Posted on 09/25/2011 2:38:57 PM PDT by 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.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencenews.org ...
My doctor presently has me on 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly.
” Using an entirely different bag of tricks, vitamin D can stifle infections, a capability that was presaged nearly a century ago when doctors successfully treated tuberculosis with sun exposure. The strategy is now understood to stem from increased vitamin D, which has been shown to trigger cells to produce a handy protein fragment called LL-37 that kills the TB bacterium.
The vitamin appears to defend against viral infections, too. The annual winter flu season comes at a time when people garner little vitamin D from sunshine and blood levels fall. The timing may not be a coincidence, says Reinhold Vieth, a biochemist at the University of Toronto. Low vitamin D levels might offer the virus the edge it needs to gain a foothold in the population and spread from person to person.”
.... works for me
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I also take 50mg of Zinc daily. if I get a slight cold it seems to prevent cold sores
I was taking 4,000 IU daily for about two years and never got colds or flu. My doctor did blood tests and put me on 50,000 IU weekly...that was a month ago. I’ve seen no change from the increased dosage.
Never gave Vitamin D a thought until a blood test showed I was at level 10 for Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy. Waay below the recommended 20 to 30 or more.
Since taking the D-3 daily, My triglicerides have dropped to normal, as has my cholesterol and my glucose is nearly normal! Unbelievable, but I am now a believer!
Prone to infections, have also discovered that good old Alka Seltzer helps a lot to prevent and tame bacterial infections due to the alkalyzer in the tablets. Who knew!?
Much rather supplement with old tried and true remedies than take the awful antibiotics which are sometimes worse than the problem for which they are prescribed. I know on a personal level, having had Stevens-Johnson Syndrome last year from Keflex and related meds.
Vit D is definently my number one vitamin. I’ve found it makes a huge difference in my mood especially when I’m running low on sleep ect. I take it before bed and in the mornings. I’d recommend it to anyone who occasionally feels depressed, moody, etc. It’s cheaper and has less side effects than any antidepressent. Be careful with A-D combinations. Vitamin A can accumulate to toxic levels where as Vitamin D can not. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people who have migraines may be sufferring from Vit A toxicity.
I’ve been through a lot of supplements and other than Vitamin D the ones I stick by are Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Acetyl-L-Carnitine(ALCAR). I also take a Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc pill and Biotin for what its worth.
Ping
Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)[1] are two forms of a life-threatening skin condition, in which cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis. The syndrome is thought to be a hypersensitivity complex that affects the skin and the mucous membranes. Although the majority of cases are idiopathic (without a known cause), the main class of known causes is medication, followed by infections and, rarely, cancers.
Ugh!
I started to get a cold recently and after looking at all the drugs with acetaminophen, among other things, I bought Cold Eeze...with zinc. It Worked Great! I was actually amazed.
I also take 5k/day D3. Sort of unusual for me to get a cold.
Actually the latest research finds that even a level of 30 is too low. New recommendation is that your blood level for Vitamin D should be at 50 in order to maintain your health. Interesting aside: Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin because it can not be obtained from any food source (it’s added to milk, however). It is actually a hormone that is made by the body from sunshine. I take 5,000 I.U.’s of Vitamin D 3 a day. Also, when you go to the ER for a heart attack, they immediately pump about 100,000 I.U.’s of Vitamin D into you.
You'll not be disappointed.
Not at all disappointed. I liked the whole article.
The New Zealand study looks interesting. One pill monthly instead of daily doses. That would be more convenient and probably cheaper than daily doses.
This is the key fact--while the optimal level may not be known, the old minimum was based on a very inadequate criterion. Like saying the minimum requirement of calories is just what it takes to stave off starvation. I have seen the 50,000 prescription, but don't know what it is based on. Certainly a few thousand a day, at least, would be prudent. I take 2000 of D3 daily.
That’s correct about SJS. Thank goodness I had a caring, long time doctor who diagnosed it quickly and we caught it early. Wear a med bracelet now that lists Keflex, Penicillin, Sulfa and a couple others that are dangerous for me. So far, Cipro is ok if necessary.
It’s relatively rare and some family physicians never see it in their practices, so thank the Lord for my doctor.
I use Alka Seltzer for food allergies. I am highly allergic to MSG and some soy products.. which give me raging migraines. Someone suggested I use it if I felt any twinge of a headache after eating. I haven't had a migraine in years...(never leave home without it!) Good stuff!
Your info is true. I’ve been hesitant to take more than 2,000 to 3,000 IU’s daily not knowing what a max dose should be. Having a lab test Monday to see what my Vit. D-3 25 Hydroxy is currently and will take higher doses if necessary.
From Wikipedia: "Ordinary glass is partially transparent to UVA but is opaque to shorter wavelengths, whereas Silica or quartz glass, depending on quality, can be transparent even to vacuum UV wavelengths. Ordinary window glass passes about 90% of the light above 350 nm, but blocks over 90% of the light below 300 nm.[6][7][8]
UVB is 280nm to 315 nm."
Even the cat on the windowsill will not get enough beneficial sunlight through glass.
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