Vtamin D cuts major disease risk by 50-80% - can significantly reduce health care costs

[bik0]

Sunshine, Vitamin D, and Death by Scientific Consensus

Posted By Patrick Cox On January 7, 2010 @ 12:00 am In . Column2 03, Health, Science & Technology, Stem Cells, Biotech, US News | No Comments

The traditional “Top Ten Breakthroughs of the Decade” lists have been appearing in science-related publications. One breakthrough, however, is conspicuously missing from every list I’ve seen so far. I’m talking about the new understanding of the role and proper dosage of the sunshine vitamin D.

The “scientific consensus” that has held sway for four decades regarding both exposure to the sun and vitamin D has collapsed. What has emerged in place of the old “settled science” is the knowledge that most people in America are seriously vitamin D deficient or insufficient. The same is true for Canada and Europe, and the implications are staggering.

Simply put, unless you are one of the few people with optimal serum D levels, such as lifeguards and roofers in South Florida, you can cut your risks from most major diseases by 50 to 80 percent. All you have to do is get enough D. It also means we can significantly reduce both health care costs and the staggering national deficit by taking a few simple steps.

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/sunshine-vitamin-d-and-death-by-scientific-consensus/

http://www.vitamindhealth.org/

[bemildred]

1. Pajamas Media? nt

[bik0]

2. Don't shoot the messenger

[bemildred]

3. Well, I'm OK with Vit D, which is good, but Pajamas Media can blow me. nt

[LeftishBrit]

14. +5000

I take vitamin D supplements regularly and think that nutrition is extremely important to health. At the same time, there are some people on the libertarian-Right who think that the 'personal responsibility' of people taking vitamins can *replace* the need for public health care, and we have to be on our guard against that. In any case, reading PajamasMedia can seriously damage your mental health and IQ!

[derby378]

4. As much time as we spend indoors, I can believe it

Never underestimate the importance of vitamin D. Grab some organic milk and enjoy.

[hlthe2b]

5. If Big Pharma could patent it... we'd be hearing about it 24/7

on every newscast (and commercial). :eyes:

One of my new year's resolutions (which I actually started in November) was to spend a couple of weeks researching and establishing a (minimalist, targeted) supplement program--only those that make the best sense for ME and at levels that research could support. My focus was largely on those that are very difficult to get through even the most balanced of diets. I already eat fairly healthy, but I'm putting a bit more emphasis on legumes this year and cutting down even more on meat, though not on dairy. I have to admit feeling a bit better, which I'd probably largely attribute to now 90 days of fish oil, magnesium (reduced migraines) and iron (I was a bit deficient). But, increasing Vit D3 to 5000 IU was a major priority and one I will continue for sure.

I hope the word about Vit D gets out there.... It is probably the most undervalued, yet critical vitamin for people to focs on, right now.

[left coaster]

6. "If Big Pharma could patent it... we'd be hearing about it 24/7"

Ha! GREAT point, hlthe2b!

[Schema Thing]

10. We do hear about it every day

And make no mistake, small pharma (hystrionic, science-ignorant, douchebag with a sales website) is just as greedy as big pharma.

[hlthe2b]

12. We hear sales pitches.... not science...

excluding the occasional morning news show pieces...

[petersjo02]

7. This is a known fact within the medical profession.

I take an extra 2,000 IU each day to get my vitamin D level within the acceptable range. I believe that most OTC vitamins give you only 400 IU per day. Not enough. I order vitamin D from Puritan.com. Reasonable prices, higher dosages available, good service.

[tavalon]

26. I use 2000IU drops

Easy peasy. Into a glass of refreshing bean juice (soymilk, for the uninitiated. Milk works fine for those who can tolerate it) first thing in the morning. No extra pills.

[Schema Thing]

8. While I think there is *something* to the idea that modern...

...1st world citizens get way too little sunlight relative to how we evolved, I also think that if Vitamin D could cut major disease risk by 50 to 80% it would be fairly obvious in populations of roofers and lifeguards in South Florida, and similar.

[LeftishBrit]

15. Good point.

[Cetacea]

17. No study has been done on those groups.

If I'm not mistaken this came about a few years ago in Europe while a breast cancer study was being done, in affect by accident. I'm not sure if follow up studies have been done but am fairly certain there have .

[Schema Thing]

I feel certain many studies have been done on groups

that get lots of sun vs those who get little.


And maybe with parsing, those studies will show what the OP said, but I'm skeptical because it seems like something that dramatic would have already been seen.

[hlthe2b]

27. The epidemiology literature is overwhelming and compelling...

However, it is not good methodology to simply focus on occupational groups that get sun exposure over a period of time when they are actively outdoors compared to others, but rather, on overall levels of vitamin D among populations--whether from sun exposure, diet, or supplementation, as confirmed by blood levels or other biologic measurements. Outdoor exposure is confounded by other risk factors, use of sunscreen which preempts production of Vitamin D,--not to mention inherent increase in skin cancer risk.

