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Vitamin D – The Sunshine Vitamin Most Indoor Workers Are Lacking
May 17, 2013
Human beings in high-income countries are leading increasingly artificial lives divorced from the natural environment and without the important health benefits of sunshine. The result is chronic ill health of many kinds, warns Oliver Gillie
Most people nowadays live indoors working in offices, glued to screens, cushioned from the real world, and sheltered from the elements - wind, rain and sun. Possibly we could do without the wind and rain that buffets our bodies as we flit from one building to the next, but we cannot live a healthy life without direct exposure to sunshine – unless we take a vitamin D supplement.
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Vitamin D Levels Linked to Respiratory Disease
May 14, 2013
Having severe vitamin D deficiency may put people aged 65 years and older at more than twice the risk of having self-reported respiratory disease, according to an article published online May 6 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
However, the question remains as to whether respiratory disease is a cause rather than a consequence of low vitamin D concentrations.
Vasant Hirani, PhD, from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London Medical School, United Kingdom, analyzed the records of 2070 people (1120 women) who participated in the 2005 Health Survey for England and who were also interviewed by a nurse and had a blood sample taken.
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Vitamin D Might Be Able to Slash Your Breast Cancer Risk by 90 Percent
May 13, 2013
Carole Baggerly is the founder director of GrassrootsHealth. Her organization’s mission is to increase awareness about vitamin D and the crucial role it plays in many aspects of your health.
Carole is on the cutting edge of vitamin D research, with her finger on the pulse of some of the world’s leading vitamin D scientists.
Prior to this focus, Carole’s educational background included physics and mathematics, and she owned and managed an aerospace business. However, her passion for vitamin D arose from a more personal experience. She is a breast cancer survivor and attributes a large portion of her healing to vitamin D.
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Vitamin D: Time to Get Savvy With Sunshine
May 10, 2013
Can there be hotter property in the field of nutrition right now than vitamin D - the 'sunshine vitamin'? There's been an explosion of vitamin D research over the last decade and it's completely revolutionised our view of this previously unremarkable vitamin. We've long since known that vitamin D is important for healthy bones (you need it to absorb calcium for a start), but vitamin D has now burst on to the scene in dramatic fashion, with evidence mounting that it may play an important role in preventing a plethora of modern day afflictions, such as common cancers, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and more besides. Recently, researchers found that there was an extensive need for vitamin D in the body, with it significantly effecting the expression of 291 genes - primarily involved in inflammation, autoimmune responses, cardiovascular functioning and cellular growth (1). This is in line with previous analyses which estimated that 0.5-5% of the total human genome is influenced by the actions of vitamin D.
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Optimal vitamin D dosage for infants uncertain
May 01, 2013
In a comparison of the effect of different dosages of vitamin D supplementation in breastfed infants, no dosage raised and maintained plasma concentrations within a range recommended by some pediatric societies. However, all dosages raised and maintained plasma concentrations within a lower range recommended by the Institute of Medicine, according to a study in the May 1 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health.
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AAP: Preemie Bones Need Dietary Boost
Apr 30, 2013
Preterm infants with a feeding tube need extra calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus added to their diet for healthy bones, according to American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) guidelines.
Neither breast milk nor regular formula for term infants contain enough of those nutrients to meet the needs of preterm infants, especially those weighing less than 1,800 to 2,000 g (4 to 4.4 lbs), Steven Abrams, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and colleagues explained in the May issue of Pediatrics. They serve on the AAP's on the nutrition committee.
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CKD Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency
Apr 30, 2013
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to investigators.
A team led by Matthew Damasiewicz, MD, of Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, Victoria, Australia, prospectively studied 5,738 adults aged 25 years or older participating in the baseline and five-year follow-up phases of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. Of these, 623 (10.9%) were vitamin D deficient (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 15 ng/mL), 161 experienced new-onset reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and 222 had new-onset albuminuria.
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Model Predicts Who Needs Vitamin D Screen
Apr 18, 2013
A model that incorporates factors such as time spent outdoors and physical activity may help predict which patients may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency, Australian researchers reported.
In a cross-sectional study, the area under the curve for predicting vitamin D deficiency using the new model was 0.82 using a 25 nmol/L cutoff, Rachel Neale, MD, of Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, and colleagues reported online in Clinical Endocrinology.
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Vitamin D May Reduce Risk Of Uterine Fibroids
Apr 16, 2013
Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomata, are noncancerous tumors of the uterus. Fibroids often result in pain and bleeding in premenopausal women, and are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States.
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Ex physicist preaches Vitamin D's benefits
Apr 15, 2013
ENCINITAS — To Leo Baggerly, a retired physicist living within sight of Leucadia’s coastline, vitamin D is not just another supplement taking up space between the Ginkgo biloba and aspirin in the medicine cabinet.
