Re: More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

[Guest guest]

Wery interesting!

Something is definitely going on with vitamin D! After reading the WebMD

article you've linked, I just added a few thousand IUs to my 2,000 IU daily

supplements of D.

Another interesting study:

Eur J Endocrinol. 2004 Aug;151(2):167-72. Related Articles, Links

Serum parathyroid hormone level is associated with body mass index. The 5th

Tromso study.

Kamycheva E, Sundsfjord J, Jorde R.

Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway,

N-9038, Tromso, Norway.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum

calcium are associated with body mass index (BMI), and their predicting role

in obesity. DESIGN: Population based, cross-sectional study. METHODS: In

2001 a population-based health survey was held in Tromso, North Norway.

Questionnaires on medical history and life-style factors were completed and

anthropometric data were collected. Calcium and vitamin D intakes and a

physical activity score were calculated. Serum calcium and PTH were measured

in a subset of 3447 men and 4507 women. Pearson correlation and linear

regression were used to evaluate associations between BMI, PTH and serum

calcium, and logistic regression was used to test PTH and serum calcium as

predictors of obesity and to calculate odds ratio. Relative risk was

calculated using frequency tables. RESULTS: For serum calcium and PTH there

was a significant positive relation to BMI in both genders (P<0.001), which

to our knowledge has not previously been reported on the basis of a large

epidemiological study. Age, low calcium and vitamin D intakes were

explanatory variables for serum PTH. The highest quartile of serum PTH

(>4.20 pmol/l) was a significant predictor for obesity (P<0.001) in both

genders, adjusted for age, physical activity and serum calcium. Obesity

rates were higher in those with PTH levels in the highest quartile compared

with those in the lower quartiles, which resulted in a relative risk of 1.40

(95% confidence interval (C.I.) 1.20-1.60) for men and 1.48 (95% C.I.

1.31-1.67) for women. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PTH, adjusted for age, physical

activity and serum calcium, is positively associated with BMI in both sexes,

and serum PTH is an independent predictor of obesity in our statistical

model.

PMID: 15296470 [PubMed - in process]

>From: " Rodney " <perspect1111@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

>Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 20:50:29 -0000

>

>Hi folks:

>

> " The Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU a day up to the age of

>50, 400 IU from 51 to 70, and 600 IU over age 70. About 100 IU are

>found in an 8 ounce glass of fortified milk. Other nutritional

>sources of Vitamin D include:

>

>

>Canned pink salmon: 3 ounces contain about 530 IU of Vitamin D

>

>Canned sardines: 3 ounces contain about 231 IU of Vitamin D

>

>Fortified orange juice: 8 ounces contain about 100 IU of vitamin D

>

>Fortified cereal: 1 serving (about 1 cup) contains about 40-50 IU of

>vitamin D "

>

>http://my.webmd.com/content/article/91/101374.htm

>

>Rodney.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi :

SCIENTISTS CALL FOR CALCIUM, VITAMIN D FORTIFICATION

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/news-NG.asp?id=53839

http://snipurl.com/8anj

Rodney.

> Wery interesting!

>

> Something is definitely going on with vitamin D! After reading the

WebMD

> article you've linked, I just added a few thousand IUs to my 2,000

IU daily

> supplements of D.

>

> Another interesting study:

>

> Eur J Endocrinol. 2004 Aug;151(2):167-72. Related Articles, Links

>

>

> Serum parathyroid hormone level is associated with body mass index.

The 5th

> Tromso study.

>

> Kamycheva E, Sundsfjord J, Jorde R.

>

> Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North

Norway,

> N-9038, Tromso, Norway.

>

> OBJECTIVE: To study whether serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and

serum

> calcium are associated with body mass index (BMI), and their

predicting role

> in obesity. DESIGN: Population based, cross-sectional study.

METHODS: In

> 2001 a population-based health survey was held in Tromso, North

Norway.

