The power Of (Vitamin) D

Science News Magazine ^ | 8-16-2011 | Nathan Seppa

[blam]

The power of D

Sunshine vitamin’s potential health benefits stir up, split scientists

By Nathan Seppa
July 16th, 2011; Vol.180 #2 (p. 22)

A nutritional supplement that is free of charge, offers a wide range of health benefits and poses little risk sounds like fodder for a late-night TV commercial. It offers a safe route to better health, these advocates say, by promoting proper function of the bones, heart, brain, immune system, you name it. Yet, the proponents claim, most people don’t get enough. Whereas humans’ pre­historic ancestors lived outdoors and made oodles of vitamin D in their sun-exposed skin, people today have become shut-ins by comparison — and scant sun exposure means low vitamin D.

Of course, not everyone sees such a grand reach for the vitamin. While scientists concur that it is essential for bone maintenance, some stop right there. The skeptics note that vitamin D’s other promising qualities have shown up largely in studies that fall short of the gold standard of medicine — the randomized controlled trial, in which groups of people get either a placebo or the real thing. While a handful of randomized trials have shown additional benefits, others have not, leaving a gap in the vitamin’s otherwise sterling reputation.

This debate came to a head last November, when an Institute of Medicine panel of scientists announced new vitamin D recommendations. The old intake levels were barely high enough to prevent rickets, a bone condition associated with the Industrial Revolution. The IOM panel boosted the recommended daily intake of the vitamin from 200 to 600 international units per day for most of the population. The new dose is about 15 micrograms, in the range of vitamin D found in most multivitamins.

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[lonestar]

Thanks! Interesting!!!!

[I_be_tc]

That is the same as I take. We must have same doc.

[bert]

my situation is similar. It works

I take 4000 iu daily and increase to 6000 when my cold bearing kids and grand son come to visit or I visit them. I also take the increased level when flu talk begins.

It is pretty amazing. So much good for such a cheap bottle of stuff.

Locally, we have by one, get one free. They are pretty much giving D3 away.

My physicians group started sell them under their own name in 1500 iu gfel caps. When doctors sell the stuff from their billing counter....... something is going on

[MHGinTN]

Works against depression, too.

[bert]

Your question is difficult to answer.

There is wide disagreement even here as to what the dosage should be. The consensus is that in much of North America, in the short overcast days of winter when it is too cold to bare adequate skin to diminished sun, D3 makes a big difference in your health. It is especially apparent in decrease in colds and respiratory problems.

Even in the summer, most of the time, I am not out of doors enough on a consistent basis to not benefit from a reduced intake of D3

If you search Free Republic you will find many threads and lots and lots of links on the subject.

[ThanhPhero]

D3- 10,00 daily. My wife and I have been doing that for two and a half years. She is an elementary school teacher and used to bring home flue and colds 5-6 times a school year. We have had none of that since we started on the D3. I have started most of my friends to taking it and they all have ceased having the “normal” seasonal viruses. My daughter started it when she had a miserable flu and expected to be out of circ for a week. She megadosed once in the morning with the formula of 900 units per pound of body weight. She was fine by evening.

[GOPJ]

C helps with colds ...