond hair, although my hair has darkened since having kids. My brother turned grey while still in high school and my Dad has white hair.

My brother did have surgery but the Dr. apperently didn't get all of the cancer before it spread. We went down to Vegas to see him his last Easter just a few weeks before he died. 2 of his wishes came true for him, a bunch of corvette owners had a parade thru his neighborhood and he got to drive one of the stingrays, that was truly awesome. The other was that he died at home with his mind clear and aware.

I, on the other hand didn't know what was on my nose. I had this flat pearly bump for years. Then one day it started bleeding. I thought no big deal, I get blemishes all the time, it'll go away in a day or two. But it never did, it got worse. I finally got some time off and had it examined, to my horror it was cancer. DB had already died, I spiraled into depression compounded by loseing my job and insurance. It took 3 months to get in to see the dermatologist, and a year and a half later I was finally finished and on the mend. Thankfully, it was only basal cell.

Lizzy, thanks for the sentiments. Even though it has been several years the pain of losing a loved one never completely fades away. I'm so sorry to hear of your family cancer struggle too. Somewhere I heard that everyone has had or knows someone who has had cancer of some sort or another. It's pretty scary when you know so many tho.

My career keeps me inside most of the time, so even if I didn't have the cancer I'd still be as white as a ghost. It's good to learn of the vit D benifits. Next time I'm at Vitaminworld I'll pick some up.

[Zuleikaa]

Try to get the dry form of 1000 IUs.

[tokenyanke]

Something I've noticed the past few days and was wondering if anyone else has done this... When I take D in equal doses, I start getting frequent headaches that just won't quit... I cut down to taking a dose in the am and one in the pm, but then I started adding in more at night before going to bed. Before I had to stay between 1200 IU and 1600 IU, but the past few days I've been taking about 800 IU in the morning and a total of between 1200 and 1600 IU at night! No headaches when I wake during the night and no headaches in the morning or during the day.

I'm not sure why it's like that, but I figure as long as I can take it like that and don't have problems, I'll continue like that.

[Zuleikaa]

I'm taking my D in three now. One dose immediately upon arising...well after a bathroom visit, lol!!...one at breakfast and one at lunch. I'm now taking 8,000--10,000 IU/day but most of it is upon arising and at breakfast 4 and 2-4 and 2 at lunch. I always make sure to get the 4 upon arising.

I haven't noticed any downside. And I'm sleeping a lot better since I upped the dose. I found that obese store D in fat and can't access all of it and so can require up to twice as much D as a normal person.

I really feel a difference when I don't get the last 2-4. Now I might just divide it into two doses.

[Zuleikaa]

I'm running out of ideas on D connection postings. Anyone have any connections to illnesses they'd like me to research?

[Zuleikaa]

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/79/5/717
Assessment of dietary vitamin D requirements during pregnancy and lactation1,2
Bruce W Hollis and Carol L Wagner
1 From the Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

2 Address reprint requests to BW Hollis, Medical University of South Carolina, 114 Doughty Street, PO Box 250770, Charleston, SC 29403. E-mail: hollisb~musc.edu.

Concerns about vitamin D have resurfaced in medical and scientific literature because the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the United States, particularly among darkly pigmented persons, has increased. The primary goals of this review were to discuss past and current literature and to reassess the dietary reference intake for vitamin D in adults, with particular focus on women during pregnancy and lactation. The appropriate dose of vitamin D during pregnancy and lactation is unknown, although it appears to be greater than the current dietary reference intake of 200–400 IU/d (5–10 µg/d). Doses of 10 000 IU vitamin D/d (250 µg/d) for up to 5 mo do not elevate circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D to concentrations > 90 ng/mL, whereas doses < 1000 IU/d appear, in many cases, to be inadequate for maintaining normal circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of between 15 and 80 ng/mL. Vitamin D plays no etiologic role in cardiac valvular disease, such as that observed in Williams syndrome, and, as such, animal models involving vitamin D intoxication that show an effect on cardiac disease are flawed and offer no insight into normal human physiology. Higher doses of vitamin D are necessary for a large segment of Americans to achieve concentrations equivalent to those in persons who live and work in sun-rich environments. Further studies are necessary to determine optimal vitamin D intakes for pregnant and lactating women as a function of latitude and race.

The primary goal of this review was to discuss and begin to reassess the dietary reference intake (DRI) for vitamin D during pregnancy and lactation in women. This reassessment is critical because the current recommendations result in a high degree of vitamin D deficiency, especially in the African American population (1). This avenue of research already has begun in the healthy adult population (2, 3) and serves as a model for vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation. The history of dietary vitamin D requirements and recommendations, issues of toxicity and hypervitaminosis D, and the specific issues that pertain to pregnancy and lactation are highlighted in this review.

The first issue addressed is the definition of vitamin D. When we refer to vitamin D, we are speaking of the parent compound cholecalciferol—the form found in vitamin supplements and fortified dairy products and not the hormonal form of vitamin D, namely 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. Thus, we do not discuss studies in which the focus is on the hormonal form of the vitamin, because these studies are pharmacologic in nature and have no bearing on normal physiology. Rather, we focus on physiologically based studies that reevaluated the actual nutritional requirement for vitamin D during human pregnancy and lactation and that accounted for racial factors.

DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKE FOR VITAMIN D: WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE?

An excellent review by Vieth (4) addresses how arbitrary the determination of the vitamin D requirements in the general adult population was. In the next 3 paragraphs, we paraphrase from this review (4). Before 1997, the DRI for vitamin D in infants and children was 10 µg (400 IU) (5). In essence, the scientific basis for this dose was that it approximated what was in a teaspoon (5 mL) of cod-liver oil and had long been considered safe and effective in preventing rickets (6). The basis for adult vitamin D recommendations is even less well defined. Forty years ago, an expert committee on vitamin D provided only anecdotal support for what it referred to as " the hypothesis of a small requirement" for vitamin D in adults, and it recommended one-half the infant dose to ensure that adults obtain some from the diet (7). In England, an adult requirement of only 2.5 µg/d (100 IU/d) was substantiated on the basis of findings in 7 adult women with severe nutritional osteomalacia whose bones showed a response when given this amount (8). The adult DRI of 5 µg/d (200 IU/d) was described as a "generous allowance" in the 1989 version of American recommended dietary allowances (RDA; 5). What is truly remarkable is that the basis for these recommendations was made before it was possible to measure the circulating concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the indicator of nutritional vitamin D status (9, 10).


LOWEST OBSERVED ADVERSE EFFECT LEVEL

Equally important with respect to daily vitamin D intakes is the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL). Again, there is a lack of evidence to support statements about the toxicity of moderate doses of vitamin D. For instance, in the 1989 US RDA it is stated that 5 times the DRI for vitamin D may be harmful (5). This recommendation relates back to a 1963 expert committee report (6), which then refers back to the primary reference, a 1938 report in which linear bone growth was suppressed in infants given 45–158 µg (1800–6300 IU) vitamin D/d (11). The study was not conducted in adults and, thus, does not form a scientific basis for a safe upper limit in adults. The same applies to a statement in the 1987 council report from the American Medical Association: "dosages of 10 000 IU/d for several months have resulted in marked disturbances in calcium metabolism, and, in some cases—death." Two references were cited to substantiate this claim. One reference was to a review article about vitamins in general, which gave no evidence for and cited no other reference for its claim of toxicity at vitamin D doses as low as 250 µg/d (10 000 IU/d) (12). The other reference dealt with 10 patients with vitamin D toxicity reported in 1948, for whom the vitamin D dose was actually 3750–15 000 µg/d (150 000–600 000 IU/d) (13); of note, all of the patients recovered. These same points were rehashed in the 1990 Institute of Medicine Publication, Nutrition During Pregnancy (14). The issue of poorly substantiated claims of toxicity extends even to the most recent revision for vitamin D intakes published by the National Academy of Sciences (15).

The only study cited to address the question of critical endpoint doses for vitamin D (potential adverse effect level) was one by Narang et al (16). The current no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 50 µg/d (2000 IU/d) is based on the finding of Narang et al of a mean serum calcium concentration > 11 mg/dL in the 6 "normal" subjects given 95 µg (3800 IU) vitamin D/d; this intake became the LOAEL. The next lowest test dose used by Narang et al, 60 µg/d (2400 IU/d), with 20% less as the safety margin, became the NOAEL. Narang et al reported only serum electrolyte changes; the doses of vitamin D were not verified, and circulating 25(OH)D concentrations were not reported. It is unfortunate that the National Academy of Sciences based any recommendation on such a limited study. Recent reports by Vieth et al (2) and Heaney et al (3) have proven the above claims to be incorrect. As originally stated by Vieth (4), we have yet to find published evidence of toxicity in adults from an intake of 250 µg/d (10 000 IU/d) that is verified by the circulating 25(OH)D concentration. The DRI, LOAEL, and NOAEL for vitamin D in adult humans have been established with insufficient scientific evidence and thus require correction through sound scientific studies.

The question that has intrigued our group for years is the following: How is it possible that the DRI for vitamin D is the same for a 1-kg premature human infant, a 3.5-kg term infant, and a 90-kg adult? The recommendation for all of three of these groups is 400 IU/d (10 µg/d)! To answer this question, it is necessary to ascertain the effect of a daily intake of 400 IU vitamin D/d on circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in infants and adults. We published the results of a study in infants more than a decade ago (17). In that study, term (weight: 3.4 ± 0.4 kg; ± SD) and preterm (1.3 ± 0.2 kg) infants were supplemented with 400 IU (10 µg) vitamin D/d for 4 mo. The circulating 25(OH)D concentration (in ng/mL), the nutritional indicator of vitamin D status, increased during this period in the term (from 11 ± 9 to 26 ± 12 ng/mL; ± SD) and preterm (from 11 ± 5 to 51 ± 19 ng/mL) infants. These are healthy increases; thus, a daily dose of 400 IU (10 µg) vitamin D appears to be effective in raising the vitamin D concentration to the accepted normal range for infants (15–80 ng/mL).

What effect does a daily dose of 400 IU vitamin D for an extended time (months) have in adults? The answer is little or nothing. At this dose (10 µg/d) in an adult, circulating 25(OH)D concentrations usually remain unchanged or decline. This was first shown in both adolescent girls and young women (18, 19). So the question is, what vitamin D intake is required to maintain or preferably improve the nutritional vitamin D status in adults in general and in pregnant or lactating adults specifically? This is a complex scientific question, yet recent well-controlled studies have provided some provisional answers (2, 3). First, what is the "normal" circulating concentration of 25(OH)D in the adult population? Data taken from the Mayo Medical Laboratories in Rochester, MN, list the normal range to be 15–80 ng/mL (20). This range is in accordance with what we have found in our laboratory; however, the circulating 25(OH)D concentration is dependent on season and latitude, as evidenced by the reference ranges (21). In sun-rich environments, circulating 25(OH)D ranges from 54 to 90 ng/mL (22-24).


NORMATIVE ADULT DATA IN A SUN-RICH ENVIRONMENT

Humans have evolved at exposures of > 20 000 IU (500 µg) vitamin D/d from the sun. In fact, a 0.5-h exposure to the summer sun between 1000 and 1400 in a bathing suit (3 times the minimal erythemal dose) will initiate the release of 50 000 IU (1.25 mg) vitamin D into the circulation within 24 h of exposure in white persons (25). African Americans require up to 5 times this solar exposure to achieve the same response (26, 27). In whites who have a deep tan because of melanin deposition in the skin, the response is 50% of that stated above, ie, only 20 000–30 000 IU (500–750 µg) vitamin D will be liberated (28). Finally, if wearing clothing or total body sunscreen, the cutaneous release of vitamin D is completely blunted (24, 29-31). So, in light of the above facts, a DRI of 400 IU/d (10 µg/d) in adults seems woefully inadequate to maintain normal circulating concentrations of vitamin D in adults with minimal solar exposure.


VITAMIN D INTAKES REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN AN ADEQUATE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF VITAMIN D


On the basis of 25(OH)D concentrations in sun-replete adults, what vitamin D intake is required to sustain an adequate nutritional status of vitamin D? In whites who experience significant solar exposure to the body routinely, this is not an important question. As a population, however, our unprotected exposure to the sun is declining rapidly because if the fear of skin cancer and premature aging resulting from public education campaigns. For persons with darker pigmentation, the answer is more complicated. The darker pigmentation of the African American population is a powerful natural sunscreen, which adversely affects cutaneous vitamin D synthesis.

The first study to address this topic was published by Vieth et al in 2001 (2). In this study, the investigators supplemented healthy adults daily with either 25 µg (1000 IU) or 100 µg (4000 IU) vitamin D for 5 mo. Circulating 25(OH)D concentrations increased from 16.3 ± 6.2 to 27.5 ± 6.8 ng/mL and from 18.7 ± 6.0 to 38.6 ± 5.8 ng/mL in the 1000- and 4000-IU groups, respectively. Not a single adverse event or episode of hypercalciuria was observed in the 60 subjects enrolled in the study. In an even more detailed report, Heaney et al (3) studied 67 men divided into 4 groups that received 200 IU (5 µg), 1000 IU (25 µg), 5000 IU (125 µg), or 10 000 IU (250 µg) vitamin D/d for 5 mo. The 200-IU/d group failed to maintain circulating 25(OH)D concentrations during the study period. The remaining 3 groups responded in a dose-response fashion with respect to elevations in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations. From these data, with the use of regression analysis, it has become possible to calculate a response of circulating 25(OH)D from a given oral intake of vitamin D. The data show that for every 1 µg (40 IU) of vitamin D intake, circulating 25(OH)D increases by 0.28 ng/mL over 5 mo on a given supplemental regimen. Note that a steady state appears to be achieved after 90 d of each dose tested (2, 3). Thus, doses of 400 IU (10 µg), 1000 IU (25 µg), 4000 IU (100 µg), and 10 000 IU (250 µg) vitamin D/d for 5 mo will result in theoretical increases in circulating concentrations of 2.8, 7.0, 28, and 70 ng 25(OH)D/mL, respectively, all of which values are in the normal range of circulating concentrations according to reference data (20). In the study by Heaney et al (3), not one case of hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria was observed. The data from the studies of Vieth et al (2) and Heaney et al (3) are summarized in Table 1.

We are conducting an ongoing study that involves the supplementation of lactating mothers with 2000 IU (50 µg; n = 9) or 4000 IU (100 µg; n = 9) vitamin D/d for 3 mo. Our preliminary data show increased mean (± SD) circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in the 2000-IU/d group (from 27.6 ± 9.8 to 36.1 ± 7.0 ng/mL) and in the 4000-IU/d group (from 32.6 ± 6.9 to 44.5 ± 11.4 ng/mL), all of which are within the normal reference range (38). We note that the breastfeeding infants of these mothers have a substantially improved nutritional vitamin D status because of the transfer of vitamin D into the mother’s milk. Circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in the infants of mothers receiving the 4000-IU/d dose increased into the normal range after only 3 mo of breastfeeding (38).
Given the results of more recent scientific studies that evaluated high-dose vitamin D supplementation, it appears that the current RDA, DRI, LOAEL, and NOAEL for adults were based on limited scientific methods and small sample sizes and, therefore, are misleading and potentially harmful. New scientific evidence, including a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1), suggests that the DRI for vitamin D should be much higher to achieve adequate nutritional vitamin D status, especially in the African American population because of their darker pigmentation. Further studies are necessary to determine the optimal therapeutic doses of vitamin D during pregnancy and lactation. Given the scientific data that are accumulating about the need for a higher DRI for vitamin D, how does one reconcile past concerns about vitamin D toxicity and hypervitaminosis D? The first step is to define hypervitaminosis D and to examine the medical literature describing these medical conditions.

HYPERVITAMINOSIS D

Nutritional hypervitaminosis results when pharmacologic doses of vitamin D are consumed for a prolonged period of time and is defined by a large increase in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations (4). The exact amount of vitamin D required to induce toxicity, ie, the amount ingested over a given period of time, is unknown in humans. However, Vieth (4) suggests that this amount is 20 000 IU/d (500 µg/d). In our experience, the amount of circulating 25(OH)D that induces toxicity would have to exceed 100 ng/mL. Eventually, as circulating 25(OH)D increases to toxic concentrations, the classic situation of hypercalciuria, hypercalcemia, and, finally, extraskeletal calcification becomes evident. Hypercalciuria due to excessive vitamin D intakes is always accompanied by circulating 25(OH)D concentrations > 100 ng/mL (39-41). To attain circulating 25(OH)D concentrations that exceed 100 ng/mL, a daily vitamin D intake well in excess of 10 000 IU/d (250 µg/d) for several months would be required (3). Vieth (4) estimates that the physiologic limit for daily vitamin D intake is 250–500 µg (10 000–20 000 IU/d). This amount also makes sense from a physiologic standpoint because this daily vitamin D load (10 000–20 000 IU) would be easily achieved from ultraviolet (UV) light–induced cutaneous synthesis in subjects of all races who work outside in sun-rich environments (22-25). Hypervitaminosis D is a serious, albeit very rare, condition. However, hypervitaminosis D has never occurred when physiologic amounts of vitamin D are ingested. In addition, no case of hypervitaminosis D from sun exposure has ever been reported.


HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION IN INFANTS

The concern regarding excessive vitamin D supplementation during infancy came to the forefront in post-World War II Britain. During that time, it was the practice to supplement each quart (0.95 L) of milk with 1000 IU (25 µg) vitamin D and to fortify many foodstuffs, such as cereals, bread, and flour, with vitamin D (42). It was calculated that most of the infants in Great Britain at that time received between 2000 and 3000 IU (50–75 µg) vitamin D/d (42). In many cases, it could have been much higher because of indiscriminate vitamin D supplementation. Thus, the highest doses that some infants received during this period will never be known because blood concentrations of vitamin D could not be assessed at that time. The indiscriminate use of vitamin D during this time was blamed for a dramatic increase in infantile idiopathic hypercalcemia (43); undoubtedly, uncontrolled vitamin D intakes from a variety of sources contributed to this outbreak. However, 2 important issues remain. First, the actual amount of vitamin D ingested by these infants who were afflicted with idiopathic hypercalcemia will never be known. Second, the contribution of other unknown underlying diseases, such as Williams syndrome, to the idiopathic hypercalcemia will remain unknown.

There is a model of "controlled" high-dose vitamin D supplementation (ie, a supplement given from a single source) during infancy that did not show the problems encountered in Britain. In Finland, from the mid-1950s until 1964, the recommended intake of vitamin D for infants was 4000–5000 IU/d (100–125 µg/d) (44). In 1964 it was reduced to 2000 IU/d (50 µg/d), and in 1975 it was further reduced to 1000 IU/d (25 µg/d) (44). In 1992, on the basis of the US RDA (5), the dose was reduced again to 400 IU/d (10 µg/d). Under this controlled supplementation regimen, even at the highest intakes, neither idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia nor any other health problem was ever described. However, what was described in a retrospective study was a dramatic decrease in type 1 diabetes later in life in infants who received high-dose daily vitamin D supplementation (44).


HYPERVITAMINOSIS D AS A CAUSE OF SUPRAVALVULAR AORTIC STENOSIS SYNDROME: AN ERRONEOUS ASSOCIATION

Because of the British experience with idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia attributed to hypervitaminosis D, a terribly inaccurate association occurred that had a profound effect on the potential of vitamin D supplementation, not only during infancy but also during pregnancy. In 1963, Black and Bonham-Carter (45) recognized that elfin facies observed in patients with severe idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia resembled the peculiar facies observed in patients with supravalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) syndrome. Shortly thereafter, Garcia et al (46) documented the occurrence of idiopathic hypercalcemia in an infant with SAS who also had peripheral pulmonary stenosis, mental retardation, elfin facies, and an elevated blood concentration of vitamin D. This is an interesting observation because, in 1964, when the article was published, there were no quantitative means of assessing circulating concentrations of vitamin D. In fact, at that time, it was not even proven that vitamin D was further metabolized within the body. By 1966 vitamin D was viewed by the medical community as the cause of SAS syndrome (42, 47). As a result of the theory that maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy caused SAS syndrome (48, 49), animal models were developed to show that toxic excesses of vitamin D during pregnancy would result in SAS (reviewed in the next section) (50-62). In these earlier cases (42, 45-49), vitamin D had nothing to do with the etiology of SAS. What was described as vitamin D–induced SAS syndrome is now known as Williams syndrome (63). Unfortunately, a low vitamin D intake during pregnancy is still associated with SAS.

Williams syndrome is a severe genetic affliction related to elastin gene disruption (64) that is caused by deletion of elastin and contiguous genes on chromosome 7g11.23. This syndrome is characterized by multiorganic involvement (including SAS), dysmorphic facial features, and a distinctive cognitive profile (64). Such patients often exhibit abnormal vitamin D metabolism, which makes them susceptible to bouts of idiopathic hypercalcemia (65-70). This relation was suspected as early as 1976 (71). Subsequently, it was shown that children with Williams syndrome exhibit an exaggerated response of circulating 25(OH)D to orally administered vitamin D (65). Thus, the fear of vitamin D–induced SAS is based on studies that are no longer valid yet continue to be cited.


ANIMAL MODELS OF VITAMIN D TOXICITY DURING PREGNANCY

As mentioned previously, animal models of vitamin D toxicity during pregnancy developed in the 1960s and 1970s were used to study vitamin D–induced SAS syndrome in humans (50-62). These animal models, almost without exception, focused on feeding or injecting rodents, rabbits, or pigs with toxic concentrations of vitamin D or on administering the active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) and assessing the biological consequences. The results arising from vitamin D–induced hypercalcemia were devastating: extraskeletal calcifications of the aorta (a defect not observed in Williams syndrome) and other tissues that were usually followed by death. In most of these studies, the animals received 200 000–300 000 IU (5000–7500 µg) vitamin D/kg body wt to elicit these horrendous effects. An equivalent dose to a 60-kg human would be 15 000 000 IU/d (375 000 µg/d). In fact, toxic amounts of vitamin D have been used as a rodenticide, as an alternative to warfarin. However, to achieve the same results in humans, millions of units of vitamin D would have to be ingested.

Two relatively recent publications dealing with vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and fetal cardiac abnormalities that used animal models need to be addressed. The first of these articles was published in 1985 in a Japanese science journal (59). These investigators fed 2 pregnant pigs different doses of vitamin D. One pig was fed a nearly vitamin D–deficient diet, and the other pig was fed a diet with a relatively normal vitamin D content. The piglets from the mother fed the nearly vitamin D–deficient diet exhibited borderline hypovitaminosis D [15 ng/mL circulating 25(OH)D], whereas piglets from the other sow had normal circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D. The authors attempted to relate normal circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in the piglets to coronary arterial lesions and made the inference that this could be the reason why Americans have a high rate of coronary disease. This study lacked the power to detect any statistically significant differences.

Only one other study has been reported that attempts to repeat the results of the porcine study with the use of a rat model (62). In this study, investigators fed pregnant rats the hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], directly. The intake of 1,25(OH)2D3 by these pregnant rats was shown to influence aortic structure, function, and elastin content. These investigators collected blood using EDTA, a calcium-chelating agent, as an anticoagulant; as a consequence, circulating calcium could not even be measured! Thus, clinically significant hypervitaminosis D was not evident on the basis of its primary effect—hypercalcemia, which invalidated the study. In addition, because the authors used the hormonal form of vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3], the study was considered to be pharmacologic and, thus, did not represent or recapitulate normal physiology in humans, ie, the hormonal form bypassed the body’s normal regulation of the conversion of 25(OH)D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Thus, these animal studies have no bearing on normal human nutrition.


ANIMAL MODELS OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY DURING PREGNANCY

Conversely, other studies have shown just how important adequate nutritional intakes of vitamin D are to skeletal, cardiovascular, and neurologic development in experimental animals (72-76). Weishaar and Simpson (72) showed that lengthy periods of vitamin D deficiency in rats are associated with profound changes in cardiovascular function, including increases in cardiac and vascular muscle contractile function. These investigators later showed by histologic examination that ventricular muscles from vitamin D–deficient rats showed a significant increase in extracellular space (73). Morris et al (74) reported that low maternal consumption of vitamin D retarded metabolic and contractile development in the neonatal rat heart. The authors concluded that low maternal vitamin D intakes result in a general, but significant, slowing of neonatal cardiac development.

It has been suggested that vitamin D could be involved in brain function and neurodevelopment (77, 78). A recent study provides startling evidence with respect to the consequences of vitamin D deficiency on the neurodevelopment of the fetus during pregnancy in a rat model (75). Pups born to vitamin D–deficient mothers had cortex abnormalities, enlarged lateral ventricles, and more cell proliferation throughout the brain. Furthermore, the rats showed a reduction in the brain content of nerve growth factor and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor and a reduction in the expression of p75NTR, the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor. These findings suggest that low maternal vitamin D has important ramifications for the developing brain.

It has been known for decades that adequate vitamin D is required for normal skeletal development. The importance of vitamin D to skeletal integrity has been shown in a study involving rodents (76). This study showed that hypovitaminosis D during pregnancy impaired endosteal bone formation, which resulted in trabecular bone loss, and concluded that vitamin D is indispensable for normal bone mineralization during the reproductive period in rats.


HUMAN STUDIES INVOLVING PHARMACOLOGIC DOSES OF VITAMIN D DURING PREGNANCY

A study in human subjects involved the administration of 100 000 IU vitamin D/d (2.5 mg/d) throughout pregnancy to hypoparathyroid women to maintain serum calcium (79, 80). The infants from the larger of the 2 studies (79; n = 15) underwent an examination of facial structure, a palpation of pulses, and an auscultation for significant murmurs or bruits over the entire chest, back, abdomen, and peripheral vessels. Furthermore, the children were examined at ages ranging from 6 wk to 16 y. Many of the children were examined several times over a 4-y period. None of the children had any of the craniofacial stigmata associated with infantile hypercalcemia. Specifically, none had micrognathia or evidence of SAS, pulmonary stenosis, or other detectable cardiovascular anomalies. Greer et al (80) showed that an infant delivered from a hypoparathyroid mother who had received 100 000 IU (2.5 mg) vitamin D/d had circulating 25(OH)D concentrations of 250 ng/mL at birth; yet, this infant was perfectly normal and healthy. This woman again became pregnant and subsequently delivered another healthy term infant. Thus, there is no evidence in humans that even a 100 000 IU/d dose of vitamin D for extended periods during pregnancy results in any harmful effects. Pharmacologic doses of 1,25(OH)2D3 given to a woman to treat hypocalcemic rickets during her pregnancy produced no ill effects on the developing fetus; these infants were specifically evaluated for elfin facies and SAS (81).

VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION DURING HUMAN PREGNANCY
The Cochrane Library recently issued a review of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy (82) and identified 7 studies on the topic in question (32-34, 36, 83-85); however, only 4 reported clinical outcomes (32, 33, 83, 84). The Cochrane review concluded that there is not enough evidence to evaluate the requirements and effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy. Presented below are the clinically relevant studies offered by the Cochrane review plus 3 additional studies identified by our group.

Initial vitamin D supplementation studies during pregnancy were carried out in the early 1980s. Brooke et al (32), who studied British mothers of Asian descent, found a greater incidence of small-for-gestational-age infants born to mothers who received placebo than in mothers who received 1000 IU (25 µg) vitamin D2/d during the final trimester of pregnancy. Neonates in the placebo group also had a greater fontanelle area than did the supplemented group. It must be noted that the placebo group in this study showed profound hypovitaminosis D. Follow-up studies by Brooke et al (83) were conducted in Asian mothers who again were provided with either placebo or 1000 IU vitamin D2/d during the last trimester of pregnancy. The follow-up data provided evidence that, during the first year of life, the infants of the maternal placebo group gained less weight and had a lower rate of linear growth than did the infants of the maternal supplemented group.

Cockburn et al (33) undertook a large vitamin D supplementation study of > 1000 pregnant subjects in the United Kingdom who were supplemented with 400 IU (10 µg) vitamin D2/d or received a placebo from week 12 of gestation onward. At this level of supplementation, serum concentrations of 25(OH)D in the supplemented group were only slightly higher than those in the placebo group. A defect in dental enamel formation was observed in a higher proportion of the children at 3 y of age in the maternal placebo group. Maxwell et al (84) conducted a double-blind trial of vitamin D (1000 IU/d) during the last trimester of pregnancy in Asian women living in London. They found that the supplemented mothers had greater weight gains and, at term, had significantly higher plasma concentrations of retinol-binding protein and thyroid-binding prealbumin, which indicated better protein-calorie nutrition. Almost twice as many infants of the unsupplemented group weighed < 2500 g at birth and had significantly lower retinol-binding protein concentrations than did infants of the supplemented mothers. Brunvard et al (86) followed 30 pregnant Pakistani women who were free of chronic diseases and had uncomplicated pregnancies. Nearly all of the women had low (< 15 ng/mL) circulating 25(OH)D concentrations, and nearly 50% exhibited secondary hyperparathyroidism. The maternal circulating parathyroid hormone concentration was inversely related to the neonatal crown-heel length. These authors concluded that maternal vitamin D deficiency affected fetal growth through an effect on maternal calcium homeostasis.

HOW DOES VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION DURING PREGNANCY AFFECT THE NUTRITIONAL VITAMIN D STATUS IN BOTH MOTHER AND FETUS?

This is an important question that remains to be addressed. In the United States, the current DRI for vitamin D during pregnancy is 200–400 IU/d (5–10 µg/d). However, supplementation of mothers, by Cockburn et al (33), with 400 IU vitamin D/d during the last trimester of pregnancy did not significantly increase circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in the mothers or their infants at term. This finding agrees with current data in healthy men published by Heaney et al (3). Supplementation with 1000 IU (25 µg) vitamin D/d during the last trimester of pregnancy has produced mixed results. The initial study by Brooke et al (32) described a dramatic increase, 50–60 ng/mL, in circulating 25(OH)D in both mothers and neonates at term (Table 1). However, these results are highly suspect in light of later and current work (2, 3, 35, 37, 38) and are consistent with a dose response obtained after consumption of 10 000 IU (250 µg) vitamin D/d for 3 mo. There also is a possibility that the 25(OH)D assay method used in this study was flawed, as was common during this early period of investigation.