> Questionnaires on medical history and life-style factors were

completed and

> anthropometric data were collected. Calcium and vitamin D intakes

and a

> physical activity score were calculated. Serum calcium and PTH were

measured

> in a subset of 3447 men and 4507 women. Pearson correlation and

linear

> regression were used to evaluate associations between BMI, PTH and

serum

> calcium, and logistic regression was used to test PTH and serum

calcium as

> predictors of obesity and to calculate odds ratio. Relative risk

was

> calculated using frequency tables. RESULTS: For serum calcium and

PTH there

> was a significant positive relation to BMI in both genders

(P<0.001), which

> to our knowledge has not previously been reported on the basis of a

large

> epidemiological study. Age, low calcium and vitamin D intakes were

> explanatory variables for serum PTH. The highest quartile of serum

PTH

> (>4.20 pmol/l) was a significant predictor for obesity (P<0.001) in

both

> genders, adjusted for age, physical activity and serum calcium.

Obesity

> rates were higher in those with PTH levels in the highest quartile

compared

> with those in the lower quartiles, which resulted in a relative

risk of 1.40

> (95% confidence interval (C.I.) 1.20-1.60) for men and 1.48 (95%

C.I.

> 1.31-1.67) for women. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PTH, adjusted for age,

physical

> activity and serum calcium, is positively associated with BMI in

both sexes,

> and serum PTH is an independent predictor of obesity in our

statistical

> model.

>

> PMID: 15296470 [PubMed - in process]

>

>

>

> >From: " Rodney " <perspect1111@y...>

> >Reply-

> >

> >Subject: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

> >Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 20:50:29 -0000

> >

> >Hi folks:

> >

> > " The Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU a day up to the age of

> >50, 400 IU from 51 to 70, and 600 IU over age 70. About 100 IU are

> >found in an 8 ounce glass of fortified milk. Other nutritional

> >sources of Vitamin D include:

> >

> >

> >Canned pink salmon: 3 ounces contain about 530 IU of Vitamin D

> >

> >Canned sardines: 3 ounces contain about 231 IU of Vitamin D

> >

> >Fortified orange juice: 8 ounces contain about 100 IU of vitamin D

> >

> >Fortified cereal: 1 serving (about 1 cup) contains about 40-50 IU

of

> >vitamin D "

> >

> >http://my.webmd.com/content/article/91/101374.htm

> >

> >Rodney.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thousands??? Why are you taking so many IU's over what's recommended?

on 8/7/2004 5:03 PM, Dowling at dowlic@... wrote:

> Wery interesting!

>

> Something is definitely going on with vitamin D! After reading the WebMD

> article you've linked, I just added a few thousand IUs to my 2,000 IU daily

> supplements of D.

>

>Rodney wrote:

The Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU a day up to the age of

50, 400 IU from 51 to 70, and 600 IU over age 70. About 100 IU are

found in an 8 ounce glass of fortified milk. Other nutritional

sources of Vitamin D include:

[Guest guest]

Have you read the article to which Rodney provided the link?

>From: Francesca Skelton <fskelton@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

>Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 18:06:24 -0400

>

>Thousands??? Why are you taking so many IU's over what's recommended?

>

>

>on 8/7/2004 5:03 PM, Dowling at dowlic@... wrote:

>

> > Wery interesting!

> >

> > Something is definitely going on with vitamin D! After reading the

>WebMD

> > article you've linked, I just added a few thousand IUs to my 2,000 IU

>daily

> > supplements of D.

> >

> >Rodney wrote:

>

>The Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU a day up to the age of

>50, 400 IU from 51 to 70, and 600 IU over age 70. About 100 IU are

>found in an 8 ounce glass of fortified milk. Other nutritional

>sources of Vitamin D include:

>

[Guest guest]

Couldn't load it. Have asked Rodney to mail it to me. Or if you can,

please do.

However you said you were taking large doses before Rod posted it.

on 8/7/2004 6:14 PM, Dowling at dowlic@... wrote:

> Have you read the article to which Rodney provided the link?

