Posted by MERM on 5/26/2009, 10:40 am, in reply to "Coping with FM including VIT D"
Worried about mom's or dad's (or your own) bones, aches and pains, possibilities of falls? I can't stress it enough: make sure you know plenty about our little friend, vitamin D
Vitamin D3 -- Supporting Bones, Mineral Balance & Gene Regulation
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin found in some plant and animal sources, but primarily produced by the body after exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays promote the skin’s production of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 or calciferol is the most active form, while vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol is synthesized by plants and less available to humans.
Vitamin D functions primarily to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. By promoting calcium absorption, vitamin D helps to form and maintain strong bones. Vitamin D also works synergistically with other vitamins, minerals, and hormones to promote bone mineralization. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen.
In order to be used by the body, vitamin D must be converted by the liver and kidneys to its active form, 1,25 (OH)2 D. Active vitamin D functions as a hormone by sending a message to the intestines to increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
Unfortunately with aging, skin cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently, and kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active hormone form. It's estimated as many as 30% to 40% of older adults with hip fractures are vitamin D insufficient.
Immune System Supporter & More
Vitamin D has more recently been under the spotlight for immune system support. Vitamin D is thought to promote immune health by supporting regulation of cell growth and differentiation -- the process that determines cell’s “job” in the body.
This regulation is particularly important as the differentiation of cells leads to a decrease in proliferation. Cellular proliferation, while essential for growth and wound healing, may foster harmful mutations if uncontrolled, and can even lead to cancer.
Vitamin D has also shown great promise in promoting the body’s innate immune response as well as soothing violent autoimmune activity. Both these mechanisms are thought result from vitamin D’s regulation of T cell development.
One study showed when vitamin D signals were absent, autoimmune T cells developed. In contrast, when active vitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D(3) ) and vitamin D receptors were present, the balance in T cell response was restored and autoimmune activity avoided.
Vitamin D is currently being studied in conjunction with autism, mental illness, cancer, and other health conditions. This is surely more to come from this little “sunshine” vitamin.
Vitamin D is one of the oldest hormones, having been produced by life forms for over 750 million years
The skin produces approximately 20,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure - 100 times more than the US government's recommendation of 200 IU per day!
Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more
Technically not a "vitamin," vitamin D is in a class by itself. Its metabolic product, calcitriol, is actually a secosteroid hormone that targets over 1000 genes in the human body
The positive news just keeps coming in on vitamin D. I'll never forget my first introduction back in 2004 to the radically greater importance of vitamin D than I ever imagined. I was 44 at the time and had grown up in sunshine-rich environments, so vitamin D wasn't something I thought was particularly interesting (way more interesting to learn about unusual herbs and extracts)!
It was Elliot Freeman, R.Ph., of Chicago, who first introduced me to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine linking vitamin D deficiencies to peripheral myopathy or non-specific musculo-skeletal pain in wheelchair-bound and bed-ridden hospital patients. For literally pennies a day, these patients were treated for 4-6 weeks and 4 of 5 patients fully recovered!
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers just announced in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that colorectal cancer patients with abundant vitamin D were less likely to die after diagnosis than those with low vitamin D levels. It was previously known that higher levels of vitamin D reduced the risk of developing colon or rectal cancer by an astounding 50%.
However, Dana-Farber and Harvard School of Public Health researchers were loathe to recommend supplemetation before more studies are done. Their press release mentioned standard daily requirements being between 200 and 600 IU of vitamin D, depending on age.
It's not like the news on vitamin D and the need for higher levels hasn't been plastered all over the news for the last year or so (and the study with wheelchair and bedridden patients who literally got up and walked with a month and a half of supplemental vitamin D was published in 2000)!
My advice? Get your vitamin D levels checked and, according to Dr. Rodier, if your levels are below 75, you are at greater risk for a whole host of health problems. Talk to your physician or nurse practitioner about your vitamin D levels at your next appointment! POSTEDBYMERM WELLNESS TRAIN RESEARCHGROUPDIRECTOR
FIND POSTED ON FM BOARD
Message Thread:
« Back to thread