Posted on 10/26/2016 4:00:18 AM PDT by blam
October 25, 2016
A simple Google search for "what does vitamin D do?" highlights the widely used dietary supplement's role in regulating calcium absorption and promoting bone growth. But now it appears that vitamin D has much wider effects—at least in the nematode worm, C. elegans. Research at the Buck Institute shows that vitamin D works through genes known to influence longevity and impacts processes associated with many human age-related diseases. The study, published in Cell Reports, may explain why vitamin D deficiency has been linked to breast, colon and prostate cancer, as well as obesity, heart disease and depression.
"Vitamin D engaged with known longevity genes - it extended median lifespan by 33 percent and slowed the aging-related misfolding of hundreds of proteins in the worm," said Gordon Lithgow, PhD, senior author and Buck Institute professor. "Our findings provide a real connection between aging and disease and give clinicians and other researchers an opportunity to look at vitamin D in a much larger context."
Study links to human disease
The study shines a light on protein homeostasis, the ability of proteins to maintain their shape and function over time. It's a balancing act that goes haywire with normal aging—often resulting in the accumulation of toxic insoluble protein aggregates implicated in a number of conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, as well as type 2 diabetes and some forms of heart disease. "Vitamin D3, which is converted into the active form of vitamin D, suppressed protein insolubility in the worm and prevented the toxicity caused by human beta-amyloid which is associated with Alzheimer's disease," said Lithgow. "Given that aging processes are thought to be similar between the worm and mammals, including humans, it makes sense that the action of vitamin D would be conserved across species as well."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Bump
My doctor’s office called me while I was in Mexico and told me my blood work had come back and I needed a vitamin D supplement NOW! After reading the labels in Mexico I decided I’d wait until I got back. Is it that important? Who knows. I follow my 99 year old mother’s advice; everything in moderation, nothing to excess.
“everything in moderation, nothing to excess.”
Including Abstinence
I think so. I've been taking at least 10,000 IU a day for about a year and a half now along with 100 mcg K2.
I've been taking some Vitamin D3 since 2006...I was at 50,000 IU a day once on a doctors prescription.
I'm 73 years old and just got good blood-work results. The doctor said, "you're a healthy 73."(Okay, 73 next month)
I was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes this year although I've never had an A1C higher than 6.7. My latest A1C is 6.0 with 500mg Metformin 2x day.
It’s incredibly important. And not just to get on Vit D, but get a follow-up level to get your levels over 50, IMO.
I’ve found Dr. Mercola’s website helpful for a bunch of Vit D articles. Mine was low and didn’t come up much even with taking D3 daily, so now I’m being careful to take it with some fat for absorption.
I’ve been taking Vitamin D supplements for over ten years. Have never been sick since. Not even a common cold. I commute to NYC every day on a train with hacking, sneezing unhealthy looking people but none of those germs make me sick.
yep.... that’s the one I was looking for.
It changed my health. I take 5,000 IU per day and 7,000 when my sinuses act up
I don’t know about all the other claims but it sure ends colds and sinus problems and associated bronchial congestion
I can’t actually believe it has been 10 years since the original post about the prison study.
"Medical researchers say that the drug metformin, used for treating type 2 diabetes, could become the world’s first anti-aging drug that enables adults to live well beyond 120 years. According to experts, the drug could extend healthy life and lifespan, and stave off illnesses associated with aging, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
I read an article in Science News recently that speculated that doctors would start prescribing Metformin for aging once a person reached a certain age.
Ditto.
I would get bronchitis at least once per year before taking Vitamin D. In the 10 years since I've been taking Vitamin D suppliments I got bronchitis once on a Christmas flight from LA.
bkmk
Been doing 2000 units a day for about a year now - will keep doing that. Too much of anything usually ends up going down the toilet...
I take 10,000 of D3 daily split into two 5000 doses. I was constantly coming down with colds. I can’t say such episodes have dropped to zero, but much, much reduced compared to pre-D3 time frame.
to enter the discussion with a new wrinkle, does taking the D3 with fat increase the ability to be absorbed and possibly reduce the dosage?
Moderation in all things...especially moderation.
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Been taking 10,000 IU per day for a few years now. Have not been sick. I told my doctor and she freaked out. She gave me a blood test and it came back normal. She then advised me to carry on.
If your in Mexico the amount of sunlight exposure your getting will far outweigh the benefits of the supplements. Sunlight Vit D production by the body is far more efficient, it’s how God intended us to make it.
Majority of people who need Vit D require it because they see limited exposure to sunlight since they work inside all day and then go home and stay inside all night. It’s why people in the northern states typically require more supplements since they have fewer hours of sunlight then those in the southern states.
In short - soak up the sun while your south of the border and get the supplement when you get home.
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