The Vitamin D Newsletter
March 9, 2009
This is a very long newsletter. I will answer questions about oil versus water-soluble Vitamin D, depression, mental clarity, malignant melanoma, Crohn’s disease, an imagist poet, multiple sclerosis, sun-exposure, high-intensity red light and collagen repair in the skin, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, influenza, the 1918 influenza pandemic, statins, the new Food and Nutrition Board, thyroid disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, athletes, the upcoming 14th Vitamin D Workshop, prostate cancer, the wrong blood test, pregnancy, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, soap and sebum, asthma, sleep, the co-factors vitamin D needs to work (all contained in spinach), and, my favorite, UVC light and Vitamin D.
Before I start, I want to warn you that the Vitamin D Council is now obtaining commissions by linking to Vitamin D products. I don't like the Vitamin D Council involved in commerce, but I like being able to do Vitamin D campaigns more than I hate getting commissions on Vitamin D products. We decided to link to unique items or the "best in class" of several Vitamin D products. We hope to soon link to a complete Vitamin D formula as well.
If you think the Vitamin D Council should not dirty our hands with capitalism, please delete this newsletter. In fact, while you are at it, please unsubscribe, as it offends me that you think the Vitamin D Council should continue operating without an ongoing source of income. Donations have not worked. To unsubscribe, use the links at the end of this newsletter.
Thus, we now offer a link to the best Vitamin D book on the market for $25.00. We link to an in-home ZRT Vitamin D blood test, the only such test available, for $65.00. Finally, for a whopping $1,600.00, we link the best in-home Vitamin D producing UV light systems we could find on the market, through Mercola.com. One of the in-home systems, the D-Lite, emits large amounts of UVB, little UVA, and does not tan but will burn if you stay in too long. It also emits a high-intensity light in the 633 nm range and higher near-infrared range, which, as you will see, has a cosmetic effect on the skin by repairing collagen and lessening photo-damage. Another of the in-home units we sell, the SunSplash Renew, has these high-intensity cosmetic light but tans the body as well. All the in-home UV lights we link to make large amounts of Vitamin D and all are stand-up units, making it hard to over-expose (it’s hard to fall asleep standing up). Here is a list of the three products.
(1) The second edition of Dr. Marc Sorenson’s book
Vitamin D and Solar Power for Optimal Health. The Vitamin D Council makes $10.00 per book.
(2) The
ZRT in-home Vitamin D blood test . We make $10.00 per test.
(3) Three different
full body, in-home, UV lights. We make 20% of the sales price, which is substantial.
Do not forget, one of the earliest supporters of the Vitamin D Council was Bio Tech Pharmacal. If any manufacturer can beat their price, I am unaware of it. They sell a bottle of
250 of the 5,000 IU capsules for $15.70 . A year's supply would be about $20.00!
Here are the questions. All questions have been edited for clarity, spelling, grammar, brevity, and privacy.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I am confused as to what type of vitamin D3 to use. I am currently using the dry powder tablet, but I have read that oil-based D3 is better and the dry is of no value at all because it is hard to absorb. Can you just clear this up for me?
Andrew, Arizona
Dear Andrew:
Water-soluble dry Vitamin D absorbs just fine unless you have bowel disease with steatorrea (fat malabsorption) and then no oral products work very well. I am unaware of any controlled head-to-head absorption studies on the effectiveness of water versus fat-soluble vitamin D. If anyone knows of such a study, let me know. If you are concerned about absorption, take the Vitamin D with a meal, although I am unaware this improves absorption.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I wanted to thank you for your informative website! I have told many of my friends and colleagues at work about your website and how Vitamin D is so important to us all. At least 10 of my colleagues have started on Vitamin D thanks to your website and my prodding them! After I started the D, I noticed that I felt better mentally...the people that I have mentioned Vitamin D to, including my daughter, have all told me the same thing.
Three months ago, I started 5,000 a day but have upped it to 10,000 a day a month ago, due to my age and weight, which is 330 lbs. I could not get my doctor to test, so I ordered the Vitamin D Council's 25(OH)D lab test. That was really neat. I must tell you, without fail, I usually get a cold of some sort every winter, and even sometimes in the summer. In my profession, that is not good...I sing professionally, so colds and flu are not welcomed. I have NOT had a cold or sore throat; it has to be the Vitamin D as there is nothing else that I have changed in my routine. Many of my colleagues here have had the flu or a repeated bad colds/sore throats this season, and have had to cancel some of their performances, but not me!! This is the first time in many years that I have been free of a cold/flu. I don't take flu shots.
Peter, New York
Dear Peter:
Thank you. Mental clarity, improved mood, and reduction in colds and flu are one of the more immediate consequences (3-4 months) of adequate vitamin D supplementation (5,000 IU/day). Because tremendous genetic variation exists in how one metabolizes Vitamin D, a 25(OH)D blood test is crucial. I recommend you save by not ordering a 25(OH)D blood test until you have been on 5,000 IU/day for 3-4 months.
We are selling in-home Vitamin D tests because some doctors refuse to order the 25(OH)D blood test, if they do order it, they often order a 1,25-vitamin D, the wrong test. Everyone should get copies of their Vitamin D blood tests and make sure they say 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D and not 1, 25-dihydroxy-Vitamin D. Even if the doctor orders the right test, 25(OH)D, many do not know how to interpret it, another reason to get a copy of the actual lab report. Acceptable levels of 25(OH)D are 50 – 90 ng/ml (125 – 225 nmol/L) .
The cost of the correct test through your doctor may be substantial, one or two doctor visits plus the cost of the test. For that reason, the Vitamin D Council offers an
accurate in-home Vitamin D test, the correct test, used in-home, with accurate reporting of results. The cost is usually much lower than going to the doctor, unless you have good insurance. Even if you go to the doctor, the other problems remain. The Vitamin D Council receives a $10.00 donation for each test ordered and that helps us out a lot. Those who want to help can do so, by telling friends and family about the test. Here is the link that explains the test:
Am I Vitamin D Deficient?