It is, to this cancer survivor, something the whole world should know about.
“Vitamin D is an absolutely fascinating molecule, and an awful lot of people happen to be vitamin D deficient,” Baggerly told me on Wednesday, as we sat in his living room with an ocean view.
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How birth month can affect the risk of developing multiple sclerosis
Apr 10, 2013
The month you are born will determine your risk of developing multiple sclerosis, numerous studies have found.
For people living in northern-latitude countries like Canada, the risk of MS peaks in individuals born in May and drops in those delivered in November.
Medical researchers have speculated that low levels of vitamin D could be playing a role. The vitamin is made naturally in skin exposed to sunlight. And that could mean women who are pregnant during winter may not have enough vitamin D to pass on to the fetus.
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Vitamin D proven to boost energy—from within the cells
Apr 08, 2013
Vitamin D is vital for making our muscles work efficiently and boosting energy levels, new research from Newcastle University has shown.
A study led by Dr Akash Sinha has shown that muscle function improves with Vitamin D supplements which are thought to enhance the activity of the mitochondria, the batteries of the cell.
A hormone normally produced in the skin using energy from sunlight, Vitamin D can also be found in a few foods – including fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks and fortified cereals but it can also be effectively boosted with Vitamin D supplements.
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Dr. John Cannell Presentations at Marshall University
Apr 02, 2013
Dr. John Cannel recently presented on Vitamin D at the Marshall University 25th annual Research Day.
Dr. Cannell has provided links to his three presentations:
"Here is a link to the PowerPoint slides I used in my three talks. Feel free to use any of the slides that may be helpful to you."
John Cannell, MD
Vitamin D Council
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Vitamin D helps maintain muscle strength
Mar 28, 2013
The next time you watch a Florida Panthers game, take a minute from the action on ice to look at the seats behind the bench. There you may see the team’s doctors Gautam Yagnik and David Westerdahl.
When they aren’t out on the ice with an injured player or sewing sutures in the back room, they get to watch the action.
In their positions with the Panthers, as well as in their regular practices — Dr. Yagnik is chief of orthopedic surgery at Baptist Hospital and Dr. Westerdahl is a sports physician in the department of orthopedics at Cleveland Clinic Florida — they see many muscle strains and bone fractures.
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Vitamin D might help some Parkinson's patients
Mar 28, 2013
Depending on their genes, some Parkinson's patients may be able to slow their deterioration by taking vitamin D supplements, according to a small study from Japan
Researchers randomly assigned 114 people with Parkinson's disease to take either vitamin D or a placebo every day for a year and found the neurologic condition didn't progress as much in those who took the supplements, compared to those who took placebos. But that was only true for people with certain versions of a gene for the vitamin D receptor.
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Vitamin D benefits breathing in tuberculosis patients
Mar 27, 2013
Large-scale study finds vitamin supports lung function as well as bone health
Chevy Chase, MD ––Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D can help people breathe better and may even protect against tuberculosis (TB), according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
The study of more than 10,000 Korean adults found that lung function improved when people had absorbed more vitamin D into their bodies. Vitamin D is absorbed primarily through sunlight, with a healthy diet as a secondary source.
Without enough vitamin D to aid calcium absorption, children and adults can develop bone and muscle conditions. The study improved scientists' understanding of how vitamin D may improve lung function as well as bone health.
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Experts find link between low doses of vitamin D and adverse pregnancy outcomes
Mar 27, 2013
There is a link between vitamin D insufficiency and adverse health outcomes such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in mothers-to-be and low birth weight in newborns, suggests a paper published in BMJ today.
Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with a number of adverse health outcomes and has been recognised as a public health concern. Plus, observational data has suggested a link between low vitamin D and increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, risk of infections, caesarean section and foetal growth restriction). Knowledge of these associations is however limited.
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Vitamin D May Lower Diabetes Risk in Obese Children and Adolescents
Mar 27, 2013
Childhood and adolescent obesity rates in the United States have increased dramatically in the past three decades. Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood. Now, University of Missouri researchers found vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens control their blood-sugar levels, which may help them stave off the disease.
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Potential Immune Benefits of Strong Vitamin D Status in Healthy Individuals
Mar 21, 2013
Research from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) shows that improving vitamin D status by increasing its level in the blood could have a number of non-skeletal health benefits.
The study, published online in PLOS ONE, reveals for the first time that improvement in the vitamin D status of healthy adults significantly impacts genes involved with a number of biologic pathways associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. While previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk for the aforementioned diseases, these results go a step further and provide direct evidence that improvement in vitamin D status plays a large role in improving immunity and lowering the risk for many diseases.
