Vitamin D prevents diabetes and clogged arteries in mice

Washington University in St. Louis/Science Daily ^ | March 19, 2015 | Jim Dryden

[ConservativeMind]

In recent years, a deficiency of vitamin D has been linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease, two illnesses that commonly occur together and are the most common cause of illness and death in Western countries. Both disorders are rooted in chronic inflammation, which leads to insulin resistance and the buildup of artery-clogging plaque.

Now, new research in mice at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests vitamin D plays a major role in preventing the inflammation that leads to type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Further, the way key immune cells behave without adequate vitamin D may provide scientists with new therapeutic targets for patients with those disorders.

“The finding that vitamin D helps regulate glucose metabolism may explain previous epidemiological studies identifying an increased risk of diabetes in patients with vitamin D deficiency,” said senior investigator Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, MD, associate professor of medicine and of cell biology and physiology. “In our study, inactivation of the vitamin D receptor induced diabetes and atherosclerosis, so normalizing vitamin D levels may have the opposite effect.”

In addition, he said inadequate vitamin D turned immune cells into transporters of fat. That may help researchers better understand how diabetes and atherosclerosis are linked and provide new possibilities for therapy.

[ConservativeMind]

It may be possible to speed up reversal of coronary heart disease.

Consider magnesium and Vitamin K (ideally K2-MK7) as necessary adjuncts to Vitamin D.

[tflabo]

I’ve been taking vitamin D3 supplement and have not one cold all winter. Every winter I get one or two at least and I do a lot of travel by planes. I hear Vit D also helps with high BP which also affects me too. I’m sticking with taking extra vit D.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: I’ve been taking vitamin D3 supplement and have not one cold all winter

My doctor tells me that of all the supplements he has studied and looked at out there, the only one with certain, valid scientific evidence that helps is Vitamin D ( not sure if I agree with him, but there it is ).

Question: How many IU’s do you take daily?

Thanks.

[jacquej]

How do we know how much Vitamin D3 is needed for these benefits. I have just been put on BP meds, and I am taking 5000 IU a day.

Doc ran the blood tests, and, if I remember right, my results were “normal -mid-range”.

[BeadCounter]

Thanks for the tip, I happen to have some D3. I will try to take it regularly.

[Lurker]

Up it to about 15,000 IU per day.

L

[deweyfrank]

later

[dfwgator]

Great news for mice.

[jacquej]

For whatever it is worth, my doc questioned me carefully about my showering habits. He said that showering with soap all over one’s body every day interferes with vitamin D absorption. He advised only sopping the smelly parts, and leaving the rest of the skin soap free, along with showering less often, and never after being out in the sun.

I am elderly, and not out digging ditches or plowing the north 40, so this doesn’t present any social problems for me.

Others may have different requirements, but it might be worth considering that our grandparents probably didn’t obsess about daily full-body bathing/shampooing as much as we do in the present advertising age.

When I was growing up, eons ago, once a week (usually Saturday night) was required, with a vinegar rinse to get all the soap off the body and out of the hair (hard well water, I guess).

I do live in the north, and we do not get much effective sun up here, so we really should be supplementing, as the sun isn’t strong enough.

[BeadCounter]

Whether it is cheap vitamin D or not, the dollar stores do sell a variety, that’s why I happen to have some on hand, vitamin C as well.

[jacquej]

Thank you. I will take that under advisement.

How much is “unsafe”, since it D is fat soluble, and excess can be dangerous?

[ConservativeMind]

Vitamin D3 is the standard. If that’s what you have you are good.

Vitamin D2 is very similar, but may not effect as many functions in the body. Vitamin D3 can convert to D2.

[ladyjane]

Interesting you mentioned K-2. I have a friend with osteoporosis who got a 10% increase in bone density in less than one year taking k-2 along with the calcium supplement. Anecdotal, sure.

[jacquej]

Found this article for consideration... thought tanning beds were unsafe - skin cancer, etc..

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/23/oral-vitamin-d-mistake.aspx

[ConservativeMind]

Good question. Another study or two came out on that:

Recommendation for vitamin D intake was miscalculated, is far too low, experts say
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150317122458.htm

High levels of vitamin D is suspected of increasing mortality rates
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150310105222.htm

Other studies show that Vitamin K/K2-MK7 prevents any problems with “too much” Vitamin D causing calcium to be stored in tissues.

[Moonman62]

Does Boehner’s orange tanning cream have vitamin D in it?

[Secret Agent Man]

Vitamin D is produced in the body when cholesterol is converted into the vitamin.

It makes sense that if you have good vitamin D levels, your cholesterol levels will not be outrageous.

Most people do not get enough skin exposure time to good sunlight. So they wind up with an overproduction of unconverted cholesterol. Then factor in a crappy diet that also contains high levels of cholesterol, and they’re really heaping it on.

[Secret Agent Man]

Beta-carotene.

[G Larry]

Ever since I started using Vitamin D in my mouse traps, I’ve noticed the dead mice are much healthier....

[MacMattico]

Both sides of my family have had problems with diabetes. I would say 10% of the family is overweight or has any other health issues but about 75% seem to develop diabetes nonetheless. We're talking ages 45-90. As I reached age 40, the dr ran a blood test and the only issue was extreme Vitamin D deficiency. He gave me a prescription for a high dose supplement you take once a month. I went back six months later, no change in my vitamin D level after taking the supplement once a month. So now the same supplement every 20 days. I go back in April. I don't feel any different.