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I'm 32 year old male from Finland and first I want to say that your website is great and its information on Vitamin D has changed my life! I was diagnosed Crohn's disease in 1996 and since have been diagnosed with several food allergies. I have had severe inability to drink milk, foods with lots of sugar, cereals, wheat and alcohol. After supplementing with cholecalciferol for four months, since last October, starting with 1000 IU and raising it to 6,000 IU/day, I improved but symptoms were still present. Then I started going to sun tan parlors three times a week and have had almost total remission of symptoms. No excess bloating or burping - my main symptoms- are not anymore there, just "normal" gastrointestinal distress that I mostly had before diagnosis, nothing that bothers me at all.
I also had my systolic blood pressure reduced from 140-145 to 120, which was just incredible - it was first time in that range since I was 5 years old! My sleep disorder not only went away, but my usual minimum sleeping time (9-9½ hours) was reduced to 7½ hours. Just incredible and I can only "blame" vitamin D for this.
Jouni, Finland
Dear Jouni:
I have several similar reports from patients with both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Some literature lends support for your results, but not much; several studies have found low 25(OH)D in such patients.
Pappa HM,et al. Vitamin D status in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Pediatrics. 2006 Nov;118(5):1950-61.
Gilman J, Shanahan F, Cashman KD. Determinants of vitamin D status in adult Crohn's disease patients, with particular emphasis on supplemental vitamin D use. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jul;60(7):889-96.
I'm not surprised you had some results with supplements but better results with tanning beds. Some patients with bowel disease have trouble absorbing vitamin D. Here is a case report of improvement in bone pain with sunlamps. It does not mention other symptoms
Koutkia P, et al. Treatment of vitamin D deficiency due to Crohn's disease with tanning bed ultraviolet B radiation. Gastroenterology. 2001 Dec;121(6):1485-8.
As I have said before, briefly sunbathing, with as much skin exposed as possible, at solar noon, when the sun is high enough in the sky, so your shadow is shorter than you are, is the most conservative and sure way to get Vitamin D. Who knows what other good thing the sun does? Just don't get burned and realize that summer sun makes Vitamin D so fast you only have to stay out 10 - 30 minutes, depending on how fair you are. Also, as you will see below, washing with soap after being out in the sun, reduces the amount of vitamin D you get. Of course, the sun makes little or no Vitamin D during many winter months and most people cannot get naked at solar noon. Vitamin D producing sunlamps are the next best way to get vitamin D as they come close to reproducing the sun's rays indoors. So we looked for the
best-in-class in-home UV lights and found them.
A standard tanning system, the SunSplash Tanning Unit, has both UVA and UVB so you will get a tan. The second system, the D-Lite System, emits Vitamin D-producing UVB with little UVA and full-body high-intensity cosmetic light. Thus you will not tan but can burn if you stay in too long. The third, the SunSplash Renew, is the system that combines tanning with high intensity cosmetic light for the body. All the lamps are the size of a full length mirror and attach to the wall or a door. You stand up in front of them, not lay down, so it is harder to over-expose.
Many women know all about the beneficial effects of high intensity red light on collagen and photo-damage in their skin, but some scientists do not. Lam et al demonstrated that irradiation of fibroblasts with 633-nm wavelength light increased pro-collagen synthesis four-fold from baseline.
Lam TS, Abergel RP, Meeker CA, Castel JC, Dwyer RM, Uitto J. Laser stimulation of collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblast cultures. Lasers Life Sci. 1986;1:61-77.
Human studies confirm such light improves photo-aging and even reduces wrinkles.
Russell BA, Kellett N, Reilly LR. A study to determine the efficacy of combination LED light therapy (633 nm and 830 nm) in facial skin rejuvenation. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005 Dec;7(3-4):196-200.
Goldberg DJ, et al. Combined 633-nm and 830-nm led treatment of photoaging skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2006 Sep;5(8):748-53.
Here is a pdf of the entire Goldberg article:
PDF, Goldberg, et al.
The majority of patients in these studies reported this high intensity light improves the softness, smoothness and firmness of their skin. Electron microscopic analysis showed evidence of a post-treatment effect, with thicker collagen fibers. I use the D-Lite with full-body UVB and high-intensity longer wavelength light. It works for me; at least it seems to reduce prior photo-damage, like the studies indicate. If you don't want to tan, the D-Lite does not tan, but lots of vitamin D producing UVB, thus it will burn. Be warned, these lights are expensive, so you may just want to go to a sun tanning parlor in the winter and enjoy the summer sun during the warmer months. If you use a sun tan parlor, be sure to ask for the low pressure beds; do not use high-pressure UVA lights. Another good thing, for every in-door UV light sold, the Vitamin D Council get 20%. So you will be making a donation to a good cause.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
Do sunbeds increase the risk of malignant melanoma?
Susan, Norway
Dear Susan:
Most studies indicate they do, as do sunburns and intermittent sun exposure. However, not all studies show such a relationship, if fact one of the largest studies showed sunbed use had a small protective effect against melanoma. Individual factors, such as numbers of moles and skin type were the strongest risk indicators for melanoma, not UV exposure.
Bataille V. A. et al.
Multicentre epidemiological study on sunbed use and cutaneous melanoma in Europe. Eur J Cancer. 2005 Sep;41(14):2141-9.Others believe the risk is unclear.
de Winter S, Pavel S. Tanning beds: effect on skin cancer risk unclear. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2000 Mar 4;144(10):467-70.
In fact, the risk of melanoma from UV light appears small compare to risk factors such as skin type and nevus counts.
Bataille V. A. et al.
