Vitamin D Prescription- Health Benefits of Vitamin D

Entries from March 2009

Most Americans Vitamin D Deficient

March 24, 2009 · 1 Comment

MONDAY, March 23 (HealthDay News) — Over the course of two decades, vitamin D levels have dramatically decreased among Americans, a new study finds.

 

Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with rickets in children and lower bone mineral density in adults. Recent research has also linked insufficient vitamin D to cancer, heart disease, infection and poorer health overall. Optimal levels range from 30 nanograms per milliliter to 40 nanograms per milliliter, the researchers said.

 

“We found a marked increase in vitamin D deficiency over the past two decades,” said lead researcher Dr. Adit Ginde, an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. “Over three out of every four Americans now have vitamin D levels below what we believe is necessary for optimal health. African-Americans and Hispanics are at particularly high risk — nearly all have suboptimal levels.”

 

The report was published in the March 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

 

For the study, Ginde’s group collected data on vitamin D levels in 18,883 people collected between 1988 and 1994, and 13,369 people collected between 2001 and 2004. All the data came from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

 

The researchers found that average vitamin D levels were 30 nanograms per milliliter from 1988 to 1994, but decreased to 24 nanograms per milliliter between 2001 and 2004. Moreover, vitamin D levels of less than 10 nanograms per milliliter increased from 2 percent to 6 percent over the study period. There were also fewer people with vitamin D levels of 30 nanograms per milliliter or higher (45 percent vs. 23 percent)…..read more here….

 

 

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Bias Against Vitamin D

March 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment

VELDHOVEN, The Netherlands, Mar 20, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Two of the world’s foremost authorities on Vitamin D have published papers stating important evidence was discounted or omitted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in assessing an overview of the role of vitamin D and ultraviolet-B (UVB) in reducing the risk of cancer. The IARC report, Vitamin D and Cancer, could potentially be used by some nations to form the basis for public health policy decisions.

William B Grant and Michael F Holick, whose papers were published in the January/February 2009 issue of Dermato-Endocrinology, claim the expertise of the Working Group behind the IARC report was weighted with a ratio of 4:1 in favour of those involved with reducing the incidence of skin cancer versus those with expertise in vitamin D. Grant’s paper comments in detail on several flawed analyses of the report and Holick backs Grant’s paper as “a thoughtful and critical review of the report, noting many deficiencies in the interpretation of the data the Working Group used to base their recommendations on.”

Ostensibly, the report is a comprehensive review of the evidence that vitamin D reduces the risk of cancer and lists 1,368 references. Many of these supported a beneficial role of solar UVB and vitamin D in reducing the risk of many types of cancer. However, Grant claims only two of the seven conclusions of the report are consistent with the data included in the studies cited.

Grant states “The conclusions of the report are much weaker with regard to vitamin D and calcium for cancer prevention than a more comprehensive review of the scientific evidence warrants.”

Ends  Notes:
1 For full copies of Grant and Holick’s papers, visit www.sunlightresearchforum.eu or
2 A full copy of the IARC Report – Vitamin D and Cancer – is available to download from www.sunlightresearchforum.eu
3 The Sunlight Research Forum is a not-for-profit organisation based in The Netherlands. The aim is to help bring to the fore, the latest medical and scientific information on the effects of moderate UV exposure on humans.
SOURCE: Sunlight Research Forum
Sunlight Research Forum
Ad Brand - fluent in Dutch, German and English
t: +31 (0)651 358 180
e: info@sunlightresearchforum.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009 End of Story

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Seasonal Affective Disorder and Vitamin D

March 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment

ScienceDaily (Mar. 18, 2009) — A lack of Vitamin D, due to reduced sunlight, has been linked to depression and the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but research by the University of Warwick shows there is no clear link between the levels of vitamin D in the blood and depression.

Exposure to sunlight stimulates vitamin D in the skin and a shortage of sunlight in the winter has been put forward as one possible cause of SAD. However Warwick Medical School researchers, led by Dr Oscar Franco, have discovered low levels of vitamin D in the blood may not be connected to depression.

In a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the team recruited more than 3,000 people and tested levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in the blood. They then carried out a questionnaire with the participants to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms….read more here.

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Vitamin D linked to Obesity

March 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment

AUGUSTA, Ga., March 13 (UPI) — Too little vitamin D may lead to fatter adolescents, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia said.

The researchers studied more than 650 teens age 14-19 and found that those who reported higher vitamin D intakes had lower overall body fat and lower amounts of the fat in the abdomen — known as visceral fat — which has been associated with health risks such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension.