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Living in a Sunny Climate Does Not Improve Vitamin D Levels in Hip Fracture Patients
Mar 20, 2013
While it is well known that a majority of hip fracture patients of all ages and both sexes have insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D, a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) looks at whether or not living in a warm, sunny climate improves patient vitamin D levels.
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Vitamin D Replacement Improves Muscle Efficiency
Mar 19, 2013
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Study: Vitamin D Pills Lower Smokers’ Cancer Risk
Mar 19, 2013
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Vitamin D supplements may help African Americans lower blood pressure
Mar 14, 2013
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Do vitamin D levels influence genes for immune health?
Mar 12, 2013
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Vitamin D pills linked to better heart health for diabetics
Mar 07, 2013
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Vitamin D deficiency linked to food allergies
Mar 05, 2013
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Norway Food Safety Authority: Double vitamin D RDI in supplements
Mar 04, 2013
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Life After 50: Vitamin D And Calcium -- Confused By Conflicting Reports? You're Not Alone
Mar 01, 2013
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AACE response to new proposed recommendations from USPSTF on calcium and vitamin D
Feb 27, 2013
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Task force: Evidence for Vitamin D, calcium supplements lacking
Feb 27, 2013
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Babies of obese moms show lower vitamin D levels
Feb 26, 2013
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Legislator wants to test Alaska newborns for vitamin D
Feb 25, 2013
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Vitamin D — the sunshine vitamin
Feb 25, 2013
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Vitamin D Potency Varies Widely in Dietary Supplements, Analysis Finds
Feb 12, 2013
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Calcium plus vitamin D may slash hip fracture rates: WHI data
Feb 07, 2013
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Obesity Is Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency
Feb 06, 2013
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Vitamin D, Omega-3 May Help Clear Amyloid Plaques Found in Alzheimer's
Feb 06, 2013
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‘Sunshine vitamin’ looks a little brighter
Feb 06, 2013
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Stats Canada Data: Canadians' vitamin D levels declining
Feb 05, 2013
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Quantum Dots Deliver Vitamin D to Tumors for Possible Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment
Feb 04, 2013
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UK Cancer group supports increased vitamin D through sensible sun exposure
Jan 29, 2013
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Low vitamin D before menopause: Could boosting levels thwart breast cancer?
Jan 28, 2013
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Vitamin D Holds Promise in Battling a Deadly Breast Cancer
Jan 23, 2013
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Sun exposure: Is just a little bit enough?
Jan 22, 2013
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Vitamin D is Now the Most Popular Vitamin
Jan 18, 2013
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Low vitamin D linked to high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Jan 14, 2013
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Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Military Suicide
Jan 10, 2013
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Vitamin D may not relieve arthritis pain
Jan 10, 2013
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RCT: Vitamin D levels and traumatic brain injury
Dec 19, 2012
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Vitamin D safety: Risks and benefits of fortification and supplementation
Dec 19, 2012
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Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to alcohol-related muscular weakness
Dec 17, 2012
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Additional Evidence That Vitamin D Reduces the Risk of Developing Autism
Dec 14, 2012
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Vitamin D Can Help Infection-Prone Patients Avoid Respiratory Tract Infection
Dec 14, 2012
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Feds keeping people sick: The Vitamin D story
Dec 11, 2012
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Vitamin D Tied to Breast Cancer Outcome
Dec 12, 2012
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Getting sunshine improves your health provided you do not sunburn - Grant Dec 2012
Dec 11, 2012
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Vitamin D Tied to Women's Cognitive Performance
Dec 03, 2012
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New review associates vitamin D with lower rates of tooth decay
Nov 28, 2012
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Britain's bad summer will see epidemic of vitamin D deficiency: expert
Nov 27, 2012
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Study links Vitamin D to cancer prevention
Nov 23, 2012
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Multiple Sclerosis Linked to Vitamin D Levels, Study Says .
Nov 20, 2012
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Ultraviolet radiation, vitamin D protect against multiple sclerosis
Nov 19, 2012
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Vit D deficiency linked to diabetes risk
Nov 16, 2012
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Give pregnant women vitamin D supplements to ward off MS, say researchers
Nov 15, 2012
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Vitamin D may prevent clogged arteries in diabetics
Nov 14, 2012
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Vitamin D Gene Changes May Drive Disease
Nov 14, 2012
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Vitamin D linked to Alzheimer's
Nov 14, 2012
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Interactive Tool: Multiple Sclerosis and Vitamin D
Nov 14, 2012
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Vitamin D cuts lung cancer death risk in non-smokers
Nov 13, 2012
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Merkel Cell Carcinoma Prognosis Linked to Vitamin D
Nov 08, 2012
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Low levels of vitamin D linked to longer lifespans in surprising study
Nov 08, 2012
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Vitamin D deficiency: an interview with Kellie Bilinski
Nov 06, 2012
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High vitamin D may prevent multiple sclerosis
Nov 05, 2012
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Low levels of vitamin D in blood double risk of bladder cancer
Nov 01, 2012
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Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis: an interview with Ellen Mowry
Nov 01, 2012
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Leading Children's Medic Backs National Vitamin D Drive
Oct 31, 2012
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How much vitamin d per day should I take to prevent cancer?