Mallet et al (35) reported that vitamin D supplementation (1000 IU/d, or 25 µg/d) during the last trimester of pregnancy resulted in an increase in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations of only a 5–6 ng/mL in maternal and cord serum. In the most recent study, by Datta et al (37), 160 pregnant minority women in the United Kingdom were provided with 800–1600 IU (20–40 µg) vitamin D/d for the duration of their pregnancy. Using modern assay technology for the measurement of circulating 25(OH)D concentrations (21), these investigators found a mean (± SD) increase in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations (ng/mL) of from 5.8 ± 0.9 at the beginning of pregnancy to 11.2 ± 6.3 at term after vitamin D supplementation. A normal serum circulating 25(OH)D concentration in the United States is considered to be > 15 ng/mL (20). However, a circulating concentration of 15 ng 25(OH)D/mL is marginal for nutritional vitamin D status (10). In other words, mothers who were vitamin D deficient at the beginning of their pregnancy were still deficient at the end of their pregnancy after being supplemented with 800–1600 IU vitamin D/d throughout their pregnancy. In other words, mothers who were vitamin D deficient at the beginning of their pregnancy were still deficient at the end of their pregnancy after being supplemented with 800–1600 IU vitamin D/d throughout their pregnancy. This result is precisely what the regression analysis from Heaney et al (3) predicted would happen at this vitamin D intake, and this is a problem (Table 1). The results of this study again point out that the DRI for vitamin D during pregnancy is grossly inadequate, especially in ethnic minorities. The data of Vieth et al (2) and Heaney et al (3) and our own data in lactating women (38) suggest that doses exceeding 1000 IU vitamin D/d (2000–10 000 IU/d) are required to achieve a robust normal concentration of circulating 25(OH)D. This should be the goal of future research in this area.


MATERNAL AND CORRESPONDING FETAL VITAMIN D CONCENTRATIONS
Many studies in human subjects have shown a strong relation between maternal and fetal (cord blood) circulating 25(OH)D concentrations (87-90). Our group showed that vitamin D status at birth is closely related to that of the mother and is greatly influenced by race (90). The data showed that the fetus at birth (cord blood) will contain 50–60% of the maternal circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D. This relation appears to be linear, even at pharmacologic intakes of vitamin D (80). With respect to the more polar metabolites of vitamin D, a similar (but lesser) relation is observed between mother and fetus (90). Interestingly, there appears to be little, if any, relation with respect to the parent vitamin, vitamin D (90). This lack of placental transfer of parent vitamin D from mother to fetus was also observed in a porcine experimental animal model (91). Thus, in the human fetus, vitamin D metabolism in all likelihood begins with 25(OH)D. As a result, the nutritional vitamin D status of the human fetus and neonate is totally dependent on the vitamin D stores of the mother (90); thus, if the mother has hypovitaminosis D, her fetus will experience depleted vitamin D exposure throughout the developmental period.

Finally, let us discuss a scenario that occurs thousands of times daily in the United States. A pregnant woman visits her obstetrician, who prescribes prenatal vitamins containing 400 IU (10 µg) vitamin D. The patient and physician both assume that this supplement will fulfill all the nutritional requirements for the duration of the pregnancy. However, in the case of vitamin D, it will not even come close unless the pregnant woman has adequate sun exposure. The woman, especially if African American, and her developing fetus are at high risk of remaining vitamin D deficient during the entire pregnancy (1). Even if the physician were to prescribe a vitamin D supplement of 1000 IU/d (25 µg/d), the mother would likely remain vitamin D deficient (35, 37). As scientists and health care providers, we simply cannot accept this any longer. The true requirement for vitamin D during pregnancy must be determined scientifically.

Scientific data pertaining to vitamin D supplementation during lactation in the humans is even scarcer than data on vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy. As during pregnancy, an arbitrary DRI has been set at 400 IU/d (10 µg/d). For the reasons stated in the previous sections, we consider a 400-IU/d vitamin D supplement to lactating mothers to be inadequate. This level of supplementation will do nothing to increase or even sustain the nutritional vitamin D status of mothers or their breastfeeding infants. We believe that vitamin D supplementation of lactating mothers has a dual purpose: 1) to increase the nutritional vitamin D status of the mother and 2) to improve the vitamin D nutriture of the breastfeeding infant. A maternal intake of 400 IU vitamin D/d will accomplish neither of these goals. To our knowledge, not a single prospective study has been performed to evaluate the effects of supplementing lactating mothers with 400 IU vitamin D/d. In other words, we have no idea what effect this dose would have on the nutritional vitamin D status of the mother or her infant. However, on the basis of the regression model of Heaney et al (3), supplementation of pregnant women with 400 IU vitamin D/d would only increase circulating 25(OH)D concentrations by 2.8 ng/mL after 5 mo.

We found only a single study that prospectively examined vitamin D supplementation during lactation (92). In this study, lactating mothers were supplemented with either 1000 IU (25 µg) or 2000 IU (50 µg) vitamin D/d for 15 wk. Increases in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations during this period of supplementation were 16 and 23 ng/mL in the 1000- and 2000-IU groups, respectively. We conducted preliminary studies in which lactating mothers were supplemented with 2000 and 4000 IU vitamin D/d for 3 mo (38). Our data also showed an increase in circulating maternal 25(OH)D concentrations, although not as pronounced as those observed by Ala-Houhala et al (92). It is clear that larger, more detailed studies are required to determine the vitamin D requirements of lactating mothers.

In the past, human milk was thought to be an adequate source of antirachitic activity for neonates and growing infants. Even before the discovery of vitamin D, McCollum et al (93) and Park (94) stated that rickets was due to the deprivation of sunlight and dietary factor X. They observed that factor X was found in "good breast milk" and cod liver oil and that, although rickets did develop in breastfed children, it was rarely as severe as in artificially fed infants. These investigators did not know that the source of vitamin D in the mother’s milk was the mother’s exposure to the sun, which cutaneously generated large amounts of vitamin D. Ultimately, this solar-derived vitamin D ended up in the mother’s milk for the infant. Early attempts to quantify the antirachitic potential of human milk were crude and yielded little information (95-97). For a time, it was believed that vitamin D sulfate was responsible for the antirachitic activity in human milk (98, 99); however, this was later shown not to be the case (100).

In the 1980s, the antirachitic activity of human milk was defined with sensitive assay technology to be 20–70 IU/L (101-103). Furthermore, almost all of the activity was attributable to vitamin D and 25(OH)D. These studies also showed that dietary maternal vitamin D supplementation and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure increase the vitamin D content of human milk (102, 104, 105). Specker et al (106) determined that the antirachitic activity of human milk was lower in African American than in white mothers. This difference was attributed to variations in the dietary intake of vitamin D and exposure to UV light. As presented earlier, the woman with hypoparathyroidism treated with 100 000 IU (2.5 mg) vitamin D/d for the maintenance of her plasma calcium concentration throughout pregnancy delivered a healthy child at term and then breastfed her infant (80). Analysis of breast milk from this mother showed it to contain 7000 IU/L of antirachitic activity. From our current studies involving lactating mothers receiving up to 4000 IU (100 µg) vitamin D/d, we showed elevations in the antirachitic activity of some of the mothers’ milk to > 400 IU/L (38). Thus, it is clear that the vitamin D content of human milk can be influenced by maternal diet, UV light exposure, or both. If a lactating mother has a limited exposure to UV light, a limited vitamin D intake [such as occurs at the current DRI of 400 IU/d (10 µg/d)], or both, the vitamin D content of her milk will be low, especially if she has darker skin pigmentation.

Thirty-five years ago the incidence of nutritional rickets was thought to be disappearing (107). Many reports since then, however, indicate that this is not the case (108-112). Most of the cases of rickets reported in the last few years have been in darkly pigmented infants who had been breastfed exclusively. Hypovitaminosis D in breastfed infants is also a severe problem in sun-rich environments, such as the Middle East (113). This hypovitaminosis D results because sun exposure to both mothers and infants is extremely limited. Furthermore, dietary supplementation in this population is not a common practice.

From the prior discussion in this report, it is clear that the antirachitic activity of human milk is variable and is affected by season, maternal vitamin D intake, and race. How then is the nutritional vitamin D status of neonates and infants affected if they are exclusively breastfed? Cancela et al (114) reported that circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in breastfed infants are directly related to the vitamin D content of the mothers’ milk. Available evidence indicates that if the vitamin D status of the lactating mother is adequate, her breastfeeding infant will maintain a "minimally normal" nutritional vitamin D status. The best example of this was presented by Greer and Marshall (115). These investigators found that white infants who were exclusively breastfed during the winter in a northern climate maintained a "minimally normal" vitamin D status for 6 mo. Note, however, that the circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in the breastfeeding infants from this study actually decreased as the study progressed. This decrease occurred despite a maternal vitamin D intake of 700 IU/d (17.5 µg/d) (115). In contrast, a Finnish study showed that maternal supplementation with 1000 IU (25 µg) vitamin D/d resulted in a minimal increase in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in breastfeeding infants (36). These same investigators repeated a similar study with 2000 IU (50 µg) vitamin D/d and found that the vitamin D status of the breastfeeding infants improved significantly (92). Our group recently performed similar studies, supplementing lactating women with 2000 or 4000 IU vitamin D/d for 3 mo (38). We found that high-dose maternal vitamin D supplementation not only improves the nutritional vitamin D status of breastfeeding infants but also elevates the maternal concentrations into the mid-normal range. Thus, a dual benefit is achieved from high-dose maternal supplementation. It is noteworthy that in the Finnish study, the authors added a disclaimer, "A sufficient supply of vitamin D to the breastfed infant is achieved only by increasing the maternal supplementation up to 2000 IU/d. Such a dose is far higher than the RDA [DRI] for lactating mothers [and therefore] its safety over prolonged periods is not known and should be examined by further study." This point of concern was valid when this study was conducted in 1986 (92); however, on the basis of the current findings of Vieth et al (2) and of Heaney et al (3)—which showed that vitamin D intakes 10 000 IU/d (250 µg) are safe for prolonged periods (up to 5 mo)—we believe that it is time to reexamine the understated DRI of vitamin D for lactating mothers. This work is now being conducted in our clinics and laboratory.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Sebastiano Gattoni-Celli and L Lyndon Key for their thoughtful review and editorial assistance with this manuscript.

REFERENCES

[Trinigirl]

Hi Zuleikaa, :wave:
You are a wealth of information. Thank you for your research.
You asked previouly if we required any other medical information researched. :help: Can you find any information on "Asthma" in Adults. I have had Asthma for the past nine years and this year it got worst. Even though I have improved my way of life and now drink no milk or eat cheese or musrooms, any mold forming foods I am still on lots of medication. I would like to improve my health. Any information will be helpful. This will be greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance. :heart:
Warmest Regards,
Joy.
P.S. I purchase extra vitimin D and have been taking them now for four (4) day, I am also giving it to my daughter who seems to have the same problem as I do during winter.
Thanks again for all your hard work and the information given. :)

[sambalam]

joy, something you may want to look at is the connection between asthma and magnesium. a couple of my asthmatic friends have been supplementing with chelated magneisum and are finding it's really helping.

Zuleikaa, sorry if this is a stupid query. i live in australia and have fair, freckly skin thanks to my scottish, irish and german heritage. i've always been really cautious of getting sunburned and so on but i am really intrigued about vitamin D and all the research you've found. one thing i spotted on mercola.com is the following: "Ultraviolet exposure beyond the minimal dose required to produce skin redness, does not increase vitamin D production any further.
An equilibrium occurs in white skin within 20 min of ultraviolet exposure, in which further increases in vitamin D is not possible, since the ultraviolet light will actually start to degrade the vitamin D."

do you agree with this statement, that after 20 mins you can't make any more vit D? i live in the south of the country but in summer our sun is hot, you can feel your skin burning in minutes, even in winter on a clear, sunny day the sun can feel like it's burning you. so i am trying to work out the ideal amount of time to be in the sun without sunscreen and without being burned - in summer that is 20 mins max. do you know of or have you posted here (i can't find anything) any information that states how much vitamin D you will produce in how much time in the sun, or is that impossible to work out?

thanks for your thread, it's great.

[Dodger]

joy, something you may want to look at is the connection between asthma and magnesium. a couple of my asthmatic friends have been supplementing with chelated magneisum and are finding it's really helping.

Zuleikaa, sorry if this is a stupid query. i live in australia and have fair, freckly skin thanks to my scottish, irish and german heritage. i've always been really cautious of getting sunburned and so on but i am really intrigued about vitamin D and all the research you've found. one thing i spotted on mercola.com is the following: "Ultraviolet exposure beyond the minimal dose required to produce skin redness, does not increase vitamin D production any further.
An equilibrium occurs in white skin within 20 min of ultraviolet exposure, in which further increases in vitamin D is not possible, since the ultraviolet light will actually start to degrade the vitamin D."

do you agree with this statement, that after 20 mins you can't make any more vit D? i live in the south of the country but in summer our sun is hot, you can feel your skin burning in minutes, even in winter on a clear, sunny day the sun can feel like it's burning you. so i am trying to work out the ideal amount of time to be in the sun without sunscreen and without being burned - in summer that is 20 mins max. do you know of or have you posted here (i can't find anything) any information that states how much vitamin D you will produce in how much time in the sun, or is that impossible to work out?

thanks for your thread, it's great.Sam,
I would get out of the sun when the skin starts to turn red. A sun burn is not good, but a sun tan is. If you start in the spring with increasing time in the sun, you can tan (and generate lots of vitamin D) without burning. The tan allows you to spend longer times in the sun without risking burning.

Your body is still absorbing the vitamin D that it manufactured in skin for some time after you leave the sun, so avoid washing your skin for 10 to 15 minutes after you get in the shade. The skin oils have vitamin D that can still be taken into the body.

The hot feeling that you get from the sun is the heat from the infrared rays, not the UV rays that make the D. Determining how long to stay in the sun should not be based on how hot the skin feels, but rather on how it looks. At the first sign of redness, leave the sun.

[sambalam]

thanks mike. i burn really easily in summer so i always try to get a base than first. i think i will stick to 20 minutes for the time being and build up.

[sambalam]

BTW i read something really interesting just recently, that cholesterol is involved int he production of Vitamin D in the body. i haven't had a chance to verify this but has anyone else read this?

[Trinigirl]

Hi Sam,
Thank you for your imput to my Asthma. How much magnesium can you used to help????
Any information will be appreciated.
Thanks again.
Still looking forward to any other information.
Warmest Regards,
Joy.

[Zuleikaa]

Hi Zuleikaa, :wave:
You asked previouly if we required any other medical information researched. :help: Can you find any information on "Asthma" in Adults. I have had Asthma for the past nine years and this year it got worst. Even though I have improved my way of life and now drink no milk or eat cheese or musrooms, any mold forming foods I am still on lots of medication. I would like to improve my health. Any information will be helpful. This will be greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance. :heart:
Warmest Regards,
Joy.Here's the information on magnesium deficiency and asthma.
http://www.asthmaworld.org/asthma-magnesium.htm
Coincidentally magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D are all linked and interdependent. So you're headed in the right direction.
Another powerful tool against asthma is organic oregano oil.

--Magnesium
Take 250 mg two to four times daily. Magnesium relaxes the bronchial tubes and improves lung function.
--Oregano oil (Origanum vulgare)
Take 150 mg in the capsule form four times daily. Oregano oil has powerful
antibacterial properties. Oregano contains four anti-asthmatic compounds and six compounds that are expectorants. Oregano oil used internally and externally also increases oxygen absorption in the blood and is a powerful antifungal and kills yeast.
--Vitamin C
Take 1,000 mg two to four times daily. Vitamin C lessens spasms of the bronchial passages and has antiallergy benefits.

[Zuleikaa]

Zuleikaa, sorry if this is a stupid query. i live in australia and have fair, freckly skin thanks to my scottish, irish and german heritage. i've always been really cautious of getting sunburned and so on but i am really intrigued about vitamin D and all the research you've found. one thing i spotted on mercola.com is the following: "Ultraviolet exposure beyond the minimal dose required to produce skin redness, does not increase vitamin D production any further.
An equilibrium occurs in white skin within 20 min of ultraviolet exposure, in which further increases in vitamin D is not possible, since the ultraviolet light will actually start to degrade the vitamin D."

do you agree with this statement, that after 20 mins you can't make any more vit D? Yes and No I don't agree as it's a blanket statement. It depends on where you live (latitude) and skin tone. Yes, for you, it might well be true during the summer. For you where you live that might be 10-15 minutes during the summer.

i live in the south of the country but in summer our sun is hot, you can feel your skin burning in minutes, even in winter on a clear, sunny day the sun can feel like it's burning you. so i am trying to work out the ideal amount of time to be in the sun without sunscreen and without being burned - in summer that is 20 mins max. do you know of or have you posted here (i can't find anything) any information that states how much vitamin D you will produce in how much time in the sun, or is that impossible to work out?
thanks for your thread, it's great. I totally agree with Mike. You should sunbath until your skin gets slightly pink whether that's 10 minutes or 20. You will be your own measure. Go in the shade and allow the vitamin D generated to process for 15-30 minutes and then lather on the sunscreen.

From the cholecalciferol-council...For those who do not fear the sun, judiciously expose as much skin as possible to direct midday sunlight for 1/4 the time it takes for their skin to turn red, during those months when the proper ultraviolet light occurs at their latitude (usually late spring, summer and early fall). Do not get sunburned. Vitamin D production is already maximized before your skin turns pink and further exposure does not increase levels of vitamin D but may increase your risk of skin cancer.

Here's a report from Australia:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/175_05_030901/mason/mason.html

[Trinigirl]

:angel: Thank you, Thank you so much for the information.
I checked what Magnesium I was consuming through My daily food and vitimin intake and found it very lacking basic on these studies. "When you know better you do better" So I will go out and purchase Magnesium today and start my program, I will give you updates.
Do you know that non of the Doctors I have seen.have ever mentioned this as something that could assist me live a better life. I have been on so much meds. for these past nine years... :agree: I am not expecting to completly elimate all the meds. but less would be much better and far less expensive. :lol:
So this will be good and easy to do.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your hard work and what you do for us all. :)
Warmest heart-felt Regards, :sunny:
Joy.

[Zuleikaa]

Do you know that non of the Doctors I have seen.have ever mentioned this as something that could assist me live a better life. I have been on so much meds. for these past nine years... :agree: I am not expecting to completly elimate all the meds. but less would be much better and far less expensive. :lol: Joy.Doctors are woefully ignorant about vitamins, supplements and homeopathic remedies. For a lot of doctors, all they know is what the drug companies tell them and that's drugs!!!

Further you have to know supplements and how to read experiments when findings come out because drug companies sponsor studies to disprove the benefits of supplements. These studies are deliberately designed to fail the supplements and if you didn't know what the pharmacological dose was (these studies deliberately use an ineffective dose level) or how supplements interact with each other (certain supplements need to be taken together to be effective) you would think the studies were true.

Good luck with your treatment!!! You should see definite improvement within a couple of weeks.

WARNING: Because oregano oil is killing yeasts, fungus, bacteria and other bad things throughout your system, you might experience diarrhea and tiredness and/or flu like symptoms for a while.

[flex73]

i am going in here as well.
vitamin D beginning levels were 27.5 after 3 months of 8,000 ius a day they are only 37.5. i am using liquid emulsifed D since it is easier to absorb since I used the vitamin d in soft gel they did not budge levels at all. I also have low serotonin levels, low white blood cell counts and low alkaline phosphotase (from baseline reading), low magnesium, low tissue calcium, elevated serum calcium levels ( from base line reading (was 9.2) now 10.5 and drs say nothing is wrong). i think my situiation was due to vitamin D and magnesium deficiency causeing adrenal imbalances as well as secondary hyperparathyroidism, liver congestion from constipation. I am still at 8,000 ius day and will have them remeasured in 3 weeks (if dr goes for it). Should I add in the extra calcium since my calcium levels are already so high. No matter what I have done my body can not alkalize. It is too acidic even if I follow the 75/25 alkalizing diet. I just do not think I have enough ionized calcium in my blood to counteract the acid

interesting note
as my vitamin D levels have came up so did my testosterone, thyroid, and cortisol, alkaline phosphotase levels, white blood cell, platelets, cholesterol Could there be a link?

could this explain my elevated calcium levels or is it that i have been taking too much vitamin D and not enough calcium so body is pulling it from bones ?

In vitamin D deficiency, the increased PTH (parathyroid hormone) maintains a normal serum calcium concentration at the expense of the skeleton. Below is a schematic diagram of vitamin D and calcium regulation.



. Vitamin D deficiency causes a decrease in calcium absorption. The serum calcium is transiently lowered, which causes an increased production of PTH by the parathyroid gland. PTH stimulates the conversion of 25-OH vitamin D3 to 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 by the kidney, which then acts on the gut to absorb more calcium and phosphate. PTH also causes resorption of calcium and phosphate from the bone. Both of these actions attempt to restore serum calcium and phosphate levels to normal

How should 8,000 ius of vitamin D should be taken ? all at once? if this has been taken all at once could it all not be gettting absorb in my system an may explain why i have been experiencing symptoms of vitamin D excess ?

Good luck to all

[sambalam]

Yes and No I don't agree as it's a blanket statement. It depends on where you live (latitude) and skin tone. Yes, for you, it might well be true during the summer. For you where you live that might be 10-15 minutes during the summer.

I totally agree with Mike. You should sunbath until your skin gets slightly pink whether that's 10 minutes or 20. You will be your own measure. Go in the shade and allow the vitamin D generated to process for 15-30 minutes and then lather on the sunscreen.

From the cholecalciferol-council...For those who do not fear the sun, judiciously expose as much skin as possible to direct midday sunlight for 1/4 the time it takes for their skin to turn red, during those months when the proper ultraviolet light occurs at their latitude (usually late spring, summer and early fall). Do not get sunburned. Vitamin D production is already maximized before your skin turns pink and further exposure does not increase levels of vitamin D but may increase your risk of skin cancer.

Here's a report from Australia:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/175_05_030901/mason/mason.html
thanks heaps Zuleikaa, especially for the link. i've been getting 20 mins of sun during the day at work on arms and not getting burned. i tend to not wear sunscreen if i am outdoors until about 11 am in summer as the sun's heat is ferocious on your skin from then until about 2pm and i burn very easily unfortunately. so will monitor how i feel and also will request vit D testing with next blood test. thanks again.

joy the best type of magneisum to take it chelated magnesium BTW.

[Bat Spit]

I'm so glad I clicked on Zuleika's link to this experiment!

I have SAD so bad that 3 cloudy days in a row make me depressed, even in the summer time! I'm a fair skinned northerner, but not scandinavian, so if I've read things correctly, I make vitamin D easily when the sun is available, BUT living in a place where the sun is strong, generally I have to be slathered in sun screen to keep from burning to a crisp if I'm out more than 10 mins. I don't quite have a red-heads blue-white skin, but my mother does, as do several of my aunts.

So, having found this thread yesterday, this morning I ran down to my favorite HFS and got dry D, which is in 400 iu caps, and took 2, with intent to take 2 more with lunch. I already supplement calcium and magnesium because like Trinigirl I'm asthmatic.

I'm particularly interested in the synergy with magnesium absorption for the asthma benefits and D's effects on hormone production. Frequently I'll skip a menstrual period or 2 over the 4 months of really short daylight. I'll be reading more and more of the links provided and starting some of my own research.

I haven't finished reading all the provided links, but by the time I'm ready to take my supplement higher than 1200, I will have.

[flex73]

To increase magnesium absorption b6 is also very important and if you have intesinal issues. You can take 2 cups epson salt and pour them in the hot tub water and soak for 30 minutes and it will get absorbed in your skin as well, plus you will also get benefits of the sulfur which is a great detoxifer of heavy metals and enviormental pollution which may be attributing to your asthma. For asthma they found that people produce to many histamines which could be linked back to low adrenals becuase cortisol is needed to counteract the histamines. Asthma has also be linked to low gluthione levels which protect body from free radicals, toxins.

Mg is a needed co-factor for vitamin D utilization, meaning that a lack of Mg can cause vitamin D to be unavailable to the body. The result is that a Mg deficit could, in turn, cause vitamin D deficiency symptoms. Magnesium supplementation is sometimes needed to treat rickets that have not been responsive to vitamin D or calcium treatment.

[Zuleikaa]

interesting note
as my vitamin D levels have came up so did my testosterone, thyroid, and cortisol, alkaline phosphotase levels, white blood cell, platelets, cholesterol Could there be a link?There is a definite link. Vitamin D regulates hormone levels and the immune system. Cholesterol is linked to D and carries D to the liver where it's converted to its active form.

could this explain my elevated calcium levels or is it that i have been taking too much vitamin D and not enough calcium so body is pulling it from bones ?High circulating calcium is a sign of D deficiency.

How should 8,000 ius of vitamin D should be taken ? all at once? if this has been taken all at once could it all not be gettting absorb in my system an may explain why i have been experiencing symptoms of vitamin D excess ? I take my D in three doses. Half upon arising on an empty stomach but with fish oil (D needs fat to work/carry it), 1/4 at breakfast, and the last 1/4 at lunch. Generally, do not take D after 3 pm as D sets circadian rhythms.

[Zuleikaa]

I have SAD so bad that 3 cloudy days in a row make me depressed, even in the summer time! Me too!! But the D has made my SAD a thing of the past!!! Except when I miss a dose, lol!!!

I'm a fair skinned northerner, but not scandinavian, so if I've read things correctly, I make vitamin D easily when the sun is available, BUT living in a place where the sun is strong, generally I have to be slathered in sun screen to keep from burning to a crisp if I'm out more than 10 mins. I don't quite have a red-heads blue-white skin, but my mother does, as do several of my aunts.If you can tan then you will have good D production from the sun. If you don't tan, your ability to produce D from the sun is impaired and you have to supplement year round.

Frequently I'll skip a menstrual period or 2 over the 4 months of really short daylight. I'll be reading more and more of the links provided and starting some of my own research.This is a sign of winter PCOS and definitely a sign of D deficiency.

[Bat Spit]

If you can tan then you will have good D production from the sun. If you don't tan, your ability to produce D from the sun is impaired and you have to supplement year round.

Hmm. When I lived in TX at 2 inches above sea level, I could get tan, sort of. If I was slow and careful. Never dark, and never enough that I wouldn't burn on top of it if I were careless.

At 6500 ft, its very difficult to be slow and careful enough, but I will put some careful tanning time on my adgenda for April, which is the next time it's likely to be warm enough to sit out with more than my face bare!

I did find the high altitude studies interesting. Higher altitude means less interference, means more of the right kinds of rays get through.

I am absolutely fascinated with all the body's interlocking systems and how balanced they are all supposed to be. Asthma indicates a magnesium deficiency, which can be caused by insufficient vitamind D for absorption...

[Zuleikaa]

I am absolutely fascinated with all the body's interlocking systems and how balanced they are all supposed to be. Asthma indicates a magnesium deficiency, which can be caused by insufficient vitamind D for absorption...Me too!!! I find this stuff riveting!!!

[Zuleikaa]

Bat Spit
I meant if you have the ability to get a tan you will have good vitamin D production.

Some people don't tan, they just burn or freckle. That means their vitamin D receptors have been genetically reduced and that means impaired vitamin D producing capabilities.

[Dodger]

At 6500 ft, its very difficult to be slow and careful enough, but I will put some careful tanning time on my adgenda for April, which is the next time it's likely to be warm enough to sit out with more than my face bare!

I did find the high altitude studies interesting. Higher altitude means less interference, means more of the right kinds of rays get through.

I start my Colorado tan in March. There are enough sunny warmish days to expose arms or legs for an hour around noon time. I seem to tan better since I have been eating more fat (or eating less carbs ,as they both happened at the same time).

[Trinigirl]

Hi Everyone,
I love this information.
Well I have started the Magnesium, but could not find Oregano Oil will keep looking. Since I started the WOL I have also increased my vitamin intake. I take Vitamin C every day to avoid colds and flues'
Will let you know how I am doing as time goes on.
I am hoping that this will be my best Winter since I have been here in Canada. :thup: :thup:
Thanks again.
Warmest Regards, :)
Joy

[flex73]

SO basically what can be said that if you are vitamin D deficient then metabolism and proper utlilization of phosporous, magnesium, calcium will be alter. This alteration of mineral metabolism with then expose your self to subclincal defiency to all three and also expose us to even absorption of heavy metals such as lead and aluminum leading into parkinsons and alztimers disease and eventually cancer. If one looks back 100 years ago cancer was rare and people ask why. Simple people worked out side from dusk to sun light in the fields and had plenty exposure to the sunlight, but medical drs are refuting this claim so in 100 years it is estimated that over 50-60% will have some form of cancer.

Since adding in the calcium with adequet amount of vitamin D, magesium I have notice my cracked skin starting to "knit" it self back together sort of like rejuennation and I am tampering off paxil and sleeping better then ever. Since calcium is needed for releasing all the neurotransmitters I have been missing for the longest time it was only obvious. I will get blood work done in a few weeks to see if the blood levels of calcium are returning to base line reading. When some ones calcium goes from 9.2 to 10.6 there is definetly something going on plus my body has not been able to alkalize no matter how many fruits and veggies I ate and what alkaliing supplements. Well the coating on my tongue is starting to slowly go away so that is the most positive sign of all since it has been coated for over a year.

Does low morning ph salvia suggest an ioninc calcium deficiency due to lacking vitamin D. Last reading on vitamin D the moron drs took it from the 1,25 vs the 25od reading so prior before that it was 32 (15-55) 2 months before. And from research that reading is low enough to indicated secondary hyperparathyroism.

[Zuleikaa]

I'm so glad it's working for you!!!

It's amazing how all these minerals are interconnected with D.

I thought this would be an interesting read for you. It relates to hospitalized older patients but I certainly think it's relevant from your standpoint and proves your assumptions.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050115/299.pdf
Undiagnosed Vitamin D Deficiency
in the Hospitalized Patient
DAVID LYMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Greene Valley Developmental Center, Greeneville, Tennessee

There seem to be a lot of relevant studies on D deficiency and thyroid, parathyroid, as well as other D deficiency topics in the JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) but the site requires membersip to access.

