As I talk about in my book, studies have consistently shown us that vitamin D in childhood can protect against multiple sclerosis as a person gets older.
The question has always been raised of whether taking vitamin D once a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is made, is of any benefit.Now a new study from Canada has shown that vitamin D may reduce the rate of relapse for some multiple sclerosis patients.
In this study, Jodie Burton, M.D., a neurologist at the University of Toronto studied 25 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.She divided the group into two sets of patients.One set of patients took an average of 14,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day for a year.Another group of patients were allowed to take up to 4000 units of vitamin D3 a day, although most took about a 1000 units per day.Both groups took 1200 mg of calcium per day.
I have received several questions about the relationship of Vitamin D and memory and cognition from the readers of my book. Results from several studies on memory and Vitamin Dhave not been consistent thus far.
Now, a new study, done by David Lee, M.D. and colleagues in England has been published. This study looked at over 3000 men from the ages of 40 to 79 from eight different centers.In this study after controlling for age and other factors, it was found that the lowest levels of vitamin D were associated with slower information processing speeds. This association was especially prominent when the men’s vitamin D levels were below 14 ng/ml.Of note, this study did not show a significant connectionbetween vitamin D levels and memory.
I was recently interviewed by Karla Calumet MD on her Radio show Here’s to your Health. The link she gave me online for the interview is down but she has given me permission to post it here for you to listen to. Email me or comment if you have a question!
The first Canadian study to evaluate vitamin D levels in toddlers has been published. It found that more than 80% of the children tested did not have enough vitamin D .
This article was published last week in the Toronto Globe and Mail, relating what was presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies .The author of the article in the newspaper rightfully points out that these low levels of vitamin D potentially place the children at an elevated risk of developing multiple sclerosis, cancer and juvenile diabetes later in life.
I have mentioned many times in my writings that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the triple childhood epidemics of asthma, juvenile diabetes, and autism. One study has already shown that children born to mothers who had a higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy had lower amounts of wheezing in their early life.
Now a study has come out in the May issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The study has found that low blood levels of vitamin D were associated with an increased severity of asthma in children.Those children with low vitamin D and asthma had significantly more hospitalizations, as well as weakened immune function, as well as an increased use of inhaled steroids.
In recent paper, by Diane Kamen et.al,was published looking at the connection of vitamin D and systemic lupus erythematosus.It contained a very nice review of the relationship between vitamin D and the immune system, and in this article particularly autoimmune disease.It was noted that vitamin D definitely benefits collegen — induced arthritis in mice.It also reviews international studies and american studies in humans. The authors specifically state that one study in Europe has found a significant correlation between vitamin D levels and lupus disease activity.
The conclusion of the authors is that "The physiologic and clinical significance of vitamin D deficiency in SLE is not entirely known".They recommend, that more prospective studies be done to vitamin D and lupus.The authors expect that correcting vitamin D deficiency will lead to better outcomes for lupus patients.
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