[Guest guest]

More decent vit. D stuff:

Am J Epidemiol. 1996 May 1;143(9):907-17. Related Articles, Links

Calcium, vitamin D, and dairy foods and the occurrence of colon cancer in

men.

Kearney J, Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Ascherio A, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Wing

A, Kampman E, Willett WC.

Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115,

USA.

To examine the associations between intakes of calcium, Vitamin D, and dairy

foods and the risk of colon cancer, the authors analyzed data from a

prospective study of 47,935 US male professionals, 40-75 years of age and

free of cancer in 1986. Within this cohort, 203 new cases of colon cancer

were documented between 1986 and 1992. After adjusting for age and total

energy intake, the authors found that the intake of calcium from foods and

supplements was inversely associated with colon cancer risk (relative risk

(RR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39-087 between high and low

intakes of calcium). However, after adjusting for confounding variables,

they found that the trend was no longer statistically significant (p =

0.22), and the relative risk for the highest quintile group of intake was

attenuated: 0.75 (95% CI 0.48-1.15). Similar results were observed for total

vitamin D intake; the age- and energy-adjusted relative risk was 0.54% (95%

CI 0/34-0/85) for the highest versus lowest quintile group, and this was

attenuated in the multivariate model (RR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.42-1.05). The

inverse association was weaker for dietary vitamin D (RR highest vs. lowest

quintile = 0.88. 95% CI 0.54-1.42) and strongest for vitamin D arising from

vitamin supplements (RR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.22-1.02). Thus, it is possible that

other components of multivitamin use rather than vitamin D accounted for the

reduction in risk. Consumption of milk and fermented dairy products was not

significantly associated with the risk of colon cancer; individuals

consuming two or more glasses of " whole " or skim milk per day had a relative

risk of 1.09 (95% CI 0.69-1.72), compared with those who consumed " whole or

skim milk less than once a month. These prospective data do not support the

hypothesis that calcium intake is strongly protective against colon cancer

risk, although a modest association cannot be excluded.

PMID: 8610704 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>From: " Dowling " <dowlic@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

>Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 22:14:20 +0000

>

>Have you read the article to which Rodney provided the link?

>

>

>

> >From: Francesca Skelton <fskelton@...>

> >Reply-

> >< >

> >Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

> >Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 18:06:24 -0400

> >

> >Thousands??? Why are you taking so many IU's over what's recommended?

> >

> >

> >on 8/7/2004 5:03 PM, Dowling at dowlic@... wrote:

> >

> > > Wery interesting!

> > >

> > > Something is definitely going on with vitamin D! After reading the

> >WebMD

> > > article you've linked, I just added a few thousand IUs to my 2,000 IU

> >daily

> > > supplements of D.

> > >

> > >Rodney wrote:

> >

> >The Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU a day up to the age of

> >50, 400 IU from 51 to 70, and 600 IU over age 70. About 100 IU are

> >found in an 8 ounce glass of fortified milk. Other nutritional

> >sources of Vitamin D include:

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hr

" In his study, Vieth found benefit from both dosages, although those taking

4,000 IU -- 10 times higher than what it found in most multivitamin

supplements -- showed the most benefit.

" If you were to take 600 IUs forever, you'd be doing fine, " he says. " But if

you haven't taken supplements, taking the 4,000 dose over one winter is

better. "

These findings come as no surprise to Cannell, MD, who heads the

Vitamin D Council, a group of doctors and researchers who study the effects

of this nutrient. He is staff psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital, a

California psychiatric hospital.

Here's some of the article, Francesca. Many recent studies have been

revealing the benefit of vitamin D intake far beyond that previously

advocated.

" Basically, what vitamin D does is increase levels of the [chemical]

serotonin in the brain, " he tells WebMD. Many antidepressant medications

work the same way.