[flex73]

how much oil of oregnano is good to kill the dybiosis in gut. I am using the SP73 drops. Damn it i ran out of them and I was all bound up to day when all other variables remained the same. I need to go get more. I take 750 billion probitics before bed each night as well. If that does not kill whats in me I do not know what will. !! I also started eating more figs, beans for insoluable fiber as well. I did not have my daily dose of calcium at noon time and it was after that time I started to bind up.

[Zuleikaa]

Oregano oil up to 900 mg a day. But if the problem is due to gluten intolerance it won't help. Digestive enzymes taken before each meal can also help make your bowels losesr. More fiber might actually stop you up more.

[Trinigirl]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to say Hello and keep in touch with this con't information.
Taking my vitamins
Thanks again.
Joy.

[flex73]

taking too much soluable was stopping me up even with water intake high. Swtiching to more insoluable fiber seems to be working alot better. I take digestive gold each meal for enzymes as well as apple cider vinegar ORGANIC. Going to get the oil of oregano today and get back on kefir with cocconut milk as well.
Thanks

[Zuleikaa]

I thought this was an interesting cost analysis on the costs burdens of vitamin D insufficiency related diseases vs those caused by too much solar radiation.

It's too long to post but an excellent read.

http://phot.allenpress.com/pdfserv/10.1562%2F2005-01-24-RA-424

[Zuleikaa]

I'm at 14k now. The tough part is making it to that on the weekend. I really need to concentrate on getting it all it on te weekend. When I don't I really feel it for a few days after. And I get sooo tired!!!

[quietone]

That's interesting to hear about the tiredness...because that's the way I feel every evening when I take vit D because I won't take it after 4:00. I've noticed I really sleep deeply when I take it.

[Zuleikaa]

That's interesting to hear about the tiredness...because that's the way I feel every evening when I take vit D because I won't take it after 4:00. I've noticed I really sleep deeply when I take it.

Sleep with vitamin D is wonderful!!! Nice and deep and restful!!!

Amazing to me is the wide range of doses required for different people. There's three women, a 20 something Latina, a 50 year old Black (me) and 62 year old white and we're all needing to take 10-14k UI/day while some report headaches if they get over 2k. It makes me wonder if it's the fillers or oils that are keeping people at the lower doses, or perhaps the timing of the doses. I know location and outdoor exposure plays a big part in D's needs too. We're all workbound but one's in the Northwest US, ones in Southern Virginia and I'm in DC. Me and the one in VA are certainly not that far north. I think it really has to do with the depths and longevity of D deficiency too.

This stuff is just so fascinating to me!!!

I almost want to prostelitize. What, ALMOST, I DO IT!!! I almost spoke to a pregnant woman yesterday about D. And on my neighborhood bus everytime someone mentions a related sickness...I put in a plug for vitamin D!!!

I'm sure I can be so annoying about vitamin D sometimes. At least my daughter sighs, or asks who started me off. But...she takes her D, lol!!!

[Zuleikaa]

I just posted this in Triple Digits

Vitamin D – Implications in Obesity

I had an epiphany last night. Suddenly something clicked.

Vitamin D is stored in fat.
Obese individuals require 2-3 times the vitamin D supplementation of normal weight individuals because some amount of vitamin D is stored in fat and, therefore, is not bio-available.

Vitamin D controls insulin…insulin causes hunger/cravings and stores fat…fat captures vitamin D and makes it not available for the body to use…

Resulting in less vitamin D which means less insulin control …higher insulin causes more hunger/cravings and stores more fat…fat captures vitamin D and makes it not available for the body to use…

Resulting in even less vitamin D which means even less insulin control …even higher insulin causes even more hunger/cravings and stores even more fat…fat captures vitamin D and makes it not available for the body to use…

And on and on and on.

Another thought.

Initial weight gain leads to more clothes covering the body and less time spent outdoors in the sun, and when you are out less skin is exposed to the sun for vitamin D production which leads to vitamin D deficiency which starts the above cycle.


Now I know some of you are saying here she goes again. She’s obsessed with vitamin D. Well, you are correct!!! I am obsessed, lol!!! It’s such a simple, logical, and, to me, completely understandable connection of how our bodies work that I’m totally awed!!! And angry at the part of the medical industry that just doesn’t get it. Or maybe want to because natural vitamin D is cheap and unpatentable and entire medical industries, i.e., cancer and immune disease, would disappear if everyone were routinely tested and supplemented to optimum D levels.


Now I know some of you are going to say, “but D is toxic in high levels and no one should take more than 800-2,000 IU/Day. To that I say bumpkus!!!! That’s just websites perpetuating the big lie!!

--Natural vitamin D is named D3, manmade vitamin D is named D2. Always use natural vitamin D made from fish oil.
--Natural vitamin D has been tested at 20,000 IU/day over a 5 year period and found non toxic at that level.
--No incident of natural vitamin D toxicity has resulted in death.
--Cases of proven vitamin D toxicity have been the result of industrial accidents or accidental megadoses in excess of 1 Million IU/day over a prolonged period.
-- Hypercalcemia has been pointed to as an indication of vitamin D toxicity; however, hypercalcemia is also, and more often, a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.
--A 2 year old was given 4 Million IUs of vitamin D over a 5 day period resulting in diarrhea, stomach ache, and hypercalcemia. He was treated for the hypercalcemia over a period of 3 months and fully recovered with no negative results.--Vitamin D toxicity arises at a blood level of >250 ng/ml.


Other vitamin D information.
Vitamin D is not really a vitamin; rather it is a powerful steroid and a super hormone that tells your body how to work. Its deficiency has been implicated in over 70 illnesses and diseases. Vitamin D has been proven to prevent or remit 28 kinds of cancers.

--Vitamin D levels can be easily tested with a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D or 25(OH)D test (same test, different names).
--Ignore the lab ranges for normal on this test as the norms were established using a D deficient population.
--Any reading below 60 ng/ml is deficient.
--Readings of 75-125 ng/ml are optimal.
--Individuals in the tropics naturally have vitamin D levels ranging from the mid 100s-200 ng/ml.--Suggested vitamin D use by the body has been put at 4,000 IU/day.
--Proven vitamin D use by the body has been shown at 7,000 IU/day.
--Use of sunscreen/block of even SPF=8 cuts 95% of vitamin D production.
--Vitamin D cannot be produced by sun shining through glass.
-- People with dark skin pigmentation need 20 - 30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D.
-- The further you live from the equator, the longer exposure you need to the sun in order to generate vitamin D. Canada, the UK and most U.S. states are far from the equator.
--There is no possible vitamin D production from the sun during winter for those living above 51 degrees latitude north or south of the equator.
--Clouds, aerosols and thick ozone events reduce the duration of vitamin D synthesis considerably, and can suppress Vitamin D synthesis completely even at the equator.
--Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial for calcium absorption. Without sufficient vitamin D, the body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium supplements useless.
--If it hurts to press firmly on your sternum, you may be suffering from chronic vitamin D deficiency right now.
--Chronic vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight: it takes months of high dose vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body's bones and nervous system.
--Having kidney disease or liver damage can greatly impair your body's ability to activate circulating vitamin D.

[Dodger]

It does seem reasonable that the more fat you have, the more fat-soluble vitamins you would need. I am taking only 2000 IU/day of the vitamin D (I took 400 in the past) and I seem to be taking the shorter days better (psychologically) than in previous years.

[tokenyanke]

I seem to be managing well around 2800 IUs right now. I will probably increase some as winter deepens.

[LarryAJ]

Zuleikaa,

I just ran across your thread and don't have time to read it all, but I did fast scan the first page. All I can say is WOW!!! :thup: :agree:

I put up a thread on Vitamin D deficiency at http://ppwol.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi?board=health&action=display&num=1132423057
And now will have to back and edit to point your thread here.

More when I have some time,
Larry :thup:

[quietone]

Well, I'm still having the same problem I did last year; if I try to bump it too much I get really irritable.

So I'm having to keep it at 1800 a day.

[Zuleikaa]

Well, I'm still having the same problem I did last year; if I try to bump it too much I get really irritable.

So I'm having to keep it at 1800 a day.Have you tried taking it in uneven doses? Are you taking the dry form? A lot of people have a reaction to the oil gels. What's your timing?

1800 sounds way too little.

Oh well, every body is different.

[HerbNurse]

Please use caution and be well informed with your Vitamin D experiment!!

HN

[finngal]

I'm reading...I'm liking...I'm up for trying.

South Florida gal here with SAD, Scandinavian (100% Finnish). I think I'd go mad if I was living in Finland and in the dark 1/2 the year!

From what I'm gathering - please correct if I've it wrong:
I should start at 2000 IU D3 in dry form, 1200mg calcium, and 600-800 mg magnesium.

Work up by 1000 IU D3 biweekly.

Split the doses of D3: less in am, more in afternoon, but not after 3pm.
******
I'd like a feel-good winter for a change (I know you're thinking, "She's in south FL!!"); for the last 10 years (after having children) my SAD has increased each winter.

Thanks for all the information; will be keeping in touch.

[Demi]

Have just come across this interesting article and thought it might be an idea to post it here - apologies if someone has already done so.


How Vitamin D Protects Your Heart (http://www.mercola.com/2005/dec/13/how_vitamin_d_protects_your_heart.htm)

[quietone]

Hi, Zuleikaa.

yes, I've tried taking it every which way I can. I've always taken only the dry form. When I get too high I start sweating profusely, feel like my heart is coming out of my chest and get very irritable. It's like a major upper.

[Zuleikaa]

Hi, Zuleikaa.

yes, I've tried taking it every which way I can. I've always taken only the dry form. When I get too high I start sweating profusely, feel like my heart is coming out of my chest and get very irritable. It's like a major upper.Are you on thyroid meds?

As D levels improve, medical situations need to be monitored and meds adjusted because as D corrects symptoms and body chemistry...an individual can become over medicated.

[Zuleikaa]

I'm reading...I'm liking...I'm up for trying.

South Florida gal here with SAD, Scandinavian (100% Finnish). I think I'd go mad if I was living in Finland and in the dark 1/2 the year!

From what I'm gathering - please correct if I've it wrong:
I should start at 2000 IU D3 in dry form, 1200mg calcium, and 600-800 mg magnesium.

Work up by 1000 IU D3 biweekly.

Split the doses of D3: less in am, more in afternoon, but not after 3pm.
******
I'd like a feel-good winter for a change (I know you're thinking, "She's in south FL!!"); for the last 10 years (after having children) my SAD has increased each winter.

Thanks for all the information; will be keeping in touch.Finngal
More in the am, less in afternoon. The starting dose looks good. Increase gradually and only as need to feel "normal" and mentally balanced. You might want to start the calcium at 1800 mg and 1400 mg magnesium, later it can be lowered to the range you mentioned as your bones become repaired.

[Zuleikaa]

Hi, Zuleikaa.

yes, I've tried taking it every which way I can. I've always taken only the dry form. When I get too high I start sweating profusely, feel like my heart is coming out of my chest and get very irritable. It's like a major upper.Then I would stay at the level you so well on and monitor any medical conditions you have for meds adjustment.

[Zuleikaa]

Have just come across this interesting article and thought it might be an idea to post it here - apologies if someone has already done so.


How Vitamin D Protects Your Heart (http://www.mercola.com/2005/dec/13/how_vitamin_d_protects_your_heart.htm)Thanks!!! Any additions are appreciated.

[quietone]

No, I'm not on anything but Vitamins. :)

[Zuleikaa]

Then I would just take what you can tolerate and feel good on.

Traci (Tokenyankee) found she could up her dose by taking uneven doses and taking some at bed time. Otherwise she was getting wicked headaches. I don't know if you'd want to try that.

Otherwise, I'd leave it alone, maybe up it a time or two in winter adjustment and trust your body signal to know when enough is enough.

The other thing is that you and Traci are a lot smaller than some of us; i.e., you have a lot less or little fat in which to trap vitamin D. So the amount of D you're taking is more/all(?) readily available to your body. Plus, since you knew about vitamin D during this past summer, you were probably careful to build some vitamin D stores. Therefore what you're now taking is enough supplementation and you don't need more.

So that would be another variable in vitamin D requirements: amount or percent of excess body fat.

[flex73]

Since I was doing really good with standard protcol, but now I am expereincing major hypothyroid (shortness of breath, lack of appetite, constipation) symptoms just when weather changed. I am currently at 6000 ius a day, 1200 calcium, 800 mg magesium now and I was wondering if i should up my thyroid medicine to compensate for it since it is winter time and thyroid will drop. Even though my body temperature is normal? i am going for blood test tommorrow so I will see how that pans out. Also did you hear how vitamin D helps with asthma on the news the other night?

[Zuleikaa]

Yep, it was posteed on Research/Media here on the board.

Here's more on vitamin D and lung health:

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/116/112051?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Vitamin D May Help Treat Some Asthma
Benefit Seen in Small Study of Patients With Steroid-Resistant Asthma
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15282199&dopt=Citation
Association of vitamin D receptor genetic variants with susceptibility to asthma and atopy.
Poon AH, Laprise C, Lemire M, Montpetit A, Sinnett D, Schurr E, Hudson TJ.

http://www.respiratoryreviews.com/mar00/rr_mar00_osteoporosis.html
LUNG DISEASE INCREASES OSTEOPOROSIS RISK IN MEN

[Zuleikaa]

And...This proves that long-term vitamin D deficiency takes a lot of vitamin D and a long time to correct. 8 weeks wasn't nearly enough time.

http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/respiratorymedicine/article_1859.shtml
RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
Vitamin D Repletion Regimen for CF did not work
By American Thoracic Society
Jul 16, 2005, 00:13
The recently published vitamin D repletion regimen suggested by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Consensus Panel on Bone Health for replacing the vitamin in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has been called by researchers who tested it "strikingly ineffective." Out of 66 adults with CF, only 5 patients who had been treated with 50,000 international units of the vitamin per week for eight weeks had their serum levels corrected to the recommended degree.

The study was designed to determine the percentage of adults with CF who required the recommended vitamin D. repletion therapy because of serum levels below 30 nanograms per milliliter (30 ng/ml); to evaluate for the first time the effectiveness of a stepped up repletion protocol for CF patients; and to provide CF-specific data to assist in future optimal dosing.

Cystic fibrosis is a life-shortening inherited disorder that affects 30,000 persons in the U.S. Patients who are born with this problem produce abnormally thick and sticky mucus that often obstructs the lungs, leading to lung infections, as well as to the clogging of the pancreatic ducts which can prevent normal digestion. However, treatment for the disorder has improved greatly and predicted survival rates have increased from an average age of 25 in 1985 to over age 33 in 2005.

Since there has been an increase in survival, researchers have also been considering other health issues unique to the adult CF population. One issue is bone health because studies of bone density have determined that despite a young age, approximately 20 to 25 percent of adults with CF have osteoporosis and another 40 percent have osteopenia.

(Osteopenia is low bone volume due to inadequate replacement of bone loss from normal disintegration. Osteoporosis is abnormal loss of bone tissue, causing fragile bones that fracture easily.)

A adequate supply of vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb calcium from food and incorporate it into bone. A deficiency of vitamin D leads to abnormal bone growth and repair.

Of the 134 adults with CF in this study, 109 (81.3 percent) were found to have vitamin D levels below the recommended 30 ng/ml.

Of the 49 patients who started the second eight-week repletion test comprising a total of 800,000 international units of vitamin D, 33 completed the full course, but none corrected their vitamin D deficiency.

The authors noted that further research is required to determine the optimal level of vitamin D needed in order for CF patients to maximize calcium absorption and maintain bone health.

The research article appears in the second issue for July 2005 of the American Thoracic Society's peer-reviewed American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

All rights reserved by www.rxpgnews.com

[flex73]

Well like a dumb ass figure I was ok and I dropped it from 8 to 4,000 ius and now I am paying the price since the weather has changed. I was doing awesome things getting back to normal and then I crashed (had major anxiety and tension, lack of appetite as well) and kept all variables the same except the vitamin D dropped and i went back to acid again when I was at alkaline for a few days. Since I am doing 56,000 ius a week would it better you think just to hit in all in one day then that why you can see how you really respond. I just took 4,000 ius and I can feel my face and body heating up, plus being on isocort may be impacting vitamin D levels as well since it is an cortisol based supplement.

Some protcol i saw for acidity below 5.5 ph saliva was 50,000 ius a day for 4 weeks 1000 calcium, 600 mg magnesium. Also to is vitamin D needed for magnesium to be absorbed into the blood or into the cell? When people/ drs say absorbed I wished that they would disguinished this becuase it is too seperate things and out comes can be totally different. I know vitamin D is needed to alkalize body as well. Going to be interesting to see what test results will be on vitamin D level with supplementation.

last test results where 32.5 but scale was from (15- 55) so i am fixable but just slight changes are enough to be felt in my body. So if i can get up to 45-50 then i will be alot more stable. my 1,25 vitamin d reading was lower then mid range so that make me think that D levels are still on the low side and winter time coming I need to upp them even more !! I am seeing the dr tommorrow and he is a big fan of vitamin D so if my are not optimal he will fix the problem. I just have an idea once my d levels are aquete inflammation in my body will stop producing histamines so much...

Looking back at the whole scenerio 2 years ago
i was dieting hard and studying hard for a test I did not have alot of exposure to the sun in the summer time prior becuase I was on the computer studying and at the gym trainng people. In september I stopped tanning and switched over to a low potency multivitamin that i do not think had vitamin D in it at all. In november i had some sushi and then I got really sick after wards. What i suspected that happen since not having alot of sun exposure staying inside because of work. I weaken my immune system from lack of vitamin D exposing my self to an infection or it was just could have been just timing when it all happened as well. It was like my adrenals, thyroid,testosterone just shut off for no reason. I mean it was like the some one turned off the switch. My blood test should no increase of cortisol at all so it could not have been stressed induced. My theory it was a D from the start and even the liver detox should lipid peroxidation which is a result of vitamin D deficency and also the first indication was alternations in calcium metabolism but nothing else. So I think it was a vitamin D and mag deficiency that occured together. Mag and vitamin D reduce histamine levels which mine where off the charts.

[Zuleikaa]

Well like a dumb ass figure I was ok and I dropped it from 8 to 4,000 ius and now I am paying the price since the weather has changed. I was doing awesome things getting back to normal and then I crashed (had major anxiety and tension, lack of appetite as well) and kept all variables the same except the vitamin D dropped and i went back to acid again when I was at alkaline for a few days. Since I am doing 56,000 ius a week would it better you think just to hit in all in one day then that why you can see how you really respond. I just took 4,000 ius and I can feel my face and body heating up, plus being on isocort may be impacting vitamin D levels as well since it is an cortisol based supplement.

Some protcol i saw for acidity below 5.5 ph saliva was 50,000 ius a day for 4 weeks 1000 calcium, 600 mg magnesium. Also to is vitamin D needed for magnesium to be absorbed into the blood or into the cell? When people/ drs say absorbed I wished that they would disguinished this becuase it is too seperate things and out comes can be totally different. I know vitamin D is needed to alkalize body as well. Going to be interesting to see what test results will be on vitamin D level with supplementation.

last test results where 32.5 but scale was from (15- 55) so i am fixable but just slight changes are enough to be felt in my body. So if i can get up to 45-50 then i will be alot more stable. my 1,25 vitamin d reading was lower then mid range so that make me think that D levels are still on the low side and winter time coming I need to upp them even more !! I am seeing the dr tommorrow and he is a big fan of vitamin D so if my are not optimal he will fix the problem. I just have an idea once my d levels are aquete inflammation in my body will stop producing histamines so much...Where to start, where to start.

1. No you shouldn't have dropped the D. The body needs 4000-7000 IUs of vitamin D daily. You have a deficit. A deficit requires a lot of D and a lot of time to fix, especially during winter when you're not replenishing D stores.

2. Your reading was 37.5. That's still a severe deficiency. You mentioned the scale went from 15-55 and that 45-50 would be more stable. Hate to burst your bubble but any reading below 60 ng/ml still signifies a deficiency. The lab scales were based on a vitamin D deficient population and have no relevance. Optimal readings are 75-125 ng/ml. Individuals in the tropics naturally have vitamin D levels ranging from the mid 100s-200 ng/ml. Go back and read post #92.

3. You could hit your body with one large dose of D 56k+/week, but studies have found that a large daily dose of D is better for raising D readings.

4. As you intuited, vitamin D supports thyroid. Vitamin D is also a potent steroid. Recurring symptoms, current symptoms and needed meds are all signs that your vitamin D deficiency is still severe. Cortisol depletes vitamin D further aggrevating the problem.

5. Vitamin D and magnesium are both vital to the immune system and cell health. They definitely have synergy.

TAKE YOUR D!!!

[Zuleikaa]

Drugs that Deplete: Vitamin D


Anti-inflammatory Medications

Inhalant, Systemic, and Topical Corticosteroids

Beclomethasone

Budesonide

Dexamethasone

Fluticasone

Hydrocortisone

Methylprednisolone

Mometasone Furoate

Prednisone

Triamcinolone



Antibiotic Medications

Antituberculosis Agents

Isoniazid



Anticonvulsant Medications

Barbiturates

Phenobarbital

Hydantoin Derivatives

Phenytoin



Cholesterol-Lowering Medications

Bile Acid Sequestrants

Cholestyramine

Colestipol



Laxatives

Lubricant Laxatives

Mineral Oil



Ulcer Medications

Histamine H2 Antagonists

Cimetidine

Famotidine

Nizatidine

Ranitidine Bismuth Citrate

Ranitidine Hydrochloride

[flex73]

Lesson well learned...that for sure. Which lab uses those ranges so I can see how deficient I am and how to correct it. My old dr uses lab corp, does quest offer a different range so i can get true accurate results based up the govermental studies?

So given that i am that low i guess i should really up it a bit huh LOL and use the salvia testing to keep me in range untill i get test results back. And instead of upping thyroid medicine upp the vitamin D may be 10,000 ius a day. I notice when ph salvia was the highest I could see my body starting to repair itself,plus the moons in my thumbs faded alot and that is a lack of oxygen in the body, and has some thing to do with calcium metabolism.

FROM PAGE ONE
If you can afford to get tested before starting the experiment, please do so. The correct test to order is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Make sure this is the test you get. Labs often give the test for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active hormone. This test is the wrong test as it offers no meaningful data regarding D status. Optimal values of 25(OH)D are 40-50 ng/ml. “Lab One offers the least expensive testing I have found nationwide and is available in most states. Your physician can reach them at 1-800-646-7788. The test is 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The Lab One test number, just to be sure you get the right test, is #3247. Rarely does insurance cover the cost for this test, which is about $60 including lab fees.

are you refering to the 1,25 d test with these results ?
Average pH Below 6


Think readers may find this interesting and I can say it truly does work !!
when my ph was at 7 I was breathing and sleeping so much better, now its lowest its been and worse I been feeling. Also point out taking large amounts of vitamin D with out calcium will make you even more acidic!!

If your saliva pH is below 6, add calcium citrate or calcium carbonate (something like coral calcium is the carbonate form). With pH 5.6 to 6 clinicians have found that adding 1000 IU of vitamin D once or twice a day is beneficial and pH from 5.2 to 5.6 up to 5000 IU of vitamin D is good, while pH below 5.0 up to 50000 IU of vitamin D once or twice a day would be ok as little vitamin D is being absorbed in the acid terrain. You can use the vitamin D to help push the pH up. Stop the calcium citrate and carbonate when you come into pH range 6 to 7. Pull back on vitamin D and go to cod liver oil for vitamin D requirements.

Also failed to mention that the white coating on my tongue is back even with the Oil of oregano so this makes sense that a white coated tongue is not always a sign of intestinal problems but rather a sign of inflammatory response which could reside in the intestines. My gums have also started to bleed profusely again with in last 2 weeks from lowering D. So I keep on the OOO and add back in the D at 10000 ius a day and monitor ph levels and tongue. So people with white tongues that are constantly worry about parasites just may be inflammed other places in the body and be lacking vitamin D ?

[flex73]

Researchers in Belgium appear to be the first to show that simple, natural and cheap vitamin D (cholecalciferol) lowers C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a measure of inflammation in the body, in critically ill patients.

Even small amounts of vitamin D, about 500 IU, lowered inflammation by more than 25 percent in a small group of critically ill patients. Another marker of inflammation (IL-6) was reduced even more. The researchers also found that critically ill patients were profoundly deficient in vitamin D.

In another study, researchers found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased inflammation in otherwise healthy people. Increased inflammation in the body can increase the risk of chronic inflammatory conditions, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes. Further, the researchers found that inflammation was lowered by simple vitamin D.

As vitamin D deficiency is associated with numerous illnesses with inflammatory components, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune illness and heart disease, the findings were important. The authors concluded, "This finding provides a possible mechanism for tissue damage in chronic inflammatory conditions, including CHD and diabetes."

Inflammation in the body may be as important as cholesterol in determining the risk of heart disease. Unlike cholesterol alone, cholesterol and inflammation together predict a substantial number of cases of heart disease.

Various studies show that vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the critically ill and suggest that that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the inflammatory basis of various illnesses.

For example, earlier this year researchers studied patients with congestive heart failure and found elevated levels of TNF, another marker of inflammation. They also found critically low levels of calcidiol [25(OH)D], the only reliable marker of vitamin D, and even found low levels of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D that is usually low only in those who are severely vitamin D deficient.

They concluded vitamin D deficiency might contribute to the development of congestive heart failure (CHF).

It is important to note that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory actions in humans have long been suspected. For example, several studies using compounds similar to vitamin D have been shown to significantly reduce inflammation and improve the patients’ condition when given to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

[Zuleikaa]

Lesson well learned...that for sure. Which lab uses those ranges so I can see how deficient I am and how to correct it. My old dr uses lab corp, does quest offer a different range so i can get true accurate results based up the govermental studies?

So given that i am that low i guess i should really up it a bit huh LOL and use the salvia testing to keep me in range untill i get test results back. And instead of upping thyroid medicine upp the vitamin D may be 10,000 ius a day. I notice when ph salvia was the highest I could see my body starting to repair itself,plus the moons in my thumbs faded alot and that is a lack of oxygen in the body, and has some thing to do with calcium metabolism.

FROM PAGE ONE
If you can afford to get tested before starting the experiment, please do so. The correct test to order is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Make sure this is the test you get. Labs often give the test for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active hormone. This test is the wrong test as it offers no meaningful data regarding D status. Optimal values of 25(OH)D are 40-50 ng/ml. “Lab One offers the least expensive testing I have found nationwide and is available in most states. Your physician can reach them at 1-800-646-7788. The test is 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The Lab One test number, just to be sure you get the right test, is #3247. Rarely does insurance cover the cost for this test, which is about $60 including lab fees.

Are you refering to the 1,25 d test with these results ?[Sorry, that first entry is out of date and taken from last year's experiment. Those ranges were based only on D levels necessary for bone health (the exclusive concern at the time and all they knew about D benefits). The new ranges are taken from the lastest research. No lab is willing to change it's range on the vitamin D test until the Feds set new standards. The Feds are being petitioned by doctors to change the ranges, that's been going on two years now. I think the Feds are being pressured by pharma and cancer industries to delay/not change RDAs, or D ranges, JMO.


Average pH Below 6
Think readers may find this interesting and I can say it truly does work !!
when my ph was at 7 I was breathing and sleeping so much better, now its lowest its been and worse I been feeling. Also point out taking large amounts of vitamin D with out calcium will make you even more acidic!!

If your saliva pH is below 6, add calcium citrate or calcium carbonate (something like coral calcium is the carbonate form). With pH 5.6 to 6 clinicians have found that adding 1000 IU of vitamin D once or twice a day is beneficial and pH from 5.2 to 5.6 up to 5000 IU of vitamin D is good, while pH below 5.0 up to 50000 IU of vitamin D once or twice a day would be ok as little vitamin D is being absorbed in the acid terrain. You can use the vitamin D to help push the pH up. Stop the calcium citrate and carbonate when you come into pH range 6 to 7. Pull back on vitamin D and go to cod liver oil for vitamin D requirements. Getting all your D from cod liver oil is not really feasible, especially if you have any other signs of D deficiency. There's about 400 IU of D in 2 tbsp cod liver oil. At the level required too much vitamin A would be ingested. You do the calculations.

[Zuleikaa]

Researchers in Belgium appear to be the first to show that simple, natural and cheap vitamin D (cholecalciferol) lowers C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a measure of inflammation in the body, in critically ill patients.

Even small amounts of vitamin D, about 500 IU, lowered inflammation by more than 25 percent in a small group of critically ill patients. Another marker of inflammation (IL-6) was reduced even more. The researchers also found that critically ill patients were profoundly deficient in vitamin D.

In another study, researchers found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased inflammation in otherwise healthy people. Increased inflammation in the body can increase the risk of chronic inflammatory conditions, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes. Further, the researchers found that inflammation was lowered by simple vitamin D.

As vitamin D deficiency is associated with numerous illnesses with inflammatory components, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune illness and heart disease, the findings were important. The authors concluded, "This finding provides a possible mechanism for tissue damage in chronic inflammatory conditions, including CHD and diabetes."

Inflammation in the body may be as important as cholesterol in determining the risk of heart disease. Unlike cholesterol alone, cholesterol and inflammation together predict a substantial number of cases of heart disease.

Various studies show that vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the critically ill and suggest that that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the inflammatory basis of various illnesses.

For example, earlier this year researchers studied patients with congestive heart failure and found elevated levels of TNF, another marker of inflammation. They also found critically low levels of calcidiol [25(OH)D], the only reliable marker of vitamin D, and even found low levels of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D that is usually low only in those who are severely vitamin D deficient.

They concluded vitamin D deficiency might contribute to the development of congestive heart failure (CHF).

It is important to note that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory actions in humans have long been suspected. For example, several studies using compounds similar to vitamin D have been shown to significantly reduce inflammation and improve the patients’ condition when given to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.Excellent info!!!