Exposure to the sun and sunbeds and the risk of cutaneous melanoma in the UK: a case-control study. Eur J Cancer. 2004 Feb;40(3):429-35.
Ironically, sunscreens may increase the risk of melanoma.
Westerdahl J. et al.
Sunscreen use and malignant melanoma. Int J Cancer. 2000 Jul 1;87(1):145-50.
Gorham ED et al. Do sunscreens increase risk of melanoma in populations residing at higher latitudes? Ann Epidemiol. 2007 Dec;17(12):956-63.
In one of the best studies, the factor most associated with increased melanoma risk was the use of sunscreens. Subjects who often used sunscreens had triple the melanoma risk compared with subjects who never used sunscreens. Skin color and higher numbers of sunbaths were significant protective factors. Subjects who took more than 30 sunbaths per year were ten (10) times less (less) likely to have melanoma, compared with subjects who took less than 20 sunbaths per year. However, sunbaths had no protective value when they were associated with sunburns.
Wolf P et al. Phenotypic markers, sunlight-related factors and sunscreen use in patients with cutaneous melanoma: an Austrian case-control study. Melanoma Res. 1998 Aug;8(4):370-8.
Other studies show the risk is increased only with intermittent UV exposure, and not with chronic exposure.
Walter SD, King WD, Marrett LD. Association of cutaneous malignant melanoma with intermittent exposure to ultraviolet radiation: results of a case-control study in Ontario, Canada. Int J Epidemiol. 1999 Jun;28(3):418-27.
This month, Dr. Dianne Godar, of the US Food and Drug Administration, published a fascinating paper indicating UVA light, even through window glass, is responsible for the melanoma epidemic. She points out the melanoma epidemic began long before sunbeds; the dramatic increase is only in indoor workers not outdoor workers; low 25(OH)D levels predict melanoma; all-year tans protect against melanoma; and melanoma patients who expose themselves to the sun live longer than those who don’t. Of the 14 published studies, she reported only two found a positive association between solar UV exposure and melanoma; seven found no association; and five studies found an inverse association, that is, the more sun-exposure the less melanoma.
Godar DE, Landry RJ, Lucas AD. Increased UVA exposures and decreased cutaneous Vitamin D(3) levels may be responsible for the increasing incidence of melanoma. Med Hypotheses. 2009 Apr;72(4):434-43.
Ironically, sunscreens appear to dramatically increase the risk of melanoma, probably by increasing the amount of time one spends in the sun. Until recently, sunscreens only blocked vitamin D producing UVB and let UVA through. That is, the sunscreen-promoting dermatologists many be partially responsible for melanoma epidemic.
I use an in-home UVB light, the D-Lite mentioned above, that emits little UVA. However, I limit myself to short exposures and I do sunbathe in the summer, but briefly. I also keep my 25(OH)D level at 70 ng/ml. My advice is to read about the issue before you buy an in-door UV light. Standard UV lights and natural sunlight will age the skin and increase the risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. If you worry about it – at all – stick to Vitamin D supplements and stay away from indoor UV lights. Remember, some people who use indoor UV lights will get melanoma; some people who never use them will get melanoma; and many people who avoid sunlight will get melanoma. If you do use indoor UV lights, use them sensibly, avoid sunburn, and respect them as you respect the sun.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
Are you related to the imagist poet, Skipwith Cannell?
Jeanne, New Hampshire
Dear Jeanne:
My father was a minor imagist poet. If you like old things, here is a link to one of my father's earliest publications, in a 1915 edition of Poetry, a Magazine of Verse. Three of his poems appeared with the initial publication of T.S. Elliot's, the Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufock, my favorite poem. My father's poetry was dark.
The Temple of Hunger
There's a temple, dark and silent,
Littered with dust and bone,
Where the countless hoards of the starving,
Bow at the lean God's throne.
In the chilling gloom by the alter,
Whence even hatred has fled,
Sits the God of Hunger gloating,
Over tribute of starven dead.
Before him, and beaten and bitter,
From eastern and western lands,
Cringe the people the God of Hunger,
Will crumple between his hands.
Silent they crouch and hopeless;
Each with a look that sees,
Each one but a stricken shadow,
Its forehead upon its knees.
If you have been to some African countries, you know the God of Hunger is alive and well.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
What is the best book out about Vitamin D?
Trish, California
Dear Trish:
I have been asked to review and endorse nine books about vitamin D and have refused all of but two of them. The best one currently on the market is by Dr. Marc Sorenson, the second edition of
Vitamin D and Solar Power for Optimal Health. No book on the market is a complete as this book. It is also available on our website, just scroll down, it is on the left. We get $10.00 for every copy you buy.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I have been a subscriber since the early days, six years ago, and have been following your work with great admiration. I am a medical malpractice attorney in Seattle, Washington diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago. I was told there was no effective treatment. I read hundreds of articles and studies. I read last week where an MS gene has been isolated that is regulated by vitamin D.
I have stopped the progression of my MS by getting my 25(OH)D level to approximately 80 ng/ml (200 nmol/L) and keeping it there for a little over 2 years now. I just had another gadolinium MRI (18 months after the fist “clean” MRI) and I still have no active MS lesions. I have maintained my 25(OH)D level >80 ng/ml throughout, and have obtained serial 25(OH)D levels and blood calcium testing, and have had no increase in blood calcium or other side effects.
The research I have attached strongly suggests that vitamin D may stop the progression of MS, and I have 3 gadolinium MRIs that show that it DOES work. There are hundreds of thousands of individuals in just the U.S. that will benefit from this therapy, and research shows that there are NO side effects to this therapy. There is good science behind this – can you help me get the word out?