But, to suggest the studies are not there, is simply founded on ignorance. Go to the library and do a medline search.. You'll be there a few weeks, if you take the time to actually review the bulk of literature around vitamin D and various cancers and other chronic disease.

[hlthe2b]

28. VItamin D has been the subject of intense research especially for

prostate cancer for decades. The past 10 years has brought signficant findings in terms of its role in preventing any number of cancers and reducing risk of other chronic disease. The studies have included epidemiologic studies with measured levels of vit D in individuals to animal studies, as well as our national NHANES findings.

[Richard D]

18. Sunscreen

Blocks the production of Vitamin D in the skin.

[RevCheesehead]

9. Ironic - just yesterday my doc asked if I wanted a Vitamin D screen panel done.

She also told me I might want to call the insurance company, since many apparently will NOT pay for this screening.

"you can cut your risks from most major diseases by 50 to 80 percent. All you have to do is get enough D."
or, as my mom used to say, "Drink more milk." :)

Thanks for the article!

[Igel]

29. And today mine suggested something similar.

Pick up a big jar of 1000 IU vitamin D pills and take one a day.

Between my multivitamin and all the milk I drink, not sure it's needed.

[Naturyl]

31. Milk is good, but you won't get enough D from it.

Unless you are drinking 2 or 3 gallons a day.

[zippy890]

11. my primary care doc gave me prescription for megadose vit D

take 1 a week. 40,000 units of vitamin d. then in 2 months check level - blood test

doc said it was new standard to do when d levels low.

>spelling

[shirlden]

30. Doc put my sis

on 8000 of D a day for three months. She has had breast cancer successfully removed last year. Her BP has been at 150 for quite some time. Her BP is now at normal range and the only difference she can point to is the mega D she is taking.
I intend to have mine checked at next checkup, but in meantime am taking 2000 a day for this winter.

[jfkraus]

13. I think that's why we're naked.

Obviously, humans evolved to lose their body hair. Could the higher dosage of Vitamin D in our ancestors with less hair enabled them to survive better?

[bik0]

21. Thread just posted on the subject

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7413974

[Sherman A1]

16. Does this play into the thing on Yahoo a couple of days ago about

eating cheese for better health?

Works for me.

[supernova]

19. I take 1g/day of D3

along with the 400IUs in the multi vitamin I take. I also take 1g of concentrated fish oil for omega 3s. I did notice that I feel, heartier than before.

I don't know if I'm taking enough D3, but I'd rather underdo than overdo being without insurance. (I'm a small adult).

[graywarrior]

22. Same here.

Since I started taking D3 last year, I've had zero episodes of depression especially during the winter months.

[Cetacea]

20. Huge Government studied planned to begin this month.

A large, government-sponsored study to determine if vitamin D supplementation can lower a healthy person's risk of getting cancer, heart disease or having a stroke, will begin enrollment in January.

The study is called the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial, or VITAL, and is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. It will enroll 20,000 people, one quarter of whom will be black. People with dark skin have difficulty making vitamin D from sunlight, and some researchers think that this may explain why they also have higher rates of cancer, stroke and heart disease.

"If something as simple as taking a vitamin D pill could help lower these risks and eliminate these health disparities, that would be extraordinarily exciting," lead researcher Dr JoAnn Manson of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston told the Associated Press.

The Institute of Medicine recommends 200-600 international units of vitamin D per day. The VITAL study will test the effects of giving people 2,000 international units a day in supplements, substantially more than the 400 international units studied in the Women's Health Initiative, which found no significant benefits for colorectal cancer.

"We're hoping to see a result during the trial, that we won't have to wait five years" to find out if supplements help, Manson said.






http://www.privatemdlabs.com/news/Vitamin_D_Deficiency-Diagnosis_and_Treatment_/Huge-Vitamin-D-study-planned$19235105.php

[Greybnk48]

23. I've been taking 5500 i.u.'s of D3 for about 4 months,

and prior to that I took about 3500 i.u.'s of D3 daily for the past 3 years. #1, we live in Wisconsin with the whole northern latitude thing, and #2 I have to use sunscreen in the summer. About three weeks ago my doc asked to run a panel to see if I was overdoing it on the D3. Optimum values in the blood are between 20 and 80 (20 and 80 what, I'm not sure). Mine came back at 47, even with what she thought were very high doses. She told me to keep going with it.

BTW. I started taking this because of some articles on research into D3 and health my husband and I had read. I notice a huge difference in my mood in the winter.

[Mari333]

24. I take 4000 units of D per day

I live in MI. but it helps me cope with the lack of sun in the winter. and I think it helps relieve my severe depression. so, there you go.

[tavalon]

25. Until I moved to the northwest, I had never had a vitamin D level checked

It's standard fare up here and all of us are told to take supplements, at least during the winter and frankly, I think the doctors up here would be fine with us just taking supplements all year long.

[Blue Diadem]

32. Been taking supplements since July.

Between Vit. D and the B-12 I have to take, it's made a world of difference in how I feel.