[flex73]

Since my body temperatures are perfect for first time in a year. Here is something else I was thinking about. May be my constipation is not caused by thyroid all along but rather secondary hyperparathyroid (caused by isocort supplement, lowering D intake ) by triggering body to pull calcium from the bones and only showing slightly elevated calcium on the blood, but in reality it is hidden and actually causing a lower ionic calcium to inorganic calcium ratio. My body feels dehyrated and I have all the sign of hypercalcemia (constpation, dry mouth, lack of appeite, loss of strength, slight depression, inflammation) Doe this theory sounds feasible ?

A LONG READ but good
http://www.bioticsresearch.com/PDF/Vitamin%20D%20ATHM2004%20Vasquez.pdf

[Zuleikaa]

Absolutely!!! If you were getting the correct amount of D, you would not have constipation and your stools would be soft.

[flex73]

I have been trying to dig up info on copper and vitamin D relationship since my serum copper levels are still low and i have been taking copper. Only thing I can think of since vitamin D absorbs magnesium and magnesium is needed to absorb copper, but I can not find any proof of this. Possible i may be low on boron since it aids in magnesium, vitamin D, copper, calcium, phosphate metabolism

So would the most logical situation would be to reduce the cortisol, and keep thyroid where it is and keep vitamin D at 8000-10000 ius a day. I also notice my body temperature started to drop as well as lowering the vitamin D even though the cortisol/thyroid never changed dosage. Reducing the cortisol by half will allow the vitamin D level to be absorbed. I am now convinced my whole problem was vitamin D/mag deficiency just from all the lab are normal except for the bone building enzymes, vitamin D, calcium serums, adrenal, thyroid testosterone hormones, white blood cells.

Now should I just ignore the range that they list and go with the the optimal level of 65-80 ng/ml would be my goal. I know i can get the dr to agree with me and also would vitamin D injections be the quickest way to resolve this.

[Zuleikaa]

The quickest way would be to have your doctor prescribe a course of vitamin D pills, the 50K twice a week for a month or two, and then 50k/wk and so on. I'm not familiar with the injection method. You should ask your doctor.

I definitely think you should ignore the range given on the test and go with the optimum.

Copper supports thyroid. Thyroid activates D. Activated D supports thyroid. Copper is required to assist calcium uptake. Conversely, too much copper impairs D activation and impairs calcium uptake.

[flex73]

i like that idea, nip this thing in the ass so i can get on with my life. My worry is that taking all that D is going to throw my other minerals off, but at this point i think its worth the risk. Well being almost copper deficeinct would impair calcium uptake, but it is rising slowly from last test. I am at like 3.5 mgs copper a day with 30 mgs zinc to balance things out. My hair analysis should that i was copper deficient and not over loaded in the tissue. I think reason for low copper is that my gut is inflammed and the protein carrier for copper my be impaired, but hemoglobin and hemocrit is good but again my body could be pulling it from the tissues as well

I took 2,000 ius about 7 pm last night at slept like a baby. First time in a while I was waking up like a male is suppose too. I got tons of data and will present it to my dr. He should have no problem agreeing with things. During my gluthione IV he can just stick the vitamin D right in the cocktail. Today I will take 10,000 ius and reduce the isocort by half ice I am not experiencing symptoms of low adrenals like I have strong feeling that get vitamin D levels back in check every thing will go back into place. My body is barely producing inuslin but drs just ignored the results as usual.

It there really a difference between doing 50,000 x 2 times a week vs 12,000 a day. I would suspect that keeping it steadier would build just as fast as if you did it twice and less side effects

[Zuleikaa]

i like that idea, nip this thing in the ass so i can get on with my life. My worry is that taking all that D is going to throw my other minerals off, but at this point i think its worth the risk. Well being almost copper deficeinct would impair calcium uptake, but it is rising slowly from last test. I am at like 3.5 mgs copper a day with 30 mgs zinc to balance things out. My hair analysis should that i was copper deficient and not over loaded in the tissue. I think reason for low copper is that my gut is inflammed and the protein carrier for copper my be impaired, but hemoglobin and hemocrit is good but again my body could be pulling it from the tissues as wellFor inflammation I recommend 2 weeks of 150 mg organic oregano oil, and 1000 mg of vitamin C every hour. Then a week of every 2 hours then a week of every four and thereafter 4 times a day. You will have very loose stools that smell foul or diarrhea for a while but that is the body detoxing.

I suggested the above program for someone with Lupus. Lupus inflames the body and flareups occur from the sun/vitamin D. Yet those with lupus are vitamin D deficient and prone to D deficiency related symptoms. From my research inflammation was the problem. I put her on the above program with plenty of supplements, no D included, for a month. She also has diabetes. After a month, I put her on 2k IU D/day and now she's on 4k IU D/day.

When I met her, she was miserable and in pain; her flareups were frequent; her diabetes was out of control, and she had elevated blood pressure. Plus the meds she was on for Lupus were making her sicker and she would stop taking them and then have a flareup. She said she would try anything.

She is now at the 4 month point. She hasn't been on the Lupus meds since before she started. She hasn't had one Lupus flareup, she's without pain, and her diabetes and blood pressure are under control without meds. She says she has energy and has never felt this well.

[Zuleikaa]

I took 2,000 ius about 7 pm last night at slept like a baby. First time in a while I was waking up like a male is suppose too. Good for you. There's a guy a work I put on a vitamin regimen. He was so pleased with the results!!! Said, he hadn't had it like that in a long time!! And his wife was happy, too, lol!!! It there really a difference between doing 50,000 x 2 times a week vs 12,000 a day. I would suspect that keeping it steadier would build just as fast as if you did it twice and less side effects The 12k a day is better, steadier, the other is quicker in the begining.

[flex73]

just came back from drs he would not take my D levels, but i feel like a new person today lots of energy ect. Got stool test back and I have no bifidiolphilis bacteria, no wonder I have been constipated. Body is resistant to ooo so I need to switch things up to ursi uvi. I will stay at 12,000 ius for a month and get them retested. It can not hurt but only help. I also added in a good probiotic becuase probiotic I was taken was in a powder form and not reaching the colon. Even at 12,000 ius bowels are still sluggish. I need to make sure i get my calcium in and monitor ph levels

[Zuleikaa]

A good way to determine your required daily D levels is to up the D until it causes urgent feeling stools and stools are liquidy. Then take it down 1-2k.

[flex73]

I think I might just go get test done my self it can not be that expensive to get it done. I ike to have a starting point. I talked to a freind of mine and he said that if vitamin D levels are low your insulin will not be working properly and my fasting insulin was 1.75 (0-20) but drs are ignoring this and this can be a big compentent why i am not getting amino acids to the muscle even though they may be being absorbed, but just pissed out.

[Trinigirl]

Hi everyone,
I keep reading your posting and the more I read the more I am happy to be here living a much better life. Thank you so much.
Just an update, taking all the vitmin. but have not found the oregrano oil. I live in a small town. Not a lot of choise here.
The last two days my asthma has been bad, I think it because I started working out and my body has to get use to it. Not giving up.
Any way will keep reporting back.
Thank you again for this new WOL and all the information.
Warmest Regards,
Joy

[flex73]

Trin,
you can always order on line. It may not be bad to look into an air ionizer for your house since it will clean the air. Ever since vitamin D I have been sleeping like a baby and starting to breath better again. I just do not like playing guessing games with out having a starting point to go from. I am at 8,000 ius day and will keep it there for a week and if still no better bump itup 1,000 ius and go from there. My energy levels are getting better plus I even stopped the cortisol since it was destroying my good bacteria. Now I have to rebuild that up as well. I know I am magnesium deficeint and its all coming from imbalances of vitamin D altering my calcium metabolism and once that is correct I will be perfectly fine but it will take a few months

[Zuleikaa]

Hi everyone,
I keep reading your posting and the more I read the more I am happy to be here living a much better life. Thank you so much.
Just an update, taking all the vitmin. but have not found the oregrano oil. I live in a small town. Not a lot of choise here.
The last two days my asthma has been bad, I think it because I started working out and my body has to get use to it. Not giving up.
Any way will keep reporting back.
Thank you again for this new WOL and all the information.
Warmest Regards,
JoyI don't know if you can get it shipped to Canada but swansonvitamins.com has the best prices for supplements that I have found.

Maybe if you can't find oregano oil you can find tea tree oil? It does a lot of the same things.

[flex73]

The reason I could not goto the bathroom was that the drs were given me glutathione which detoxes your liver really well but if your bile is thick it will make you really constipated like alot of drs think constipation is in your head or in your bowel, but it can also be from hypothyroid, calcium imbalance and also liver congestion from thicken bile production. I should have thought of that sooner.

[Zuleikaa]

Men are notorious for not wanting to pop supplements. I thought this would catch their eye.

I posted in the supplement forum:

Psst: Want a Bigger Penis? Better Sex Drive? Read this.

How vitamin D can benefit men's health
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/med...p?newsid=25372#

31 May 2005

How can we get American men interested in vitamin D? Most men could care less. Say vitamin D did something men find really important, like improve athletic performance or induce hair growth? Or, say it improved sexual performance or increased virility? Nothing would get men treating their vitamin D deficiency like a study that showed vitamin D increased organ size!

Sixteen years ago, Professor Walter Stumpf (who taught me at UNC School of Medicine) first made the case that vitamin D is intimately involved with sex and reproduction. Male genital tissue contains lots of vitamin D receptors but their significance and function remain unknown. One researcher actually gave a vitamin D-like-drug to see if it improved sexual performance in patients with renal failure! To bad for the instant popularity of vitamin D, the results showed no improvement.
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Nov;161(5):1375-84
Clin Nephrol. 1980 May;13(5):208-14

Vitamin D does appear to improve virility. Conception peaks in the summer, when vitamin D levels are highest, and ebbs in the winter, when vitamin D stores are low. Vitamin D deficiency has profound effects on rat testicles, including dramatically reducing spermatogenesis. Vitamin D deficient male rats were 73% less likely to successfully father pups than vitamin D sufficient males. Vitamin D restored virility to vitamin D deficient male rats and should do the same for vitamin D deficient male humans.
Hum Reprod. 1992 Jul;7(6):735-45
Ann Nutr Metab. 1992;36(4):203-8
Ann Nutr Metab. 1995;39(2):95-8
J Nutr. 1989 May;119(5):741-4

What else are men interested in besides sex? Hair growth! In fact, hair follicles have large numbers of vitamin D receptors but their function is unknown. Although there are no human studies showing vitamin D will grow men a new head of hair, vitamin D like drugs do grow hair in mice. (By the way, both my wife and my barber have told me my head has stopped balding and I've kept my 25(OH)-vitamin D level around 50 ng/ml for several years.) One relevant animal study should get the attention of men; the title contains two of their favorite words: “nude” and “hair growth.”
Endocrinology. 2002 Nov;143(11):4389-96

What about weight? Can you see the headlines in the men's' fitness magazines: “Vitamin D Reduces Weight.” Although dozens of studies have found that those with the highest 25(OH)-vitamin D blood levels weigh the least, most vitamin D scientists explain this by pointing out that vitamin D is stored in fat tissue, thus lowering blood levels. Of course that does not preclude vitamin D from also having either a direct or indirect effect on weight.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Jan;88(1):157-61
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Mar;89(3):1196-9
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Feb;90(2):635-40
Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Sep;72(3):690-3

One study tried to answer that question by looking directly at vitamin D intake and body weight. The authors found an inverse correlation. That is, the more vitamin D in your diet, the less you weighed! If you have a few minutes, test your knowledge by taking our quiz on obesity and vitamin D.
J Nutr. 2003 Jan;133(1):102-6
Obesity and Vitamin D Quiz.

Finally, we turn to athletic performance. After sex, hair growth, and obesity, improving athletic performance would certainly make American men pay attention to vitamin D. Actually, what we are asking is: “Does the most potent steroid hormone system in the human body have any effects on balance, muscle strength, muscle mass, reaction time, etc?” When asked that way, it would be surprising if it had none. In fact, dozens of studies suggest vitamin D will improve athletic performance.

If vitamin D improves athletic performance, then we'd predict physical fitness should peak in the late summer when 25(OH)-vitamin D levels peak. The only two studies that looked at season of the year and athletic performance of trained athletes found physical fitness peaked exactly then.
Acta Physiol Pol. 1981 Nov-Dec;32(6):629-36
Rom J Physiol. 2000 Jan-Dec;37(1-4):51-8

Genetic ablation of vitamin D receptors caused profound impairment in the motor functions of mice. Furthermore, mice without the vitamin D receptor gene showed increased anxiety; performance anxiety is something all men want to avoid. Babies born to vitamin D deficient rats are permanently and irreversibly brain damaged, proving that vitamin D has profound effects on developing neural tissue. (We will have more on this important, and tragic, research coming out of Australia in a future newsletter.)
Brain Res Bull. 2004 Jul 30;64(1):25-9

Muscle strength is important to athletes and it correlated with 25(OH)-vitamin D levels in older men. A vitamin D like drug improved muscle strength in vitamin D deficient older women. In fact, it did the same thing to a group of vitamin D deficient younger women. Furthermore, improved lower extremity function was directly associated with higher 25(OH)-vitamin D levels.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999 Jan;80(1):54-8

Athletes need to be quick. A single injection of 600,000-units of vitamin D significantly improved reaction times in older adults. Furthermore, higher 25(OH)-vitamin D levels were also independently associated with better reaction time and better performance time.
Age Ageing. 2004 Nov;33(6):589-95

Athletes need good balance. The beneficial effect vitamin D has on balance (reduced falls) is not limited to profoundly vitamin D deficient populations; a vitamin D-like-drug improved balance in the general elder population, even those with “normal” 25(OH)-vitamin D levels. A more recent study showed higher 25(OH)-vitamin D levels correlated with better gait speed, balance and muscle strength.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 May;89-90(1-5):497-501.

Vitamin D also appears to maintain muscle mass in older people but, no one has reported similar studies of young adults. A recent review concluded that vitamin D is an authentic strength preserving hormone, at least in the elderly. There is no reason to think it has any less effect on vitamin D deficient younger persons.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5766-72

Finally, debilitating chronic pain sidelines many athletes. One Mayo clinic study found that virtually all patients treated for chronic pain have low 25(OH)-vitamin D levels. Furthermore, in what must be one of the largest open studies ever reported, 360 patients with low back pain in Saudi Arabia responded exceptionally well to treatment with physiological doses of vitamin D. Like virtually all areas of vitamin D research, we are still awaiting definitive research.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2003 Dec;78(12):1463-70

An impressive scientific literature suggests that vitamin D may improve athletic performance. This should surprise no one as other steroid hormone systems improve athletic performance. One difference is that the U.S. government is going to find it hard to regulate the vitamin D steroid hormone system; the sun is both a free and robust source of vitamin D. Of course, oral vitamin D is toxic in overdose and vitamin D toxicity would greatly impair athletic performance. Smart athletes would get enough sun, or take enough cholecalciferol, to keep their 25(OH)-vitamin D levels around 50 ng/ml, year around. But then, smart non-athletes would do the same.

What would happen if researchers gave physiological doses of cholecalciferol to men for a year or two and studied their sex life, hair growth, weight and athletic performance? Would vitamin D improve men's sex life? Would it make them more virile? Would they stop going bald? Would they lose weight? Would they become better athletes?

We don't know. However, a rapidly expanding scientific literature indicates vitamin D lowers their risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune illness, depression and seventeen different types of cancer. It now appears likely that vitamin D has an important role in treating those killer diseases as well.

But that doesn't really interest most American men. Men want to know about the important stuff. Why not start taking 2,000 units of cholecalciferol every day and see if your sex life improves, your hair grows back, you lose weight, and you become a better athlete? (And, don't forget to measure down there; after all, you never know).

John Cannell, MD
The Vitamin D Council
9100 San Gregorio Road
Atascadero, CA 93422
http://cholecalciferol-council.com/about.shtml

[Dodger]

As an example of how obsolete information continues to be used:Excess vitamin D from supplements (greater than 50 micrograms or 2000 IU per day) can result in kidney damage, kidney stones, weakened bones and muscles, and possibly death.http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/325/20932/230636.html

[Zuleikaa]

Yep. It's especially frustrating when you try to get someone with D deficiency disease(s) and they parrot this stuff at you. Some are of the medical profession too who should know better!! I have a folio of vitamin D research.

When I design a supplement program for people now, I just give them fact sheets on each supplement.

[flex73]

my strength has been going up and up since on vitamin D and people at my gym are like what the hell. Well i was barely doing 8 plates on leg press other week now I was doing 16 with ease, no other variables have changed either. My veins are coming back and little more energy as well. I think I am going to bust the bank and get the vitamin D test my self. I need to know where I stand. My dr got his and hes 80 years old and was at 50. i am probably at may be 35 if that. All i can say its been postive no far and I could not ask for more. i just hope that things continue as they are. I do sit under a lux lamp as well for 30 minutes a day in the morning but that has no bearing on vitamin D from what I researched. I was wondering if vitamin D can be linked to leaky gut?

[Zuleikaa]

my strength has been going up and up since on vitamin D and people at my gym are like what the hell. Well i was barely doing 8 plates on leg press other week now I was doing 16 with ease, no other variables have changed either. Congratulations!! Vitamin D improves/ensures bone and muscle strength so of course you've improved. That's a large gain in a short time though. D is surely miraculous!!! Such a simple thing to do so much!!!
I was wondering if vitamin D can be linked to leaky gut? Definitely!! Following is a list of vitamin D deficiency related illnesses. Leaky Gut is the common name for Celiac-Sprue. Crohn's is also a digestive disease in which D deficiency has been implicated.

I have leaky gut and it has been much improved with the following daily program. 8-10 gram vitamin C, vitamin D (of course), 2-2oz. aloe vera juice, peptidase complete digestive enzymes with meals. I take a boatload of supplements but those are related to treatment for leaky gut. Of course the C and D are great for a host of other things as well (see list again).

You know my opinion of vitamin D. You might not know that I think the FDA, pharma, and the medical industry (vs the medical profession who only know what pharma and the industry tell them) are deliberately waging battle against supplements. You might be interested in reading this thread.http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=266791&page=1&pp=15


Vitamin D Deficiency Related Illnesses
Alcoholism
Alzheimers
Anxiety
Arthritis
Autoimmune diseases
Birth defects
Bone diseases
Bone pain
Burning in mouth
Calcium deposits
Cancers (23 types so far)
Celiac-Sprue
Childhood development of Type 1 Diabetes
Coeliac
Crohn's
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Pain
Cystic fibrosis
Dental Decay
Depression
Diabetes, development of Types I and II
Diarrhea
Fibromyalgia
Graves' disease
Heart disease
Hernia
Hypertension
High cholesterol
Immune system diseases
Impaired fetal growth
Impaired fetal formation of tooth enamel
Impaired fetal brain development and learning disabilities
Impaired wound healing
Infections
Infertility
Inflammatory bowel disease
Insomnia
Intestine
Irritability
Joint pain
Kidney
Liver
Lupus
Malabsorption
Menstrual problems
Migraine
Multiple sclerosis
Muscle pain
Myopia
Obsessive disorders
Osteomalacea
Osteoporosis
Panic Attacks
Parkinson's
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Preeclampsia
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rickets
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Schizophrenia
Spontaneous abortions
Thyroid
Tuberculosis
Undiagnosed Pain

Impressive list isn't it?!!!

[flex73]

I am going to get levels checked in a week or so after 10,000 ius. Also too the bifidulfous can be destroyed by the oil of oregano as well. I was also resistant to that on stool test. I am going to get organic acids, amino acid test, leaky gut, RBC mineral, RBC fatty acid. Dr got his checked by would not check mine what bull shit. I am going to get through this if it last thing I will do and I will be back on stage competing AGAIN. Wish they would design a salivia home test for vitamin D, I know mercola had mentioned it but I have not heard nothing since. I sent an email with this link to a friend of mine at Great plains Labs which is a lab that uses more evasive testing. I mentioned that their lab should make an affordable reliable test for people for general public.

[Zuleikaa]

I am going to get levels checked in a week or so after 10,000 ius. Also too the bifidulfous can be destroyed by the oil of oregano as well. I was also resistant to that on stool test. I really believe in oil of oregano (OOO)!!!

[deb34]

I have PCOS and here's a link to some information how vitamin D can help with insulin resistance and also regulate womens reproductive hormones:

http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/news15-pcos-acne.html#sec1 (http://)

i'm not sure of dosages though.

here's something Polycystic ovary syndrome is a disease seen only in humans and is classically characterized by polycystic ovaries, amenorrhea, hirsutism, insulin resistance, and obesity. Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among 13 women with PCOS and supplementation with 1500 mg of Calcium a day and 50,000 iu of Vitamin D2 every week normalized menses and fertility in all the women in the study in three months of treatment. [v] In recent years the focus of treating PCOS is to target the insulin resistance and prescribe the drug Metformin. You may recall that this drug is commonly used to treat Type II diabetes. You may also recall that Vitamin D appears to be more effective and reducing insulin resistance than Metformin

[Zuleikaa]

I have PCOS and here's a link to some information how vitamin D can help with insulin resistance and also regulate womens reproductive hormones:

http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/news15-pcos-acne.html#sec1 (http://)

i'm not sure of dosages though.Looks to me that the dosage is right there. 50k IU/wk. That works out to 7k IU/day. Looks about right to me. Some might need a little less, some might need a little more as D dose varies individually. But I would start there.

[flex73]

Yes the ooo works alittle to well I would say so. It kills everything. Can on be potassium deficienct even if blood test are with in the designated ranges.

[Bat Spit]

My body feels dehyrated and I have all the sign of hypercalcemia (constpation, dry mouth, lack of appeite, loss of strength, slight depression, inflammation)

This line really struck me. I've been feeling constantly dehydrated since I started supplementing calcium. With a side order of muscle weakness and a fuzzy headedness that's making it difficult for me to hit on the right solution.

I'm up to about 3600 D a day. I'm trying to get up to 1200 calcium per day as recommended, but I'm concerned that I personally might not need that much. I've always been sensitive to minerals in multi vitamins.

Or, maybe I'm not getting enough yet and it's pulling out my reserves.

Both my calcium supplements also contain magnesium, so I'm sure I'm ok on that.

Ideas?

[Bat Spit]

Can on be potassium deficienct even if blood test are with in the designated ranges.

Absolutely. Serum potassium is pointless as a measurement of cellular potassium, which is the important number.

I've been on a potassium supplement quite a while because I used to be on blood pressure meds. My numbers have always been 'fine', but my tendonitis really flares up and my menstrual cycle gets weird if I stop taking it.

[Janet8]

All this info!!!! I'm grateful for all the studying and time you took to gather all this and make it available to us.

My husband (70) and I (62) are bagging up our vitamins and rushing off to the health food store to see where we are and what we need to do next. I'm sure we need more than we're getting now. We're used to living in California and we've moved to southern Missouri this past September. We're in a bit of a culture shock....and weather shock. So we will take your info and start slow and slowly build ourselves up.

I'll "report in" when we get back....or maybe tomorrow.

"D"lighted, Janet

[Zuleikaa]

This line really struck me. I've been feeling constantly dehydrated since I started supplementing calcium. With a side order of muscle weakness and a fuzzy headedness that's making it difficult for me to hit on the right solution.

I'm up to about 3600 D a day. I'm trying to get up to 1200 calcium per day as recommended, but I'm concerned that I personally might not need that much. I've always been sensitive to minerals in multi vitamins.

Or, maybe I'm not getting enough yet and it's pulling out my reserves.

Both my calcium supplements also contain magnesium, so I'm sure I'm ok on that.

Ideas?You might need a bit more magnesium to make everything work. I'm assuming that you're getting about 1/2 the magnesium to calcium. Some people do better when magnesium is upped to .75:1 or even 1:1 mag:cal. That's especially important because the more D you get the better you utilize calcium, additionally magnesium also facilitates calcium uptake (thus maybe your reaction to calcium), consequently magnesium can be too low and too much calcium can be circulating in your blood but not making it to your bones. Conversely, if you don't make 1200 on a consistent basis, you could be too low on calcium for the short term and it's being pulled from your bones as you said. The reactions can be the same for too much as too little. The D can be high if needed but the calcium and magnesium mix has to be right. And it's all a matter of tinkering because requirements are very individual and can change.

[Janet8]

Well, we live in a small town in southern Missouri...the closest health food store is around 25 miles away. I went there today and found only one D3...I was surprised! Are you?!

Anyway....here's the quantities of Calcium & Vit D I've been taking:

Calcium Vit D
1700 mg 600 I.U.

So I bought 1,ooo I.U. Vit D (Cholecalciferol) softgels

So what do you think?

[Zuleikaa]

Well, we live in a small town in southern Missouri...the closest health food store is around 25 miles away. I went there today and found only one D3...I was surprised! Are you?!

Anyway....here's the quantities of Calcium & Vit D I've been taking:

Calcium Vit D
1700 mg 600 I.U.

So I bought 1,ooo I.U. Vit D (Cholecalciferol) softgels

So what do you think?
Calcium is fine. Increase your vitamin D by 1-2K/day for a week and then try another 1000/day and so on until you find the level you feel good at.

With calcium and D you always need magnesium, they work together synergistically and create problems when they're not in balance. I suggest
getting 1200 mg.

I order all my supplements online at swansonvitamins.com. The delivery takes less than a week. They have the consistently lowest prices I have found and their quality is excellent. I take a lot of supplements and it was very, very expensive when I bought from GNC.

[Bat Spit]

You might need a bit more magnesium to make everything work.

After a good discussion with one of the ladies at my HFS, I came to that same conclusion. So I'm taking my straight magnesium supplement at bed time. I probably am short term calcium deficient. I gave up almost all dairy this year, and although I'm making a concerted effort, I am almost certainly not yet getting an adequate daily supply from green veggies.

It also occurred to me that I might actually just be a little dehydrated. It's been very dry here lately, despite the snow, and I think since I'm slacking my excersize while we're on vacation, I might have been slacking on my water. Many people can substitute herbal teas, but I think that I can not. My body seems to want plain water.

So, I'm upping magnesium, and counting my water for a few days, and I'll report back.

[Janet8]

Thank you soooooo much, Zule! As soon as I finish here, I'll bring up the Swanson site. You are a great resource!!!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Janet

[flex73]

Here are the changes that got my health back
1. optimize omega 6 to omega 3 ratio of 4:1
2. 75 % alkaline to 25% acid based diet
3. sodium to potassium levels of 1:4-6
4. 15 minutes mediation morning and before bed
5. calcium to mag ratio 1:1, 8,000 ius vitamin d a day
6 diet is 40% raw to steam veggies 10% grains 25% Fats 25% protein
7. 2 TBSP cocconut oil a day
8. thank God each day you wake up each morning
9. as much natural sunlight as I can or getting in from lux lamp. Tanning is not the same thing as lux.

http://www.druckerlabs.com/
intramax
here is a supplement that if you get chiropractor to order its 50 bucks a month and will take care alot of other vitamins/pills as well. I think it is one of the best ones I found plus it is all from organic plants as well. just add vitmain D and you are ready to roll.


Potassium helps to ionize calcium, without ionization calcium is useless in our body. Potassium is synthesized by bacteria in the colon, but when the bacteria of the colon are destroyed potassium deficiency occurs readily.

[Janet8]

Thanks, Flex, for your input. What does an alkaline meal look like...compared to an acid one? I'm so new to all this....any info will help. I'll contact the few chiropractors in this area and see if I can get Intramax.

I was able to get liquid multi vitimins/minerals at the health food store.....wow....I can feel the energy from that. What a waste it was taking all that Centrum Silver.......~Janet

[Zuleikaa]

I was able to get liquid multi vitimins/minerals at the health food store.....wow....I can feel the energy from that. What a waste it was taking all that Centrum Silver.......~JanetI think all the multi vitamins that are a one pill dose are a rip off!! I especially hate the Centrum and One A Day lines. Any multi you take has to have minerals and be as complete as possible, that requires at least a two pill dose. Additionally, other supplements need to be added for a complete supplement program and to address any health issues you may have.

Generally for other people I recommend they start with
Take twice a Day
1 Multivitamin with minerals (of a kind that requires 2 pills per dose)
1-5 Vitamin D, 1,000 IU (more in winter or if you have vitamin D deficiency related problems
2-3 Calcium with magnesium combo, 300-600 mg calcium and 150-300 mg magnesium per pill
2-3 Oregano oil, 150 mg
1 Vitamin C, 1,000 mg
1 Ester C,1000
2-3 Omega oils (contains borage, flax and fish oils)

Once a day
zinc, 50 mg
Vitamin E, 400 IU
Magnesium, 400

If you have diabetes or insulin resistance add twice a day
1 GTF chromium, 200 mcg
1 gymnema sylvestre, 400 mg
2 cinnamon, 375 mg

If you have a family history of heart disease, stroke, or Alzheimer's add twice a day
1-2 CoQ10, 100 mg
1 alpha lipoic acid, 300 mg
1 L-Carnitine, 500 mg

If you have leaky gut, Crohn’s, or digestive problems add
2 oz. aloe vera juice upon arising and before bed
1-3 peptidase complete with meals
3 alfalfa tablets with meals
Ester C, vitamin C and organic oregano oil at least 8 times a day for two weeks and then 4 times a day

If you have inflammation or immune diseases add every hour for one week, every two hours for the next week and then four times a day thereafter.
1 Ester C and vitamin C
1 organic oregano oil

Hot flashes and estrogen replacement add twice a day
1 red clover blossom, 430 mg


This is what I take:

Twice a day with a meal
1 High Potency Multivitamin with minerals no iron
7 (2-7 depending on season) Vitamin D3, 1,000 mg
2 calcium with magnesium, 300/150 mg
2 potassium, 99 mg
2-150 mg oregano oil
1 CoQ10, 100 mg
1 alpha lipoic acid, 300 mg
1 Ester C,1000
1 Vitamin C capsule,1000
1 L-Carnitine, 500 mg
2 salmon oil, 1000 mg
1 borage oil, 1000 mg
1 flaxseed oil, 1000 mg
1 lecithin, 1000 mg
1 GTF chromium, 200 mcg
1 gymnema sylvestre, 400 mg
2 cinnamon, 375 mg
2 L-glutamine, 500 mg
2 glucosamine condroitin & MSM
1 red clover blossom, 430 mg

Once a day (mixed into one or the other above doses)
copper, 2 mg
kelp, 225 mcg
zinc, 50 mg
selenium, 200 mcg
magnesium, 400 mg
vitamin E, 400 mg
B-6, 100 mg
Balanced B-50
PABA, 500 mg

Additionally upon arising and before bed
1000 Ester C
1000 Vitamin C capsules
2-150 mg oregano oil
200 mcg GTF chromium

4-5 times a week
1 psyllium powder capsule
virgin coconut oil

when I get leg cramps at night
3 potassium and 1 magnesium

when I'm on FFP
milk thistle, 500 mg
dandelion root, 515 mg
tumeric, 720 mg
ginger root, 540 mg
virgin coconut oil daily

when there's sickness around or I'm feeling off
extra vitamin C and oregano oil

with all meals but especially when I have wheat
2-3 peptidase complete enzymes

I think that's it though I am prone to add additional here and there to try things out once in a while.