" About 90% of patients in my hospital are vitamin D deficient, and I put

them on a vitamin D regimen, and it does improve their mood disorders, " says

Cannell. " It also raises their vitamin D blood levels to above what is

considered normal, to about the 40 ng/mL levels. "

Don't Stop Other Medication

His advice: First get a simple blood test to measure blood levels of vitamin

D. If it falls under 40 ng/mL, he recommends taking daily supplements of at

least 600 IU and up to 10,000 IU a day. However, if you are currently taking

antidepressants, don't stop taking those drugs if you begin taking the

vitamin supplements.

" What this study suggests that is vitamin D deficiency may be an explanation

for depression, and that boosting vitamin D levels may help prevent or ease

symptoms, " Cannell tells WebMD. " But how much vitamin D you need depends on

several factors, such as the environment you live in, what time of year it

is, your skin type, and sun exposure.

" Taking 4,000 IUs may sound like a lot, but there has never been a single

reported case of toxicity at levels up to 20,000 IUs a day, " he says. " Your

body takes in about that much from sunlight by spending 20 minutes outdoors

.... during the summer months. The problem is what happens in winter, when

sunlight -- and vitamin D -- is in shorter supply. "

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: Vieth, R. Nutrition Journal, July 2004; vol 3. Reinhold Vieth, PhD,

director, Osteoporosis Research Center Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,

Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto. Cannell, MD, staff psychiatrist,

Atascadero State Hospital, Atascadero, Calif.; president, The Vitamin D

Council. "

>From: Francesca Skelton <fskelton@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

>Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 18:17:06 -0400

>

>Couldn't load it. Have asked Rodney to mail it to me. Or if you can,

>please do.

>

>However you said you were taking large doses before Rod posted it.

>

>

>on 8/7/2004 6:14 PM, Dowling at dowlic@... wrote:

>

> > Have you read the article to which Rodney provided the link?

>

[Guest guest]

>>>>

From: " john roberts " <johnhrob@n...>

Date: Sat Aug 7, 2004 10:04 pm

Subject: Re: More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

....

Anyone feeling low on Vit D is welcome to come mow my lawn. Down here

in central MS, that should give you a decent dose

>>>>

The book " The Protein Power Lifeplan " by Dr. Micheal Eades and Dr.

Eades dedicates one chapter to the issue of Vitamin D and

sunlight exposure. Here are some interesting points:

P. 231: When sunlight strikes exposed skin, the UVB portion causes a

chemical change in a special type of cholesterol present in the skin,

converting it to an inactive precursor of vitamin D. In the liver

this precursor is changed by hydroxylation, ... and finally it is

changed by the kidney into active vitamin D.

P. 233: But couldn't I just take vitamin D pills? p.234 ... that

choice is fraught with some risk since in excess, dietary vitamin D is

quite toxic, as the British discovered in the 1950s when they sought

to ensure adequate levels of it by adding it to much of their food

supply. Instead of making a healthier population, they ended up

creating an epidemic of vitamin D-toxicity syndrome ...

p. 234: Research has shown that ... to produce the minium daily

requirement of 400 IU would demand a mere 20 [square] centimeters of

exposed skin, or about the size of the cheeks of toddler, even bundled

up on a cold winter's day. [3 hour exposure]

===

From the Merck Manual

http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3e.jsp

Vitamin D Toxicity

Vitamin D 1000 µg (40,000 IU)/day produces toxicity within 1 to 4

mo

in infants, and as little as 75 µg (3000 IU)/day can produce

toxicity

over years. Toxic effects have occurred in adults receiving 2500 µg

(100,000 IU)/day for several months. Elevated serum calcium levels of

12 to 16 mg/dL (3 to 4 mmol/L) are a constant finding when toxic

symptoms occur; normal levels are 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL (2.12 to 2.62

mmol/L). Serum calcium should be measured frequently (weekly at first,

then monthly) in all patients receiving large doses of vitamin D.

