Information about vitamin d recommendations
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Dr. Andrew Weil
Dr. Andrew Weil --------------- Founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine
Posted: February 7, 2010 07:13 AM BIO Become a Fan Get Email Alerts Bloggers' Index New Recommendation: Why You Need More Vitamin D ===============================================
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Comments 377 I am raising my recommendation of 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day to 2,000 IU per day. Since 2005, when I raised it from 400 to 1,000 IU, clinical evidence has been accumulating to suggest that a higher dose is more appropriate to help maintain optimum health.
We have known for many years that we need vitamin D to facilitate calcium absorption and promote bone mineralization. But newer research has shown that we also need it for protection against a number of serious diseases. In recent years, scientists have discovered that it may help to prevent several cancers, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, psoriasis, diabetes, psychosis, and respiratory infections including colds and flu. To focus particularly on cancer prevention, two recent meta-analyses (in which data from multiple studies is combined) conducted by the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California at San Diego and colleagues suggested that raising blood levels of vitamin D could prevent one-half of the cases of breast cancer and two-thirds of the cases of colorectal cancer in the U.S. Discussing the breast cancer analysis, study author Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H., stated that "The serum level associated with a 50 percent reduction in risk could be maintained by taking 2,000 international units of vitamin D3 daily plus, when the weather permits, spending 10 to 15 minutes a day in the sun."
A 50 percent reduction in breast cancer deaths would have saved the lives of more than 20,000 American women in 2009. As these meta-analyses suggest, vitamin D deficiency is widespread. Aside from breast cancer, it is quite likely that hundreds of thousands of cancers of various kinds worldwide might be prevented each year if we all were getting enough.
We can get vitamin D through foods such as fortified milk and cereals as well as eggs, salmon, tuna and mackerel, but the amounts are not nearly sufficient to lift blood concentrations to optimal levels. Sun exposure is the best way to get it; ultraviolet rays trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Factors that decrease the body's ability to make vitamin D include dark skin, heredity, obesity and certain medications, including some anti-seizure drugs (check with your pharmacist). Most significantly, sunscreen blocks vitamin D synthesis in the skin, and in northern latitudes (above that of Atlanta, Georgia) the sun is at too low an angle for half the year to provide sufficient UV radiation. Low levels of vitamin D in the population as a whole suggest that most people need to take a vitamin D supplement. This may be especially true for seniors, as the ability to synthesize vitamin D in the skin declines with age. Always take your vitamin D with a fat-containing meal to ensure absorption.
Don't be concerned that 2,000 IU will give you too much. With exposure to sunlight in the summer, the body can generate between 10,000 IU and 20,000 IU of vitamin D per hour with no ill effects. In addition, no adverse effects have been seen with supplemental vitamin D intakes up to 10,000 IU daily. If you decide to have your vitamin D levels tested, look for results in the normal range, from 30.0 to 74.0 nanograms of 25-hydroxy vitamin D per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. If you are found to be deficient, your physician can advise you on the best way to raise your blood concentration into the normal range.
Andrew Weil, M.D., is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and the editorial director of www.DrWeil.com. Become a fan on Facebook, follow Dr. Weil on Twitter, and check out Dr. Weil's Daily Health Tips blog. Follow Dr. Andrew Weil on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DrWeil
Health I am raising my recommendation of 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day to 2,000 IU per day. Since 2005, when I raised it from 400 to 1,000 IU, clinical evidence has been accumulating to suggest that a higher... I am raising my recommendation of 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day to 2,000 IU per day. Since 2005, when I raised it from 400 to 1,000 IU, clinical evidence has been accumulating to suggest that a higher...
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Vitamin D is more than just the vitamin of the moment. It has been around for more than 750 million years. Additionally, 90% of human evolution occurred in tropical or subtropical regions, with daily sunlight exposure being the norm. Today, indoor lifestyles predominate and sun avoidance is common. A large percentage of US adults have less than optimal levels of 25(OH)D. Supplementation allows one to receive sufficient vitamin D in the absence of sensible sun exposure. http://bit.ly/8DT43r
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:25 PM on 2/18/2010 - + Trig I'm a Fan of Trig I'm a fan of this user permalink Here is an interesting bit from an abstract to a now freely available article from the Oxford press. CONCLUSION: Calcium stone formers with a low lumbar BMD exhibit a blunted response of PTH release and an apparently overshooting production of 1.25 vitamin D following a low-calcium diet.
PMID: 18398019 Apparently stone formers have a genetic predisposition. Likely the best thing they can do is maintain a steady intake of the vitamin and calcium with an ample liquids regimen every day of their lives, IMO on a first blush quick scan of part of the article. Read the article by way of Pubmed links.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:02 AM on 2/13/2010 - + Trig I'm a Fan of Trig I'm a fan of this user permalink I meant serum binding globulins not programs. It seems everything I enter onto the web has some glaring typo.
In some of our furry friends there is a difference between the two forms and other animals vitamin D2 is frankly inactive. Discrimination against ergocalciferol by cats appears to result from differences in affinity of the binding protein for the metabolites of the two forms of vitamin D. These results indicate that cats discriminate against ergocalciferol, and use it with an efficiency of 0.7 of that of cholecalciferol to maintain plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration.