[Janet8]

That's pretty amazing, Zule!!!!!!! I don't think I'd have any $$$ left for food after that! (; lol I really appreciated the part about leg cramps. My husband (in his 70's) works really hard on our "homestead"...he layed brick for over 40 years...still very muscular....but if he's been up on scaffeling (spelling?) or doing heavy lifting, he has leg cramps and we've never known what to do for them. I'm going to make sure we have potasium/mag at the 3:1 ratio you suggest.

You are a great gift! Thank you so much, ~Janet

[flex73]

Zule is cocconut oil ok to do on the fat flush plan if thats what (ffp) stands for. I was thinking of doing it as well. If you are allergic to milk can one consume kefir and still be ok? Every since I started to increase potassium my pee is no longer foaming. This constipation is killing me, I do not think its hormone related such as thyroid, adrenals, but other wise having no good bifidolpholis is not helping the matters at all either. I got my calcium/mag ratio balanced as well plus all other minerals too. So it is just coming back to the lack of bacteria in the bowel. I started MSM too because of being so low on sulfur on blood test hopiing that helps as well

[Zuleikaa]

Zule is cocconut oil ok to do on the fat flush plan if thats what (ffp) stands for. I was thinking of doing it as well. FFP calls for flaxseed oil. I sub coconut oil. In researching I've found coconut oil has the same or better benefits. Plus CO is shelf stable while flaxseed oil gets rancid very quickly. That can't be good and I think have the nastiness of flaxseed oil is that it gets rancid so quickly.If you are allergic to milk can one consume kefir and still be ok? Depends on the person. Some people who are allergic to milk tolerate kefir very well. The milk in kefir is fermented and changed. This constipation is killing me, I do not think its hormone related such as thyroid, adrenals, but other wise having no good bifidolpholis is not helping the matters at all either. I got my calcium/mag ratio balanced as well plus all other minerals too. So it is just coming back to the lack of bacteria in the bowel. I started MSM too because of being so low on sulfur on blood test hopiing that helps as well Try this. Pop a vitamin C and an Ester C every hour until your bowels start with explosive diarrhea. Then back off a bit. I have to think that you have some kind of infection, inflammation, and problems with your digestive and elimination systems. Until that is detoxed and healed you will continue to have this problem. OOO can be taken with the C as well on the same schedule.

I recommend this program for 2 weeks for people that have immune diseases or inflammation, sometimes before adding anything other than basic multi and omegas. I've found that you have to deal with the inflammation and infection first before you can expect the other supplements to be optimally tolerated and effective. Since you've come so far, perhaps you only need 5-7 days of this treatment.

You should never have constipation. Your bowels should always be slightly soft though they move at an individual frequency. Constipation is a sign that you're not getting enough water or fiber, your diet is wrong, or that your body has been damaged.

Many people don't think that their bodies have been damaged though they might think detox. A detox is very good but if healing doesn't happen at the same time, the problem comes back, sometimes faster.

Another idea is to add as much D as your body can tolerate. Your disgestive and elimination tracts have vitamin D receptors and more D will help the cells to correct and cause die off of any mutated or damaged cells. This will also soften your stools and cause diarrhea.

Taken together, the C and D are very powerful. Your stools will probably smell very foul. That's actually a good sign that things are correcting and healing.

Like I think FFP is very good to detox the body on a quarterly basis, I think a periodic vitamin C flush is very beneficial too.

[flex73]

i just was thinking as well too that all the dandilion root I have been taking to support liver may be altering my electrolyte balance balance. I just feel so dehyrated in my colon. I have followed a low salt diet for years and rarely salt my food but I do eat a ton of veggies. I did just add alittle bit of seasalts to some lemon juice and it seem to have a good effect. Dr had me try magnesum ascorbate but it just cost bad gas and made me more constipated. i have to watch too much c becuase I am riding on edge of copper deficiency. Oh i know i have an infection. Ecoli showed up at +4 on a stool sample test and that could explain alot, but drs just ignore it like it is not there. That is whats been PISSING ME OFF. When there are abnormalities they need to be dealt with THEN AND THERE!!

[Bat Spit]

If you are allergic to milk can one consume kefir and still be ok?

It depends on which part of milk you're allergic to, and if you're 'allergic' or 'intolerant'. Kefir is fermented, which means it contains little or no lactose, which has all be consumed by the bacteria.

If your problem is casein, like mine, then it doesn't make any difference because it's the protein that is the problem, rather than the sugar.

[Zuleikaa]

i have to watch too much c becuase I am riding on edge of copper deficiency. Oh i know i have an infection. Ecoli showed up at +4 on a stool sample test and that could explain alot, but drs just ignore it like it is not there. That is whats been PISSING ME OFF. When there are abnormalities they need to be dealt with THEN AND THERE!!I would forget about the riding the edge of a copper deficiency for the short term and do the vitamin C flush, preferably along with organic oregano oil.

A copper deficiency can be easily corrected but the infection should be dealt with immediately and be your first priority. As you said "THEN AND THERE!!" Like I said, supplements won't be effectively utilized if your system is out of whack and has inflammation and/or infection. All the herbs and bateria to support your system and liver won't work if infection and inflammation is in the way.

IMO, you're going about this backwards. Do the flush and then correct any remaining imbalances. The flush will probably get rid of a lot of your systemic problems. You'd be surprised.

[Dodger]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-12/uoc--urs122205.php

UCSD researchers state vitamin D needed to cut cancer risk

Taking 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 daily appears to lower an individual's risk of developing certain cancers – including colon, breast, and ovarian cancer – by up to 50 percent, according to cancer prevention specialists at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center. The researchers call for prompt public health action to increase intake of vitamin D3 as an inexpensive tool for prevention of diseases that claim millions of lives each year. Previous studies by these researchers, including a paper in the December 2005 Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, showed the link between vitamin D deficiency and higher rates of colon cancer. The new paper, to be published on-line December 27, 2005 and printed in the February 2006 issue of The American Journal of Public Health, associates the same risks to breast and ovarian cancers, and underscores the researchers' call to action.

"For example, breast cancer will strike one in eight American women in their lifetime. Early detection using mammography reduces mortality rates by approximately 20 percent. But use of vitamin D might prevent this cancer in the first place," said co-author Cedric F. Garland, a professor with UCSD's Moores Cancer Center and the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the UCSD School of Medicine.

In the paper, the authors conclude: "The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, combined with the discovery of increased risks of certain types of cancer in those who are deficient, suggest that vitamin D deficiency may account for several thousand premature deaths from colon, breast, ovarian and other cancers annually."

The study also found that residents of the northeastern United States, and individuals with higher skin pigmentation were at an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. This is because solar UVB is needed for the human body to make vitamin D. The increased skin pigmentation of African-Americans reduces their ability to synthesize vitamin D.

"African-American women who develop breast cancer are more likely to die from the disease than White women of the same age," said Garland. "Survival rates are worse among African-Americans for colon, prostate and ovarian cancers as well." Even after adjustments that removed the effect of socioeconomic status and access to care, blacks were shown to have substantially poorer survival rates, a difference that the authors link with the decreased ability of blacks to make Vitamin D.

The findings are based upon an extensive systematic review of scientific papers on the relationship of blood serum levels or oral intake of vitamin D with risk of certain types of cancers published worldwide between January 1966 and December 2004. Sixty-three observational studies of vitamin D status in relation to cancer risk, including 30 of colon cancer, 13 of breast cancer, 26 of prostate cancer and seven of ovarian cancer, were assessed.

This complex analysis of virtually every observational study written on the subject, called a systematic review, paints a clearer picture than any single study and is recognized by scientists as an important tool for establishing a consensus of findings.

"A preponderance of evidence, from the best observational studies the medical world has to offer, gathered over 25 years, has led to the conclusion that public health action is needed," Garland said. "Primary prevention of these cancers has largely been neglected, but we now have proof that the incidence of colon, breast, and ovarian cancer can be reduced dramatically by increasing the public's intake of vitamin D."

Since the safety of daily intake of vitamin D3 in the recommended range has been thoroughly assessed and confirmed by the National Academy of Sciences, and the benefits found so far in observational studies are considerable, expanded use of vitamin D as a public health measure should not be delayed, according to the authors.

They recommend intake of 1,000 IU/day of vitamin D, half the safe upper intake established by the National Academy of Sciences. Garland said that while this study looked at all forms of vitamin D – intake through diet or supplements, and photosynthesis through modest sun exposure – as a practical matter, the majority of people will most easily achieve the target levels by eating foods containing vitamin D and taking supplements, which the authors estimated would cost about five cents per day.

"Many people are deficient in vitamin D. A glass of milk, for example, has only 100 IU. Other foods, such as orange juice, yogurt and cheese, are now beginning to be fortified, but you have to work fairly hard to reach 1,000 IU a day," he explained. "Sun exposure has its own concerns and limitations. We recommend no more than 15 minutes of exposure daily over 40 percent of the body, other than the face, which should be protected from the sun. Dark-skinned people, however, may need more exposure to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D, and some fair-skinned people shouldn't try to get any vitamin D from the sun. The easiest and most reliable way of getting the appropriate amount is from food and a daily supplement."



###
Co-authors on the study are Cedric F. Garland, Edward D. Gorham, Sharif B. Mohr, and Frank C. Garland, affiliated with the Moores Cancer Center and the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at UCSD School of Medicine ; Martin Lipkin, Strang Cancer Prevention Center, New York; Harold L. Newmark, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and The Cancer Institute of New Jersey; and Michael F. Holick, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine.

[Zuleikaa]

Slowly, slowly, the wheel is turning. One day!!!

[Demi]

The news about cancer and vitamin D is all over the UK news this morning. Have just read this interesting article in relation to the news and thought that I'd post it here:


The world is waking up to the medicinal power of the outdoors
By Oliver Gillie
Published: 28 December 2005
The Independent, London, UK


The discovery that vitamin D is vital for the health of 30 or more different tissues and organs of the body has been one of the most significant medical discoveries of the last 10 years but, until very recently, only a few dozen scientists scattered round the world were interested. Most scientists and doctors thought that vitamin D was important only for the healthy bones.

But patient laboratory work has shown that vitamin D is essential for the normal development of many specialised cells and has a vital role in a process called apoptosis - the programmed death of cells that have finished their useful life.

Insufficient vitamin D is becoming recognised as the most important risk factor for cancer and other chronic diseases after smoking, obesity and alcohol.

At least 60 per cent of people in the UK obtain insufficient vitamin D - and 10 per cent are so deficient that they are at risk of severe bone disease. Food provides most people in the UK with less than a quarter of the minimum requirement of vitamin D for health. Even if a typical vitamin pill is taken as well that leaves more than half of our vitamin D requirement that can only be obtained by exposure of the skin to the sun.

For six months of the year, the sun is not strong enough in northern Europe to enable the skin to make any vitamin D. More than ever before, the pattern of modern life keeps us indoors, out of the summer sun, or in cars, while sunscreen chemicals, common in cosmetics as well as in special creams, block the ultra-violet rays which are needed for vitamin D production.

Urgent measures are needed to correct our national deficiency of vitamin D, especially in winter. Some people may take a winter holiday in the Caribbean, Canary Islands or north Africa where they can sunbathe without suncream, taking care not to burn, and obtain a useful boost to health. Others may take a strong vitamin D pill (25 microgram or 1000 IUs) which can be bought from the internet.

But only vigorous government action will improve the vitamin D levels of most people. More foods need to be fortified with vitamin D but that will probably need complicated agreements with other EU countries which will take time and political will. The greatest immediate gains in vitamin D could be obtained by a new policy recommending the public to sunbathe whenever possible, wearing as few clothes as possible while taking care not to burn. Scientific evidence now suggests that it is burning that increases the risk of skin cancer while exposure without burning seems to protect against cancer.

However Cancer Research UK have been reluctant to change their government-sponsored SunSmart policy which was developed in sunny Australia and is totally unsuited to the British climate. It recommends staying in shade in the middle of the day and wearing sunscreen which, in effect, prevents most ultra-violet light from reaching the skin.

I warned Cancer Research UK more than a year ago that their advice may be causing more cancer than it is preventing. Even Australian authorities now recommend that people spend a few minutes in the sun before covering up. It is time for the UK government to follow suit and encourage people here to sunbathe safely to reduce their cancer risk.

Oliver Gillie is the author of Sunlight Robbery: Health benefits of sunlight are denied by current public health policy in the UK www.healthresearchforum.org.uk



http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/article335360.ece

[Zuleikaa]

Oliver Gillie is the author of Sunlight Robbery: Health benefits of sunlight are denied by current public health policy in the UK www.healthresearchforum.org.ukSunlight Robbery is an excellent report!!

[Zuleikaa]

I've been told that there is no evidence supporting vitamin D's link to obesity and insulin resistance. So I thought I would post that info here and then again in response.

Vit D_Obesity_Insulin

Treatment of Obesity With Vitamin D
This study is not yet open for patient recruitment.
Verified by University of Tromso September 2005
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00243256

Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity1,2,3
Jacobo Wortsman, Lois Y Matsuoka, Tai C Chen, Zhiren Lu and Michael F Holick
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/72/3/690

Inadequate vitamin D status: Does it contribute to the disorders comprising syndrome ‘X’?
Boucher, B. J.1
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cabi/bjn/1998/00000079/00000004/art00003?token=006013ddb9772752d455e4e26634a492f253054296a7c28496e5865462440426f3b2065213b702a7753dc152d8667e07

Concentrations of Serum Vitamin D and the Metabolic Syndrome Among U.S. Adults
Earl S. Ford, MD, MPH1, Umed A. Ajani, MBBS, MPH1, Lisa C. McGuire, PHD1 and Simin Liu, MD, SCD2,3 http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/5/1228
Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and ß cell dysfunction1,2,3
Ken C Chiu, Audrey Chu, Vay Liang W Go and Mohammed F Saad http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/79/5/820

The effect of vitamin D3 on insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients.
Borissova AM, Tankova T, Kirilov G, Dakovska L, Kovacheva R.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12800453&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Vitamin D endocrine system and the genetic susceptibility to diabetes, obesity and vascular disease. A review of evidence.
Reis AF, Hauache OM, Velho G.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16369193&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with obesity in type 2 diabetic subjects with early age of onset
WZ Ye, AF Reis, D Dubois-Laforgue, C Bellanne-Chantelot, J Timsit, and G Velho
http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/145/2/181

Altered Calcium Homeostasis Is Correlated With Abnormalities of Fasting Serum Glucose, Insulin Resistance, and {beta}-Cell Function in the Newfoundland Population.
Sun G, Vasdev S, Martin GR, Gadag V, Zhang H http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16249463&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum

Regulation of multiple insulin-like growth factor binding protein genes by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
Matilainen M, Malinen M, Saavalainen K, Carlberg C.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16186133&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum

Vitamin D and diabetes.
Mathieu C, Gysemans C, Giulietti A, Bouillon R.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15971062&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Relationship between fasting serum glucose, age, body mass index and serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in postmenopausal women.
Need AG, O'Loughlin PD, Horowitz M, Nordin BE.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15943837&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Diabetes, and Ethnicity in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Robert Scragg, PHD1, MaryFran Sowers, PHD2 and Colin Bell, PHD3
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/12/2813

Lack of effect of vitamin D administration during pregnancy and early life on diabetes incidence in the non-obese diabetic mouse.
Hawa MI, Valorani MG, Buckley LR, Beales PE, Afeltra A, Cacciapaglia F, Leslie RD, Pozzilli P.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Pager&DB=pubmed

Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase in pancreatic islets.
Bland R, Markovic D, Hills CE, Hughes SV, Chan SL, Squires PE, Hewison M.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15225758&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Oral administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 completely protects NOD mice from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Zella JB, McCary LC, DeLuca HF.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12921782&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

The vitamin D receptor gene variant and physical activity predicts fasting glucose levels in healthy young men.
Ortlepp JR, Metrikat J, Albrecht M, von Korff A, Hanrath P, Hoffmann R.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12786678&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Identification of a Vitamin D response element in the human insulin receptor gene promoter.
Maestro B, Davila N, Carranza MC, Calle C.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12711007&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Impaired insulin secretory capacity in mice lacking a functional vitamin D receptor.
Zeitz U, Weber K, Soegiarto DW, Wolf E, Balling R, Erben RG.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12551842&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Adiposity in relation to vitamin D status and parathyroid hormone levels: a population-based study in older men and women.
Snijder MB, van Dam RM, Visser M, Deeg DJ, Dekker JM, Bouter LM, Seidell JC, Lips P.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15855256&query_hl=25&itool=pubmed_docsum

The relationship between obesity and serum 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D concentrations in healthy adults.
Parikh SJ, Edelman M, Uwaifo GI, Freedman RJ, Semega-Janneh M, Reynolds J, Yanovski JA.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15001609&query_hl=25&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Body fat content and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy women.
Arunabh S, Pollack S, Yeh J, Aloia JF.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12519845&query_hl=25&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Intakes of calcium and vitamin d predict body mass index in the population of Northern Norway.
Kamycheva E, Joakimsen RM, Jorde R.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12514276&query_hl=25&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with obesity in type 2 diabetic subjects with early age of onset.
Ye WZ, Reis AF, Dubois-Laforgue D, Bellanne-Chantelot C, Timsit J, Velho G.
http://eje-online.org/cgi/reprint/145/2/181

The effect of vitamin D3 on insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients.
Borissova AM, Tankova T, Kirilov G, Dakovska L, Kovacheva R.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12800453&dopt=Citation

[deb34]

I'm running out of ideas on D connection postings. Anyone have any connections to illnesses they'd like me to research?


Zuleikaa; i'm not sure if this has been researched extensively, but i've seen a few comments about it. I'd like to know if you can find anything more about Vit D and PCOS(polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).

I plan to start Vit D in Jan after bloodwork from my Doc, I'd like to know if Mega doses of D would reverse or treat PCOS effectively..


thanks

Deb

[Zuleikaa]

Zuleikaa; i'm not sure if this has been researched extensively, but i've seen a few comments about it. I'd like to know if you can find anything more about Vit D and PCOS(polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).

I plan to start Vit D in Jan after bloodwork from my Doc, I'd like to know if Mega doses of D would reverse or treat PCOS effectively..


thanks

DebI think I did this. If not here, in someone's journal. I'll see if I can find them and perhaps some more.

Vitamin D is very effective in reversing PCOS symptoms by controlling insulin and regulating hormones. With vitamin D PCOS women got regular menstrual cycles, got pregnant and carried to term.

[Zuleikaa]

Here's what I've found. However, most studies target the individual symptoms of PCOS and vitamin D effect, not the syndrome. PCOS is a health problem that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. Women with PCOS have these characteristics:
• high levels of male hormones, also called androgens
• an irregular or no menstrual cycle
• may or may not have many small cysts in their ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs.

There are a lot of studies on vitamin D and 1. insulin, 2. hormones, 3 menstrual cycle, 4. fertility, and 5. sex characteristics. There are also quite a few on ovaries, and cysts.

Vit D_PCOS

Vitamin D and calcium dysregulation in the polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Thys-Jacobs S, Donovan D, Papadopoulos A, Sarrel P, Bilezikian JP.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10433180&dopt=Citation

Serum parathyroid hormone concentrations are increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Panidis D, Balaris C, Farmakiotis D, Rousso D, Kourtis A, Balaris V, Katsikis I, Zournatzi V, Diamanti-Kandarakis E.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16037412&query_hl=56&itool=pubmed_docsum


Micronutrients and the premenstrual syndrome: the case for calcium.
Thys-Jacobs S.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10763903&dopt=Citation

[Zuleikaa]

I have a vitamin D miracle to report!!!

My sister had a stroke 8 years ago. Since the stoke, she has numbness and weakness in her left hand and arm. She has numbness in her left foot and up the leg to the calf.

Or, rather I should say she HAD numbness and muscle weakness!!!

She took 4,000 IU of vitamin D yesterday. This morning she called me all excited that she has feeling in her hand and can do her piano exercises on that hand for the first time since her stroke, and that she has feeling back in her legs and feet with only a small portion of her foot still numb.

I've been trying to get her on vitamin D for months and months and finally sent her a lot of research on D last month.

She finally took it yesterday!!!!

Now SHE knows!!!! Vitamin D is truly a miracle!!!

[Janet8]

Oh, Zule....thank you so much for sharing the miracle. It's truely awesome!!!!!!! May she continue and be completely well!!!

~Janet

[Dodger]

While increased D is great for a lot of things (My mental attitude is much better this time of year than in previous years), it has not eliminated my leg itches. The last week has been like previous years in that the itching is really bad at night. It may be dry skin from the extremely-low humidity rather than vitamin D deficiency. No matter, I will continue to supplement with D until the sun again is strong enough to make it.

[Zuleikaa]

While increased D is great for a lot of things (My mental attitude is much better this time of year than in previous years), it has not eliminated my leg itches. The last week has been like previous years in that the itching is really bad at night. It may be dry skin from the extremely-low humidity rather than vitamin D deficiency. No matter, I will continue to supplement with D until the sun again is strong enough to make it.Dodger
How much magnesium are you taking? D, calcium, and magnesium are all interrelated and many people are deficient in magnesium while obtaining enough calcium. I've found that I and others do better at magnesium levels of .75:1 or even 1:1 ratio of magnesium:calcium. Along with magnesium, I've also found that potassium is a factor in leg neuropathy issues. When the itching occurs try taking 3-99 mg potassium and 1-400 mg magnesium. You can take this up to 3 times a night if needed.

If the itching is from dryness try ingesting up to 2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil/day. It does wonders for skin.

[Dodger]

Dodger
How much magnesium are you taking? D, calcium, and magnesium are all interrelated and many people are deficient in magnesium while obtaining enough calcium. I've found that I and others do better at magnesium levels of .75:1 or even 1:1 ratio of magnesium:calcium. Along with magnesium, I've also found that potassium is a factor in leg neuropathy issues. When the itching occurs try taking 3-99 mg potassium and 1-400 mg magnesium. You can take this up to 3 times a night if needed.

If the itching is from dryness try ingesting up to 2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil/day. It does wonders for skin.I supplement with 200 to 300 mg of magnesium per day. I use Lite Salt, so my potassium is reasonably high.

If the itching was related to magnesium or potassium, I would think that it would not be seasonal, as my intake does not change. Whatever the cause, it will be gone in a couple of months.

It is possible that a higher does of D would help. I am getting about 2000 to 2400 IU's a day now. This is four to five times what I used last winter.

I live where it is really, really dry during the winter months, so I suspect that the lack of humidity may be related to the itching. I have tried various creams and they work only for a very short time.

[Zuleikaa]

I supplement with 200 to 300 mg of magnesium per day. I use Lite Salt, so my potassium is reasonably high. IMO, your magnessium is too low. That's not anywhere near 1/2 of the minimum 1200 mg of calcium you should be getting, and I've found a lot of people do better upping the ratio.

If the itching was related to magnesium or potassium, I would think that it would not be seasonal, as my intake does not change. Whatever the cause, it will be gone in a couple of months.

It is possible that a higher does of D would help. I am getting about 2000 to 2400 IU's a day now. This is four to five times what I used last winter.Then it might be D related. I have a coworker that had dry patches that wouldn't go away and dry skin that she would scratch until it bled on her legs and arms. No creams or lotions, cortisol ointments or other treatments her doctor prescribed would help until she put her D way up.

She's white, in her sixties, and living in Virginia. She had habitually used suncreen so I think she must have been severely D deficient. She certainly had immune system problems until she started supplementing with organic oregano oil, D, C, and other supplements.

She was always coming down with some infection or other, at least one a month like clockwork, often more. When I met her, her legs had been ulcerated over four months (prescription antibiotics didn't help). She'd had multiple cases of bronchitis, kidney infections, shingles, pluerisy, and some I'd never heard of before and the roughest, driest, most cracked and fragile skin I'd ever seen.

The oregano oil healed the ulcerations and improved her skin and health a little; she actually used to get sick more often before the oregano oil. But I kept telling her her immune system must be severely compromised and urging her to give the D a try.

Her skin and health improved a bit during the summer...it was the first summer in years she went without sunscreen...but with fall's onset, her skin started drying up and the rotation of illnesses started up again. That convinced her.

She's been on high levels of vitamin D for over a month now. She started at 4k/day. With a certain amount of D it improved a bit and then stopped at a certain level. She used a patch on her knee as a barometer of how much D she should take. It's taken 14k for the healing to be complete and she's maintaining at that level at least until spring. With the high levels of D you could actually see the skin knitting back together. Her health has much improved.

I live where it is really, really dry during the winter months, so I suspect that the lack of humidity may be related to the itching. I have tried various creams and they work only for a very short time. Same with my coworker and she doesn't live in a dry climate. So I'd say you need more D and/or coconut oil internally and externally.

[Bat Spit]

It may be dry skin from the extremely-low humidity rather than vitamin D deficiency.

Zu, when Mike says it's dry here, he means this past month the humidity hasn't ever made it above 25, and for 2 weeks it was actually closer to 10.

Mike, try adding some coconut oil internally, and consider getting a jar of Spectrum naturals coconut oil, which doesn't taste very good but has the least scent, and use it as a body lotion right out of the shower. Because it is food, your body uses it for healing, instead of just as a non-absorbable barrier, which is all most lotion can do. I've taken to using it pretty much exclusively, and my skin is much better than last year.

I've discovered if you melt a few T of coconut oil into hot tea, and then add a scoop of protein powder and froth it up by spinning a whisk in your cup, that the oil adheres to the protein, rather than floating at the top of the cup. I like it much better that way.

[Zuleikaa]

Mike, try adding some coconut oil internally, and consider getting a jar of Spectrum naturals coconut oil, which doesn't taste very good but has the least scent, and use it as a body lotion right out of the shower. Because it is food, your body uses it for healing, instead of just as a non-absorbable barrier, which is all most lotion can do. I've taken to using it pretty much exclusively, and my skin is much better than last year.

I've discovered if you melt a few T of coconut oil into hot tea, and then add a scoop of protein powder and froth it up by spinning a whisk in your cup, that the oil adheres to the protein, rather than floating at the top of the cup. I like it much better that way.I use tropical traditions virgin coconut oil. I take it internally. I also mix it with essential organic oregano oil and use it as a body lotion (which I had also recommended to my coworker). Works wonders for dry skin and healing also.

[Bat Spit]

For eating I like Garden of Life, but Spectrum Naturals has the least scent I've found, so I like it best for lotion. I add a little lilac oil to mine for a soothing scent.

I've also converted my massage therapist. She says it works better than anything she's ever used, but it's expensive, so I provide my own. I like it because it doesn't stain clothes the way chemical stuff does, and I don't feel the need to wash it off right after.

[Trinigirl]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE :cheer: :Party:

I hope that all that you need and wish for comes to you.

Well I started off my New Year with a very very bad asthma attack, it had me in Bed yesterday and last night was not good also.
My TOM was difficult as well, I thought it was finshed on the 31st but yesterday around noon it came back.
So not a good start.
I don't know what I should do. So any help will be appreciated.
Thanking you in advance.
I am fighting for breath. :help: :help:
Joy

[Zuleikaa]

Well I started off my New Year with a very very bad asthma attack, it had me in Bed yesterday and last night was not good also.
My TOM was difficult as well, I thought it was finshed on the 31st but yesterday around noon it came back.
So not a good start.
I don't know what I should do. So any help will be appreciated.
Thanking you in advance.
I am fighting for breath. :help: :help:
JoyDid you ever get the oregano oil? That's a big help in fighting inflammation, and oxygenation. If you didn't, do order some as soon as possible.

If you did obtain it how much are you taking?

[tripletmom]

ok.... you've piqued my interest! I read some of the conversations here about Vitamin D, and even did that little "test" by pressing on my sternum. Surprise, it hurt.

I have pCOS, and would happily participate in this experiment. I do have a few questions...

• What form of Vitamin D should be be taking
• I see we should also be taking magnesium and calcium... what are the appropriate amounts to be taken together synergistically
• What is a good base amount to start taking, and what amount should I work up to

In the summer, I do get outside in the sun a lot, and because of an allergy to sunscreen, I go it alone, and try to go and and out of the shade in order to not burn... but I usually do get a little burnt!

Zule, should I just pm you to get info

Hugs
Karen

[Trinigirl]

:rheart: :angel: Hi Zuleikaa,

Thank you for your response to my quary... My husband got the oregano oil for me today. He drove out of town to a larger city and found it at a Health food store.

I will start as you advised me eariler. Here is hoping for the best.

Thanks again Bat Spit for coming by my Journal. I truly appreciate you writing me.

I am feeling a bit better today. So I must be on the mend from this attack, it leaves me feeling weak.

Thanks so much.
I really appreciate your help.
Warmest Regards
Joy

[eyesofblue]

Zuleikaa,

Thanks for telling me where you get your vitamins, the prices are a lot less expensive there then the health food store.

I saw your post to Zinigirl about taking OOO for asthma, how much should be taken for asthma? I was very sick with it for almost all of December, I am now being tapered off of prednisone, but I am still using a nebulizer 4 times a day. I would like to switch to a natural remedy, so this post caught my eye.

Thanks for all of your help.

Lisa

[Zuleikaa]

ok.... you've piqued my interest! I read some of the conversations here about Vitamin D, and even did that little "test" by pressing on my sternum. Surprise, it hurt.