Oct 29, 2012
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Vitamin D cuts colorectal cancer risk, helps survival
Oct 29, 2012
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Vitamin D may prevent colorectal cancer
Oct 26, 2012
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Where you live could affect breast cancer risk
Oct 26, 2012
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The great Aussie paradox: Vitamin D deficiency rates soar
Oct 23, 2012
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No Risk of Calcium Overload with Mega Vitamin D
Oct 22, 2012
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Stress Fractures & Vitamin D
Oct 22, 2012
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Vitamin D deficiency linked to vertebral fractures in men with diabetes mellitus type 2
Oct 22, 2012
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New trial will test if Vitamin D can prevent MS
Oct 18, 2012
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Multivitamin Use Linked to Lowered Cancer Risk
Oct 18, 2012
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Kids and Vitamin D Deficiency
Oct 18, 2012
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Vitamin D supplements may benefit lupus patients
Oct 17, 2012
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MS trial to explore vitamin D links
Oct 16, 2012
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Breast cancer and vitamin D: What you need to know
Oct 12, 2012
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Study Links Low Vitamin D Levels to Worse MS Symptoms
Oct 09, 2012
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Could Vitamin D Help Prevent Meningitis?
Oct 09, 2012
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Low D Linked to Poor Cognitive Function, Increased Alzheimer's Risk
Oct 02, 2012
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Chronic fatigue syndrome linked to vitamin D insufficiency
Oct 01, 2012
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Vitamin D supplements help heart failure patients live longer
Oct 01, 2012
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Low Levels of Vitamin D Indicate Much Higher Risk for Heart Attack, Early Death
Sep 25, 2012
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Spring is the season for vitamin D deficiency
Sep 24, 2012
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Almost all breast cancer patients vitamin D deficient
Sep 19, 2012
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Hello skin, it’s me Vitamin D
Sep 19, 2012
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Vitamin D in Pregnancy Critical for Brain Development, Study Says
Sep 18, 2012
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Vitamin D plus calcium lower death risk in elderly
Sep 17, 2012
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Canadian study links sickest children with low vitamin D levels
Sep 13, 2012
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Vitamin D essential for your health
Sep 13, 2012
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THE SUN IS SHINING... AND IT WILL HELP YOU BEAT CANCER
Sep 10, 2012
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Vitamin D may help treat inflammatory breast cancer
Sep 10, 2012
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High vitamin D linked to lower risk of Alzheimer's disease
Sep 10, 2012
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"Sunshine" vitamin D found to speed tuberculosis recovery
Sep 04, 2012
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Un-Doctored - Vitamin D use linked with fewer fracture admissions
Aug 31, 2012
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Vitamin D shows eye health benefits: Study
Aug 30, 2012
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Vitamin D Fights Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Lung Cancer and Lymphoma - Study
Aug 29, 2012
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High prenatal vitamin D lowers type 1 diabetes risk in children
Aug 29, 2012
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Poorer bone health seen in black children with fractures
Aug 29, 2012
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Vitamin D3 supplements fight prostate cancer, breast cancer - study confirms
Aug 27, 2012
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Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation makes new investments in research, Researching the Benefits of vitamin D
Aug 23, 2012
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Study: Vitamin D Supplements May Protect From Colds
Aug 22, 2012
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Study: Seniors with low vitamin D levels run greater risk of death
Jul 27, 2012
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Sunshine for the elderly: To expose or not to expose?