The first symptoms are anorexia, nausea, and vomiting, followed by

polyuria, polydipsia, weakness, nervousness, and pruritus. Renal

function is impaired, as evidenced by low sp gr urine, proteinuria,

casts, and azotemia. Metastatic calcifications may occur, particularly

in the kidneys. Plasma 25(OH)D3 levels are elevated as much as

fifteenfold in vitamin D toxicity, whereas 1,25(OH)2D3 levels are

usually within the normal range.

A history of excessive vitamin D intake is critical for

differentiating this condition from all other hypercalcemic states.

Vitamin D toxicity occurs commonly during the treatment of

hypoparathyroidism (see Hypocalcemia under Disorders of Calcium

Metabolism in Ch. 12) and with the misguided use of megavitamins. In

Great Britain, so-called hypercalcemia in infancy with failure to

thrive has occurred with a daily vitamin D intake of 50 to 75 µg

(2000

to 3000 IU). syndrome consists of transient hypercalcemia in

infancy with the triad of supravalvular aortic stenosis, mental

retardation, and elfin facies. Plasma levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 during the

hypercalcemic phase are 8 to 10 times normal. Most cases are due to an

unidentified defect in vitamin D metabolism rather than to excessive

intake.

[Guest guest]

So can I draw a conclusion that if I get 20 mins sun per day, I never need a supp of a vit D that does not need to be absorbed?

Must be a northern thing.

Regards.

----- Original Message -----

From: Dowling

Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 5:40 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

Hr"In his study, Vieth found benefit from both dosages, although those taking 4,000 IU -- 10 times higher than what it found in most multivitamin supplements -- showed the most benefit."If you were to take 600 IUs forever, you'd be doing fine," he says. "But if you haven't taken supplements, taking the 4,000 dose over one winter is better."These findings come as no surprise to Cannell, MD, who heads the Vitamin D Council, a group of doctors and researchers who study the effects of this nutrient. He is staff psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital, a California psychiatric hospital.Here's some of the article, Francesca. Many recent studies have been revealing the benefit of vitamin D intake far beyond that previously advocated."Basically, what vitamin D does is increase levels of the [chemical] serotonin in the brain," he tells WebMD. Many antidepressant medications work the same way."About 90% of patients in my hospital are vitamin D deficient, and I put them on a vitamin D regimen, and it does improve their mood disorders," says Cannell. "It also raises their vitamin D blood levels to above what is considered normal, to about the 40 ng/mL levels."Don't Stop Other MedicationHis advice: First get a simple blood test to measure blood levels of vitamin D. If it falls under 40 ng/mL, he recommends taking daily supplements of at least 600 IU and up to 10,000 IU a day. However, if you are currently taking antidepressants, don't stop taking those drugs if you begin taking the vitamin supplements."What this study suggests that is vitamin D deficiency may be an explanation for depression, and that boosting vitamin D levels may help prevent or ease symptoms," Cannell tells WebMD. "But how much vitamin D you need depends on several factors, such as the environment you live in, what time of year it is, your skin type, and sun exposure."Taking 4,000 IUs may sound like a lot, but there has never been a single reported case of toxicity at levels up to 20,000 IUs a day," he says. "Your body takes in about that much from sunlight by spending 20 minutes outdoors ... during the summer months. The problem is what happens in winter, when sunlight -- and vitamin D -- is in shorter supply."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------SOURCES: Vieth, R. Nutrition Journal, July 2004; vol 3. Reinhold Vieth, PhD, director, Osteoporosis Research Center Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto. Cannell, MD, staff psychiatrist, Atascadero State Hospital, Atascadero, Calif.; president, The Vitamin D Council. "

[Guest guest]

Depends upon lifestyle, etc.

Where I live (Maine) one is lucky to be able to get 20 " of sun in some

weeks! And even then, it's often so cold, one doesn't want to expose any

skin to the elements.

I also find my work schedule, even in summer, would make getting a regular

20 " of sun/day of decent intensity, difficult at best.