I have pCOS, and would happily participate in this experiment. I do have a few questions...

• What form of Vitamin D should be be taking
• I see we should also be taking magnesium and calcium... what are the appropriate amounts to be taken together synergistically
• What is a good base amount to start taking, and what amount should I work up to

In the summer, I do get outside in the sun a lot, and because of an allergy to sunscreen, I go it alone, and try to go and and out of the shade in order to not burn... but I usually do get a little burnt!

Zule, should I just pm you to get info

Hugs
KarenKaren, Welcome!!!
Twice a day
2-7 1000 IU vitamin D, D3, start at 2 twice a day and work up 1-2 K twice a day per week as tolerated, the more deficient you are the more you need until late spring when you can decrease it a bit and get it naturally from the sun.
1800 IU calcium
1200 magnesium
200-400 mcg GTF chromium (PCOS)

[Zuleikaa]

Zuleikaa,

Thanks for telling me where you get your vitamins, the prices are a lot less expensive there then the health food store.

I saw your post to Zinigirl about taking OOO for asthma, how much should be taken for asthma? I was very sick with it for almost all of December, I am now being tapered off of prednisone, but I am still using a nebulizer 4 times a day. I would like to switch to a natural remedy, so this post caught my eye.

Thanks for all of your help.

LisaHere's the information on magnesium deficiency and asthma.
http://www.asthmaworld.org/asthma-magnesium.htm
Coincidentally magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D are all linked and interdependent. So you're headed in the right direction.
Another powerful tool against asthma is organic oregano oil.

Along with vitamin D and calcium
--Magnesium
Take 250 mg 4-6 times daily. Magnesium relaxes the bronchial tubes and improves lung function.
--Oregano oil (Origanum vulgare)
Take 150 mg in the capsule form 4-6 times daily. Oregano oil has powerful
antibacterial properties. Oregano contains four anti-asthmatic compounds and six compounds that are expectorants. Oregano oil used internally and externally also increases oxygen absorption in the blood and is a powerful antifungal and kills yeast.
--Vitamin C
Take 1,000 mg 4-6 times daily. Vitamin C lessens spasms of the bronchial passages and has antiallergy benefits.

[eyesofblue]

Zuleikaa,

Thank you. I really appreciate the time you take to help others out with this information.

[flex73]

Another thing people forget is that if the adrenals are not addressed the low cortsiol will cause magesium to be leaked by the body as well. So people with low adrenals tend to have higher histamines becuase body tends not to hold the magnesium as well and also cortisol is antagonist to histamines, but then it comes back to nutrients as the building blocks. Vitamin D is needed to activate the adrenals so as you can see there is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. As zuke pointed out if with OOO people with immunuity problems tends to stem from the gut as well. In the near future drs will get their head out of there asses and starting to look a the source of problems instead of looking for just symptoms.

from http://www.mgwater.com/inmgdef.shtml
I talked my integrative med doc into testing my adrenal function thinking that my adrenaline & or cortisol would be high as a possibility for my magnesium deficiency. (I had significant stress in my life for the past few years with a life threatening car accident on 12-2-03 which preceded my symptoms by exactly one week). Well, my test shocked both me & my doctor. He didn't think I looked like, acted like or carried on the life of someone in adrenal exhaustion and I though my levels would be high. The test showed my adrenals were in an addison's like exhaustion state (stage 7). My cortisol & DHEA were critically low. He called the lab to verify the findings because, again, he didn't think I had the symptoms one would expect. The medical director at Meridian Valley Labs said it was actually quite common to see what he called "adrenal overflow" with magnesium deficiency. He said that I was basically running on adrenaline (which of course was flushing my magnesium as fast as I could down it).

I wasn't asymptotic before my car accident (I had suffered with papillophlebitis/CRVO, heart palpitations, hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes, panic attacks, borderline HTN with no risk factors etc). But after the car accident I believe my adrenaline overflow kicked in & I became 'very symptomatic'.

I started taking DHEA prepared by a compounding pharmacist & licorice root extract (again pharmaceutically provided - not store-bought). I opted to try the licorice vs the cortisone as it was the more natural route.

In a month my adrenal function was back to normal & my DHEA & cortisol levels were normal. I took physiologic doses of both. I am still on the DHEA and tapering. I ran out of the second Licorice Extract & am staying off until I test again. I feel like my old self just this month! (8/04)

I just finished a wonderfully informative book called: "The Miracle of Natural Hormones" by David Brownstein. I think everyone with unexplained (or even explained) medical symptoms should read it. But for some of us who are having a hard time 'holding' our magnesium it may be the ticket. I would suggest others have their adrenals tested as well. Perhaps they will need to plug the adrenal holes as it were before they fix the magnesium leakage problem. (You can't hold mag if you don't plug the leak & as all the studies show, if you have high adrenaline you waste magnesium in urine. And of course if you have low mag your adrenaline levels don't subside as they should - leading into a 'which-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg' magnesium deficiency/adrenal exhaustion). I also believe the need to take natural hormones may be temporary to give your adrenals a boost/jump-start so to speak. I also meditate for at least 15min each day and do many other relaxation promoting things throughout the day to take the stress off my adrenals, a whole food (whenever possible) and completely organic diet and of course taking magnesium (as well as a list of other supplements) and exercise.

For asthma check food allergies which is a big compenant of histamine releases

[tripletmom]

Zule,

Where do you get your Vitamin D... I searched this thread, but just couldn't find it!

thanks!!

Karen

[Bat Spit]

As a lifelong asthmatic myself, I highly recommend that every one with asthma do a 2 week dairy free trial to see if that makes a difference.

For the first time in my life I'm 100% controlled, haven't used my rescue inhaler in months, and I'm tapering back my meds. I know a lot of other people who have seen a difference. Its worth a short trial to see if you'll be one of them.

[Zuleikaa]

Zule,

Where do you get your Vitamin D... I searched this thread, but just couldn't find it!

thanks!!

KarenHigh Potency D-3 from swansonvitamins.com.

[flex73]

I know what is causing my problems with asthma but freaken drs do not get something so simple. I have a small bacterial overgrowth pumping out histamines like crazy that caused my adrenals to go on over drive then eventual wear out, little bastards where eating what I was eating. I am waiting on my test to confirm how bad the dybiosis is in the small intestine, then I can get can come up with proper protocol. I am on ooo but after 4-5 weeks on has to swtich it up body becomes immune to it as my stool tests pointed out. I have switched off and using pepperment oil, caprllic acid right now for 4-5 weeks then I will switch back

[Zuleikaa]

I know what is causing my problems with asthma but freaken drs do not get something so simple. I have a small bacterial overgrowth pumping out histamines like crazy that caused my adrenals to go on over drive then eventual wear out, little bastards where eating what I was eating. I am waiting on my test to confirm how bad the dybiosis is in the small intestine, then I can get can come up with proper protocol. I am on ooo but after 4-5 weeks on has to swtich it up body becomes immune to it as my stool tests pointed out. I have switched off and using pepperment oil, caprllic acid right now for 4-5 weeks then I will switch backDid you try the vitamin C flush?

[eyesofblue]

As a lifelong asthmatic myself, I highly recommend that every one with asthma do a 2 week dairy free trial to see if that makes a difference.

For the first time in my life I'm 100% controlled, haven't used my rescue inhaler in months, and I'm tapering back my meds. I know a lot of other people who have seen a difference. Its worth a short trial to see if you'll be one of them.


Bat Spit,

When you say dairy free, do you really mean dairy free, as in no cheese or cream?

I hope you are being liberal with the words "Dairy Free", but I have a feeling you are not.

It is something to think about, though I don't think I would want to try it for a few more days at least. I am having a rough time, this go around on induction, I would not look forward to cutting cream and cheese.

[Bat Spit]

When you say dairy free, do you really mean dairy free, as in no cheese or cream?

I hope you are being liberal with the words "Dairy Free", but I have a feeling you are not.

I'm afraid I really mean no cheese. No butter and no cream would be ideal, and it's something I'm working on, but haven't managed yet. I still use a lot of butter, and several tablespoons of cream per week.

I understand the difficulty, I absolutely do. I know exactly how hard it is to cut out cheese, and I miss it, and all the dishes I used to make with it.

But I like breathing better.

Definitely finish your re-induction. No sense setting yourself up to fail that. And you might not even be one of the people dairy affects. I never thought I could give up cheese, but after I was off for a little while, I started to really notice asthma and allergy flare ups whenever I eat it. If you're sick enough that you're on regular nebs, it is definitely something you should take under serious consideration.

There's currently a thread in the Paleo forums about giving up dairy, if you decide to think about it. It has some interesting discussions.

[flex73]

doing flush now...doing 6,000 vitamin C

[Zuleikaa]

doing flush now...doing 6,000 vitamin CTake it up some more.

[deb34]

i'm curious about this....can Vitamin D change your skin tone colour?

When i was a child i had a olive/tan complexion that would tan extremely quickly and never ever burn. However, since then (30 years), i have gradually lightened up and now am very fair and burn very easily and never tan at all.

Would taking correct amounts of Vitamin D over a period of time return me to my original skin tone? Any thoughts?

I'm planning to start next week after my doctor visit so i'd love to be able to reverse this pasty white complexion of mine back to the lovely olive tone i had when i was a child....could this really happen?

[Zuleikaa]

i'm curious about this....can Vitamin D change your skin tone colour?

When i was a child i had a olive/tan complexion that would tan extremely quickly and never ever burn. However, since then (30 years), i have gradually lightened up and now am very fair and burn very easily and never tan at all.

Would taking correct amounts of Vitamin D over a period of time return me to my original skin tone? Any thoughts?

I'm planning to start next week after my doctor visit so i'd love to be able to reverse this pasty white complexion of mine back to the lovely olive tone i had when i was a child....could this really happen?I think this might be possible as vitamin D evens skin tone and provides for tanning ability, i.e. darker, thicker skin which protects from burning. So yes.

Now you've got me wondering whether lightened skin is another sign of vitamin D deficiency or just aging.

People tend to lighten as they age but vitamin D deficiency also increases with age.

[Meghan]

any brands that are better than others?

[Zuleikaa]

any brands that are better than others?Vitamin D? As long as it's D3 it doesn't matter. Some people react to the soy oil in the gels though. I purchase dry high potency D3 from swansonvitamins.com.

[Meghan]

okay thanks I will look at GNC I can use my 20% off this week!

[Demi]

Another very interesting news article about Vitamin D:


The BBC
London, UK
6 January, 2006

Vitamin D 'makes stronger babies'

Giving pregnant women vitamin D could mean their babies grow stronger bones in later life, a study suggests.

A study of 198 mothers indicated the children of those who lacked the vitamin, crucial for calcium absorption, had weaker bones at nine.

Those who took supplements or were exposed to more sunlight, which helps the body grow its own vitamin D, had children with greater bone densities.

The research from Southampton General Hospital is published in the Lancet.

Professor Cyrus Cooper, who led the team, said the findings provided evidence that maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy influenced the bone growth of offspring and their risk of osteoporosis in later life.

He told the BBC News it was the vitamin deficiency of the mother carrying the child, rather than the baby in early life, which affected the child's bone strength later.

"This is completely new - no one has ever looked at the mother's vitamin D levels before."

Vitamin D is crucial for the absorption of calcium which is in itself key in the formation of healthy bones.

The team from the Medical Research Council's Epidemiological Resource Centre at Southampton General Hospital measured the levels of vitamin D in women's blood in late pregnancy as well as studying calcium levels in the babies' cord blood.

Supplement warning

This showed how vitamin D had helped calcium transfer across the placenta.

Nine years after the babies' delivery, the team traced 198 of the original 596 mothers who remained in the Southampton area and measured their children's bone mineral content and bone mineral density.

Professor Cooper now wants to carry out a study to see whether supplementation of vitamin D deficient pregnant mothers could lead to stronger bones in their babies in later life.

Professor James Walker of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the study demonstrated the importance of having adequate levels of vitamin D in pregnancy, both for the mother and her baby.

But he said it demonstrated that women who had adequate vitamin D levels were fine, and it was "only when levels were deficient that there was a problem".

"More vitamin D is not necessarily good," he said. "Therefore, no woman should take extra vitamin D in pregnancy unless recommended by their doctor."

Jackie Parrington, spokeswoman for the National Osteoporosis Society, said the research was important as it showed the need to look after one's bones started at an earlier age than had previously been thought.

"Maintaining bone health is important throughout life. Regular weight bearing exercise and a healthy balanced diet are all essential for keeping our skeletons strong as are stopping smoking and not drinking heavily," she said.

Osteoporosis, which costs the NHS £5 million a day, affects half of women and one in five men over 50 in the UK. It results in bones becoming so porous that they can break very easily.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4584518.stm

[Zuleikaa]

"This is completely new - no one has ever looked at the mother's vitamin D levels before." Drs. Bruce W. Hollis and Carol L. Wagner examined the vitamin D requirements of pregnant and lactating woman and the effect of fetus and infant development over a year and a half ago.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/79/5/717
The complete report is at post #60. On post #35 there are additional reports on vitamin D and pregnancy/fetal health.

Vitamin D status of mothers during pregnancy affects not only bone development of the fetus but heart, muscle, neural, and brain development of the fetus as well.

Drs. Hollis and Wagner prescribe vitamin D supplements of 4,000 IU/day for their pregnant patients at their obstetrics pratice in South Carolina, US.

Professor James Walker of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the study demonstrated the importance of having adequate levels of vitamin D in pregnancy, both for the mother and her baby.

But he said it demonstrated that women who had adequate vitamin D levels were fine, and it was "only when levels were deficient that there was a problem".

"More vitamin D is not necessarily good," he said. "Therefore, no woman should take extra vitamin D in pregnancy unless recommended by their doctor." This is the part that scares me though. The establishment is so afraid of vitamin D supplements that they lowball D needs. The current ranges for D testing were based on an inherently D deficient population, therefore people testing in the low normal and normal ranges are really deficient.

I speculate and believe that the deficient D status of the mother is the cause of the rising rate of autism, ADHD, and epilepsy.

[Hybrid]

I speculate and believe that the deficient D status of the mother is the cause of the rising rate of autism, ADHD, and epilepsy.

I speculate and believe that you a person with a hammer who now thinks every problem is a nail.

I assure you my neurology is completely natural and no more due to my mother not eating the right things during pregnancy then it is to her not wanting to see me dead of measles.

[Zuleikaa]

I speculate and believe that you a person with a hammer who now thinks every problem is a nail.

I assure you my neurology is completely natural and no more due to my mother not eating the right things during pregnancy then it is to her not wanting to see me dead of measles.You might be right. I've said it myself. Then again, though I believe vitamin D is a significant component of good health I am aware that there are other interlocking factors.

At the same time I am continually awed at the connection that vitamin D has to so many body functions and structures.

BTW. Vitamin D stores have little to do with diet.

There have been studies that track schizophrenia, SAD and other mental and neurological states to the vitamin D status of the mother or rather births, that occur in early summer, when D stores have run out, have the highest rates.

Now you've given me something else to research a D connection to. I know I've seen them.

[Zuleikaa]

http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/vitamin_D_and_mental_illness.htm
MENTAL ILLNESS
We propose vitamin D plays a role in mental illness based on the following five lines of reasoning:
1. epidemiological evidence shows an association between reduced sun exposure and mental illness
2. evidence suggests mental illness is associated with low 25(OH)D levels,
3. mental illness shows a significant comorbidity with illnesses thought to be associated with vitamin D deficiency,
4. theoretical models (in-vitro or animal evidence) exist to explain how vitamin D deficiency plays a causative role in mental illness,
5. a small number of small studies indicated vitamin D improves mental illness.
Sun exposure and mental illness:
Epidemiological evidence suggests that mental illness has increased as humans have migrated out of the sun and into buildings, cars and sunblock. In a meticulously researched 2002 monograph, E. Fuller Torrey, systematically compiled statistics on the incidence of “insanity” from every conceivable source covering the last two hundred-fifty years. [44] His work indicated a dramatic increase in insanity (schizophrenia and severe bipolar disorder), that he labeled “The Invisible Plague.” Although severe methodological limitations apply to any such endeavor, Torrey makes a convincing argument that the current incidence of insanity is not part of the human condition and has increased more than 20 fold in the last 250 years.
Torrey’s work follows the classic 1989 paper by Klerman and Weissman which documented very significant temporal increases in the rates of major depression in cohorts born after World War II, including a decrease in the age of onset. [45] The authors reviewed all available studies relevant to temporal trends in depression and concluded that dramatic increases were occurring in a relatively short time, much as Torrey would claim 12 years later. For example, Klerman and Weissman claimed that those born before 1915 had less than a ten percent lifetime risk of developing a diagnosable major affective disorder while their relative cohorts born after 1955 had a forty percent chance. Such dramatic increases in the rates of depression are known in psychiatry as the “Cohort Effect.” The existence of such an effect has been heavily debated since Klerman and Weissman’s original publication with other authors contending that recall bias or methods effects may explain these findings. [46] [47]
The implications for such an epidemic or cohort effect are staggering. A recent Consensus Development Conference on geriatric mental illness reported that the number of people older than 65 years with psychiatric disorders in the United States will increase from about 4 million in 1970 to 15 million in 2030, a 275% increase. [48]
Although the cohort effect in depression shows dramatic increases, supporting Torrey’s contention of a “Silent Epidemic, trends in schizophrenia over the last 50 years are less clear. [49] There is evidence that measures of long-term trends in perinatal sunshine duration are associated with epidemiological features of schizophrenia. [50] In 1997, Torrey, et al, reviewed more than 250 studies concluding they are “remarkably consistent in showing a 5-8% winter-spring excess of births for both schizophrenia and mania/bipolar disorder.” [51] The same authors concluded a seasonal factor was also evident in schizoaffective disorder, major depression and autism.
Castrogiovanni, et al, also concluded a 10 % birth excess during winter for schizophrenia with fewer studies supporting similar effects for bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. [52] Cassidy and Carroll reviewed the seasonal pattern of 304 psychiatric admissions for bipolar/mania and concluded manic hospitalizations peaked in early spring and reached a nadir in late fall. [53] In Singapore, where UVB and vitamin D production remains constant year around, seasonal excess of schizophrenia birth rates was not evident in 9,655 patients, providing further evidence supporting a sunlight effect in schizophrenic births. [54]
McGrath has long contended that widespread vitamin D deficiency leads to low prenatal vitamin D levels which, in turn, contribute to various adult disorders, including schizophrenia via “imprinting.” [55] [56] He cites duration of sunshine, higher latitude, worse out come at higher latitude, increased incidence in dark skinned migrants to northern latitudes, urban birth and season of birth as all being risk factors for schizophrenia and all consistent with a vitamin D effect. Kendell and Adams were recently unable to support the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy or early infancy may contribute to schizophrenia. [57]
Mental Illness and 25(OH)D levels:
25(OH)D levels of 31 patients with schizophrenia and 25 with depression were compared to 30 alcoholics and 31 healthy controls. Mean 25(OH)D levels (in pg/ml) were lower in the depression (37.3) group and significantly lower in the schizophrenia (35.1) groups compared to normal controls (45.9). [58] More recently, sera from third trimester pregnant black women showed low maternal vitamin D might be a risk factor for schizophrenia among Blacks, but the association didn’t hold for white women. [59]
Comorbidity:
Mental illness is associated with most of the other illnesses that have been associated with vitamin D deficiency.[60] [61] For example, depression is associated with increased mortality, especially cardiac mortality. [62] [63] Recent studies have demonstrated that depression is a major risk for type 2 diabetes.[64] Type 1 diabetes appears to have similar associations. [65] Poor quality of life was associated with high diastolic blood pressure among women. [66]
Michelson, et al, found past or current depression is associated with decreased bone mineral density in women. [67] However, Amsterdam and Hooper observed no difference in mean BMD values between depressed patients and controls. [68] The Cardiovascular Health Study found significant associations between bone mineral density and depression after adjusting for osteoporosis risk factors. [69] The authors postulated, “there may be an unmeasured third factor, such as an endogenous steroid, that is responsible for both low BMD and depression,” without mentioning that vitamin D is a steroid.
Patients with multiple sclerosis often have comorbid depressions. [70] [71] Rheumatoid arthritis patients, especially urban residents, have more depression than osteoarthritis patients do, a difference not explained by disease severity or duration. [72]
Schizophrenia has been reported to be comorbid with cardiac disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. [73] The increased rate of diabetes in schizophrenics was recognized before the atypical antipsychotics were introduced. [74] Schizophrenia also appears to be associated with hypertension. [75]
Theoretical Models:
Garcion et al, 2002, reviewed clues about vitamin D function in the brain. They concluded 1,25(OH)D is involved in brain function with nuclear receptors for vitamin D localized in neurons and glial cells. Genes encoding the enzymes involved in the metabolism of this hormone are also expressed in brain cells. The reported biological effects of 1,25(OH)D in the nervous system include the biosynthesis of neurotrophic factors and at least one enzyme involved in neurotransmitter synthesis. 1,25(OH)D can also inhibit the synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase and increase glutathione levels, suggesting a role for the hormone in brain detoxification pathways. Neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of this hormone have been described in several experimental models, indicating the potential value of pharmacological analogs in neurodegenerative and neuroimmune diseases. In addition, 1,25(OH)2D3 induces glioma cell death, making the hormone of potential interest in the management of brain tumors. [76]
Tyrosine hydroxylase is the rate-limiting enzyme for production of the brain’s monoamines. Vitamin D increases expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in adrenal medullary cells of mice. [77] Such a mechanism has been hypothesized to increase brain serotonin levels. [78] Deficits of specific GABAergic neurons, defined by the presence of calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin are present in schizophrenia. [79]
Eyles, et al, at The Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research Found that rat pups born to vitamin D deficient dams had “profound alterations in the brain at birth.” [80] Vitamin D is a potent inhibitor of mitosis and promoter of differentiation in numerous cells and specifically decreases the percentage of cultured hippocampal cells undergoing mitosis in conjunction with increases in both neurite outgrowth and nerve growth factor (NGF) in cultured brain cells. [81]
Lambert, et al, drew arterial and venous blood samples form 101 healthy Australian men over a one-year period and found strong correlations between ambient sunlight and production of serotonin in the brain. [82]
An alternate explanation, other than vitamin D production, explaining the feeling of well being after sun exposure, is related to the recent discovery of endorphin production by the skin after UV exposure. [83] [84] However, two recent studies have been unable to document any increase in circulating endorphins after UVA exposure. [85] [86]
Torrey EF, Miller J: The Invisible Plague: The Rise of mental Illness from 1750 to the Present. 2002. Rutgers University Press

44] Torrey EF, Miller J: The Invisible Plague: The Rise of mental Illness from 1750 to the Present. 2002. Rutgers University Press
[45] Klerman GL, Weissman MM: Increasing rates of depression. JAMA. 1989 Apr 21;261(15):2229-35
[46] Patten SB: Recall bias and major depression lifetime prevalence. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2003 Jun;38(6):290-6
[47] Simon GE, VonKorff M, Ustun TB, Gater R, Gureje O, Sartorius N: Is the lifetime risk of depression actually increasing? J Clin Epidemiol. 1995 Sep;48(9):1109-18
[48] Jeste DV, Alexopoulos GS, Bartels SJ, Cummings JL, Gallo JJ, Gottlieb GL, Halpain MC, Palmer BW, Patterson TL, Reynolds CF 3rd, Lebowitz BD: Consensus statement on the upcoming crisis in geriatric mental health: research agenda for the next 2 decades. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999 Sep;56(9):848-53
[49] Harrison G, Mason P: Schizophrenia--falling incidence and better outcome? Br J Psychiatry. 1993 Oct;163:535-41
[50] McGrath J, Selten JP, Chant D: Long-term trends in sunshine duration and its association with schizophrenia birth rates and age at first registration--data from Australia and the Netherlands. Schizophr Res. 2002 Apr 1;54(3):199-212
[51] Torrey EF, Miller J, Rawlings R, Yolken RH: Seasonality of births in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a review of the literature. Schizophr Res. 1997 Nov 7;28(1):1-38
[52] Castrogiovanni P, Iapichino S, Pacchierotti C, Pieraccini F: Season of birth in psychiatry. A review. Neuropsychobiology. 1998;37(4):175-81
[53] Cassidy F, Carroll BJ: Seasonal variation of mixed and pure episodes of bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord. 2002 Feb;68(1):25-31
[54] Parker G, Mahendran R, Koh ES, Machin D: Season of birth in schizophrenia: no latitude at the equator. Br J Psychiatry. 2000 Jan;176:68-71
[55] McGrath J: Hypothesis: is low prenatal vitamin D a risk-modifying factor for schizophrenia? Schizophr Res. 1999 Dec 21;40(3):173-7
[56] McGrath J: Does 'imprinting' with low prenatal vitamin D contribute to the risk of various adult d57] Kendell RE, Adams W: Exposure to sunlight, vitamin D and schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2002 Apr 1;54(3):193-8
57] Kendell RE, Adams W: Exposure to sunlight, vitamin D and schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2002 Apr 1;54(3):193-8
[58] Schneider B, Weber B, Frensch A, Stein J, Fritz J: Vitamin D in schizophrenia, major depression and alcoholism. J Neural Transm. 2000;107(7):839-42
[59] McGrath J, Eyles D, Mowry B, Yolken R, Buka S: Low maternal vitamin D as a risk factor for schizophrenia: a pilot study using banked sera. Schizophr Res. 2003 Sep 1;63(1-2):73-8
[60] Zittermann A: Vitamin D in preventive medicine: are we ignoring the evidence? Br J of Nutr. 2003;89:552-572
[61] Holick M. Vitamin D: A Millennium Perspective. J Cell Biochem. 2003;88:296-307
[62] Cuijpers P, Smit F: Excess mortality in depression: a meta-analysis of community studies. J Affect Disord. 2002 Dec;72(3):227-36
[63] Rugulies R: Depression as a predictor for coronary heart disease. a review and meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2002 Jul;23(1):51-61
[64] Musselman DL, Betan E, Larsen H, Phillips LS: Relationship of depression to diabetes types 1 and 2: epidemiology, biology, and treatment. Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Aug 1;54(3):317-29
[65] Harris MD: Psychosocial aspects of diabetes with an emphasis on depression. Curr Diab Rep. 2003 Feb;3(1):49-55
isorders? Med Hypotheses. 2001 Mar;56(3):367-71
66] Fletcher AE, Bulpitt CJ, Tuomilehto J, Browne J, Bossini A, Kawecka-Jaszcz K, Kivinen P, O'Brien E, Staessen J, Thijs L, Vanska O, Vanhanen H: Quality of life of elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension: baseline data from the Syst-Eur trial. Syst-Eur Trial Investigators. J Hypertens. 1998 Aug;16(8):1117-24
[67] Michelson D, Stratakis C, Hill L, Reynolds J, Galliven E, Chrousos G, Gold P: Bone mineral density in women with depression. N Engl J Med. 1996 Oct 17;335(16):1176-81
[68] Amsterdam JD, Hooper MB: Bone density measurement in major depression. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1998 Feb;22(2):267-77
[69] Robbins J, Hirsch C, Whitmer R, Cauley J, Harris T: The association of bone mineral density and depression in an older population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001 Jun;49(6):732-6
[70] Patti F, Cacopardo M, Palermo F, Ciancio MR, Lopes R, Restivo D, Reggio A: Health-related quality of life and depression in an Italian sample of multiple sclerosis patients. J Neurol Sci. 2003 Jul 15;211(1-2):55-62
[71] Buchanan RJ, Wang S, Tai-Seale M, Ju H: Analyses of nursing home residents with multiple sclerosis and depression using the Minimum Data Set. Mult Scler. 2003 Mar;9(2):171-88
[72] Abdel-Nasser AM, Abd El-Azim S, Taal E, El-Badawy SA, Rasker JJ, Valkenburg HA: Depression and depressive symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis patients: an analysis of their occurrence and determinants. Br J Rheumatol. 1998 Apr;37(4):391-7
[73] Green AI, Canuso CM, Brenner MJ, Wojcik JD: Detection and management of comorbidity in patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;26(1):115-39
[74] Dixon L, Weiden P, Delahanty J, Goldberg R, Postrado L, Lucksted A, Lehman A: Prevalence and correlates of diabetes in national schizophrenia samples. Schizophr Bull. 2000;26(4):903-12
[75] Dixon L, Postrado L, Delahanty J, Fischer PJ, Lehman A: The association of medical comorbidity in schizophrenia with poor physical and mental health. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1999 Aug;187(8):496-502
[76] Garcion E, Wion-Barbot N, Montero-Menei CN, Berger F, Wion D: New clues about vitamin D functions in the nervous system. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Apr;13(3):100-5
[77] Puchacz E, Stumpf WE, Stachowiak EK, Stachowiak MK: Vitamin D increases expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in adrenal medullary cells. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1996 Feb;36(1):193-6
[78] Partonen T: Vitamin D and serotonin in winter. Med Hypotheses. 1998 Sep;51(3):267-8
[79] Beasley CL, Zhang ZJ, Patten I, Reynolds GP: Selective deficits in prefrontal cortical GABAergic neurons in schizophrenia defined by the presence of calcium-binding proteins. Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Oct 1;52(7):708-15
[80] Eyles D, Brown J, Mackay-Sim A, McGrath J, Feron F: Vitamin D3 and brain development. Neuroscience. 2003;118(3):641-53
[81] Brown J, Bianco JI, McGrath JJ, Eyles DW: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces nerve growth factor, promotes neurite outgrowth and inhibits mitosis in embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. Neurosci Lett. 2003 Jun 5;343(2):139-43
[82] Lambert GW, Reid C, Kaye DM, Jennings GL, Esler MD: Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. Lancet. 2002 Dec 7;360(9348):1840-2
[83] Wintzen M, Yaar M, Burbach JP, Gilchrest BA. Proopiomelanocortin gene product regulation in keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol. 1996 Apr;106(4):673-8
[84] Wintzen M, Zanello SB, Holick MF, Wiegant VM, Burbach JP, Vermeer BJ: Condition-dependent presence of beta-lipotropin-like peptide in human keratinocytes. Peptides. 2000 May;21(5):691-7
[85] Wintzen M, Ostijn DM, Polderman MC, le Cessie S, Burbach JP, Vermeer BJ: Total body exposure to ultraviolet radiation does not influence plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in man. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2001 Dec;17(6):256-60
[86] Gambichler T, Bader A, Vojvodic M, Avermaete A, Schenk M, Altmeyer P, Hoffmann K: Plasma levels of opioid peptides after sunbed exposures. Br J Dermatol. 2002 Dec;147(6):1207-11
[87] Lansdowne AT, Provost SC: Vitamin D3 enhances mood in healthy subjects during winter. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1998 Feb;135(4):319-23
[88]Gloth FM 3rd, Alam W, Hollis B: Vitamin D vs broad spectrum phototherapy in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder. J Nutr Health Aging. 1999;3(1):5-7
[89] Harris S, Dawson-Hughes B. Seasonal mood changes in 250 normal women. Psychiatry Res. 1993 Oct;49(1):77-87.