Kate, Seattle
Dear Kate:
Yes a number of epidemiological studies suggest vitamin D has a treatment effect in MS, such as fewer exacerbations in the summer, not just a preventative effect. However, we now have more direct evidence that vitamin D helps treat MS. In an open study of 12 patients by Kimball et al, the number of lesions per patient (assessed with a nuclear magnetic brain scan) decreased in the treatment group from the initial mean of 1.75 to the end-of-study mean of 0.83:
Kimball SM, Ursell MR, O'Connor P, Vieth R. Safety of vitamin D3 in adults with multiple sclerosis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Sep;86(3):645-51.
The question is what do you do if you have MS, while we are waiting for more studies? If you have MS, do you wait and see if your MS is going to progress? Does your doctor? In my opinion, it is unethical for doctors to ignore vitamin D deficiency in serious diseases, such as MS, and most doctors do. MS patients should take the initiative themselves, getting their 25(OH)D into the high range of normal (70-90 ng/ml) while we are waiting for more science. This may require up to 10,000/day in some people, an indoor UV light, or a sun tan parlor.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I have a quick question concerning sunlight. I have always heard the 20 minutes in the sun while having a short shadow supplies adequate Vitamin D. Based upon this, I never ran 25(OH)D's on my patients in the summer - only winter (I am a physician in Michigan). Several years ago I decided to run one on myself. I was consuming 1000 IUs D3 and walking on the beach for a minimum of 1 hour / 4+ days per week, often being in the sun several hours. I generally had my shirt off and no sun block. In early September (still summer here) my Vitamin D was only 32 ng/ml. Since then, I have run the 25(OH)D test on a number of my patients in the summer who also have moderate sun exposure, finding about 1/2 are significantly low. Being somewhat confused, I would appreciate any response you might have.
David, Michigan
Dear David:
You may have a genetically determined predilection to low levels, that is, your body may break 25(OH)D down quickly or make it slowly. Do you shower with soap after you sunbathe? If so, you may be washing off the Vitamin D containing body oils (sebum); please see a question below. Also, remember what I said about solar noon? In Michigan, even in the summer, the sun is not high enough up in the sky to make much vitamin D, except for one or two hours on each side of solar noon. While it is true that your shadow must be shorter than you are to make vitamin D, the shorter the shadow the more the D, and the relationship is not linear, that is, you really want the sun high up in the sky. Air pollution also reduces UVB. For you, simply shirtless will not do it; you need full body exposure. Also, the Michigan Vitamin D winter, no UVB for four months, is another reason we now market the in-home UV lights. A commercial sun tan parlor is another option. Dr. Binkley and colleagues found the same thing in Hawaii that you found in Michigan. I suspect the surfers and skaters were washing off their Vitamin D.
Binkley N, et al. Low vitamin D status despite abundant sun exposure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Jun;92(6):2130-5.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
Does taking a vitamin D-3 supplement of 5,000 IU per day affect liver functions tests such ALT, AST, bilirubin, etc.? I have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and my liver tests are now normal, the first time in ten years. Could it be the vitamin D?
Megan, Florida
Dear Megan:
This topic is close to my heart as my wife was so diagnosed, had a liver biopsy, and told to expect progressive liver disease. The hepatologist even talked about a liver transplant well in the future, which scared us both to death. Her liver function tests first went down, then came close to normal, and are now low normal on Vitamin D. A single human study strongly supports this. Targher G et al found decreased 25(OH)D concentrations were closely associated with the histological severity of hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation, and fibrosis, (P<0.001 for all) independent of other risk factors. They concluded that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients have a marked decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentrations, which is closely associated with severity of disease on liver biopsy. If you have liver disease, get your 25(OH)D above 70 ng/ml. If you do not have liver disease, do the same.
Targher G, et al. Associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations and liver histology in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2007 Sep;17(7):517-24.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I have been a follower of the Vitamin D Council for 6 years and continue to be. I take 5,000 IU a day of Vitamin D (I am 60 yrs old and weigh 130 lbs). My blood level is 53 ng/ml and I still came down with the flu. It only lasted a few days, is that why? My husband felt worse but he does not take Vitamin D. I would not like to get it at all, as the coughing scares me.
Mary, New York
Dear Mary:
While others have claimed it, I have never claimed vitamin D will prevent all cases of influenza, if that is what you had. Furthermore, some are claiming vitamin D is all that is needed to prevent the next influenza pandemic. I believe that to be a dangerous belief. Vitamin D will help the innate immune system, but other crucial factors in influenza pathology are the novelty, transmissibility, and virulence of the attacking virus. As we attempted to say in our paper before it was cut by the editor,
"It would be a mistake to overestimate the role of innate immunity. One does not have to go back to 1918 to discover evidence that highly transmissible novel virus can overwhelm innate immunity. Shortly after authorities documented Asian influenza in the USA, 80% of 300 girls attending a 20 June 1957 conference in Davis, California, fell ill. It would be irresponsible to hypothesize that 80% of the girls, presumably most from California, were vitamin D deficient, at latitude 38 degrees, the day before the summer solstice – during an era when sun-exposure was common. Although the girls’ illness was relatively mild, the fact that they sickened at all is testament to the vital role of novelty, transmissibility, and virulence."
Cannell JJ, Zasloff M, Garland CF, Scragg R, Giovannucci E. On the epidemiology of influenza. Virol J. 2008 Feb 25;5:29.
In fact, in the 1918 pandemic, when 350,000 Americans died, blacks were less likely to be sickened than whites, and the group most likely to have the highest Vitamin D levels, young adults, was the group most afflicted. Many of the young adults died of a 'cytokine storm," where the body's innate immune system attacks the body, in their case the lung.
Jordan EO. Epidemic influenza, a survey. Chicago: American Medical Association,1927.