>From: " jwwright " <jwwright@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

>Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 14:17:34 -0500

>

>So can I draw a conclusion that if I get 20 mins sun per day, I never need

>a supp of a vit D that does not need to be absorbed?

>Must be a northern thing.

>

>Regards.

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Dowling

>

> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 5:40 PM

> Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

>

>

> Hr

>

> " In his study, Vieth found benefit from both dosages, although those

>taking

> 4,000 IU -- 10 times higher than what it found in most multivitamin

> supplements -- showed the most benefit.

>

>

> " If you were to take 600 IUs forever, you'd be doing fine, " he says.

> " But if

> you haven't taken supplements, taking the 4,000 dose over one winter is

> better. "

>

>

> These findings come as no surprise to Cannell, MD, who heads the

> Vitamin D Council, a group of doctors and researchers who study the

>effects

> of this nutrient. He is staff psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital,

>a

> California psychiatric hospital.

> Here's some of the article, Francesca. Many recent studies have been

> revealing the benefit of vitamin D intake far beyond that previously

> advocated.

>

>

>

> " Basically, what vitamin D does is increase levels of the [chemical]

> serotonin in the brain, " he tells WebMD. Many antidepressant medications

> work the same way.

>

>

> " About 90% of patients in my hospital are vitamin D deficient, and I put

> them on a vitamin D regimen, and it does improve their mood disorders, "

>says

> Cannell. " It also raises their vitamin D blood levels to above what is

> considered normal, to about the 40 ng/mL levels. "

>

>

> Don't Stop Other Medication

>

>

> His advice: First get a simple blood test to measure blood levels of

>vitamin

> D. If it falls under 40 ng/mL, he recommends taking daily supplements of

>at

> least 600 IU and up to 10,000 IU a day. However, if you are currently

>taking

> antidepressants, don't stop taking those drugs if you begin taking the

> vitamin supplements.

>

>

> " What this study suggests that is vitamin D deficiency may be an

>explanation

> for depression, and that boosting vitamin D levels may help prevent or

>ease

> symptoms, " Cannell tells WebMD. " But how much vitamin D you need depends

>on

> several factors, such as the environment you live in, what time of year

>it

> is, your skin type, and sun exposure.

>

>

> " Taking 4,000 IUs may sound like a lot, but there has never been a

>single

> reported case of toxicity at levels up to 20,000 IUs a day, " he says.

> " Your

> body takes in about that much from sunlight by spending 20 minutes

>outdoors

> ... during the summer months. The problem is what happens in winter,

>when

> sunlight -- and vitamin D -- is in shorter supply. "

>

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

-

>

>

> SOURCES: Vieth, R. Nutrition Journal, July 2004; vol 3. Reinhold Vieth,

>PhD,

> director, Osteoporosis Research Center Pathology and Laboratory

>Medicine,

> Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto. Cannell, MD, staff psychiatrist,

> Atascadero State Hospital, Atascadero, Calif.; president, The Vitamin D

> Council. "

>

[Guest guest]

Hi JW:

Another consideration to ........ er ...... consider is the angle

of the sun in winter at more northerly latitudes. And whether, when

the sun's rays are filtered through much more atmosphere, the

wavelengths responsible for provoking the vitamin D response are

reduced. There is reason to suspect this possibility.

I posted earlier in the year that, as usual, my tarragon plants which

are kept in full sun at 70°F all winter, never show any signs of

growth until the sun's angle has risen appreciably, by about April.

I don't know what else to attribute this effect to other than the

sun's angle above the horizon. For certain it is not an effect of

temperature. It is possible there could be a similar winter effect

on vitamin D production in human skin. Winter is not known for being

excessively overcast here. Yet symptoms of vitamin D deficiency do

seem to be reported more widely in winter - seasonal affective

disorder for example. Of course this is speculation.