Jul 24, 2012
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Smokers' Lung Function May Be Protected By Vitamin D Intake
Jul 24, 2012
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4,000 Free Vitamin D Supplements to be Used to Kick Off Protect Our Children NOW! Campaign Fundraising
Jul 19, 2012
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Vitamin D prevents ER+ breast cancer - new study
Jul 19, 2012
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GrassrootsHealth Names Robert P. Heaney, MD as Research Director
Jul 19, 2012
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Sunlight and vitamin D findings may help understanding of autoimmune diseases
Jul 18, 2012
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Blocking more than just sunburns: Why you might need more vitamin D right now
Jul 18, 2012
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Vitamin D Deficiency And Lung Function In Asthmatic Children
Jul 16, 2012
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Scientists Weigh In on Fall Prevention
Jul 13, 2012
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Majority of Germans Lack Sufficient Vitamin D
Jul 13, 2012
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Pancreatic Cancer Risk Lowered By Exposure To Sun
Jul 11, 2012
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Study: Vitamin D lowers bone-fracture risk only at high doses
Jul 05, 2012
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Vitamin D's Potential to Reduce the Risk of Hospital Acquired Infections
Jul 04, 2012
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Sunshine lessons from Australia
Jul 04, 2012
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Is US government setting stage to outlaw Vitamin D like raw milk?
Jun 27, 2012
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The breastfeeding mother: Breast milk as a biomarker?
Jun 26, 2012
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Low Vitamin D Linked to Weight Gain in Older Women
Jun 26, 2012
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Newer Vitamin D Tests Often Inaccurate: Study
Jun 26, 2012
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Lesley Riddoch: Sunshine vitamin in short supply
Jun 26, 2012
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Vitamin D Action Needed Now to Protect Pregnancies and Babies
Jun 20, 2012
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15th Vitamin D Workshop begins tomorrow
Jun 19, 2012
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Vitamin D dose 'too low with indoor lifestyles'
Jun 18, 2012
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Vitamin D With Calcium Shown to Reduce Mortality in Elderly
Jun 18, 2012
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Government Gets it Wrong Again: U.S. Recommendation for Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation is Too Low
Jun 15, 2012
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Vitamin D Levels Linked with Breast Cancer Survival Rates
Jun 11, 2012
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Vitamin D Deficiency and Cancer Survival Disparities
Jun 11, 2012
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Patients told to spend more time in the sun
Jun 11, 2012
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Vitamin D and Erectile Dysfunction
Jun 06, 2012
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Low vitamin D status linked to onset of mobility limitation and disability
Jun 05, 2012
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Exercise, Vitamin D Can Lower Fall Risk in Elderly
May 31, 2012
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Getting Ahead of the Vitamin D Revolution Curve
May 25, 2012
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Low vitamin D in womb linked to chubbier kids
May 24, 2012
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Optimal Vitamin D linked to lower heart disease death: Study
May 23, 2012
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Vitamin D May Help in Heart Failure
May 23, 2012
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Clinical Trials Needed To Test Non-Skeletal Benefits Of Vitamin D
May 22, 2012
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Liverpool FC share their vitamin D levels
May 18, 2012
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Lack of vitamin D worsens lupus
May 08, 2012
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Sunshine and vitamin D: why cloudy skies are bad for our health
May 07, 2012
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Vitamin D May Affect Lung Transplant Success
May 03, 2012
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Vitamin D 'as good as drugs' at reducing high blood pressure
May 03, 2012
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Vitamin D may indeed help fight cancer
May 03, 2012
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Sunscreen use may lead to vitamin D deficiency
May 03, 2012
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Ask Dr. Oz Season 3: Post Op #31
May 03, 2012
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How rickets is making a comeback
Apr 23, 2012
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May Is Natural Breast Cancer Prevention Month
Apr 23, 2012
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Do you know how to prevent lethal prostate cancer?
Apr 17, 2012
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Get more of the sunshine vitamin to help heal bone fractures
Apr 17, 2012
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Healthy Conscious Living Symposium Calgary
Apr 13, 2012
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Top Vitamin D Papers of 2011
Apr 13, 2012
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Does UV exposure decrease risk of melanoma?
Apr 04, 2012
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Can a ray of sunshine help the critically ill?
Apr 04, 2012
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Vitamin D3 - a Raw Material the Body Needs to Fight Prostate Cancer
Apr 02, 2012
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Never Underestimate the Healing Powers of Sunlight
Apr 02, 2012
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Children need more sunlight, parents told
Apr 02, 2012
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Vitamin D and calcium requirements: conflicting opinions
Mar 28, 2012
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Taking vitamin D supplements may help prevent stroke
Mar 27, 2012
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Vitamin D May Boost Fluticasone's Allergic Rhinitis Effect
Mar 27, 2012
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Top up on sunshine and vitamin D, says charity
Mar 26, 2012
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Foundation to Fight Breast Cancer With Education Focused on Natural Prevention
Mar 15, 2012
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Reasons That Vitamin D May Matter
Mar 13, 2012
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Low Vitamin D Hikes Death Risk in Elderly
Mar 09, 2012
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Vitamin D May Reverse Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid Plaque Formation
Mar 08, 2012
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Vitamin D linked to stronger bones in girls
Mar 06, 2012
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MP pushes D-Day in Parliament
Feb 14, 2012
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Vitamin D Shrinks Fibroid Tumors in Rats
Mar 05, 2012
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Vitamin D Eases Menstrual Cramps
Feb 29, 2012
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How Vitamin D Inhibits Inflammation
Feb 24, 2012
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Low vitamin D in womb tied to poor language skills
Feb 14, 2012
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Wired society may need vitamin D fortification
Feb 13, 2012
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Doctor wants to put vitamin D to work in the workplace
Feb 13, 2012
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Medical chief highlights importance of vitamin D
Jan 26, 2012
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Call for vitamin D infant death probe
Jan 27, 2012
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Vitamin D May Be the Answer to Common Liver Diseases Like Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis
Jan 27, 2012
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Press Releases
New Study Reveals How Vitamin D Prevents Disease
The Vitamin D Society wants to make the public aware of a new study that reports for the first time on how vitamin D status is linked to the reduction of chronic diseases through gene expression.
