Technically not a “vitamin,” vitamin D is in a class by itself. Its metabolic product, calcitriol, is actually a secosteroid hormone that targets over 2000 genes (about 10% of the human genome) in the human body.
Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more.
Vitamin D’s influence on key biological functions vital to one’s health and well-being mandates that vitamin D no longer be ignored by the health care industry nor by individuals striving to achieve and maintain a greater state of health.
Sunshine and Your Health
If well adults and adolescents regularly avoid sunlight exposure, research indicates a necessity to supplement with at least 5,000 units (IU) of vitamin D daily. To obtain this amount from milk one would need to consume 50 glasses. With a multivitamin more than 10 tablets would be necessary. Neither is advisable.
The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure—50 times more than the US government’s recommendation of 200 IU per day!
How To Get Enough Vitamin D
There are 3 ways for adults to insure adequate levels of vitamin D:
* regularly receive midday sun exposure in the late spring, summer, and early fall, exposing as much of the skin as possible.
* regularly use a sun bed (avoiding sunburn) during the colder months.
* take 5,000 IU per day for three months, then obtain a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. Adjust your dosage so that blood levels are between 50–80 ng/mL (or 125–200 nM/L) year-round.
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Noteworthy News
H1N1 Swine Flu and Vitamin D
Dr. Cannell receives crucial emails from two physicians who have evidence vitamin D is protective against H1N1 Swine Flu.
Read the emails in our September 2009 “Special Report” edition of our Vitamin D Newsletter: Vitamin D and H1N1 Swine Flu.
Learn about the profound effects vitamin D has on the immune system and why it could potentially be a potent ally this coming swine flu season!
Read the May 2009 H1N1 Flu and Vitamin D edition of our Vitamin D Newsletter (subscription form at top of page).
Watch this video of an interview with Vitamin D Council Executive Director Dr. John Cannell,
http://blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2009/07/30/dr-john-cannell-on-vitamin-d/
where he explains vitamin D’s effect on innate and adaptive immunity and what that means in relation to viral infections, such as the flu or the common cold
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
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Vitamin D News
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/news.shtml
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Benefits of vitamin D for cancer prevention
Excerpt:
A new study looking at the relationship between vitamin D serum levels and the risk of colon and breast cancer across the globe has estimated the number of cases of cancer that could be prevented each year if vitamin D3 levels met the target proposed by researchers.
Cedric F. Garland, Dr.P.H., cancer prevention specialist at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and colleagues estimate that 250,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented worldwide by increasing intake of vitamin D3, particularly in countries north of the equator. Vitamin D3 is available through diet, supplements and exposure of the skin to sunlight.
“For the first time, we are saying that 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancer could be prevented each year worldwide, including nearly 150,000 in the United States alone,” said study co-author Garland. The paper, which looks at the dose-response relationship between vitamin D and cancer, will be published in the August edition of the journal Nutrition Reviews.
The study combined data from surveys of serum vitamin D levels during winter from 15 countries. It is the first such study to look at satellite measurements of sunshine and cloud cover in countries where actual blood serum levels of vitamin D3 had also been determined.
The data were then applied to 177 countries to estimate the average serum level of a vitamin D metabolite of people living there.
*snip*
The message is, depending on where you live, you may need to consider taking in considerably higher levels of vitamin D3 than those currently recommended,” said Garland. “I’d recommend discussing vitamin D needs with a health care professional, who may order and interpret a simple blood test for a vitamin D metabolite [25(OH)D], and provide a dosage recommendation that’s appropriate for the individual’s needs.”
http://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/08/22/28977.aspx
Excellent advice, Starwise.
Both of our DIL’s are R.N.’s and are NOT getting the H1N1 vaccination and highly reccomend vitamin D3.
We’ve been taking it for several months ourselves.
I thought it was D-3?
That’s pretty interesting. I always try to get at least 15 minutes in the sun every day that’s sunny. I have started to pay attention and I think there’s really something to this theory. I notice I just feel better when I’ve had plenty of sunshine.
I ain't getting that again...much to the disappointment of a couple of H1N1-obsessed FReepers who gleefully adivsed me that people can get it twice.
The clearly don't know me...;-)