Posted on 02/22/2011 11:07:44 AM PST by decimon
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha have reported that markedly higher intake of vitamin D is needed to reach blood levels that can prevent or markedly cut the incidence of breast cancer and several other major diseases than had been originally thought. The findings are published February 21 in the journal Anticancer Research
While these levels are higher than traditional intakes, they are largely in a range deemed safe for daily use in a December 2010 report from the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine.
"We found that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults in the range of 4000-8000 IU are needed to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by about half the risk of several diseases - breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes," said Cedric Garland, DrPH, professor of family and preventive medicine at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. "I was surprised to find that the intakes required to maintain vitamin D status for disease prevention were so high – much higher than the minimal intake of vitamin D of 400 IU/day that was needed to defeat rickets in the 20th century."
"I was not surprised by this" said Robert P. Heaney, MD, of Creighton University, a distinguished biomedical scientist who has studied vitamin D need for several decades. "This result was what our dose-response studies predicted, but it took a study such as this, of people leading their everyday lives, to confirm it."
The study reports on a survey of several thousand volunteers who were taking vitamin D supplements in the dosage range from 1000 to 10,000 IU/day. Blood studies were conducted to determine the level of 25-vitamin D – the form in which almost all vitamin D circulates in the blood.
"Most scientists who are actively working with vitamin D now believe that 40 to 60 ng/ml is the appropriate target concentration of 25-vitamin D in the blood for preventing the major vitamin D-deficiency related diseases, and have joined in a letter on this topic," said Garland. "Unfortunately, according a recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only 10 percent of the US population has levels in this range, mainly people who work outdoors."
Interest in larger doses was spurred in December of last year, when a National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine committee identified 4000 IU/day of vitamin D as safe for every day use by adults and children nine years and older, with intakes in the range of 1000-3000 IU/day for infants and children through age eight years old.
While the IOM committee states that 4000 IU/day is a safe dosage, the recommended minimum daily intake is only 600 IU/day.
"Now that the results of this study are in, it will become common for almost every adult to take 4000 IU/day," Garland said. "This is comfortably under the 10,000 IU/day that the IOM Committee Report considers as the lower limit of risk, and the benefits are substantial." He added that people who may have contraindications should discuss their vitamin D needs with their family doctor.
"Now is the time for virtually everyone to take more vitamin D to help prevent some major types of cancer, several other serious illnesses, and fractures," said Heaney.
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Other co-authors of the article were Leo Baggerly, PhD, and Christine French.
More facts are available from Anticancer Research: www.GrassrootsHealth.net; and the National Academy of Sciences - Institute of Medicine: www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D.aspx
De ping.
hmm what about the study showing increased heart and stroke problems from increased vitamin D? What is the happy medium?
b
I am taking 4000 IU/day of Vit D. I had a regular visit with my heart doctor last week and we discussed this. He had no problem with this intake level for me (with stents >10 years ago).
Everybody back into the sun....it was all a big mistake.
thanks, I have discussed this with my doctor who was an advocate of vitamin d but there are conflicting studies on heart and stroke...best to get levels check IMO, which I did and I was in the correct range. Most people are low if they dont take supplements or get lots of sun exposure.
There are home test kits available. I’ve ordered them from ZRT Labs in the past to check my levels, which were low, and have been taking 5000 IU for about 9 months. Time to recheck I think.
I'm not aware of that study.
I have always read research that says a low Vit D raises the risk of cardiac and stroke problems.....
the one study came out about a year or so ago I think I read about it first on FR. my doctor also read it at the time. Yes other newer studies contradict it.
This is exceedingly important. If you get your levels up above 50 (I think 60 is a good target range), you will NOT catch colds and flus at all unless your resistance is really worn down. And to prevent cancer is priceless.
Everyone should get tested, increase supplementation, and get tested again, until your levels are therapeutic.
It’s so easy and it prevents so much illness.
If you can’t find good clean sources of D3 in your area, www.iherb.com is an excellent source, with as many reviews on the products as Amazon has for books.
Which is meaningless. How do you know how much is in your bloodstream? You need to get tested, to see whether this dose is doing it for you.
For instance, last September, in sunny SoCal, with me taking 2000 units a day, I got tested for the 1st time. I wasn't sunbathing nude, but I did go to the beach or spend some time outdoors all the time. My level was 24. VERY LOW!
I upped it to 10,000 units, waited a few months, and got tested again. It was only in the 40s. Everyone is different. I have to take 15,000 units to get a therapeutic dose, where other people might do great at 4000 units. You have to get tested to see where you are.
“is different. I have to take 15,000 units to get a therapeutic dose, where other people might do great at 4000 units. You have to get tested to see where you are.”
May I suggest talking your vitamin D with fat, e.g., fish oil pills?
Fat is critical for the absorbtion of Vitamin D; this is why skim milk is particularly a poor choice for Vitamin D drinkers, but whole milk is wonderful.
Is all vitamin D, the D3 you mentioned?
I thought I just got an email about a D6?
any info?
bfl
Yes, we switched to fat milk when we went paleo (we add organic dairy to paleo). It’s yummy. Nonfat milk is pure sugar.
And I do take DHA from fish oil. Thanks!
Better yet - we should all be getting at least 20 minutes of direct sun exposure NO SUNSCREEN at least 2x a week. Sorry for shouting.
Need Cholesterol lowering natural way, Won’t take statins I already have to many muscle problems.
Syntroid artificially raised the LDL.
ping
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