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) March 28, 2013
The Vitamin D Society wants the public to know about a new research study published online in PLOS ONE which reports that improving vitamin D status could have a number of non-skeletal health benefits for the public. The study reveals for the first time that as your vitamin D blood level goes up the genes involved with a number of biologic pathways associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases are expressed 1.5 times greater than base levels(1).
“This research confirms the positive disease prevention associations that vitamin D has on various serious chronic diseases and which has been reported in thousands of previously published research studies” exclaimed Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society. “It provides insight into ‘how’ vitamin D works to help prevent disease.”
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Are Adult Vitamin D Recommendations Too Low?
The Vitamin D Society wants to make the public aware that current vitamin D intake recommendations for adults are low in comparison to levels prescribed for infants. After a recent review of the IOM vitamin D recommendations the Vitamin D Society discovered that the vitamin D dose per pound was substantially lower for adults.
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) February 28, 2013 -- The Vitamin D Society wants to make the public aware that current vitamin D intake recommendations for adults are low in comparison to doses suggested for infants. The Vitamin D Society analyzed daily vitamin D intake recommendations and found that the dosage, when expressed as IU per pound, were substantially lower for adults than those recommended for infants. The Institute of Medicine(IOM) set the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D through an extensive review and report in 2010(1). Health organizations across North America have now standardized on the IOM recommendations for vitamin D intake. The IOM recommends that infants under 1 year of age receive 400 IU, ages 1 to 70 take 600 IU and people age 71 and older receive 800 IU of vitamin D daily. The response to vitamin D is dependent on body weight(2). People that weigh more will need more vitamin D dosage than people who weigh less(3).
“Dividing the IOM vitamin D recommendations by weight shows that a small 10 pound newborn infant gets 40 IU of vitamin D per pound (400 IU/10 lbs=40). In comparison, a large adult weighing 200 pounds would only get 3 IU of vitamin D per pound (600 IU/200 lbs=3). The IOM recommended vitamin D dietary allowance for adults is clearly lower by a factor of 10 than the dose for a newborn infant” reported Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society.
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Could Vitamin D Eradicate Diabetes
The Vitamin D Society wants to make the public aware that new research studies report that up to 50% of diabetes could be prevented through the achievement of optimal vitamin D levels.
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) February 25, 2013
Three new studies on vitamin D and diabetes report that people with higher levels of vitamin D have just half the risk of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes as people with lower levels. Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both(1). Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people of similar age but without diabetes(2). Vitamin D lowers diabetes risk through improvement in insulin secretion and glucose tolerance(3). The Vitamin D Society believes public health action programs are urgently needed to encourage increased vitamin D from all sources to improve overall health and to help prevent diabetes.
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Stats Canada Data: Canadians' Vitamin D Levels Declining
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) February 01, 2013
The Vitamin D Society wants to make Canadians aware of the recently published Statistics Canada study, Vitamin D blood levels of Canadians, 2009-2011. The study reports that Canadians between the ages of 6 and 79 years old had overall mean vitamin D blood levels of 63.5 nmol/L; this represents a 6.2% decline from the previous report issued in 2010.
According to a new report by Statistics Canada, vitamin D levels for Canadians is declining dramatically(1). The mean average vitamin D blood levels for Canadians between the ages of 6 and 79 years of age fell sharply by 6.2% from 67.7 nmol/L in 2009(2) to just 63.5 nmol/L in 2011. This decrease is very disturbing as research studies continue to show that people with lower vitamin D levels are at a much higher risk of developing serious diseases. Just over two-thirds of Canadians (68%) had vitamin D blood levels sufficient for healthy bones (50 nmol/L). But based on the latest Stats Canada report less than 10% of Canadians reached natural optimal levels of over 100 nmol/L. Public health action programs encouraging vitamin D production from all sources are urgently needed to help reverse this steep decline.
