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 ...
Yes, and if you have anything chronic, even cancer, you need to make sure your levels are closer to 90 in the blood tests. I had that H1N1 flu some years ago, had double pneumonia by day 3. After I survived that, the sickest I ever was in my life, I starting supplementing. I’ve been under a lot of stress so I have had some days being sick recently but in the first 4-5 years I never got sick once no matter what I was exposed to.
How much K2 do you take? I have never even heard of that. We have been taking vitamin D for several years now.
One blood test I had was in September, the hottest month of the year here, when most of my body (arms, legs, head) was often uncovered every day in the sun, and there were days when we were at the beach, or pool. I had been, in addition to natural sun, taking 2,000 units of d3 a day. My level was not even 50. I had to take 10,000 to see my levels get up to therapeutic value.
Very interesting read. When I was younger, I swore by a book called The Vitamin Bible. Over the past couple decades, I’ve seen a lot of research debunking much of what I’d thought true — mega doses of vitamin C being a panacea, for instance — this makes me feel somewhat vindicated. Thanks for posting.
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Wow, good job, mom. Wonder how many kids with depression could be helped with vitamins.
So glad to hear about your daughter’s health & yours too : )
Definitely always take K with your D. You are right. They are together in cod liver oil naturally. So if we supplement with actual synthetic d, we need to add the k.
Got no clue. I usually take it along with my calcium caps to be sure the calcium is absorbed properly. I also take it at a different time than my prescription meds, as calcium can screw up the absorption of many prescription meds. I take prescription stuff with breakfast and supper, calcium and D at lunch, with another D near midnight when I get up to pee.
We take 100 MCG or 1 gelcap daily. We get it at the health food store. The brand we buy is called NOW.
We watched an interesting you tube video by a doctor who explained that the D3 draws the calcium into your system and then the K2 draws it into your bones. You have to take them together.
Unscientific, but I think much more clear when I take D3.
Bookmark
I stopped all my supplements after I was diagnosed with cancer.
Thanks! I am off today & when I go into town I am going to look for it. Really appreciate the info.
I’ve often thought about that. My friend’s husband is a psychiatrist who has spent a great deal of time studying nutrition and its effects on health, both physical and mental. When in med school, he received one day of instruction regarding vitamins and nutrition. One single day.
It amazes me that the medical establishment knows about rickets and scurvy, yet is unwilling to investigate the possibility that other diseases, such as depression, could also actually be a deficiency.
Thankfully some docs are more open to that idea-especially vitamin d. My doc is a “firm believer “ (her words) in vitamin d. It makes a huge difference in the well being of many of her patients.
Thanks! That was an interesting read.
I am so sorry. My prayers are with you.
I catch everything. My entire family is that way. I guess you largely inherit your immune system.
Seem to be doing OK, 4 years out now.
After my diagnosis, I started doing some serious research into what I was taking.
Calcium, seems to extend women’s lives but not men’s, maybe increasing my risk for CVD.
Multivit, no good evidence that it helps, some troubling indications it worsens your odds if you have been diagnosed with cancer.
Omega 3 supplement. No evidence it works and may be associated with prostate cancer.
and finally my Vit D. I had been taking it for about 6 years before I developed cancer, decided it wasn’t doing me much good. I do try to get out and hike in the sun so I’m not sure I ever needed it.
About 5,000 UI of D3 or your Calcium levels will go up.
D3 helps with joint pain to some extent.
15 mins in the sun with adequate skin exposure should do the trick. Winter is the worse D shortage months.
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