More on Vitamin D

[Richard D]

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient with health benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes.

A recent review article published by researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing concluded that adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed. These findings appeared in the latest issue of Diabetes Educator.

"Vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health and certain chronic diseases in particular," said Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., R.N., study co-author and professor, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. "This article further substantiates the role of this nutrient in the prevention and management of glucose intolerance and diabetes."

Many of the 23 million Americans with diabetes have low vitamin D levels. Evidence suggests that vitamin D plays an integral role in insulin sensitivity and secretion. Vitamin D deficiency results in part from poor nutrition, which is one of the most challenging issues for people with diabetes. Another culprit is reduced exposure to sunlight, which is common during cold weather months when days are shorter and more time is spent indoors.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112121821.htm

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Definitely a supplement worth taking..

[shraby]

2. But not one to overdo..it isn't water

soluble so it will accumulate in the body and and create adverse effects.

[auntAgonist]

8. TwinLab makes water soluble vitamin A & D and D3

I know because that's what I take.

TwinLab Allergy A&D , D, and D3 all available at http://www.vitacost.com

[uppityperson]

11. Not water soluble but "water dispersed"

"Water dispersed vitamin A and vitamin D in their dry form are easily digested and assimilated in the body." http://www.vitacost.com/Twinlab-Allergy-A-D#IngredientFacts

They are NOT water soluble, but looks like dried fat (however they do that) and then dispersed in water. Oil can be dispersed in water, but is not soluble in water.

Vitamins A,D,E,K are fat soluble, meaning they bind with fat, not with water.

[auntAgonist]

12. right! My mistake. I DO know the difference.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. 400 IUs/day is what I was advised...but there is discussion that even that is not enough, especially

in the Winter.


http://www.dailypress.com/features/dp-life_vitamindjump_1227dec27,0,5747883.story

While 2,000 IU a day has long been considered the upper limit of what is safe, 200 IU a day is what has been recommended for people younger than 50, 400 IU for those 50 to 70 and 600 IU for those older than 70. Norman and a group of other University of California researchers are pushing to increase the government's recommended daily intake to 2,000 IU. And the American Medical Association has asked the Institute of Medicine to review and update its recommendation.

[HughMoran]

3. Thanks! Sent to my diabetic parents

I hope they read it - lol.

[saracat]

4. My Doc has just put me om Mega doses of D! I have to take a special cap once a week for 5 weeks

and also 400MG every day in addition to that. I also have to get sun every day.

[Schema Thing]

5. What specifically for?

If I may ask?

[saracat]

7. My Doc likes to run all kinds of blood tests since I had to have my thyroid destroyed

by radiation years ago due to Grey"s Disease, overactive thyroid. Then I had a hysterectomy causing early menopause so they like to check estrogen levels and calcium, triglycerides as well as thyroid. She noticed very low Vitamin D and was worried about osteoporosis, which often goes hand in glove with trying to set the right thyroid levels, which is difficult when the levels can be all over the chart.

This is the first time ever I have had her talk about Vitamin D though. And I live in a sunshine state , AZ! She said trouble is caused by our protecting ourselves so much we get no D and can get bone damage and other conditions! I also have fibromyalgia which may be aggravated by this. Who knew sunblock could be bad?:shrug:

[mike_c]

6. I was shocked a couple of years ago when I had a blood test...

...for vitamin D titer. It was barely there-- WAY lower than it should be. I've since come to understand that we evolved our vitamin D generating metabolism in the tropics, when humans lived outside, naked. Now most folks think that if we walk between our houses and cars a couple of times a day, swaddled in clothes, we are getting sun and therefore making plenty of vitamin D. It's just not so.

I take 1000 to 2000 IU of vitamin D daily now. I had a number of health issues, mostly involving connective tissues, that have abated since I began (my physician had me on 57,000 IU weekly for two months before I started regular supplementation).

I'm generally cynical about dietary supplements, but vitamin D is one that not only makes sense, but I have my own blood tests to prove that I was terribly deficient before I began the supplementation.

[4dog]

10. Evidence that >2000 IU D3/day is necessary for many

THE source for many good articles and summaries on vitamin D is
www.vitamindcouncil.com

The principal writer for the site is Dr. John Cannell, who has a review of recent thinking about daily needs and other topics at
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/13/1/6.pdf

Cannell thinks vitamin D may help alleviate a bunch of modern illnesses, and has some strong evidence to support the idea. Vitamin D is not a supplement but a prohormone for a substance that goes way back evolutionarily, is found among all vertebrates, and even IIRC some non-vertebrates.

I'm taking 5000 IU/day (winter), and recent testing showed my D3 levels were very good, almost 80 ng/mL.

Incidentally, the NYT published an article about inaccurate vitamin D testing:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/business/08labtest.html?emc=eta1