Perhaps having a modest amount of vitamin D in your blood meant the innate immune system was able to mount such an assault, while having very little Vitamin D may have protected you from such a death, while high Vitamin D protected you. I suspect, but cannot prove, that having levels around 50-70 ng/ml will help protect you against the next pandemic; the innate immune system will temper its self-attack and, in some cases, kill the virus at the same time. I repeat Vitamin D will not protect the world from the next influenza pandemic. However, if I live to face it, it will be with a 25(OH)D level of 70 ng/ml.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
Do statins – the kind of drugs used everywhere today – deplete your blood of CoQ10, and then affects your muscles and memory capabilities? Thank you for your care and personal commitment on having the site and newsletter.
John, Switzerland
Dear John:
Statins deplete coenzyme Q10 levels, which may cause a potentially serious myositis, muscle inflammation, in some patients. Vitamin D reversed this in 92% of the patients. If you take statins, get your 25(OH)D level above 50 ng/ml. If you don't take statins, do the same.
Ahmed W, et al. Low serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels (<32 ng/mL) are associated with reversible myositis-myalgia in statin-treated patients. Transl Res. 2009 Jan;153(1):11-6.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I research vitamin D3 and UV lighting for reptiles. I always read everything you send, and I am desperately frustrated by the apparent inability of the medical profession here in the UK to even consider the evidence; 25-OH D3 blood testing is almost unheard of.
Three of my friends appear to be suffering severe Vitamin D D3 deficiency, yet I am unable to persuade them to take suitable doses of D3 simply because the RDA on all the supplements states 400 IU/day; they are afraid of "overdosing,” despite my assurances. And none of them can get blood tests because our National Health Service requires the doctor to request the test and they won't do it; patients have no say in the matter, nor are tests available privately as far as I know. I show your material to everyone I can, especially health professionals. Most regard me as eccentric.... I take 2000 IU/day myself and if I could get a blood test I would take more if I needed it. Please be encouraged. The word IS spreading, albeit slowly in this dark climate (pun intended). Thank you for all you do.
Robert, England
Dear Robert:
That is exactly the problem with many doctors here in the USA. However, you can get your blood tested. Our
in-home Vitamin D blood test is available to those who live overseas, just add $20.00 extra for shipping. As for the current RDA (actually, Adequate Intake or AI), a new Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) has been convened and let's hope they do it right. The key problem with the 1997 FNB was they forgot to correct for the sun-scare. As the sun-scare spread, Vitamin D levels fell. It was the responsibility of the 1997 FNB to recommend increased Vitamin D to make up to sun avoidance. But they didn't.
Here are the members of the new FNB. Email them all and tell them what Vitamin D did for you, and tell them the dose you needed for a full effect.
Dr. A. Catharine Ross - (Chair)
Pennsylvania State University
acr6~psu.edu
Dr. Steven A. Abrams
Baylor College of Medicine
sabrams~bcm.tmc.edu
Dr. John F. Aloia
Winthrop-University Hospital
jaloia~winthrop.org
Dr. Patsy M. Brannon
Cornell University
pmb22~cornell.edu
Dr. Steven K. Clinton
The Ohio State University
clinton.8~osu.edu
Dr. Ramon A. Durazo-Arvizu
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
rdurazo~lumc.edu
Dr. J. Christopher Gallagher
Creighton University Medical Center
jcg~creighton.edu
Dr. Richard L. Gallo
University of California, San Diego
Rgallo~ucsd.edu
Dr. Glenville Jones
Queen's University
gj1~queensu.ca
Dr. Christopher S. Kovacs
Memorial University of Newfoundland
ckovacs~mun.ca
Dr. JoAnn E. Manson
Harvard Medical School
jmanson~rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Dr. Susan Taylor Mayne
Yale University School of Medicine
Susan.Mayne~yale.edu
Dr. Clifford J. Rosen
Maine Medical Center Research Institute
crosen~maine.maine.edu
Dear Dr. Cannell:
My naturopath and endocrinologist both have me on high dose vitamin D, 8,000 IU/day, since last summer. I was tested around October for anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, which I have always showed. In October, they were decreasing and I just had them tested again and they ARE GONE! I feel it’s the vitamin D. I hope in the future you will consider research in this area too. If vitamin D can help lower thyroid antibodies you may help many thyroid sufferers. One reason I considered taking the higher dose was because of all the info on how it can help autoimmune. Keep up the good research and hopefully one day in the near future the government will hear you. I’m here to support you…
Jeannette, Boston
Dear Jeanette:
Thanks you for your comments. A recent study showed a weak correlation between 25(OH)D levels and thyroid antibodies, but get this, in India, the average 25(OH)D level was only 17.5 nmol/L or 7.5 ng/ml! Of course the association they found was weak, no one had high enough levels to find the true association. It appears no one in India takes vitamin D or bares their skin. Again, our 25(OH)D in-home tests are available overseas and Bio Tech Pharmacal should ship Vitamin D overseas. If you have thyroid disease, get your 25(OH)D levels up above 50 ng/ml (125 nmol/L). If you don't have thyroid disease, do the same.
Goswami R, et al. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with thyroid autoimmunity in Asian Indians: a community-based survey. Br J Nutr. 2009 Feb 10:1-5.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
For almost 20 years, I have been suffering from muscle pains with brain fog and GI problems and falls and that is only the start. The symptoms have only gotten worse year after year. I have been to a new specialist every year trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I was always depressed. Then the word fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome came up. My blood tests have always been normal, but I felt like I was dying. I could not even get down to the ground and play with my daughter and was unable to get back up again. It affected all that I do on a daily basis and was extremely painful.
Last year, in a last ditch effort, I went to a rheumatologist and explained my long list of problems and all the years I have been suffering with them. He drew a Vitamin D level and it was only 13 ng/ml. With a mega dose of Vitamin D under my doctor's supervision, I started to feel better. By 2 weeks most of my symptoms had disappeared. All those problems of over 20 years went away in two months. I am a registered nurse with a graduate degree and have researched over the 20 years to find what was wrong with me. It wasn't until I started taking the Vitamin D that I was able to think clearer, not have daily GI problems, walk without falling, be pain free and my depression went away. Before, I thought I was going to die. Thank you for all you do, I wish I could send a contribution. You may prevent millions of deaths in the long run.