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UK Cancer Group Supports Increased Vitamin D Through Sensible Sun Exposure
The Vitamin D Society wishes to make Canadians aware of a new innovative Vitamin D and Skin Cancer Prevention program developed by Cancer Research UK. On its website, Cancer Research UK reports that “by enjoying the sun safely and avoiding sunburn, people can reduce their risk of skin cancer and enjoy the beneficial effects of the sun.” More than 90% of the vitamin D requirement for most people comes from casual exposure to sunlight(1).
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) January 28, 2013 - The Vitamin D Society wants to congratulate Cancer Research UK on its innovative Vitamin D and Skin Cancer Prevention Program(2). The new program promotes the beneficial effects of sun exposure through vitamin D production. The Vitamin D Society is hopeful that North American health organizations review the Cancer Research UK Vitamin D program and consider promoting a more balanced sun message which includes both the benefits and risks of moderate sun exposure.
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Canadian’s Vitamin D Levels 72% Below 'Natural' Levels, Study Says
The Vitamin D Society wants to inform Canadians that vitamin D deficiency during "Vitamin D Winter" will put Canadians at increased risk for many serious diseases and conditions including bone disease, various cancers, infections, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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World Vitamin D Day – November 2
Canadian Initiative Spreads Worldwide to Prevent Vitamin D Deficiency
TORONTO --- October 29, 2012 --- Organizations across the world are establishing World Vitamin D Day on November 2nd, asking health organizations to join the Canadian founders of this event in promoting new vitamin D awareness and action.(www.vitamindday.ca)
November is the beginning of "Vitamin D Winter" in the Northern Hemisphere -- a four-to-five-month period where people’s vitamin D levels begin to plummet because there is little UVB in winter sunlight to initiate natural vitamin D production in the skin. Humans make and store abundant vitamin D with sun exposure to the skin in the summer, but overzealous sun protection blocks vitamin D production and puts people in a vitamin D deficit at the beginning of winter that only gets worse by the time spring sunshine returns.
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Vitamin D Society Launches Updated Website
Kelowna, BC (March 15, 2012) – The Vitamin D Society is happy to announce the launch of its upgraded and updated website, www.vitamindsociety.org
With vitamin D research progressing faster than any field in medicine today, the new website provides users with up-to-date news, press releases, events, videos, books and reference material. It also retains the key critical general information about vitamin D, such as health benefits, natural levels and sources.
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Leading Canadian medical organizations endorse Scientists Call to D*action for Vitamin D awareness month
TORONTO --- November 18, 2011 --- The clocks have turned back an hour and Canadians are receiving less exposure to daylight. November is Vitamin D Awareness month in Canada and serves as a timely reminder for people of all ages to test their vitamin D levels to ensure they aren’t dropping. With a decrease in UVB exposure, now is the time to check and make certain that optimal vitamin D levels are maintained through the long, cold, low light Canadian winters.
Leading Canadian medical and health organizations like The Ontario Society of Physicians for Complementary Medicine are encouraging support of optimal vitamin D levels through the endorsement of the Scientists Call to D*action.
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Canadian women invited to join global Vitamin D study to help prevent breast cancer
TORONTO --- October 31, 2011 --- At a time when more and more evidence is pointing to a direct link between increased vitamin D levels and a reduction in breast cancer, a new study announced today by GrassrootsHealth is seeking to find some answers for Canadian women.
The GrassrootsHealth Breast Cancer Prevention Study in Canada will seek to prospectively examine the occurrence of breast cancer among Canadian women 60 and over who achieve and maintain a targeted vitamin D serum level in the bloodstream.
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'D' Levels More Important than IUs: Scientists
TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2010 /CNW/ - Vitamin D blood levels - and not vitamin D intake itself - should be the focus of media coverage of this Tuesday's anticipated Institutes of Medicine (IOM) revised North American vitamin D recommendations, according to a worldwide coalition of 41 vitamin D researchers.
"We hope everyone sees the big picture that new daily vitamin D recommendations are only the means to the more-important end: a person's actual vitamin D blood serum level," says Dr. Robert Heaney, a Creighton University vitamin D researcher with 50 years in the field and more than 400 published papers. Heaney is one of eight experts on the D-Action coalition who will be available for interviews this week.
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Who Has Canada's Best Killer 'D'-Fense?
WOODSTOCK, Ont., Nov. 16, 2010 /CNW/ - Canada's sun-deprived northerly latitudes mean 90 percent of Canadians will be Vitamin D deficient in the winter, according to 2010 data from Statistics Canada and new recommendations from 41 Vitamin D researchers from GrassrootsHealth. That's why it's not surprising that regular sunbed users have the highest Vitamin D levels of any group in Canada.
