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 MAH 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.
I had the honor of being interviewed recently by Jim Bohannan on Westwood One Radio. The show was broadcast in 500 cities and I took questions from all over the United States. A lot of the listeners had great questions. With permission I am streaming the audio here for all my readers to listen to. Let me know if you have questions or comments!
New information presented several months ago at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, found that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)(Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD)) are at a higher risk of developing vitamin D deficiencies.
Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin studied disease activity and quality of life, as well as IBD-related hospitalizations, surgeries and medication use.
If you are in chronic pain, including back pain, please check your Vitamin D level now!
Michael Turner M. D. from the Mayo Clinic issued a news release this past Friday based on research he had done several months ago. That study indicated a correlation between inadequate vitamin D levels and the amount of narcotic medications taken by patients with chronic pain. This research found that patients with chronic pain who had inadequate vitamin D levels were requiring twice as much of narcotic pain medication compared with patients who had normal levels of vitamin D. In addition, patients with low vitamin D in that study also reported worse overall health perception and worse physical function.
The study looked retrospectively at 267 patients admitted to the Mayo Clinic pain center.
In this study they considered patients below 20 ng per milliliter to have inadequate amount of vitamin D. As my readers know, from my book, I as well as most vitamin D researchers now consider 30 ng/ml to be the minimum amount we need. I wonder if the results of this study would have even been stronger if they had used 30 ng/ml as their normal.
Dr. Turner is planning prospective trials to look at the effects of vitamin D supplementation on pain outcomes, in patients with chronic pain. Dr. Turner is recommending to doctors who take care of chronic pain patients to be sure to test their patient’s vitamin D levels.
Dr. Turner has stated in an interview "“Many patients who have been labeled with fibromyalgia are, in fact, suffering from symptomatic vitamin-D inadequacy. Vigilance is especially required when risk factors are present, such as obesity, darker pigmented skin, or limited exposure to sunlight.” I am delighted to see him saying this as is exactly mirrors what I have discussed in the Vitamin D Revolution.
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