Maria, Seattle
Dear Maria:
You’re welcome. You have a good endocrinologist. However, many patients with fibromyalgia report they cannot take vitamin D. For those people, I recommend sun tanning parlors or one of our in-home UV units. If you keep your level above 50 ng/ml, you should be able to live a normal life now.
As far as dying, remember, everyone who takes Vitamin D will die. It's simply a question of when. What we hope, even expect, is Vitamin D will square off the mortality curve. Now, people start dying from the diseases of civilization in their forties, struck down by heart disease, cancer, etc. Premature deaths accelerates in the 50s and are in full swing by the 60s, that is, the mortality curve slops downward, beginning in the late 40s, people succumbing to the diseases of civilization. Perhaps Vitamin D will allow people to live normal lives until they reach the 90s – 100s, when we will all suddenly drop dead of old age!
When the famous Dr. Denis Burkitt noted that "diseases of civilization" were rare in Africa – although many patients died of malaria or gastrointestinal diseases – he was working in Uganda, right on the equator. What Dr. Burkitt failed to notice, when he hypothesized it was fiber in the diet that prevented the diseases of civilization, was his patients frequently wore little clothing and were under an equatorial sun 365 days a year. Dr. Burkitt thought it was fiber, but it was the Vitamin D.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
Is anything new out about your theory that Vitamin D improves neuromuscular performance?
Kate, England
Dear Kate:
Yes. If you remember, I first theorized that Vitamin D would improve athlete's abilities in March of 2007.
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/2007-mar.shtml
I found evidence Vitamin D allowed the Germans and Russians to dominate the Olympics for 30 years, from the mid 1950s until the mid 1980s, when the sun-scare allegedly convinced them to stop irradiating their elite athletes. I'll be speaking at the American Academy of Sports Medicine on the subject at their late May conference in Seattle. I'll be around Wednesday and Thursday; I speak on Wednesday at 4:25 PM. Before and after that I'll be at the Vitamin D Council's booth, if the Council has enough to pay the $1,525 for a booth. If you are in Seattle, stop by.
American College of Sports Medicine, 56th Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, May 27-30, 2009As far as supporting research, Ward et al recently found Vitamin D is highly associated with how high young teenage girls could jump. Unfortunately, Dr. Ward, the lead author, and the editors at the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, did not credit my prior publication.
Ward KA, et al. Vitamin D status and muscle function in post-menarchal adolescent girls. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Feb;94(2):559-63.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
14th Vitamin D Workshop, October 4-8, 2009, Brugge, Belgium
Information on meeting registration and Hotel Housing: 14th Vitamin D Workshop, October 4-8, 2009, Brugge, Belgium
Tony, California
Dear Tony:
For those who don’t know, this is the best Vitamin D conference in the world. Tony, I will be there if the Vitamin D Council has enough to finance my trip.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I am dying of prostate cancer. Should I take Vitamin D?
Philip, Canada
Dear Philip:
Yes. Do you remember the press articles last autumn about breast cancer, which showed afflicted women with the highest 25(OH)D levels were much less likely to die from breast cancer than women with the lowest levels? You should, it literally generated 1,500 press stories in English language publications. Well, the same exact study, with even better results, was published last month, by Dr. Treti and colleagues, in the British Journal of Cancer. This time, it was men with prostate cancer not women with breast cancer.
The study showed that men with biopsy proven prostate cancer, who had the highest vitamin D levels, were up to six times less likely to die than men with the lowest levels over the four years of the study. Six times! That is a treatment effect, so yes you should take Vitamin D. How much, I don't know. If it was me, I'd take enough to get my levels up to 80-90 ng/ml and I'd do it quick. Be prepared for your body to become a battlefield as the Vitamin D attacks and attempts to kill the cancer cells. Also, check your serum calcium frequently, as the macrophages in the battlefield may start producing high amounts of activated Vitamin D and drive up your serum calcium.
Tretli S, Hernes E, Berg JP, Hestvik UE, Robsahm TE. Association between serum 25(OH)D and death from prostate cancer. Br J Cancer. 2009 Feb 10;100(3):450-4.Do you know how many press articles Dr. Treti's prostate cancer study generated? Not one, I followed it closely on Google News Alert for "Vitamin D." I guess the war between the sexes goes to the grave. (I recommend you subscribe to Google News Alerts, just type in "Vitamin D" in quotes, your email address, and how often you want to be inundated with press reports on the newest Vitamin D studies). Actually, as I have said before: "When I was young, I suspected conspiracy; as I grew older, I know it's incompetence." The press simply did not see the publication, but it is not too late for them to correct their sexist mistake.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I live in North Dakota. My doctor got my Vitamin D test back in November and it was 176 pg/ml, so she had me to stop taking all vitamins. Then I was sent to take the test again in late December, and it was 197 pg/ml. All lab work, calcium, potassium, etc. are normal. So that concerned my doctor, and at that time I saw on ABC news, that Quest have given back wrong levels of vitamin D and that everyone should be retested at a different lab. Just to check. I can't get my doctor to recheck it at a different lab, because they trust Quest. I have been sent to an endocrinologist and I am being put through a lot of tests. So my question is, do I need to be worried about what is going on inside my body? Are they making more out of this than there is? They really have me scared?
Paula, North Dakota
Dear Paula:
Your doctor ordered the wrong test. He ordered a 1,25-dihydroxy-Vitamin D, which is usually elevated in vitamin D deficiency. As your deficiency worsened, your 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D went up further. You need a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D blood test, which will be very low. You could have saved yourself all this misery by ordering the Vitamin D Council's in-home test.