[Zuleikaa]

Well, there are 50 cites for vitamin D and schizophrenia here
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed

I also though this was interesting:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:WnRiBQC0Q_oJ:www.cholecalciferol-council.com/tuskegee_7_20_05.pdf+vitamin+D+council+Tuskegee&hl=en

The Tuskegee Experiment Vitamin D Newsletter 7/17/05 This is a periodic newsletter from the Vitamin D Council. If you don't want to get it, hit reply and let us know. This newsletter is not copyrighted. Please feel free to reproduce it or post it on internet sites.Birth defectsNothing frightens an expectant mother like the fear her baby will be deformed. Even worse, is the fear that a pill she took, or didn't take, caused a birth defect. The government requires drug companies give large doses of drugs to pregnant rats and then carefully examine the baby rats for evidence of birth defects. Drugs that cause birth defects in rats are either banned or controlled. The U.S. government doesnt wait to see if the drug causes human birth defects, they rely on animal studies. The lack of essential nutrients, such as folic acid, also causes birth defects. Scientists first discovered this in the 1960s, again by studying rats. In 1992, the government finally took steps to prevent it by recommending supplementary folic acid for pregnant women. In 1996, the government ordered food manufacturers to fortify cereal grains with folic acid. Severe brain damage due to folic acid deficiencies fell significantly. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2004 Nov;70(11):844-5Vitamin D deficiency and brain damageAustralian researchers, led by Professor John McGrath and Dr. Darryl Eyles, recently discovered that severe maternal vitamin D deficiency permanently damages the brains of baby rats. Giving extra vitamin D to the newborn rats will not reverse the damage. Noting that vitamin D deficiency is common in young women, the authors speculated that optimizing vitamin D levels in pregnant women and neonates may reduce the incidence of certain neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroscience.2003;118(3):641-53Brain Res Bull. 2005 Mar 15;65(2):141-8After Australian scientists found birth defects in the baby rats, Professor Axel Becker and his German colleagues confirmed that even transient vitamin D deficiency leads to subtle changes in rat behavior. Slightly enlarged ventricles, cortical aberrancies, and reduced nerve growth factors (compounds essential for the billions of connections in mammalian brains) were only some of the birth defects. Such deformities, were they to occur in the more complex human brain, should have significant and lifelong consequences on learning, memory and IQ. The Australian scientists concluded, Given the fact that vitamin D deficiency is
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more common than previously thought, the public health implications for the developing foetus cannot be ignored. Behav Brain Res. 2005 Jun 20;161(2):306-12Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 2004 Oct 15;153(1):61-8Behav Brain Res. 2004 Oct 5;154(2):549-55Does maternal vitamin D deficiency cause learning disabilities?To date, no human studies exist to corroborate these animal studies. Or, do they? If vitamin D deficiency causes brain damage, then we can make certain predictions based on things we know about vitamin D. First, we know that at temperate latitudes, maternal vitamin D levels are lowest in the winter and early spring when the lack of sun means the skin makes little or no vitamin D. Second, we know vitamin D levels are lower among blacks than whites because melanin pigment in skin acts as an effective sunscreen for casual sun-exposure. If maternal vitamin D deficiency causes fetal brain damage, more brain-damaged children will be born in the summer. (This will be true at temperate latitudes, but not in the tropics where the sun makes vitamin D year-round). Brains of summer-born children are making neuronal connections at the fastest rate during the winter and early spring when their mothers vitamin D levels are lowest. If vitamin D deficiency damaged human brains, then summer-born children should be retained more often, do worse in school, and display more learning disabilities. At latitude 42 degrees, Boston, Massachusetts has a marked seasonal variation in 25(OH) vitamin D levels. Dr. Nathlie Badian of Harvard found that boys born in July and August were seven times more likely to have learning disabilities than those born in the cooler months. In her study, the summer students were not the youngest - the fall students were the youngest -and yet the fall-born students had much less disability than the summer-born children. J Learn Disabil. 1984 Mar;17(3):129-36Northeastern Georgia also has significant seasonal variations in 25(OH) vitamin D levels. Dr. Roy Martin of the University of Georgia recently reviewed the literature and conducted his own study as well. He found, children born from June through August were more frequently retained, performed lower on standardized tests, and were more frequently diagnosed with specific learning disabilities. Martin added, The overall effect on the children born June through August was enormous. J Learn Disabil. 2004 Jul-Aug;37(4):307-17In tropical Hawaii, which should have much less seasonal variation in 25(OH) vitamin D levels, Dr. Grace Diamond found, as expected, that the youngest students had higher rates of disabilities. However, unlike Georgia or Boston, she found no evidence of excessive learning disabilities in summer-born Hawaiian children. Such latitudinal variation in the incidence of learning disabilities in
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summer born children suggests maternal vitamin D deficiency may cause learning disabilities. J Learn Disabil. 1983 Mar;16(3):161-4Dyslexia, poor school attendance, low Apgar scores, and low birth weightSome studies show summer born children are also more likely to suffer from dyslexia and poor school attendance. Dr. Richard Livingston, of the University of Arkansas Medical School, found, the risk of dyslexia among children born in May, June, or July is more than double that for those born in other months. Pregnant women exposed to the lowest temperatures in the second trimester (and thus the least vitamin D) have infants with lower birth weights. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993 May;32(3):612-6Br J Educ Psychol. 1992 Nov;62 ( Pt 3):391-6Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2004 Dec;44(6):553-7A particular type of schizophrenia, called deficit schizophrenia, has consistently been found to be more common in summer-born patients. Patients with deficit schizophrenia have a poor prognosis and display more evidence of brain damage than other patients with schizophrenia display.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2001 Sep;189(9):608-12Am J Psychiatry. 1998 Sep;155(9):1221-6Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Aug;159(8):1382-7African Americans are at much higher riskIf maternal vitamin D deficiency causes brain damage, then blacks will be more affected than whites. Vitamin D deficiency discriminates based on race. The darker a mothers skin, the lower her 25(OH) vitamin D level, and the less vitamin D is available to help her baby develop. Numerous studies document that black mothers are more likely to give birth to infants who weigh less and die shortly after birth. Black babies also have lower Apgar scores and black children have higher rates of mild mental retardation. Biol Res Nurs. 2005 Jul;7(1):55-66Pediatrics.2003 Jan;111(1):e61-6Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 1999 Apr;13(2):205-17Pediatrics.1998 Jan;101(1 Pt 1):77-81Am J Public Health. 1995 Mar;85(3):324-8This newsletter will not delve into the hundreds of other studies showing dramatic academic differences between black and white children, or the charges of racism that inexorably follow any such discussion. Obviously, any suggestions that black babies are more likely to be born brain damaged have profound political implications. Remember. We are not talking about genetics. We are talking about a modifiable risk factor, a natural, safe, supplement costing pennies a day: simply treating pregnant women who are vitamin D deficient.
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Severe vitamin D deficiency twenty times more common in young black womenIn 2002, U.S. government scientists at the Centers for Disease Control reported that severe vitamin D deficiency is 24 times more common among young African American women than young white women. Dr. Shanna Nesby-ODell and her colleagues at the CDC found that blood levels were much lower in young black women than young white women. Almost 50% of young black women had levels < 15 ng/ml. (Remember that most vitamin D experts recommend levels above 40 ng/ml). Most frightening of all, 12 percent of young black women had levels < 10 ng/ml (compared to ½ of 1 percent of white women). Levels that low approach those seen in mother rats that give birth to brain damaged babies. It may be that white children have a huge developmental advantage over black children, an advantage that begins at conception. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jul;76(1):187-92We do not know if maternal vitamin D deficiency damages human brains like it does rat brains. We do know young children with the least supplemental vitamin D are at a five-fold higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes later in life. Male children with the least supplemental vitamin D also suffer a similar risk for developing schizophrenia later in life. Now it appears possible that children with the lowest amount of vitamin D during critical fetal development suffer irreversible brain damage. Lancet.2001 Nov 3;358(9292):1500-3Schizophr Res. 2004 Apr 1;67(2-3):237-45How much vitamin D do women need to prevent vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy? About ten times more than the government recommends, according to Professors Bruce Hollis and Carol Wagner of the Medical University of South Carolina. How much do pregnant black women need? A lot more than whites, say Hollis and Wagner. These experts find the government's recommendation of 400 units a day for pregnant black women is essentially meaningless; such amounts do not raise blood levels in pregnant women. In other words, the governments current recommendations for pregnant black women are roughly equivalent to doing nothing. Pregnant women of all races should keep 25(OH) vitamin D levels around 40 ng/ml throughout pregnancy. Hollis and Wagner find it takes up to 4,000 units a day, ten times the governments recommendation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 May;79(5):717-26Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6 Suppl):1752S-8SGovernment inaction: incompetence or indifferenceFor forty years, from 1932 to 1972, the U.S. government experimented on 399 black men in Tuskegee, Alabama. The government knew - from studying experimental rabbits - that syphilis can progress and cause terrible damage, including permanent brain damage. However, the government didn't exactly know how syphilis affected African Americans. The prevalent theory in 1932 was that blacks would suffer less brain damage than whites. Government doctors
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said they wanted more data. So they withheld treatment, even after penicillin was discovered and found to be effective. The government doctors simply followed the men, carefully studying them to find out if syphilis damaged black brains as much as it did rabbit brains. Remembering TuskegeeThe Tuskegee Syphilis ExperimentThis newsletter is not contending that the U.S. government is repeating the abominable experiments of Tuskegee. There is a great difference between using blacks as guinea pigs and doing nothing. Today, the government is simply doing nothing. They will tell you they need more studies about maternal vitamin D deficiency, and we do. There is not question that more research is needed. The question is: what should we do in the meantime? If we do nothing, we are in effect continuing this Kafkaesque natural experiment on pregnant black women and the brains of their unborn children. The choice is either doing nothing while we conduct more studies, or treating vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy while we conduct more studies. The risk of doing nothing is great (as with syphilis) while the risk of treating vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is minimal (much safer than penicillin). Seventy years ago, the government had reason to think penicillin would help syphilis because studies on experimental rabbits demonstrated its effectiveness. More recently, the government started supplementing young women with folate to prevent brain-damaged babies after animal studies and clinical trials demonstrated its effectiveness. Now the government knows animal studies show severe maternal vitamin D deficiency causes fetal brain damage. The government also knows 12 percent of young black women in the United States are severely vitamin D deficient, compared to only one-half of 1 percent of young white women. If rat studies showed a drug damages brains like maternal vitamin D deficiency damages brains, the government would immediately ban the drug. The Australian scientists plead with the government, saying their research cannot be ignored. Perhaps the Australians dont know how the U.S. government ignored the suffering of black men is Tuskegee Alabama. Will the government again do nothing but wait to see if African Americans suffer? Will the U.S. government simply call for more studies as we all wait to see if maternal vitamin D deficiency damages black brains like it does rat brains? John Cannell, MD 9100 San Gregorio Road Atascadero, CA 93422 The Vitamin D Council
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[Zuleikaa]

Connection to vitamin D and epilepsy:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed

[Zuleikaa]

I've just posted a poll on vitamin D and results with SAD in the Fibromyalgia, CFS, S.A.D. forum.

If you're using vitamin D for SAD please take the poll and post your results.

Thanks.

[tokenyanke]

I've been getting around 4000 IU's the past few days. I figure I'll take 3600-4000 thru January at least. Feeling pretty good and sleeping really good... just not enough hours, though, but that has nothing to do with the D... There just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done and still sleep!

DBF is taking his D as well. I think he's taking around 2400-2600 IU a day. I just had to place an order for more D this week, so that should be here in a few days. I sure hope they don't pass this legislation making it by prescription only! But somehow I know the pharmaceutical companies will probably win out since they own most politicians. It sure isn't right, though.

[Zuleikaa]

I sure hope they don't pass this legislation making it by prescription only! But somehow I know the pharmaceutical companies will probably win out since they own most politicians. It sure isn't right, though.Is this the Codex Bill? I thought that was deadiin the US? I hadn't heard anything about making D by prescription.

I'll have to do some research.

[Zuleikaa]

I couldn't find anything more recent.

[tessbook]

Ok, I finally decided to take you advice and bought some supplements today. Unfortunately I didn't read this thread until AFTER I bought them (duh) so I wasn't aware that the D should be natural. I'm pretty positive the stuff I bought (at Walmart) isn't. So, is it ok for me to take what I have for now, and then get the natural the next time I need a bottle? If so, should I change the dosage that you recommend to begin with? On your previous advice I was planning to take:

Twice a day
2-7 1000 IU vitamin D, D3, start at 2 twice a day and work up 1-2 K twice a day per week as tolerated, the more deficient you are the more you need until late spring when you can decrease it a bit and get it naturally from the sun.
1800 IU calcium
1200 magnesium
200-400 mcg GTF chromium (PCOS)

I'm so irritated with myself for not reading this before I went. I don't know anything about vitamins, and just assumed that all vitamins are created equal. ;)

Thanks for your help!

[Dodger]

The D3 is what you want. What did you get? Walmart products in general are acceptable. I would be unusual to get D2 in the US.

[Zuleikaa]

The Walmart brand should be fine. If you look on the back of your bottle it should say cholecalciferol.

[tessbook]

Hooray, I bought the right stuff! Thanks for your help, everyone! :)

[Zuleikaa]

Vitamin D and Magnesium Influence on Depression Panic, and Anxiety

Vitamin D
Behavioural characterization of vitamin D receptor knockout mice.
Behav Brain Res. 2005 Feb 28;157(2):299-308.
Burne TH, McGrath JJ, Eyles DW, Mackay-Sim A.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15276805&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum

Increased anxiety in mice lacking vitamin D receptor gene.
Neuroreport. 2004 Jun 7;15(8):1271-4.
Kalueff AV, Lou YR, Laaksi I, Tuohimaa P.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15167547&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum


Magnesium
Depression and magnesium deficiency.
Rasmussen HH, Mortensen PB, Jensen IW.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2722406&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum

Magnesium-deficient diet alters depression- and anxiety-related behavior in mice--influence of desipramine and Hypericum perforatum extract.
Singewald N, Sinner C, Hetzenauer A, Sartori SB, Murck H.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15567428&dopt=Citation

Chronopathological forms of magnesium depletion with hypofunction or with hyperfunction of the biological clock.
Durlach J, Pages N, Bac P, Bara M, Guiet-Bara A, Agrapart C.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12635882&query_hl=11&itool=pubmed_docsum

[Incidence of latent tetany in patients with panic disorder]
Taborska V.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7553952&query_hl=14&itool=pubmed_docsum

[A use of Magne-B6 in the treatment of anxiety-depressive states in patients with epilepsy
Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15554143&query_hl=25&itool=pubmed_docsum

Antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activity of magnesium in mice.
Poleszak E, Szewczyk B, Kedzierska E, Wlaz P, Pilc A, Nowak G.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15159129&query_hl=25&itool=pubmed_docsum

Anxiety & Depression Treatment
http://www.ctds.info/anxiety_depression.html

Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria, Inc.
Health tips - Calcium and Magnesium By Brien Cole N.D.
http://www.adavic.org/health/htips_cole.htm

[Zuleikaa]

I've compiled the following vitamin D information sheets.

I'm emailing the information to churches, synagogues, and mosques in the DC area and in other cities that people have been giving me the names or email addresses of organizations.

If they have an email address, I'll send it to them.

This is the message I send with it:

Vitamin D Handouts
I think the attached files on vitamin D are essential to the health of your community.

Would you please pass this information on, or to your Health Ministry for distribution to your members? Each attached file can be photocopied to make a 1 page double-sided handout.

Thank you for your assistance in my efforts to get this information out.

Sincerely,

Zuleika Jamal
email address


Please, please get this information out!!! I think it's so important!!! I have made it my calling!!! I'm serious!!!

[Zuleikaa]

How vitamin D can benefit men's health
John Cannell, MD, Vitamin D Council, 31 May 2005

How can we get American men interested in vitamin D? Most men could care less. Say vitamin D did something men find really important, like improve athletic performance or induce hair growth? Or, say it improved sexual performance or increased virility? Nothing would get men treating their vitamin D deficiency like a study that showed vitamin D increased organ size!

Sixteen years ago, Professor Walter Stump first made the case that vitamin D is intimately involved with sex and reproduction. Male genital tissue contains lots of vitamin D receptors but their significance and function remain unknown. One researcher actually gave a vitamin D-like-drug to see if it improved sexual performance in patients with renal failure! To bad for the instant popularity of vitamin D, the results showed no improvement.

Vitamin D does appear to improve virility. Conception peaks in the summer, when vitamin D levels are highest, and ebbs in the winter, when vitamin D stores are low. Vitamin D deficiency has profound effects on rat testicles, including dramatically reducing spermatogenesis. Vitamin D deficient male rats were 73% less likely to successfully father pups than vitamin D sufficient males. Vitamin D restored virility to vitamin D deficient male rats and should do the same for vitamin D deficient male humans.

What else are men interested in besides sex? Hair growth! In fact, hair follicles have large numbers of vitamin D receptors but their function is unknown. Although there are no human studies showing vitamin D will grow men a new head of hair, vitamin D like drugs do grow hair in mice. (By the way, both my wife and my barber have told me my head has stopped balding and I've kept my 25(OH)-vitamin D level around 50 ng/ml for several years.) One relevant animal study should get the attention of men; the title contains two of their favorite words: “nude” and “hair growth.”

What about weight? Can you see the headlines in the men's' fitness magazines: “Vitamin D Reduces Weight.” Although dozens of studies have found that those with the highest 25(OH)-vitamin D blood levels weigh the least, most vitamin D scientists explain this by pointing out that vitamin D is stored in fat tissue, thus lowering blood levels. Of course that does not preclude vitamin D from also having either a direct or indirect effect on weight.

One study tried to answer that question by looking directly at vitamin D intake and body weight. The authors found an inverse correlation. That is, the more vitamin D in your diet, the less you weighed! If you have a few minutes, test your knowledge by taking our quiz on obesity and vitamin D.

Finally, we turn to athletic performance. After sex, hair growth, and obesity, improving athletic performance would certainly make American men pay attention to vitamin D. Actually, what we are asking is: “Does the most potent steroid hormone system in the human body have any effects on balance, muscle strength, muscle mass, reaction time, etc?” When asked that way, it would be surprising if it had none. In fact, dozens of studies suggest vitamin D will improve athletic performance.

If vitamin D improves athletic performance, then we'd predict physical fitness should peak in the late summer when 25(OH)-vitamin D levels peak. The only two studies that looked at season of the year and athletic performance of trained athletes found physical fitness peaked exactly then.

Genetic ablation of vitamin D receptors caused profound impairment in the motor functions of mice. Furthermore, mice without the vitamin D receptor gene showed increased anxiety; performance anxiety is something all men want to avoid. Babies born to vitamin D deficient rats are permanently and irreversibly brain damaged, proving that vitamin D has profound effects on developing neural tissue. Muscle strength is important to athletes and it correlated with 25(OH)-vitamin D levels in older men. A vitamin D like drug improved muscle strength in vitamin D deficient older women. In fact, it did the same thing to a group of vitamin D deficient younger women. Furthermore, improved lower extremity function was directly associated with higher 25(OH)-vitamin D levels.

Athletes need to be quick. A single injection of 600,000-units of vitamin D significantly improved reaction times in older adults. Furthermore, higher 25(OH)-vitamin D levels were also independently associated with better reaction time and better performance time.

Athletes need good balance. The beneficial effect vitamin D has on balance (reduced falls) is not limited to profoundly vitamin D deficient populations; a vitamin D-like-drug improved balance in the general elder population, even those with “normal” 25(OH)-vitamin D levels. A more recent study showed higher 25(OH)-vitamin D levels correlated with better gait speed, balance and muscle strength.

Vitamin D also appears to maintain muscle mass in older people but, no one has reported similar studies of young adults. A recent review concluded that vitamin D is an authentic strength preserving hormone, at least in the elderly. There is no reason to think it has any less effect on vitamin D deficient younger persons.

Finally, debilitating chronic pain sidelines many athletes. One Mayo clinic study found that virtually all patients treated for chronic pain have low 25(OH)-vitamin D levels. Furthermore, in what must be one of the largest open studies ever reported, 360 patients with low back pain in Saudi Arabia responded exceptionally well to treatment with physiological doses of vitamin D. Like virtually all areas of vitamin D research, we are still awaiting definitive research.

An impressive scientific literature suggests that vitamin D may improve athletic performance. This should surprise no one as other steroid hormone systems improve athletic performance. One difference is that the U.S. government is going to find it hard to regulate the vitamin D steroid hormone system; the sun is both a free and robust source of vitamin D. Of course, oral vitamin D is toxic in overdose and vitamin D toxicity would greatly impair athletic performance. Smart athletes would get enough sun, or take enough cholecalciferol, to keep their 25(OH)-vitamin D levels around 50 ng/ml, year around. But then, smart non-athletes would do the same.

What would happen if researchers gave physiological doses of cholecalciferol to men for a year or two and studied their sex life, hair growth, weight and athletic performance? Would vitamin D improve men's sex life? Would it make them more virile? Would they stop going bald? Would they lose weight? Would they become better athletes?

We don't know. However, a rapidly expanding scientific literature indicates vitamin D lowers their risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune illness, depression and seventeen different types of cancer. It now appears likely that vitamin D has an important role in treating those killer diseases as well.

But that doesn't really interest most American men. Men want to know about the important stuff. Why not start taking 2,000 units of cholecalciferol every day and see if your sex life improves, your hair grows back, you lose weight, and you become a better athlete? (And, don't forget to measure down there; after all, you never know).


Vitamin D is a powerful steroid and a super hormone that tells your body how to work. It controls hormones and cellular growth; helps to absorb calcium for strong bones and teeth; ensures muscle strength and balance; and protects against immune diseases, diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, depression, and cancers, especially breast, ovarian, cervical, prostate, colon, and lung cancers.
• Adequate vitamin D levels achieved through exposure to sun, consumption of oily fish, and supplements can prevent 80% of vitamin D deficiency related diseases and cancers.
• 30 times more cancer deaths are attributed to vitamin D deficiency from lack of sun exposure than to skin cancer deaths from too much sun exposure.
• Always take calcium and magnesium with vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D will pull calcium from the bones if adequate calcium is not ingested. Magnesium assists in calcium uptake.
• Per day: 2,000-12,000 IU vitamin D3, 1200-1800 mg calcium, and 600-1200 mg magnesium. Required vitamin D dose depends on season, resident latitude, skin tone, weight, age, dress or cultural mores, and presence of D deficiency symptoms.

[Zuleikaa]

Vitamin D Facts

• If it hurts to press firmly on your sternum, you might have chronic vitamin D deficiency.
• Adequate vitamin D levels achieved through exposure to sun, consumption of oily fish, and supplements can prevent 80% of vitamin D deficiency related diseases and cancers.
• 30 times more cancer deaths are attributed to vitamin D deficiency from lack of sun exposure than to skin cancer deaths from too much sun exposure.
• Always take calcium and magnesium with vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D will pull calcium from the bones if adequate calcium is not ingested. Magnesium assists in calcium uptake.
• Per day: 2,000-12,000 IU vitamin D3, 1200-1800 mg calcium, and 600-1200 mg magnesium. Required vitamin D dose depends on season, resident latitude, skin tone, weight, age, dress or cultural mores, and presence of D deficiency symptoms.

Vitamin D, D3, is not really a vitamin; rather it is a powerful steroid and a super hormone that tells your body how to work. It controls hormones and cellular growth; it helps to absorb calcium for strong bones and teeth; it ensures muscle strength and balance; and it protects against immune diseases, prenatal physical and neurological disorders, birth defects, diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, depression, and cancers. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in over 50 illnesses and diseases and has been proven to prevent or remit 28 kinds of cancers, most noted are breast, ovarian, cervical, prostate, colon, and lung cancers.

It’s been said that vitamin D is toxic in high levels and no one should take more than 800-2,000 IUs per day. That is not true and is just the perpetuation of old, outdated information relating to man-made vitamin D.
• Natural vitamin D, cholecalciferol, is named D3; manmade vitamin D, ergocalciferol, is named D2.
• Natural vitamin D, D3, has been tested at 20,000 IUs per day over a 5 year period and found non toxic.
• No incident of natural vitamin D toxicity has resulted in death.
• Cases of proven natural vitamin D toxicity have been the result of industrial accidents or accidental mega doses in excess of 1 Million IUs per day over a prolonged period.
• Hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood) has been pointed to as an indication of vitamin D toxicity; however, hypercalcemia is also, and more often, a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.
• Vitamin D toxicity arises at a blood level of >250 ng/ml.
• Vitamin D levels can be easily tested. The test is named either 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
--Ignore the lab ranges for normal on this test as the norms were established using a vitamin D deficient population.
--Any reading below 60 ng/ml is deficient.
--Any reading of 75-125 ng/ml is optimal.
--Individuals in the tropics naturally have vitamin D levels ranging from the mid 100s-200 ng/ml.
• Vitamin D supplements are safe for all ages including fetus and infant. Vitamin D is essential in the development of fetal bone, brain, and nervous systems, and prevents birth defects and miscarriages.
--Children born June-August are seven times more likely to have learning disabilities, mental retardation, low Apgar scores, low birth weight, and dyslexia than those born in cooler months.
--Adults born in winter or spring have higher rates of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
--A 2 year old was given 4 Million IUs of vitamin D over a 5 day period resulting in vitamin D toxicity. His symptoms were diarrhea, stomach ache, and hypercalcemia. He was treated for the hypercalcemia over a period of 3 months and fully recovered with no negative results.
--Prior to 1985 infants and children in Finland, Norway and Sweden were given 2,000-4,000 IUs a day of D3. Those countries then had the lowest rates of juvenile diabetes, and developmental, and childhood illness of industrialized nations. These children, now adults, have the lowest rates of cancer compared to those who were not supplemented.
--27 sickly children ages ranging from 2-12 were given 9,000 IUs a day of vitamin D3 for six weeks one winter; they stopped getting sick.
--Experts recommend pregnant and lactating women take 4,000 IUs of D per day, and children up to 60 pounds be given 1,000-2,000 IUs of D per day, or enough vitamin D in each case to achieve blood levels of 60 ng/ml.
• People with dark skin pigmentation need 20-30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D.
--Blacks are 10 times more vitamin D deficient than whites.
--Young Black women are 24 times more vitamin D deficient than young white women. Of those tested, almost 50% had vitamin D levels <15 ng/ml.
--Blacks have higher rates of and contract more virulent forms of vitamin D deficiency related illnesses: hypertension, diabetes, hyperthyroid, hyper parathyroid, cancers—especially prostate, breast, colon, cervical, and ovarian cancers, multiple sclerosis, obesity, and renal and heart disease.
• People with very pale skin that won’t tan, and those of Northern European heritage genetically have fewer vitamin D receptors in their skin and can not generate adequate vitamin D levels from the sun.
• People of orthodox religions or those having cultural mores that limit the amount of skin that is exposed are prone to vitamin D deficiency.
• The ability to make vitamin D decreases with age.
• It’s impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from diet alone. Sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in your own body. When adequate sunlight is not available to produce vitamin D, supplements must be taken.
• Chronic vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight: it takes months of high dose vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body's bones and nervous system.
• Suggested vitamin D use by the body has been put at 4,000 IUs per day.
• Proven vitamin D use by the body has been shown at 7,000 IUs per day.
• The best time to produce vitamin D from sun exposure during the day is between the hours of 10-3, the time most people are indoors, and the very hours that people are advised to avoid the sun.
• Use of sunscreen/block of even SPF=8 cuts 95% of vitamin D production.
• Vitamin D cannot be produced by sun shining through glass.
• The further you live from the equator, the longer exposure you need to the midday sun in order to generate vitamin D. Canada, the UK and most U.S. states are far from the equator.
• There is no possible vitamin D production from the sun during winter for those living above 41 degrees latitude north or south of the equator.
• Daily vitamin D needs cannot be met from the sun during winter 37 degrees from the equator.
• Clouds, aerosols and thick ozone events reduce the duration of vitamin D synthesis considerably, and can suppress vitamin D synthesis completely even at the equator.
• Rates of vitamin D deficiency diseases: high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, MS, autoimmune, Crohn’s heart, Hodgkin’s, and Parkinson’s diseases, schizophrenia, mental illness, alcoholism, fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes type I & II, and cancers rise with distance from the equator.
• Having kidney disease or liver damage can impair your body's ability to activate circulating vitamin D.
• Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial for calcium absorption. Without sufficient vitamin D, the body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium supplements useless.


Vitamin D_Obesity Link
Vitamin D is stored in fat. Vitamin D controls insulin…insulin causes hunger/cravings and stores fat…fat captures vitamin D and makes it not available for the body to use…Resulting in less vitamin D which means less insulin control …higher insulin causes more hunger/cravings and stores more fat…fat captures vitamin D and makes it not available for the body to use…and on and on.

Obesity and the vitamin D deficiency--related condition osteomalacia often go hand in hand. Osteomalacia is characterized by extreme bone and muscle pain and weakness. When an obese person has osteomalacia, the bone and muscle pain and weakness make it virtually impossible to participate in any sort of physical activity that might help the individual manage his or her weight. As a result, the individual becomes even more obese, which will in turn worsen his or her vitamin D status and exacerbate the osteomalacia.

