Re: Can vitamin D add years onto your life?

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

Not wishing to disagree with the conclusion - I supplement D in the

winter - but did they control for the following factor? Studies have

been posted here in the past year which found that health conscious

vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters, all had lower mortality than the

average un-(health)-conscious Joe.

Clearly, in general, people who supplement vitamins are more health-

conscious than those who do not. So, how much of the rather small 7%

reduction in mortality results from the supplemented vitamin D, and

how much is a function of the fact that the person supplementing D is

more health-conscious and very likely doing other things to preserve

their health at the same time?

I am disappointed, and surprised, that the difference wasn't found to

be larger. But I will still be supplementing D in the winter months.

Rodney.

>

> A meta-analysis of 18 already published studies shows a 7% lower

risk

> of death from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes among those who

take

> vitamin D supplements.

>

> Dave

>

> ++++++++++++++

>

> link:

>

> http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=79675-archives-

of-internal-medicine-vitamin-d-mortality

>

>

> full text:

>

> Can vitamin D add years onto your life?

>

> By Clarisse Douaud

> 9/11/2007- Take vitamin D supplements if you want to shuffle off

this

> mortal coil at a slower rate than others, is the message coming out

of

> a new meta-analysis.

>

> Published in the September 10 issue of Archives of Internal

Medicine,

> the meta-analysis examined 18 previously published studies which had

> suggested that deficiencies in vitamin D lead to a higher risk of

> death from cancer, heart disease and diabetes. However - given that

> these illnesses account for between 60 and 70 percent of deaths in

> high-income nations - the current analysis indicates the opposite.

>

> In fact, those individuals isolated from the studies who did take

> vitamin D had a seven percent lower risk of death than those who did

> not take it.

>

> " If the associations made between vitamin D and these conditions

were

> consistent, then interventions effectively strengthening vitamin D

> status should result in reduced total mortality, " wrote the

> researchers, hailing from the International Agency for Research on

> Cancer in France and from the European Institute of Oncology in

Italy.

>

> They searched for randomized controlled trials of vitamin D

> supplements published before November 2006. In the end, they

analyzed

> 18 separate trials involving 57,311 participants.

>

> The average vitamin D dose was 528iu (international units), but

ranged

> from 300 to 2,000iu. Commercially available supplements generally

> range from 400 to 600iu.

>

> Over an average follow-up period of 5.7 years, 4,777 of the

> participants died. Of the nine trials that had collected blood

> samples, those who took supplements had an average of between 1.4

and

> 5.2 times higher blood levels of vitamin D than those who did not.

>

> " In conclusion, the intake of ordinary doses of vitamin D

supplements

> seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates, "

> summed up the authors.

>

> However, the relationship between vitamin D status and

supplementation

> remains to be understood and the researchers are calling for

> population-based, placebo-controlled randomized trials to further

> investigate the findings.

>

> " Mechanisms by which vitamin D supplementation would decrease

> all-cause mortality are not clear, " said the researchers.

>

> Despite gaps in understanding vitamin D's role in prevention, it is

> even more urgent to improve public awareness on the need for

vitamin D

> supplementation and exposure. Such is the opinion of Dr.

> Giovannucci, from the Harvard School of Public Health, who wrote an

> editorial accompanying the published meta-analysis.

>

> " Nonetheless, based on the total body of evidence of health

conditions

> associated with vitamin D deficiency, abetted with the results from

> this meta-analysis, a more proactive attitude to identify, prevent

and

> treat vitamin D deficiency should be part of standard medical care, "

> wrote Giovannucci.

>

> " From a broader public health perspective, the roles of moderate sun

> exposure, food fortification with vitamin D and higher-dose vitamin

D

> supplements for adults need to be debated. "

>

> In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteopenia,

osteoporosis,

> muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases,

> infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

>

> Median adult intake of vitamin D in the US is said to be only 230iu

> per day, versus what scientists have said should instead be 2000iu

per

> day. In addition, they call into question the type of vitamin D

used.

>

> Source:

>

> Study

> Autier, Philippe and Sara Gandini. " Vitamin D Supplementation and

> Total Mortality: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. "

> Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1730-1737.

>

> Editorial

> Giovannucci, . " Can vitamin D reduce total mortality? " Arch

> Intern Med. 2007;167:1709-1710.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

To put the 7% reduction in mortality in perspective ............

in round numbers, as humans get older, their mortality rate rises

about 7% each year. So a 7% drop in mortality is quickly 'reversed'

by just getting one year older.

