Vitamin D studies 'inconsistant': doctors warn

AFP ^ | November 30, 2010 | Kerry Sheridan

[decimon]

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Vitamin D and calcium have been hailed as a possible antidote for cancer, heart disease and more, but a panel of US and Canadian doctors said Tuesday that the duo's only sure benefit is bone health.

After reviewing about 1,000 studies on the supposed links between low vitamin D levels and higher risk of serious diseases, the panel concluded that they showed inconsistent results, sometimes due to shoddy research methods.

The experts also issued new guidelines -- the first since 1997 -- for North Americans, saying people should take between 700 and 1,300 milligrams of calcium and anywhere from 600 to 800 international units of vitamin D each day.

Most people "probably don't have vitamin D deficiency, that is the first message," said Glenville Jones, a Canadian doctor who was on the 14-member committee for the US-based Institute of Medicine.

"We think there has been an exaggeration of the public's interest in vitamin D deficiency. (People) should be reassured that vitamin D deficiency is quite rare in North Americans at this point in time."

Just by eating a balanced diet and possibly taking a vitamin supplement in the winter, because sun exposure boosts vitamin D levels, most North Americans would have no difficulty meeting the recommended allotment, he said.

[decimon]

Ping

[hoosiermama]

Does it benefits Drs not to use preventative nutrients.....?

Will keep out dosages where they are! Certainly has helped and even the personal Drs have noticed the positive change.

[Ladysmith]

One study states that Northern folks who get a lot of sun in the summer will get enough vitamin D to carry them over the winter.

Personally, there’s no question how much I need vitamin D. I don’t take supplements in the summer - a few days without sun and I’m not feeling so good. A good afternoon in the sun and it’s all reversed. Supplements in the winter is a must.

[DollyCali]

agree

[tutstar]

bump

[corkoman]

After reviewing about 1,000 studies on the supposed links between low vitamin D levels and higher risk of serious diseases, the panel concluded that they showed inconsistent results, sometimes due to shoddy research method

Shoddy? Shoddy methods? What a crock. Vit D deficiency is a myth? This report sounds shoddy.

[who knows what evil?]

Doctors hate supplements...healthy people are BAD for business...

[6SJ7]

All I know is I heard about taking vitamin D supplements on a podcast about a year ago. I started taking about 3,000 units a day and I’ve not had a single cold or sore throat the entire time. I used to get sick several times a year without the supplement. It’s cheap insurance.

[central_va]

On a scale of 1-100 my vitamin D level tested to a 13. The Dr. told me should be above 30.

[RnMomof7]

I am very low according to my blood work.. I take mega doses of vit D...Mystery to me because I spend lots of outside in the sun all spring and summer..

[9YearLurker]

If your medical grant gig involves vitamin D, I suppose eventually you’ve got to ‘find’ something different than everyone else or there’s little reason for them to fund your next grant.

[Ladysmith]

I wonder how much some of us metabolizes vitamin D more than the average Joe. I’ve been fighting with low calcium in my blood since the thyroid was removed, and I need D to help the calcium I take in.

[exDemMom]

I’m not surprised. A vast number of studies end up showing what the study authors set out to find in the first place—i.e., they’re biased to begin with.

Anyone eating a balanced diet does not need supplements. Pill popping is a rather new phenomenon—humans certainly did not evolve to require nutritional supplements to survive. The only time such supplements are actually needed is when there is clearly malnutrition. We have a good food supply—most of us have never even seen someone with malnutrition.

As a biochemist, I am very hesitant to put anything into my body that is not food. You either have enough nutrients, or you don’t—consuming 100 or 1000 times your daily needs is not 100 or 1000 times better. It puts stress on your body, because now your liver and kidneys must work extra hard to remove all those excess chemicals (yes, vitamins and minerals are chemicals) from your body. And if the vitamin is fat-soluble, then your body cannot remove it easily, and it can have very deleterious effects by being present for prolonged periods at levels far higher than the body’s needs.

Of course, the nutritional supplement industry is a multi-billion dollar per year business. They have a vested interest in convincing people that more = better. Otherwise, we’d all be satisfied with good, wholesome food the way God and nature intended for us to eat.

[decimon]

One study states that Northern folks who get a lot of sun in the summer will get enough vitamin D to carry them over the winter.

What I've discovered about this is...confusing. I've read that vitamin D can be stored, by an adult, for four months, with a half-life of eight weeks. In fat cells, that is.

So how much vitamin D is circulating in the blood when obtained from fat stores? Not that much, as far as I can tell.

I know only what I read here and there so your info may be as good as mine.

[decimon]

Shoddy? Shoddy methods?

They claim there was sometimes shoddy research and I have no trouble in accepting that. There's the good, the bad and the ugly to everything.

I do supplement vitamin D.

[Sprite518]

I have two questions.

Question 1)How many people have died from a Vitamin D over dose?

Question 2) How many people have died from prescription drugs annually?

[decimon]

Anyone eating a balanced diet does not need supplements.

If we can adequately define much less obtain a balanced diet. I am dubious. No, not doobious - dubious. ;-)

I take a multi-vitamin/mineral/whatever pill containing no mega-doses. That's so I get at least some of all that good stuff we're supposed to get. I take additional vitamin D because I don't believe we get what we need from either sunlight or diet.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Blasphemy!

[Sprite518]

Same here, but I use a combination of Vitamins. Here is what has happened to me in the 3 years I have been doing it.

1) I have not been sick in over 3 years. Not even so much as a cold.

2) I no longer get my annual allergies in the Spring that I use to get every year since I was 12.

3) My eczema is gone.

4) I use to have chest pains. They are all gone.

5) I find myself very energized and alert.

Now a few years back when I told some friends about this. They said I was listening to modern day quacks, and that they were going to see the doctor for anything that comes up. I basically said I would try this, and if things did not improve then see a doctor.

Here is how it ended up. Three years later they are all on endless prescription drugs for all sorts of crap. They look like crap, they are depressed and having all sorts of medical issues. Oh and they still get the annual colds, sinuses, etc... They have spent thousands of dollars and really have not improved. Most are on at least two prescription drugs. Now for me I spend about $200.00 on Vitamins a year. That’s it. LOL!