Further, for these people initial weight gain leads to more clothes covering the body, and less time spent outdoors in the sun due to practical and esteem-related reasons. When the obese are outside, less skin is exposed to the sun for vitamin D production which leads to greater vitamin D deficiency and continues the above cycles. Obese individuals, depending on weight, require 2-4 times the vitamin D supplementation of normal weight individuals because some amount of vitamin D is captured in fat and not bio-available.

[Dinahb]

Ok! I'm in. I need to go back and read the directions again, but I certainly qualify. Dinahb

[foxgluvs]

Hi everyone, just came by to update my situation with Vit D. Before christmas I was feeling pretty depressed, I had a lot of stresses, but also I find every single year between about october and march I feel down and my mood drops. It got so bad a few years ago that I felt like taking a long walk off of a short bridge.

Zu then came by to offer some advice on Vit D. I read as much of the info as I could (I must admit to not reading all of it, but I did take note of the important bits for me) and then I started taking only 400 IU for the first 2 weeks, within that time I felt slightly better, my mood definately improved, but at that point I wasn't sure if it was just a placebo effect.

Over the past few weeks, since a binge at christmas I have been on plan, but have found my weight loss almost non existent. I came back here to have another root around, and realised that the 400 IU probably wasn't enough, so I have upped it to 800 IU and intend on doubling that within a few weeks.

My weight this week since upping the dosage has dropped by 3lbs - this might be coninsidence, but I'm inclined to think not. I have eaten exactly the same things this week as I did last week - last week my weight went up by 1.5lbs, this week it has dropped back + reduced by 3lbs.

I must admit to not taking the other suppliments which have been recommeded, although my multi vitamin contains both calcium and magnesium, although probably not in the correct dosages.

I also suffer from chronic back pain, on the whole the pain has been less severe, although I think it's early days and I am not taking a strong enough dosage yet to have a conclusion on that.

All in all I feel better in myself, not quite so much pain, I am happier in my nature, and I am losing weight. I am going to continue the experiment to see where it takes me.

How is everyone else doing?

[foxgluvs]

I have another question actually, I want to give my children Vit D - they are twins and are 3.5 yrs old. One of them in particular suffers with bouts of black moods, she has probably picked up my tendency for depression. She is not a happy go lucky child, she is extremely pessemistic in her approach to life and had periods of real depression where she will shut herself in her room and cry. I took her to the Dr who told me she was just being a difficult child, it obviously isn't invironmental because her twin sister is so different.

I was wondering what dosage to give her, and also if Vit D comes in a pleasent chewable form for kids?

Thanks in advance.
H
x

[unchubby]

Hey Everyone-

I am starting low carb once again and have never used vitamins in my life. Besides the Vitamin D, is there a multi-vitamin that anyone is using they have liked?

Thanks!

[Dodger]

I have another question actually, I want to give my children Vit D - they are twins and are 3.5 yrs old. One of them in particular suffers with bouts of black moods, she has probably picked up my tendency for depression. She is not a happy go lucky child, she is extremely pessemistic in her approach to life and had periods of real depression where she will shut herself in her room and cry. I took her to the Dr who told me she was just being a difficult child, it obviously isn't invironmental because her twin sister is so different.

I was wondering what dosage to give her, and also if Vit D comes in a pleasent chewable form for kids?

Thanks in advance.
H
xI would start at 400IU for the children and see if there is any improvement in a few weeks, if not add another 400IW. You live in the UK, which is known for not having many sunny days, so supplementing is important.

Assuming that the children are drinking milk, I would grind up the vitamin D pills (mortar and pestle) and add the powder to the milk. I know that when I was a child, I could/would not swallow pills.

[foxgluvs]

I would start at 400IU for the children and see if there is any improvement in a few weeks, if not add another 400IW. You live in the UK, which is known for not having many sunny days, so supplementing is important.

Assuming that the children are drinking milk, I would grind up the vitamin D pills (mortar and pestle) and add the powder to the milk. I know that when I was a child, I could/would not swallow pills.

Indeed, they don't take pills unless they are chewy. I will foloow your advice and give that a go, many thanks!

[Zuleikaa]

I have another question actually, I want to give my children Vit D - they are twins and are 3.5 yrs old. One of them in particular suffers with bouts of black moods, she has probably picked up my tendency for depression. She is not a happy go lucky child, she is extremely pessemistic in her approach to life and had periods of real depression where she will shut herself in her room and cry. I took her to the Dr who told me she was just being a difficult child, it obviously isn't invironmental because her twin sister is so different.

I was wondering what dosage to give her, and also if Vit D comes in a pleasent chewable form for kids?

Thanks in advance.
H
xMy grandchildren are given emulsified mint flavored cod liver oil liquid every August thru April and have been since they were infants. The baby is 3 and is now given 1-2 tablespoon of the liquid a day as well as a childrens multivitamin dose. The others, who are 7 and 10 are given 3-4 tablespoons of cod liver oil and multivitamin and vitamin C chewables.

Do not be concerned at the vitamin A level. Natural vitamin A is not toxic at anywhere near those levels. It was the man-made stuff, as in the case of vitamin D, that caused the problems.

Note. They start off with the smaller dose of CLO and are given more as winter deepens or if colds are going around and then the dose is decreased again in April.

They live in Boston, MA.

I just discovered there is a liquid vitamin D in drop form. 1 drop equals 400 IU vitamin D. It's called Bio-D-Mulsion Drops and is $9.00 for 1 oz from http://www.tahoma-clinic.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/28. I think I will order this for the DGKs next season. When I was interested in buying it before from another distributor you had to be a health professional to order the drops.

There is another site that sells a 400IU and a 2000IU version at https://www.dcnutrition.com/products/. When I run out of my D from swansons, that's what I'm getting!!!!

[Zuleikaa]

Hey Everyone-

I am starting low carb once again and have never used vitamins in my life. Besides the Vitamin D, is there a multi-vitamin that anyone is using they have liked?

Thanks!Any good quality multivitamin with mineral that requires two pills per dose is fine.

[LondonIan]

While I have no doubt that proper Vitamin D supplementation can be advantageous, especially in sunlight deprived climes, can I caution everyone with a small word of warning. Vitamin D in large amounts is toxic.

There is no evidence that it is a pancea for all ills, including cancer. I'm sure that we all wish that there were a simple protective against cancer, but wishful thinking doesn't do the job. If it Vit D was a wonder cure, the whole world would be climbing over it.

Sufficient levels of Vitamin D lessen your chances of getting some cancers. Probably. That's it.

The levels being recomended by some mebers of this site are close to toxic and could seriously damage your health. In youngsters it WILL.

For toxicity levels, please check the Merck Manual.

http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3e.jsp

Toxic effects have occurred in adults receiving 2500 µg (100,000 IU)/day for several months. Elevated serum calcium levels of 12 to 16 mg/dL (3 to 4 mmol/L) are a constant finding when toxic symptoms occur; normal levels are 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL (2.12 to 2.62 mmol/L). Serum calcium should be measured frequently (weekly at first, then monthly) in all patients receiving large doses of vitamin D.

The first symptoms are anorexia, nausea, and vomiting, followed by polyuria, polydipsia, weakness, nervousness, and pruritus. Renal function is impaired, as evidenced by low sp gr urine, proteinuria, casts, and azotemia. Metastatic calcifications may occur, particularly in the kidneys.

I'd like to issue a word of warning here about making unsubstantiated recommendations that could result in severe damage to anyone health.

[Dodger]

Ian,

The toxic levels in Merck are at 100,000 IU's per day for months.

I have not seen any posts advocating those levels. The most I can find anyone taking is 7000 IUs, which is less than a tenth of the level at which Merck says problems occur.

[Zuleikaa]

While I have no doubt that proper Vitamin D supplementation can be advantageous, especially in sunlight deprived climes, can I caution everyone with a small word of warning. Vitamin D in large amounts is toxic..How large? Vitamin D has been proven non toxic at 20,000 IU per day over a 5 year period. No one is advocating any amount near that limit.


There is no evidence that it is a pancea for all ills, including cancer. I'm sure that we all wish that there were a simple protective against cancer, but wishful thinking doesn't do the job. If it Vit D was a wonder cure, the whole world would be climbing over it. . I don't think so. Vitamin D is cheap and nonpatentable. There are profitable medical industries based upon treatment of diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency. Ironically enough, expensive vitamin D analogs which are patentable are being produced and administered as cancer treatments.

There is a plethora of research proving that vitamin D can prevent, treat, or remit over 28 kinds of cancers. I don't think that that research is wishful thinking but I do think it's significant that vitamin D's effect on cancer is not widely publicized and that the FDA is so resistant to upping the RDA in the face of the evidence and requests from a lot of doctors in the medical and research community.


Sufficient levels of Vitamin D lessen your chances of getting some cancers. Probably. That's it..I think the research speaks for itself.


The levels being recomended by some mebers of this site are close to toxic and could seriously damage your health. In youngsters it WILL..The amounts and levels being recommended are not even close to toxic. Furthermore, there has not been one death attributable to the use of natural vitamin D, D3, in any amount, even doses in the multi million IU per day over a prolonged period.

The countries of Norway and Sweden routinely supplemented all children at 2,000-4,000 IU per day for years prior to 1985. Funnily enough, those countries are now back to advocating D supplementation for their children.


For toxicity levels, please check the Merck Manual.

http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3e.jsp..There is a multitude of research on vitamin D toxicity that discredits a lot of the statements and research sources on this link.



I'd like to issue a word of warning here about making unsubstantiated recommendations that could result in severe damage to anyone health.Your warning is noted. I would never want to damage anyone's health. That is why I always note that vitamin D should always be taken with calcium and magnesium. That's the reason for all the research and articles provided. I do not think the recommendations are unsubstanstiated by any measure.

Ian
I don't mean to downplay your concerns about toxicity but generally the amounts thrown around as being toxic are laughable. The overwhelming number cases of vitamin D toxicity have been attributable to man made vitamin D, D2, and it's hypothesized that they were due, not to the vitamin D, but due to contamination during the production process.

Yes, like any thing else vitamin D may be toxic in overdose although one expert recently said, "worrying about vitamin D toxicity is like worrying about drowning when you are dying of thirst."There has not been even one death from natural vitamin D toxicity though there have been cases of multi millions and 100 millions IUs of D taken over prolonged periods. Further the test for true vitamin D levels was more recently developed and it's hypothesized that the hypercalcemia and circulating vitamin D levels in the blood in the past were really signs of vitamin D deficiency not vitamin D toxicity. Activated vitamin D levels are the true sign of vitamin D deficiency/sufficiency and hypercalcemia, though it can be a sign of vitamin D toxicity, is more often a sign of vitamin D deficiency.

[arc]

After doing research on Vit D, my family and I started taking it the first part of last December. I (a 195 lb white male) take 4000 IU and my wife (110 lb white female) takes 2000 IU. My boys (8 and 11) take 2000 IU. The prime motivation was some pretty compelling links between deficiency and getting sick, primarily flu. We live near the Canadian border in Washington state and it's been a gray, foggy, rainy winter.

I also started getting stricter about eating better in September (fell of the wagon from Thanksgiving and New Year's, though), so am not sure if it's the D or the diet or both but have had some decent results.

- Much more even moods.
- Reduced enlarged prostate symptoms
- Lost the mental fog that was starting to scare me last summer
- None of have been sick this winter, despite the rampant germs going around the schools (my wife works at the school). She did get a cold about two weeks after we started taking the D but it only lasted about a day and a half.

- I like doing DDR with my boys and have had a real problem with my calves really tightening up. It did this even with eating right, taking magnesium and potassium, etc. A couple of weeks after starting the D, I noticed I could go a lot longer without the tight calves.

- The itchy dry skin that I starting getting on my back and arms in November completely went away.

I do have a question. In the summer, I normally get a pretty good "farmer's tan", which pretty much fades away over the winter. This year, it started to fade but over the last month or so, has intensified some. Also. the "white parts" have darkened a little; I actually have some color on my body. My normally translucent wife has also picked up some color.

It definitely isn't from being outside, as we've had almost no sun this winter. Is it the D and has anyone else seen that?

[Zuleikaa]

I do have a question. In the summer, I normally get a pretty good "farmer's tan", which pretty much fades away over the winter. This year, it started to fade but over the last month or so, has intensified some. Also. the "white parts" have darkened a little; I actually have some color on my body. My normally translucent wife has also picked up some color.

It definitely isn't from being outside, as we've had almost no sun this winter. Is it the D and has anyone else seen that?Lack of sufficient vitamin D will cause skin to lighten and pale. Many people black and white lighten as they age and the ability to produce adequate vitamin D declines with age. I've speculated about a vitamin D and skin tone/color connection--not color as in race but color as in an individual's own healthy color. Vitamin D absolutely heals cracked, dry and fragile skin. Sufficient vitamin D will even out skin tone. So it seems intuitive that sufficient vitamin D will darken skin color to a healthy "normal" as well as even out skin tone. JMO.

[GinaLeanne]

Wow, I can't believe I found this...........I'm going to buy some, does anyone know the best place on the net to buy vitamin d supplements? I don't have a car right now and live i a very small town. thankyou, Gina

[Zuleikaa]

Wow, I can't believe I found this...........I'm going to buy some, does anyone know the best place on the net to buy vitamin d supplements? I don't have a car right now and live i a very small town. thankyou, GinaHigh Potency D-3 from swansonvitamins.com.

[Zuleikaa]

Wondering......

Are fibroids connected to vitamin D deficiency?

Black women have a high incidence of fibroid tumors.

Uterine tissue has vitamin D receptors.

Vitamin D has been proven to shrink cancerous and other tumors.

Hormones have been implicated in the growth of fibroids.

Vitamin D regulates hormones.

There has been an accelerating increase in the incidence of fibroid tumors in both black and white women since 1988.

In 1963, it was cited that Black women were 3-9 times more likely to develop fibroid tumors than white women. In 1996, the cited gap narrowed to 2-3 times more likely. Fibroid tumors appear in 89% of Black women and in 59% of white women.

The estimated rate of vitamin D deficiency in the US is 70%.

1985 is when widespread use of sunscreen took off.


What do you think?

[Dodger]

Wow, I can't believe I found this...........I'm going to buy some, does anyone know the best place on the net to buy vitamin d supplements? I don't have a car right now and live i a very small town. thankyou, GinaAny grocery or pharmacy should have vitamin D for sale. It is reasonably cheap.

[Demi]

I thought that participants in this thread might enjoy reading the following article from this morning's Times newspaper:

The Times
London, Uk
2 Febraury, 2006


As I have fair skin I try to avoid the sun. Do I need vitamin D?

Dr Thomas Stuttaford


A Cheshire reader with reddish hair and fair skin tends to avoid the sun in the summer but is worried that she’s not getting enough vitamin D. Should she be taking supplements?


The answer is yes. In the unsophisticated 1940s vitamin D was always known at school by those doing human biology as the “sunshine vitamin”. Then medical opinion believed that the more sun anyone had the better. The glass in schoolroom windows was made so that ultra-violet rays penetrated it easily. At boarding school, young children lined up at bathtime to go under sun lamps. The children, as pale from the British weather as slices of Mother’s Pride white bread, could then be toasted to a healthy looking brown to please their absentee parents.

Patients and doctors alike now know better: melanomas and other forms of skin damage are directly related to exposure to the sun and at no time of life is it more important than in childhood to prevent burning. Nor is there any type of skin at greater risk than the milky-white complexion, possibly freckled, with pale blue eyes and fair or red hair, the type of skin that our reader has.

My generation were prescribed sun; the present generation are told about the importance of avoiding the sun. They are encouraged to use screening lotions, to wear tightly woven long-sleeve shirts to keep the sun off the chest and arms, and a hat to protect the face. This is all excellent advice, but as with so many good prescriptions, there is a downside and the inevitable risk-benefit analysis is needed. Too little sun can cause vitamin D deficiency.

The number of people in this sun-deprived generation who are suffering vitamin D deficiency is increasing. Vitamin D is vital for the absorption of calcium so they are also liable to suffer more osteoporosis. There is even a well-founded suggestion that SAD, the form of depression that the lightdeprived develop in winter time, is more prevalent in those with low levels of vitamin D.

It is not only children who may suffer calcium and vitamin D deficiency; a study of Scottish adults suffering fractures showed that 97 per cent had vitamin D deficiency, and research among adults in the Medway found that there was vitamin D inadequacy of 88.7 per cent of those visiting their doctor.

Elderly people living in institutions don’t develop prison pallor only from lack of sunlight; they also suffer vitamin D deficiency, almost universally unless steps are taken to counteract it. The deficiency of sunlight-generated vitamin D is made worse by the nature of older people’s skin, which becomes progressively less able to utilise vitamin D just as the kidney is also less efficient at converting the vitamin D synthesised by the sunlight to its active form.

There are two types of vitamin D: vitamin D3 is derived from cholesterol of animal origin as well as from the sun, and vitamin D2, derived from plants. Whatever its source, vitamin D is converted to its active form in the liver and kidney and is stored until it is needed.

Vitamin D in the diet — fish oil, eggs, butter, liver and meat — is inadequate by itself to counteract a lack of vitamin D made by the sun. Margarine is fortified with vitamin D and so are some cereals but even so vitamin D joins folic acid as an essential vitamin that in the modern world needs supplementing at some, or at all, times of life.Vitamins are measured in international units, or micrograms; I take 5mcg daily, the recommended adult amount.

Calcium as well as vitamin D is needed to maintain healthy bones and I am a firm believer that far too few people are taking bisphos- phonates, another of the modern wonder drugs. Bisphosphonates are needed, as well as vitamin D and calcium, to prevent osteoporosis and to reduce the annual mortality from fractured bones. Preventing osteoporosis and thereby reducing the shrinkage of old age also reduces the amount of backache.

Bisphosphonates in rather heavier doses also have an important part to play in the treatment of cancer of the breast. Its influence on the bones (if the cancer has spread there) extends the lives of women with this trouble. Recent research has shown, as has long been suspected, that adding vitamin D to chemotherapy for advanced cancer of the prostate also enables men to live longer. There is every likelihood that heavy doses of bisphosphonates would also inhibit the effect of any prostate tumour spread to the bones.

At a recent London meeting, Dr Richard Keen discussed the use of a bisphosphonate tablet that is already combined with vitamin D3. Marketed as Fosavance, it is to all intents Fosamax Mark 2 and has the advantage that those taking it will receive both an adequate intake of vitamin D as well as the bisphosphonate. This will therefore keep osteoporosis at bay and reduce the likelihood of fractures.

Dr Keen, who works at the metabolic unit at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and at University College London, said that Fosavance is useful in treating and preventing osteoporosis. He is interested in the origins of osteoporosis in women: 50 per cent of bone strength in women is laid down in the two years either side of the time they start their periods, just the age when a fear of weight gain makes them subject to a fascination with dietary fads, many of which dissuade them from taking calcium-rich dairy produce. Contrary to a popular myth Fosavance and Fosamax can be taken by the same patients as those taking calcium supplements and dairy produce. Food, mineral waters, some other medication and calcium should be taken only at least 30 minutes after Fosavance tablets otherwise their absorption is reduced.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,173-2020192,00.html


(For your info: Dr Thomas Stuttaford is best known as medical columnist of The Times where hes been writing for twenty one years. He also contributes regularly for many national magazines and is a frequent broadcaster. Trained in medicine at Oxford, he was a GP in Norfolk and served in the NHS as a genitourinary physician as well as in private practice.)

[Zuleikaa]

The news is getting out!!!

Thanks, Demi!!!

Don't like the touting for bisphosphonates though. There's been a study that D and regular calcium protects and rebuilds bones better than bisphosphonates. Also interesting that now the bisphosphonates are being combined with vitamin D. Much cheaper and more effective to do just vitamin D and calcium.

It always makes me wonder if they're reading/writing from a script. Just who did the research for this article?

Good luck on the 5mcg dose, that's not nearly enough vitamin D for good health.

And D is activated in a lot more places than just the liver and kidneys.

And it's not the bisphosphonates that stop cancer, that's the D. And it's the bisphosphonates with D that stops the cancer from spreading to the bones. Well, really it's the D. And in breast cancer? Bisphosphonates? Give me a break!!!

Sounds to me like someone is on the Bisphosphonates payroll.

The more I read it the more it sounds like a bisphosphonates advert.

[Dodger]

Patients and doctors alike now know better: melanomas and other forms of skin damage are directly related to exposure to the sun and at no time of life is it more important than in childhood to prevent burning. Nor is there any type of skin at greater risk than the milky-white complexion, possibly freckled, with pale blue eyes and fair or red hair, the type of skin that our reader has.I have not found any research that showed that sun exposure itself caused skin cancer. It seems that burning of the skin is the problem. The solution is not to avoid the sun, but rather to slowly tan the skin to avoid the burn. The fairer the skin, the shorter the initial exposure times should be. I have light skin and have found that by increasing my exposure times to the sun from early spring onword, I don't burn and get a nice tan and lots of vitamin D.

There are some people of northern European ancestry that don't seem to tan, and they should only expose the skin for short times daily and not lenghten their exposure. Most people though are capable of tanning and should do so for their health.

[Demi]

Originally posted by Zuleikka
The more I read it the more it sounds like a bisphosphonates advert
Yes, I suppose it does - however, my intention was to illustrate that Vitamin D is becoming big news in the UK. In fact, after an earlier article (which I posted somewhere here a few weeks ago) it has been quite hard to find any Vitamin D - one major health food chain, Holland & Barrett, has had problems keeping up with demand - it flies off the shelf as soon as it appears in their shops.






Although I don't actively participate as such in this thread, I have found it extremely interesting and helpful. I am sure that adding around 4000 IU D3 to my daily supplement regime, which also includes high doseage with fish oil, has kept my depression at bay this winter - in fact, I'm totally off any medication, which IMO is brilliant :)

[Zuleikaa]

- however, my intention was to illustrate that Vitamin D is becoming big news in the UK. In fact, after an earlier article (which I posted somewhere here a few weeks ago) it has been quite hard to find any Vitamin D - one major health food chain, Holland & Barrett, has had problems keeping up with demand - it flies off the shelf as soon as it appears in their shops.Demi
I'm appreciative of you posting this. I didn't mean to sound unappreciative or slighting of your contributions!!! The more articles that come out the more people will know about vitamin D's benefits. That's a VERY good thing!! And the less that people will think I'm some crazy person when it comes to vitamin D. That's not bad either, lol!!!


-Although I don't actively participate as such in this thread, I have found it extremely interesting and helpful. I am sure that adding around 4000 IU D3 to my daily supplement regime, which also includes high doseage with fish oil, has kept my depression at bay this winter - in fact, I'm totally off any medication, which IMO is brilliant :) I'm so glad you found the vitamin D of benefit!!!

This thread might not have a lot of active posters, but I figure if even a percentage of the people that have viewed the thread give vitamin D a try, that's a tremodous exposure to vitamin D's benefits. And if a percentage of them pass it on, wow!!!! My job is done, lol!!!

I think of those viewers as a silent majority, lol!!!

I'm glad to have you participating by adding to the knowledge base!!! Thanks again!!!

[Demi]

Originally posted by Zuleikka
I didn't mean to sound unappreciative or slighting of your contributions!!!
Don't worry - I didn't take it that way at all! :)

[Dinahb]

My vitamin has 400IU of vitamin D. I am supposed to take it two to three times a day. Is that enough, or should I take a separate vitamin D tablet.

[Zuleikaa]

My vitamin has 400IU of vitamin D. I am supposed to take it two to three times a day. Is that enough, or should I take a separate vitamin D tablet.I might be mistaken but my assumption is that the multi only has 400IU per dose or 400IU in 2-3 pills. That's not anywhere near enough vitamin D.

I recommend you take a separate supplement for D. And remember, you should take calcium and magnesium with that.

[foxgluvs]

Well, I'm still on the Vit D, just recently uped it to 1200 IU and feeling ok on that level. The problem here in the UK is that it's very hard to find, like Demi said, it goes off the shelves like lightening, however, I managed to find a supplier on Ebay of all places, so I am hoping that she'll keep it in stock. I'm still feeling down from time to time, but usually I'd have lost myself in a black hole about now - I truly think the vit D is helping my SAD symptoms.

[Zuleikaa]

Well, I'm still on the Vit D, just recently uped it to 1200 IU and feeling ok on that level. The problem here in the UK is that it's very hard to find, like Demi said, it goes off the shelves like lightening, however, I managed to find a supplier on Ebay of all places, so I am hoping that she'll keep it in stock. I'm still feeling down from time to time, but usually I'd have lost myself in a black hole about now - I truly think the vit D is helping my SAD symptoms.You might want to up it a bit more until spring. JMO, if you have SAD, 1200 IU is way too low.

Bat Spit is taking D for SAD also, you might want to see how much she is taking.

[Demi]

Originally Posted by foxgluvs
The problem here in the UK is that it's very hard to find, like Demi said, it goes off the shelves like lightening,
I've recently found this online source (http://www.healthydirect.co.uk/HDSite/product/Vitamins%20Minerals%20and%20Herbs/0143.htm) for getting mine. Postage & packing is free if you're ordering from the UK as well. Another site you can buy it from is this one (http://www.solgar.co.uk/modules/shop/view.asp?catid=3&Prodcode=E3320), but you do have to pay p&p here.

HTH :)

[MonicaAus]

VERY INTERESTING!!!! When I went to an endo. last year to learn and start the protein sparing modified fast he told me to take calcium with the largest amount of D i could find, he also mentioned 100% of the obese patients he saw were potassium deficient gave me a script.....i lost 81 lbs in 7 months, recently gained 39 back got off track...but back on and strong, been reading the Zone "Eicosanoids" also a Hot topic with me they are an amazing hormones that lives a very short time in the body!!!
I appreciate all this info
will incorporate all that is usefull
Who better to know about our chemistry than us!!! and to share usefull information
Thanks so much
MONICA

[Zuleikaa]

Thought this would be relevant to PCOS people so I posted it over there as well.

Vit D_PCOS

Serum parathyroid hormone concentrations are increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Panidis D, Balaris C, Farmakiotis D, Rousso D, Kourtis A, Balaris V, Katsikis I, Zournatzi V, Diamanti-Kandarakis E.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16037412&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

Vitamin D and calcium dysregulation in the polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Thys-Jacobs S, Donovan D, Papadopoulos A, Sarrel P, Bilezikian JP.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10433180&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum

Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity1,2,3
Jacobo Wortsman, Lois Y Matsuoka, Tai C Chen, Zhiren Lu and Michael F Holick
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/72/3/690

Inadequate vitamin D status: Does it contribute to the disorders comprising syndrome ‘X’?
Boucher, B. J.1
http://<br /> http://www.ingentaco...53dc152d8667e07

Concentrations of Serum Vitamin D and the Metabolic Syndrome Among U.S. Adults
Earl S. Ford, MD, MPH1, Umed A. Ajani, MBBS, MPH1, Lisa C. McGuire, PHD1 and Simin Liu, MD, SCD2,3
http://<br /> http://care.diabetes.../full/28/5/1228

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and ß cell dysfunction1,2,3
Ken C Chiu, Audrey Chu, Vay Liang W Go and Mohammed F Saad
http://<br /> http://www.ajcn.org/...stract/79/5/820

Acanthosis nigricans associated with insulin resistance : pathophysiology and management.
Hermanns-Le T, Scheen A, Pierard GE.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15186199&query_hl=63&itool=pubmed_docsum

Vitamin D binding protein in endometriosis.
Ferrero S, Gillott DJ, Anserini P, Remorgida V, Price KM, Ragni N, Grudzinskas JG.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15866120&query_hl=32&itool=pubmed_docsum

Direct regulation of HOXA10 by 1,25-(OH)2D3 in human myelomonocytic cells and human endometrial stromal cells.
Du H, Daftary GS, Lalwani SI, Taylor HS.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15905361&query_hl=38&itool=pubmed_docsum

Alpha-fetoprotein, the major fetal serum protein, is not essential for embryonic development but is required for female fertility.
Gabant P, Forrester L, Nichols J, Van Reeth T, De Mees C, Pajack B, Watt A, Smitz J, Alexandre H, Szpirer C, Szpirer J.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12297623&query_hl=38&itool=pubmed_docsum

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 restores fertility of vitamin D-deficient female rats.
Kwiecinksi GG, Petrie GI, DeLuca HF
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2705521&query_hl=38&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Reduced fecundity of vitamin D deficient rats.
Hickie JP, Lavigne DM, Woodward WD.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=6132740&query_hl=38&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Effect of vitamin D deficiency on fertility and reproductive capacity in the female rat.
Halloran BP, DeLuca HF.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7400847&query_hl=38&itool=pubmed_DocSum

[binki]

I read through this whole thread this morning and bought a bottle of Vitamin D on my way home.

I have a couple of questions, though>
1. Somewhere in these 17 pages it was said to take the D with oil. Does it matter what sort of oil? The capsules I got have oil in them; is this sufficient or should I a) take them at night when I take my fish oil and vitamin E, b) take them with coconut oil, or c) something else?

2. The pills I got have 1000 IU of vitamin D, but they also have 4000 IU of vitamin A. Is this a problem? I was planning on starting with two pills a day, one in the morning and one at night (unless that's a bad idea. I do take a cal/mag/zinc supplement at both those times.

3. In this thread you've talked about getting the dry kind of D, I assume tablets instead of gelcaps; does this change the answer to my first question above about the oil?

Thank you for doing all this research. I'll admit I didn't read all of the scientific stuff, but it's a fantastic resource for further information as we need to know more about specific things.

[Dodger]

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, so to be absorbed into the body, there has to be some type of fat present. As yours have an oil with them, you don't need to take them wth any fat.

[Demi]

Have just read Dr Horlick's The UV Advantage , after seeing Zuleikka's endorsement that it was a great read - and she's right, it is!


Anyway, I have a question regarding effective sun exposure for Vitamin D during the winter months (as per Horlicks Safe Sun Tables). I live in the UK, so a high latitude, and for the months October-March, the figure given for safe exposure is 0.

Now, do I interprete this to mean that I can be outside in the sun all day without a problem (when we get some), or does it mean that there isn't enough sun at this time of the year for Vitamin D production?