That is why the 80% reduction in mortality in 60-year old fruit flies

was so remarkable, within two days of being put on 40% restriction.

Rodney.

> >

> > A meta-analysis of 18 already published studies shows a 7% lower

> risk

> > of death from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes among those who

> take

> > vitamin D supplements.

> >

> > Dave

> >

> > ++++++++++++++

> >

> > link:

> >

> > http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=79675-archives-

> of-internal-medicine-vitamin-d-mortality

> >

> >

> > full text:

> >

> > Can vitamin D add years onto your life?

> >

> > By Clarisse Douaud

> > 9/11/2007- Take vitamin D supplements if you want to shuffle off

> this

> > mortal coil at a slower rate than others, is the message coming

out

> of

> > a new meta-analysis.

> >

> > Published in the September 10 issue of Archives of Internal

> Medicine,

> > the meta-analysis examined 18 previously published studies which

had

> > suggested that deficiencies in vitamin D lead to a higher risk of

> > death from cancer, heart disease and diabetes. However - given

that

> > these illnesses account for between 60 and 70 percent of deaths in

> > high-income nations - the current analysis indicates the opposite.

> >

> > In fact, those individuals isolated from the studies who did take

> > vitamin D had a seven percent lower risk of death than those who

did

> > not take it.

> >

> > " If the associations made between vitamin D and these conditions

> were

> > consistent, then interventions effectively strengthening vitamin D

> > status should result in reduced total mortality, " wrote the

> > researchers, hailing from the International Agency for Research on

> > Cancer in France and from the European Institute of Oncology in

> Italy.

> >

> > They searched for randomized controlled trials of vitamin D

> > supplements published before November 2006. In the end, they

> analyzed

> > 18 separate trials involving 57,311 participants.

> >

> > The average vitamin D dose was 528iu (international units), but

> ranged

> > from 300 to 2,000iu. Commercially available supplements generally

> > range from 400 to 600iu.

> >

> > Over an average follow-up period of 5.7 years, 4,777 of the

> > participants died. Of the nine trials that had collected blood

> > samples, those who took supplements had an average of between 1.4

> and

> > 5.2 times higher blood levels of vitamin D than those who did not.

> >

> > " In conclusion, the intake of ordinary doses of vitamin D

> supplements

> > seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates, "

> > summed up the authors.

> >

> > However, the relationship between vitamin D status and

> supplementation

> > remains to be understood and the researchers are calling for

> > population-based, placebo-controlled randomized trials to further

> > investigate the findings.

> >

> > " Mechanisms by which vitamin D supplementation would decrease

> > all-cause mortality are not clear, " said the researchers.

> >

> > Despite gaps in understanding vitamin D's role in prevention, it

is

> > even more urgent to improve public awareness on the need for

> vitamin D

> > supplementation and exposure. Such is the opinion of Dr.

> > Giovannucci, from the Harvard School of Public Health, who wrote

an

> > editorial accompanying the published meta-analysis.

> >

> > " Nonetheless, based on the total body of evidence of health

> conditions

> > associated with vitamin D deficiency, abetted with the results

from

> > this meta-analysis, a more proactive attitude to identify,

prevent

> and

> > treat vitamin D deficiency should be part of standard medical

care, "

> > wrote Giovannucci.

> >

> > " From a broader public health perspective, the roles of moderate

sun

> > exposure, food fortification with vitamin D and higher-dose

vitamin

> D

> > supplements for adults need to be debated. "

> >

> > In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteopenia,

> osteoporosis,

> > muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases,

> > infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

> >

> > Median adult intake of vitamin D in the US is said to be only

230iu

> > per day, versus what scientists have said should instead be

2000iu

> per

> > day. In addition, they call into question the type of vitamin D

> used.

> >

> > Source:

> >

> > Study

> > Autier, Philippe and Sara Gandini. " Vitamin D Supplementation and

> > Total Mortality: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. "

> > Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1730-1737.

> >

> > Editorial

> > Giovannucci, . " Can vitamin D reduce total mortality? " Arch

> > Intern Med. 2007;167:1709-1710.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

--- In , " Rodney " <perspect1111@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi folks:

>

> To put the 7% reduction in mortality in perspective ............

> in round numbers, as humans get older, their mortality rate rises

> about 7% each year. So a 7% drop in mortality is quickly 'reversed'

> by just getting one year older.

>

> That is why the 80% reduction in mortality in 60-year old fruit flies

> was so remarkable, within two days of being put on 40% restriction.