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November is Canadian Vitamin D Awareness Month
WOODSTOCK, ON, Nov. 1, 2010 /CNW/ - More than 90 percent of Canadians are at risk for negative health outcomes because they will become vitamin D deficient this winter. That's why Canada's Vitamin D Society is recognizing November as its 4th Annual Vitamin D Awareness Month.
The solution starts with one simple step: Get your vitamin D levels tested this winter. The Vitamin D Society is promoting that message in a new public service advertising campaign distributed to Canadian radio stations Oct. 26.
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Canadian Vitamin D study: Higher Vitamin D levels could save 37,000 lives a year
TORONTO, April 6, 2010 /CNW/ - Canada's death rate could fall by as many as 37,000 deaths each year or 16 per cent if Canadians simply increased their daily vitamin D intake to intended levels, says a study conducted by four of the world's leading vitamin D researchers entitled: An Estimate of the Economic Burden and Premature Deaths Due to Vitamin D Deficiency in Canada. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20352622?dopt=Abstract
In dollars saved, increased vitamin D blood levels would reduce the economic burden on Canada's health care system by about $14.4 billion, or 7.3 per cent, according to the study
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Need a source? November is Vitamin D Awareness Month in Canada - kicked off by a major North American conference on Vitamin D in Toronto November 3
TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2009 /CNW/ - Vitamin D Deficiency - linked to significantly higher rates of most cancers, heart disease, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and even flu - affects 97 per cent of Canadians. Yet fewer than 3 per cent of Canadians say they know their vitamin D blood levels.
The world's most renowned vitamin D researchers will be joined by public health officials from across Canada on November 3 for "Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency" - a symposium hosted by Grassroots Health and the University of Toronto School of Medicine. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the University of Toronto's Faculty Club.
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Vitamin D Deficiency Continues To Affect Millions of Canadians
KELOWNA, BC, Nov. 4, 2008 /CNW/ - With the advent of November as 'Vitamin D Awareness Month,' The Vitamin D Society of Canada is reminding all Canadians to get their levels checked by their doctors.
"Vitamin D has become a topic of interest but it is more than a trend, there is still a need to bolster awareness for Canadians to get their levels checked," said Joseph Levy, executive director, The Vitamin D Society. "Just
like people get a flu shot for the winter, you should also ask for your vitamin D levels to be checked."
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Vitamin D Society Declares November ‘Vitamin D Awareness Month’ in Canada
KELOWNA, BC - October 31, 2007 - Research this year has left no doubt that vitamin D deficiency – which affects an estimated 97 per cent of Canadians in the winter – is nothing less than a Canadian crisis and a worldwide problem.
This is why Canada’s Vitamin D Society is recognizing the month of November as the world’s first Vitamin D Awareness Month.
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Events
Victoria Vitamin D Disease Prevention Symposium
May 22, 2013 7:00pm - 10:00pm
FREE INFORMATION SESSION - Open to Health Professionals and the Public
David Lam Auditorium - A144
Maclaurin Building
University of Victoria
Ring Road
Victoria, BC
Register NOW!
Please RSVP: Email vitdsym@gmail.com (subject "Register"), or register on Facebook: www.facebook.com/canadavitamindsymposium
Featuring: Dr. Robert Heaney, Carole A Baggerly, Dr. Marc Sorenson, and special Guest Dr. Ron Puhky.
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Vitamin D Webinars
Mar 26, 2013
Scientist ANSWERS... YOUR Questions
Webinar Series Tuesdays at 10am PST
by Bruce W. Hollis, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina.
Tuesday, May 14th, 10-10:30 am, PDT
Register now. Submit your questions about vitamin D and breastfeeding when you register.
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November is Vitamin D Awareness Month
Nov 06, 2012
World Vitamin D Day - November 2
For more information visit www.vitamindday.ca
November is the beginning of "Vitamin D Winter" in the Northern Hemisphere -- a four-to-five-month period where people’s vitamin D levels begin to plummet because there is little UVB in winter sunlight to initiate natural vitamin D production in the skin. Humans make and store abundant vitamin D with sun exposure to the skin in the summer, but overzealous sun protection blocks vitamin D production and puts people in a vitamin D deficit at the beginning of winter that only gets worse by the time spring sunshine returns.
Vitamin D Winter affects all of Canada, which is why individuals should get their vitamin D blood levels checked in November with a calcidiol test. Worldwide vitamin D experts recommend vitamin D blood levels be maintained between 100-150 nanomoles/litre
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