Black females, who had the lowest vitamin D intake, had higher percentages of both body fat and visceral fat, while black males had the lowest percentages of body and visceral fat, even though their vitamin D intake was below the recommended levels.

Only one group — white male teens — was getting the recommended minimum intake of vitamin D…..read more here

Categories: Children · Obesity
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Vitamin D and Heart Disease

March 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment

There are several studies which show that those with lower levels of vitamin D are at higher risk for heart attacks and sudden cardiac death. Below is a talk  from  the December conference on vitamin D.

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Vitamin D Day?

March 11, 2009 · 1 Comment

Start of Daylight Saving Time Declared ‘Vitamin D Day’ to Remind Americans to Get More of the Sunshine Vitamin

WASHINGTON, March 9 /PRNewswire/ — As we get ready to change our clocks for Daylight Saving Time, the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign is declaring it Vitamin D Day to raise awareness of the important role of the “sunshine vitamin.”

Even though we have the ability to make our own vitamin D when the ultraviolet rays of the sun hit our skin, many Americans fail to get enough vitamin D. In fact, vitamin D deficiency in this country is being called a silent epidemic. The prudent use of sunscreen, sun-blocking pollution and long, cold winters indoors are partially to blame.

By springing forward in March you’ll gain an extra hour of sunlight and more opportunities to catch some rays, but you can’t always count on the sun to supply all of the vitamin D you need. That’s why it’s even more important to look to your diet for your D, according to registered dietitian and Food Network host Ellie Krieger, who is sporting a white upper lip to extol the virtues of this vital vitamin and talk about milk as “liquid sunshine.”

“It’s alarming to see so many people fail to get enough vitamin D, especially when milk is such an easy and convenient source of this essential nutrient,” Krieger said. “Now more than ever we’re learning about the health risks linked to vitamin D deficiency.”

Milk is one of the few food sources of vitamin D. In fact, it’s the leading source of vitamin D in the American diet. The recommended three 8-ounce glasses of lowfat or fat free milk provide 75 percent of the daily value for vitamin D. Milk also provides eight other essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium and vitamin A, which many Americans also lack.

Krieger is the first registered dietitian to don the famous milk mustache – joining the ranks of more than 250 actors, athletes, models and musicians who have appeared in the popular National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign. Her ad on vitamin D will debut Monday, March 9, 2009 to mark Vitamin D Day. Krieger’s ad copy reads: “When it comes to wellness, little things really make a difference. Like drinking three glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day. It’s loaded with Vitamin D, the sunny super nutrient whose preventive health benefits have everyone buzzing. Just think of it as liquid sunshine.”

Vitamin D Has Been Dubbed a “Super Nutrient”

Vitamin D was once known as simply a bone builder. It’s true that vitamin D works with calcium to keep bones strong, but new and emerging research suggests vitamin D may be far more versatile, offering an array of health benefits. Some preliminary research suggests vitamin D may support a healthy immune system, heart health, normal blood pressure and healthy aging. And, ongoing research continues to explore the potential connection between vitamin D and certain diseases, including some cancers.

Despite the newfound fame for vitamin D, Americans of all ages still appear to be coming up short. For example, some researchers estimate that up to 55 percent of adolescents may be deficient putting them at increased risk for osteoporosis and debilitating bone diseases, according to one recent analysis of children living in the northeastern United States. The researchers believe the trend of soft drinks replacing milk may be one important reason for this trend. The problem could be even worse as Americans get older. According to recent government data, only 4 percent of men and 1 percent of women over the age of 51 meet vitamin D recommendations from food. The researchers found that even some infants and small children seem to be failing to get enough vitamin D. Experts suggest the chronic low intakes of vitamin D have been behind the resurgence of rickets – a severe vitamin D deficiency that results in bone deformities.

Shedding New Light On Vitamin D

The launch of Vitamin D Day and the new vitamin D ad featuring Ellie Krieger is part of a new initiative to shine the spotlight on the problem of vitamin D deficiency. Eighty-eight percent of Americans believe they get the vitamin D they need from the sun, according to a recent survey(1) commissioned by the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign. For most people, vitamin D is not even on their radar screen. Seventy-five percent are not sure how much vitamin D they need and there is significant confusion about where to find it – 23 percent believe exercising regularly will increase their vitamin D and one in five Americans believe a good night’s sleep will replenish their vitamin D.