>

> Rodney.

>

Wow, 60-year old fruit flies - now I am impressed with CRON. I'll

start today. :-)

a=z

PS Suppose you mean fruit flies that are equivalent to 60 yo humans

this being measured of course in fruit fly years. Sorry Rodney, just

couldn't resist the wisecrack.

[Guest guest]

This was a controlled (blind) Vitamin D study, in which the

participants did not know whether they were consuming Vitamin D or a

placebo. Hence, the 7% difference appears to be real, not due to a

bias of health-consciousness.

> >

> > A meta-analysis of 18 already published studies shows a 7% lower

> risk

> > of death from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes among those who

> take

> > vitamin D supplements.

> >

> > Dave

> >

> > ++++++++++++++

> >

> > link:

> >

> > http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=79675-archives-

> of-internal-medicine-vitamin-d-mortality

> >

> >

> > full text:

> >

> > Can vitamin D add years onto your life?

> >

> > By Clarisse Douaud

> > 9/11/2007- Take vitamin D supplements if you want to shuffle off

> this

> > mortal coil at a slower rate than others, is the message coming

out

> of

> > a new meta-analysis.

> >

> > Published in the September 10 issue of Archives of Internal

> Medicine,

> > the meta-analysis examined 18 previously published studies which

had

> > suggested that deficiencies in vitamin D lead to a higher risk of

> > death from cancer, heart disease and diabetes. However - given

that

> > these illnesses account for between 60 and 70 percent of deaths in

> > high-income nations - the current analysis indicates the opposite.

> >

> > In fact, those individuals isolated from the studies who did take

> > vitamin D had a seven percent lower risk of death than those who

did

> > not take it.

> >

> > " If the associations made between vitamin D and these conditions

> were

> > consistent, then interventions effectively strengthening vitamin D

> > status should result in reduced total mortality, " wrote the

> > researchers, hailing from the International Agency for Research on

> > Cancer in France and from the European Institute of Oncology in

> Italy.

> >

> > They searched for randomized controlled trials of vitamin D

> > supplements published before November 2006. In the end, they

> analyzed

> > 18 separate trials involving 57,311 participants.

> >

> > The average vitamin D dose was 528iu (international units), but

> ranged

> > from 300 to 2,000iu. Commercially available supplements generally

> > range from 400 to 600iu.

> >

> > Over an average follow-up period of 5.7 years, 4,777 of the

> > participants died. Of the nine trials that had collected blood

> > samples, those who took supplements had an average of between 1.4

> and

> > 5.2 times higher blood levels of vitamin D than those who did not.

> >

> > " In conclusion, the intake of ordinary doses of vitamin D

> supplements

> > seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates, "

> > summed up the authors.

> >

> > However, the relationship between vitamin D status and

> supplementation

> > remains to be understood and the researchers are calling for

> > population-based, placebo-controlled randomized trials to further

> > investigate the findings.

> >

> > " Mechanisms by which vitamin D supplementation would decrease

> > all-cause mortality are not clear, " said the researchers.

> >

> > Despite gaps in understanding vitamin D's role in prevention, it

is

> > even more urgent to improve public awareness on the need for

> vitamin D

> > supplementation and exposure. Such is the opinion of Dr.

> > Giovannucci, from the Harvard School of Public Health, who wrote

an

> > editorial accompanying the published meta-analysis.

> >

> > " Nonetheless, based on the total body of evidence of health

> conditions

> > associated with vitamin D deficiency, abetted with the results

from

> > this meta-analysis, a more proactive attitude to identify,

prevent

> and

> > treat vitamin D deficiency should be part of standard medical

care, "

> > wrote Giovannucci.

> >

> > " From a broader public health perspective, the roles of moderate

sun

> > exposure, food fortification with vitamin D and higher-dose

vitamin

> D

> > supplements for adults need to be debated. "

> >

> > In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteopenia,

> osteoporosis,

> > muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases,

> > infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

> >

> > Median adult intake of vitamin D in the US is said to be only

230iu

> > per day, versus what scientists have said should instead be

2000iu

> per

> > day. In addition, they call into question the type of vitamin D

> used.

> >

> > Source:

> >

> > Study

> > Autier, Philippe and Sara Gandini. " Vitamin D Supplementation and

> > Total Mortality: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. "

> > Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1730-1737.

> >

> > Editorial

> > Giovannucci, . " Can vitamin D reduce total mortality? " Arch

> > Intern Med. 2007;167:1709-1710.

> >

>