Posted on 03/09/2008 6:15:58 AM PDT by decimon
The claims have been sensational. Martin Mittelstaedt checks up on the research behind the hype
In the summer of 1974, brothers Frank and Cedric Garland had a heretical brainwave.
The young epidemiologists were watching a presentation on death rates from cancer county by county across the United States. As they sat in a lecture hall at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore looking at the colour-coded cancer maps, they noticed a striking pattern, with the map for colon cancer the most pronounced.
Counties with high death rates were red; those with low rates were blue. Oddly, the nation was almost neatly divided in half, red in the north and blue in the south. Why, they wondered, was the risk of dying from cancer greater in bucolic Maine than in highly polluted Southern California?
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
Of course exposure to the sun is bad and causes skin cancer. And then there’s studies that claim many suppliments are not being digested properly and flush right through the system. People can’t catch a break.
It may taste fowl, but crushing the vitamins solves this.
Chicken flavored is ok by me.
Yeah, the conflicting reports you can read about these things can be offputting. I take some supplements and hope they are helping.
PING
I take some supplements and hope they are helping.
Does that have a pheasant taste?
That's a better sign than her nagging you to increase the life insurance.
Nothing to grouse about.
Incidence of cancer and death rate are 2 different things.
You can look at these charts from the CDC and compare. You’ll notice that there are some not-so-sunny states toward the bottom half of the list and sunnier states toward the top 1/2. You’ll also notice that Massachusetts is close to the top in incidence and in the bottom 1/2 in death rate; same for Alaska.
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/Table.aspx?Group=4fb&Year=2004&Display=n
Good point but tangential as avoiding the cancer is here the issue. Once you have the cancer, how you fare becomes a matter of treatment.
Thanks for posting it, decimon.
Their study referred to death rates.
If you look at the charts male and female colon cancer by state W. Virginia & Kentucky are # 1 & 2, followed by Ill. & Maine. Louisiana is in the top 10. I think of Louisiana as being a lot sunnier than Maine. Also, S. Carolina is in the top 15 and N. Carolina is in the bottom 10. I don’t think the sun comes into play there.
As for death rates, N. Carolina is in the top 1/2 and S. Carolina is in the bottom 1/2, just below Maine.
The point being, I don’t think sun exposure and therefore Vit.D is a logical conclusion.
I’ve been taking cod liver oil for that reason. Vile, disgusting stuff, but loaded with Vitamin D.
I **2nd and 3rd** the recommendations for increased Vit D3 supplementation ... especially in the sun-deprived northern winter climes.
I’m knocking wood, but this is the FIRST winter I’ve not even had a bad cold, never mind horrible bronchial infection . And my winter has been brutal: temperature-wise, snow-wise and sick-people-everywhere wise.
My son is an anti-aging physician, and he’s been getting tons of new research on the benefits of Vit D3 (which it HAS to be, as it’s the most absorbent and effective variety) for over a year.
I started upping my daily dose about 5 months ago to 1-2,000 IUs/day, and then to 4-6000 IUs/day when hard winter started.
The research is showing high benefits for immune system building, colds, flus, but also for all types of cancer, MS, heart disease and it’s growing.
If you’re in sunny locations, getting 10-20 mins./day of sun on your skin (without sunscreen) would be ample.
~~~~
More references:
Vitamins: D for disease-free
http://www.worldhealth.net/p/vitamins-d-for-disease-free.html
*
Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php
*
Vitamin D Council
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
*
Vitamin D - How Much Is Enough? Most Americans Are Deficient, Studies Show
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/review/spring07/spr07vitaminD.html
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An Oldie Vies for Nutrient of the Decade
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/health/19brod.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
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Sun’s benefits make comeback
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=2afe61fa-d92f-426d-a401-5611c495e418&p=1
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Do you know your Vitamin D level and why should you?
http://www.doctorraisen.com/vitamin-d.html
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Effects of Vitamin D and Skin’s Physiology Examined
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220161707.htm
~~~
I urge all, especially those in the gloomy winter locations, to read the research and seriously consider taking Vit D3 supplements daily, and pass it on. I’m now a believer.
BTTT
Bump for later read.
Thanks SW- excellent links too:)
I'm solar powered and proud of it.
This is so logical, it's scary they would even HAVE to do studies to prove it.
---Just grow up in MN winters and you'll understand the value of warm sunshine in a heart beat.
You're happier, more productive, and in a better general mood when the sun's out....GO FIGURE! 
Thanks for posting STARWISE!
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