By the way, I believe that Quest Diagnostics is now offering reliable 25(OH)D blood tests. Unfortunately, I believe they are reliably 25% higher than the gold standard, DiaSorin RIA, the test used in virtually all the recent studies, so if you use Quest, divide their results by 1.3. Shoot for > 50 ng/ml.
Dr. Cannell:
I enjoyed your Defeat Autism Now presentation in San Diego and have since been supplementing autistic children in my practice and watching 25(OH)D levels. The results are less than I’d hoped for. Most of the children in my practice have levels around 15-30 ng/ml - I've been recommending 1000-2000 IU per day and monitoring levels. Do you recommend a little more aggressive dosing, say 5000 IU and for how long? I'd like to correct levels faster if you think it is safe. Have any recent studies supported your vitamin D theory of autism.
Also, I hope you don't mind if I ask for a little guidance to clarify dosing for both myself. How much do you recommend during pregnancy? I am 6 months pregnant and have been taking about 1000 IU per day. M first born son has autism, second one doesn't have it, and I want to prevent it in my third.
Abby, Texas
Dear Abby:
1,000 to 2,000IU/day for autistic children is inadequate. Aggressive Vitamin D deficiency diseases need aggressive Vitamin D treatment. Start with a minimum of 5,000 IU/day day in autistic children and check 25(OH)D levels every month. Many autistic children will need even more to see a full treatment effect. Please remember the difference between a treatment effect and a cure.
1,000 IU/day during pregnancy is also entirely inadequate. You need 5,000 IU/day, often more, and a 25(OH)D blood test to assure 5,000 IU/day gets you up above 50 ng/ml. If you are uncomfortable with that dose, buy one of our in-home Vitamin D lights. Conventional wisdom is that you should not use sun-tanning parlors during pregnancy as they increase body temperature, which may harm the fetus. Our in-home UV lights are open, hang on the wall like a full-length mirror, and thus will not raise body temperature. As for the reasons pregnant women need 5,000 IU/day, I will soon dedicate an entire newsletter to Vitamin D and pregnancy.
The problem is that pregnant women are told not to take any pills or supplements, except prenatal vitamins, which contain truly inconsequential amounts of Vitamin D. Most pregnant women will not take Vitamin D unless their obstetrician tells them to do so, and not doing so may have devastating effects on their unborn child. If you are pregnant, you need at least 5,000 IU per day. If you live where the sun makes Vitamin D this time of year, sunbathe for 10-30 minutes every day. If you can't do that, and if you will not take it as a supplement, get one of our in-home UV-Vitamin D units.
Yes, two recent studies supported my theory. The first showed autistic children have abnormal bones, what one would suspect in children who have a genetic abnormality in metabolizing or catabolizing Vitamin D.
Hediger ML, et al. Reduced bone cortical thickness in boys with autism or autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008 May;38(5):848-56.
The second showed cloudy and rainy weather (which is a proxy for reduced UVB) is associated with autism.
Waldman M, Nicholson S, Adilov N, Williams J. Autism prevalence and precipitation rates in California, Oregon, and Washington counties. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008 Nov;162(11):1026-34.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I am a physician in Georgia. I have a nursing home patient with Alzheimer's who did not speak for over a year. Months after starting on vitamin D3 5000 IU/day, she started answering 'yes' and 'no' questions appropriately. While not generally initiating, she can now carry on a conversation that is appropriate and in sentences. She has not been on any prescription meds. You may know of others that have done this, but I was sure impressed. Should I increase the dose?
Peter, Georgia
Dear Peter:
Yes, increase the dose to 7,000 IU per day and test 25(OH)D levels until her level gets to 70-90 ng/ml. More aggressive treatment is indicated in aggressive diseases. While several studies have shown an association between dementia and vitamin D, two recent studies showed cognition in dementia patients is better in those with higher 25(OH)D levels. As a physician, I'm sure you know the difference between a treatment effect and a cure.
Oudshoorn C, et al. Higher serum vitamin D3 levels are associated with better cognitive test performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008;25(6):539-43.
Llewellyn DJ, Langa K, Lang I. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Cognitive Impairment. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2009 Feb 4.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
What wavelength of light produces the most Vitamin D?
James, Florida
Dear James:
UVB, right? Actually, it may be UVC, not UVB. Of course that is irrelevant on earth as UVC does not penetrate the earth's atmosphere. But if you ever want to sunbathe on the moon, read on. In fact, the belief that UVC radiation does not produce vitamin D is firmly rooted in the scientific community, but is a widespread misconception. While UVC radiation does not produce vitamin D in the skin upon exposure to sunlight, it is not because UVC radiation fails to trigger production of vitamin D; it is because UVC radiation is not present in the sunlight reaching earth – two very different facts.
I am unaware of any human studies using only UVC light to see if it increases 25(OH)D levels. However, animal studies clearly indicate wavelengths in the UVC range are very effective in producing vitamin D; in fact, UVC appears to be equal –or more efficient – than UVB for production of vitamin D. For example, Bunker et al found UVC radiation effective in both photochemically activating 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D and in treating rachitic rats. Three of the four following four references allow full version downloads of the papers, so you can read them yourself.
Bunker JWM, et al. Relative efficiency of active wave-lengths of ultraviolet in activation of 7-dehydrocholesterol. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1940, 62(3):508-511.
Knudsen and Benford studied numerous UV wavelengths in rachitic rats, finding UVC was more effective in curing rickets than any of the UVB wavelengths studied. They also found that larger doses of UVC, “even up to 8 times the dose required to produce healing, did not produce any more healing; in fact, somewhat less.” Excessive doses of UVC, like UVB, degrade more vitamin D than they produce.