GetYourD.com is a new Web site to help correct the country’s D deficit. Learn more about the scientific studies that document vitamin D’s wide range of health benefits. Visitors will also find a quick quiz to see if they are “D-prived” and get some bright ideas on how to up their intake. Tips and recipes from Ellie Krieger also are provided, and the site offers a chance to win a free year’s supply of liquid sunshine.

About the National Milk Mustache “got milk?(R)” Campaign

The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation’s milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. The MilkPEP Board runs the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign, a multi-faceted campaign designed to educate consumers about the health benefits of milk. For more information, go to www.whymilk.com. Lowe New York is the creative agency for the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign.

(1) Survey of 1,000 adult Americans (18+) was conducted online by Impulse Research between Feb. 23 and Mar. 1, 2009.

Website: http://www.whymilk.com/

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Vitamin D and Mental Decline

March 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment

NaturalNews) The risk of age-related cognitive decline is significantly increased by vitamin D deficiency, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan, and published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychology.

Researchers assessed the vitamin D status and cognitive function of 2,000 people over the age of 64, finding an inverse correlation between blood levels of vitamin D and performance on tests of attention, memory, and orientation in time and space.

This confirmed the results of prior studies, which had found statistically lower blood levels of vitamin D among dementia patients than among their healthier counterparts. That previous research had not been set up to determine, however, whether the vitamin D deficiency had predated the disease or not. The current study suggests that this may in fact be the case, as cognitive decline is a significant predictor of dementia risk.

“It would be interesting if a low level of vitamin D was found to be a risk factor for cognitive problems,” said Susanne Sorensen of the Alzheimer’s Society, “as it is cheap and easy to remedy.

Vitamin D is produced naturally by the body upon exposure to sunlight. It is known to play a critical role in calcium absorption and bone health, while recent research has suggested that it also contributes to healthy immune function and cancer prevention. At latitudes far from the equator, however, it may be hard for people to get enough vitamin D from sunlight alone…..read more

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Up To Half of Teenagers are Vitamin D Deficient-

March 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment

More foods should be fortified with the essential nutrient, experts say

Posted March 4, 2009

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 4 (HealthDay News) — Many teens today, especially black teens, aren’t getting enough of vitamin D, the so-called sunshine vitamin that is essential for cells to function, say researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, immune system problems and inflammatory diseases.

“There is evidence that the levels of vitamin D we have been using in the past may have been too low,” said lead researcher Dr. Sandy Saintonge, a fellow in general preventive medicine at Weill Cornell.

Vitamin D is measured by blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Currently, people whose vitamin D level is less than 11 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) are classified as deficient, but many experts believe that the minimum level of vitamin D should be at least 20 ng/mL.

Several factors can interfere with the amount of vitamin D the body produces, including diet, sun exposure, use of sunscreen and skin color. Blacks take in less of the sun’s rays than whites, causing less vitamin D production, Saintonge noted.

The report was published in the March 3 issue of Pediatrics..read more here..

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What is Vitamin D?

March 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Here is a video from a December  2008   Conference at UCSD.  This is a must for anyone wanting to help improve their health. Learn all you can about vitamin D deficiency and why your should treat it. Great Job www.GrassRootshealth.org

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Pregnant Moms Low on Vitamin D

March 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Other studies have shown similar results.  In addition, moms who are deficient in vitamin D have children with increased risk for rickets, poor dental health and osteoporosis. The amount of vitamin D found in ALL pre-natal vitamins is  not enough to treat a vitamin D deficient state. If you are pregnant, ask your physician to add a  vitamin D test to your pre-natal laboratory tests. There is no evidence that I am aware of that  vitamin D supplementation poses any danger to a growing child. – Dr. Madrid

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A study backed by the LDS Church has found a majority of pregnant women don’t get enough vitamin D, which means their fetuses are deficient, too. The vitamin is critical for fetal growth, and a lack of it could put them at future risk for a host of diseases, including cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Results from the South Carolina-based study could eventually help lead to new recommendations on how much vitamin D pregnant women should take.

Physician Carol Wagner, who discussed her preliminary findings Friday in Salt Lake City, called the widespread vitamin deficiency an “epidemic.” She found 85 percent of study participants had insufficient or deficient levels of the vitamin, which is critical to bone growth, calcium absorption and immunity. She said it’s one of the few studies that tracked deficiency levels during pregnancy.

“When you see something like this that’s so pervasive, you have to do something about it,” she said in an interview Thursday.

Wagner’s study was funded with $335,000 from the Thrasher Research Fund, which supports research to prevent and treat children’s diseases. It is administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The research funds are generated from an endowment from a donor…read  rest of story here.

Categories: Children · Pregnancy · Women's Health
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