Doctors start to include vitamin D in fight against cancer

The Globe and Mail ^ | Nov. 06, 2009 | Martin Mittelstaedt

[ColdWater]

I take 5,000 units per my Doctor. Tests showed that I was very, very low.

Follow your doctor's advice.

[ColdWater]

The label lists one softgel as 250% of the % daily value (I’m taking that to mean the recommended daily amount?) Wouldn’t that be 4000 I.U. per day?

250% is 2.5 times the % daily dose. That would mean the recommended daily amount would be 1000 / 2.5 or 400 units.

[Daisyjane69]

Thanks for clearing that up. Oh wait, I just realized I was looking at that as though it was 25%.

Sheesh. I need more tea. LOL

[upchuck]

I take 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

I'll see your 4 thousand and raise you a thousand :-) 5k/day for me. D3? Natch.

[decimon]

Also - this winter, when the sun is weak and we’re starved for light, try to get outside on sunny days and stand with your face and the backs of your hands (no mittens!) toward the sun for a full 20 minutes.

Not according to the NIH:

Sunlight has long been recognized as a major provider of vitamin D for humans; radiation in the UVB (290-315 nm) portion of the solar spectrum photolyzes 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to previtamin D3, which, in turn, is converted by a thermal process to vitamin D3. Latitude and season affect both the quantity and quality of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface, especially in the UVB region of the spectrum, but little is known about how these influence the ability of sunlight to synthesize vitamin D3 in skin. A model has been developed to evaluate the effect of seasonal and latitudinal changes on the potential of sunlight to initiate cutaneous production of vitamin D3. Human skin or [3 alpha-3H]7-dehydrocholesterol exposed to sunlight on cloudless days in Boston (42.2 degrees N) from November through February produced no previtamin D3. In Edmonton (52 degrees N) this ineffective winter period extended from October through March. Further south (34 degrees N and 18 degrees N), sunlight effectively photoconverted 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 in the middle of winter. These results quantify the dramatic influence of changes in solar UVB radiation on cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis and indicate the latitudinal increase in the length of the "vitamin D winter" during which dietary supplementation of the vitamin may be advisable.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2839537

[lakey]

My understanding is that it needs to be D3?

Yes.

[JavaJumpy]

Not everyone manufactures Vitamin D easily. Even with supplements and/or sunlight, you should be getting tested at your doctor’s office - particularly if you have unexplained pain, similar to fibromyalgia.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Well, I guess I won’t have to sworry about you hogging my sunshine on the Frozen Tundra this winter. I do what I have to do to stay sane in sub-zero weather and a lack-o-sunshine.

I didn’t say, ‘stop taking your supplements.’ I said get outside and get some sun on your face and some fresh air. Can’t hurt; might help.

Killjoy.

[HelloooClareece]

I love your post, it IS awesome isn’t it?

[TexasFreeper2009]

I have always thought the whole avoid the sun thing was nuts. It just doesn't make sense. If we evolved over millions of years living on the open savanna... why would we be so sensitive to sun exposure? doesn't add up.

What I think is that we don't get enough sun, we stay inside most of the year, and then come outside only during the summer when it's hottest and get burned immediately. If we spent more time outside year-round we would gradually build up a tan during the spring to help protect us from the summers harsh rays.

[Madam Theophilus]

For more information on Vitamin D, go to the Vitamin D Council; for its important benefits against heart disease, see the Heart Scan blog.

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/

[NorwegianViking]

I have read that it needs to be Vitamin D 3! The "3" makes the difference and liquid, by the way, is easier for the body to assimilate. It just takes me two drops of liquid in my water. I think you are not supposed to have more than 2,000 Units a day.....but I am not certain. Seems that I did read some warning labels about getting too much is possible. Probably checking into it would be a good idea.

[goodnesswins]

YES...it MUST BE D3

[neverdem]

Thanks for the links.

[neverdem]

Far From a Lab? Turn a Cellphone Into a Microscope

The MEMS juggernaut----Commentary: A Silicon Valley revolution is coming

Brain disease treated by gene therapy - A treatment based on HIV finds first success in humans.

Faster route to stem-like cells - All adult cells can be reprogrammed, researchers claim.

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[MrLee]

400 IU

[decimon]

Killjoy.

Didn't mean to be.

I did think the NIH info interesting. I'm at roughly the same latitude as Boston so there are four months of the year when I will make no D from sunlight. Starting now, in fact. And if that's true then it must be another four months when I will make little D from sunlight.

[catfish1957]

At my last routine physical Dr. said I was “D” deficient. Prescribed 1000 IU daily. (D-3)

[gardengirl]

Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately, I can’t tolerate vitamins. :( Try to stay out as much as possible. Greenhouse helps. :)

I’d never make it where you are. I suffer here. Have been counting down the days until the winter solstice for weeks now.

Maybe I should just move to... Tahiti/Hawaii/somewhere warm and sunny all year round! LOL

[gardengirl]

I’m with you! I refuse to use sunscreen. I can’t believe that slathering yourself with chemicals is better for you than sunshine.