So it may be that at more northerly latitudes vitamin D supplements

in winter are desirable even for those who get appreciable winter sun

exposure.

Rodney.

--- In , " jwwright " <jwwright@e...>

wrote:

> So can I draw a conclusion that if I get 20 mins sun per day, I

never need a supp of a vit D that does not need to be absorbed?

> Must be a northern thing.

>

> Regards.

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Dowling

>

> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 5:40 PM

> Subject: Re: [ ] More on Vitamin D Deficiencies

>

>

> Hr

>

> " In his study, Vieth found benefit from both dosages, although

those taking

> 4,000 IU -- 10 times higher than what it found in most

multivitamin

> supplements -- showed the most benefit.

>

>

> " If you were to take 600 IUs forever, you'd be doing fine, " he

says. " But if

> you haven't taken supplements, taking the 4,000 dose over one

winter is

> better. "

>

>

> These findings come as no surprise to Cannell, MD, who heads

the

> Vitamin D Council, a group of doctors and researchers who study

the effects

> of this nutrient. He is staff psychiatrist at Atascadero State

Hospital, a

> California psychiatric hospital.

> Here's some of the article, Francesca. Many recent studies have

been

> revealing the benefit of vitamin D intake far beyond that

previously

> advocated.

>

>

>

> " Basically, what vitamin D does is increase levels of the

[chemical]

> serotonin in the brain, " he tells WebMD. Many antidepressant

medications

> work the same way.

>

>

> " About 90% of patients in my hospital are vitamin D deficient,

and I put

> them on a vitamin D regimen, and it does improve their mood

disorders, " says

> Cannell. " It also raises their vitamin D blood levels to above

what is

> considered normal, to about the 40 ng/mL levels. "

>

>

> Don't Stop Other Medication

>

>

> His advice: First get a simple blood test to measure blood levels

of vitamin

> D. If it falls under 40 ng/mL, he recommends taking daily

supplements of at

> least 600 IU and up to 10,000 IU a day. However, if you are

currently taking

> antidepressants, don't stop taking those drugs if you begin

taking the

> vitamin supplements.

>

>

> " What this study suggests that is vitamin D deficiency may be an

explanation

> for depression, and that boosting vitamin D levels may help

prevent or ease

> symptoms, " Cannell tells WebMD. " But how much vitamin D you need

depends on

> several factors, such as the environment you live in, what time

of year it

> is, your skin type, and sun exposure.

>

>

> " Taking 4,000 IUs may sound like a lot, but there has never been

a single

> reported case of toxicity at levels up to 20,000 IUs a day, " he

says. " Your

> body takes in about that much from sunlight by spending 20

minutes outdoors

> ... during the summer months. The problem is what happens in

winter, when

> sunlight -- and vitamin D -- is in shorter supply. "

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------

>

>

> SOURCES: Vieth, R. Nutrition Journal, July 2004; vol 3. Reinhold

Vieth, PhD,

> director, Osteoporosis Research Center Pathology and Laboratory

Medicine,

> Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto. Cannell, MD, staff

psychiatrist,

> Atascadero State Hospital, Atascadero, Calif.; president, The

Vitamin D

> Council. "

[Guest guest]

Vitamin D2 or D3? The usual natural-food vs synthetic-drug debate

applies here. But where's the research?

Logan

--- In , " jwwright " <jwwright@e...>

wrote:

> FYI.

> Ford: Clinical Toxicology, 1st ed., Copyright © 2001 W. B. Saunders

Company

> Pathophysiology

> Hypervitaminosis D can result from excessive vitamin D dietary

supplementation,[24] inaccurately and excessively fortified dairy

products,[28] prolonged use of vitamin D-fortified infant formulas,

[39] or ingestion of vitamin D rodenticides. Iatrogenic

hypervitaminosis D is seen in poorly monitored vitamin D therapy for

disorders such as rickets and hypoparathyroidism.[26] [51] The toxic

manifestations are due to hypercalcemia.