Knudsen A and Benford F. Quantitative studies of the effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation of various wavelengths in rickets. J. Biol. Chem. 1928,124;287-299.
Some correctly say that UVC does not penetrate the outer layer of the skin very well, implying that fact would prevent vitamin D production even if UVC were effective in producing Vitamin D. They fail to point out that such UV penetration of the skin is not necessary for vitamin D production. Hume et al demonstrated that rabbits and rats respond equally well to topical vitamin D as they do to UV irradiation, both methods rapidly curing rachitic animals. That is, Vitamin D is absorbed readily through the skin. Gaylor et al found sebum contains large amounts of vitamin D’s precursor, 7-dehydrocholesterol; up to 75% of 7-dehydrocholesterol in rat skin occurs in sebum.
Hume EM, et al. LII. On the absorption of vitamin D from the skin. Biochem J. 1927, 21:362-367.
Gaylor JL, Sault FM. Localization and biosynthesis of 7-dehydrocholesterol in rat skin. J Lipid Res. 1964,5(3):422-31.
These last two studies raise the possibility that sunbathing or using UV lights may not produce much Vitamin D if you shower with soap after exposure. Water cleans the body but does not destroy as much sebum, human body oil. When you think about it, God made the perfect body oil for humans, sebum, but humans wash off her body oil and then apply body oils made by the cosmetic industry. I doubt she likes that.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
About a year ago my ex-wife was diagnosed with metastatic ovarian cancer of the female organs with a CA125 of over 1,400. After her surgery I pleaded with her doctors to test her vitamin D level but I was ignored. She finally got her local small town doc to test her and he said that he had never seen such a low reading. I sent her a bottle of 50,000 IU. She took 50,000/day for 3 or 4 weeks and then 50,000/week. After a few months her 25(OH)D level was back to normal. She did 6 sessions of chemo plus vitamin D3 and some other supplements. After the 6 chemos her CA125 was 10.6 and her CT-Scan was now clean, no metastasis. Her cancer doctor could not believe it, told her she was in remission and to come back in 3 months. Once again, thanks for spreading the word.
Thomas, South Carolina
Dear Thomas:
I am not sure the Vitamin D had anything to do with it. She could have been cured by conventional treatment; such cures occur every day. The Vitamin D may or may not have helped. However, why take a chance?
Dr Cannell:
A female friend, early 50s, 125 lbs, lives in the area of Toronto, for latitude reference, has had her asthma badly exacerbated this winter. Her asthma is typically worse in the winter. She has been using Advair and Ventolin. She had been on prednisone when I told her of your protocol for treating colds and the flu. That is, 1000 IU per lb of body weight for three days. Based on her weight of 125 lbs, that would be 125,000 IU per day for three days. She used Carlson's vitamin D3, 2000 IU per gel cap, starting at 124,000 IU, that is, 62 gel caps per day, for three days. The results were quite extraordinary.
Then she started 5,000 IU per day. Two months later, we went – believe it or not – cross country skiing. She did not stop at the top of hills, but was able to go straight up and keep going. On straight and levels she was able to ski and talk at the same time. I have to presume that the results of this past week may not surprise you. She has stopped her prednisone and wants to stop her asthma medications. I am wondering if the vitamin D3 by itself might have produced such extraordinary results.
Joseph, Canada
Dear Joseph:
I have heard of numerous similar asthma cases. She should slowly stop her medication, if her doctor agrees. A paper was recently presented showing exacerbations in asthmatic children were associated with low 25(OH)D levels. In the adjusted models, children with insufficient vitamin D were about 70% more likely than those with sufficient vitamin D to have exacerbations. The levels of only a few of the children, asthmatic or not, were adequate.
Low vitamin D linked to asthma exacerbations.
By the way, instead of taking 62 capsules per day for three days of the 2,000 IU gel caps, she could have taken 2 or 3 or the 50,000 IU capsules that Bio Tech Pharmacal capsules for 3 days.
Dear Dr. Cannell:
I was so happy to find your web site and will recommend it to others. I want to give you my experience regarding Vitamin D and depression. Your web site says there is a link to depression and it surely fixed a problem for me. It's been about six weeks that I've been taking 5,000 IU Vitamin D3 a day and it has greatly improved my fatigue and mood.
For 8-10 years I would get tired every day about noon or 1pm and needed to take a nap. My naps lasted 90 minutes and once in a while, 3 hours. Many times, it was like someone flipped a switch and I would succumb to taking a nap. I'd always feel better when I woke up, although that process would take an extra half hour or so to get back to normal. Now, I no longer need the nap.
The reason I was tested for a Vitamin D deficiency was because I was looking for the cause of pulsing pain in my thighs and pelvis. My level was 9 ng/ml. The pelvic pain started after a hysterectomy in Sept 2007. The pain increased with activity. Vitamin D gradually eliminated the muscle pain over a few weeks and the pelvic pain too.
Besides the depression, pain, and tiredness being gone, there are other positive things I've experienced from Vitamin D, the deficiency may have caused me to have interstitial cystitis, which is now gone. One other quick thing to note: I always felt better in summer. In the future I will make a contribution $ to your organization, once I finish paying for all my medical bills are high right now. Thanks for the info on your website.
Simone, Missouri
Dear Simone:
Glad to be of help, don't worry about a contribution, we will find it somewhere. Be sure to eat a lot of spinach with your vitamin D. To work properly, Vitamin D needs magnesium, vitamin K, zinc and probably boron. We hope to soon have a complete vitamin D on the market with all these co-factors but you can just eat spinach every day.
And so, this is but a small sampling of my email. I do my best to answer all of them, but I work full time at another job to pay our family's bills. Sometime in the future, if God wills, I will do the business of the Vitamin D Council full time.
John Cannell, MD
The Vitamin D Council
9100 San Gregorio Road
Atascadero, CA 93422
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