PMID: 15379909 The assumption that vitamins D2 and D3 have equal nutritional value is probably wrong and should be reconsidered.
PMID: 9771862 The above paper is good also in that it gives one an idea of how much a short course of 4000 IU might raises levels.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:36 AM on 2/13/2010 - + Trig I'm a Fan of Trig I'm a fan of this user permalink The 2000 UL is pretty meaningless as frankly it is just too low for most. Even members of the committee that set this value have asked it be reviewed. Currently, a new committee has been assembled on the topic and in time will issue a ruling for all the pedagogues to repeat as if it is revealed truth from the great vitamin Diety.
However the "burn rate per day" for the vitamin is around 4000 IU and even higher in a lacating human female given that some of it is siphoned off into the mothers milk. And vitamin D2 has a shorter biological half life that vitamin D3. It low affinity of vitamin D2 to the respective serum binding program which is worrying. Bolus dosing with vitamin D2 is a discredited practice or should be as on a two week schedule with one bolus dose can actually lower 25 OH vitamin D3 levels at the end of two weeks. In addition there is some evidence excess adipose tissue increases the rate of this vitamin's metabolism. While some have suspected this vitamin was just buried in the adipose this is apparently wrong. So we who are overweight or those who are obese may need quite large doses to reach an optimal serum level.
I noticed someone confusing preformed vitamin A to vitamin D on the issue of toxicity. See you on the Usenet....................Trig
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:12 PM on 2/12/2010 - + YCBSKI2 I'm a Fan of YCBSKI2 I'm a fan of this user permalink Only after I started taking 3000 units of D a day did my level come up to normal. Sitting in offices all day and it being dark in the winter when we get home does not lend itself to getting enough natural sunlight D. Plus it must be on exposed skin from what I read. My friend in Alaska takes 4000 units to get it up to normal. I so wish I had taken D in my youth. I am 57 now and have osto. When tested my calcium levels were fine but without the D it was not usable as it should be. I have broken my foot twice in the last 4 years and am on Fosmax now. Look at all the older folks in the assisted living centers, including my mom, and you will see that the vast majority have osto and are mobile only with walkers or wheelchairs. The lack of our past knowledge about D is evident everytime I see them.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:19 PM on 2/11/2010 - + fedgieman I'm a Fan of fedgieman I'm a fan of this user permalink I use Dr Mercola's Vitamin D spray. It goes under your tongue and you get way better absorpsion than having it go through your gastrointestinal tract. Check it out.
http://products.mercola.com/vitamin-d-spray/ Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:00 PM on 2/10/2010 - + Pete59 I'm a Fan of Pete59 I'm a fan of this user permalink
Vitamin d is designed to go through the gastrointestinal tract that's how animals with fur/wool get it. This is however, a good idea for those with damaged guts (Crohn's etc) as it can be sprayed on the skin and absorbed that way. Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:56 PM on 2/10/2010 - + vincealy I'm a Fan of vincealy I'm a fan of this user 7 fans permalink
Vitamin d is produced on the skin when exposed to sunlight that is the most natural from of production. Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:45 PM on 2/10/2010 There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All - + YeWight I'm a Fan of YeWight I'm a fan of this user 6 fans permalink photo
For that money ($39.97 your getting ripped-off, even if it is an optimal delivery method (oral spray). You can get 600 tabs x 1000IU (3pack) for less than $30 on amazon, which will last you 300 days, almost one full year. Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:57 AM on 2/11/2010 - + Faith1101 I'm a Fan of Faith1101 I'm a fan of this user 3 fans permalink
I'm not going to go up to 2000 IU, but I did put it on my shopping list. Already getting some in calcium supplement, not getting a lot from teh sun. Maybe I'll go back and read TWFA. Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:58 AM on 2/10/2010 - + seedoubleyou I'm a Fan of seedoubleyou I'm a fan of this user 6 fans permalink
Uh... talk your ACTUAL doctor before you up your vitamin D dose. Despite the new report that says vitamin D is the new vitamin of the moment, too much can kill your liver. And where will this charlatan Weil be when you are dying from liver failure? At the bank, cashing checks, I'd guess. Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:40 PM on 2/09/2010 - + BluePaddle I'm a Fan of BluePaddle I'm a fan of this user 8 fans permalink
First thing I thought was, man, recession's hitting Weil pretty hard. Do I hear 2,000 IUs? 2000 IUs!
Do I hear 4,000? What the hell ... 10,000. Every IU must go.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:37 AM on 2/10/2010 - + Pete59 I'm a Fan of Pete59 I'm a fan of this user permalink The minimum toxic dose of vitamin d is over 50,000IU a day taken for many months, no one is suggesting a dose that high. Even then most people would respond to the symptoms of having an incorrect calcium blood level long before any damage occurred.
What increasing your vitamin d levels can do in a few people is reveal a pre-existing case of primary hyperparathyroid disease. This is hidden by the very low vitamin d levels, however, it is still causing damage so identifying it is an advantage. Secondary hyperparathyroid is actually treated by increasing a person's vitamin d levels. Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:37 AM on 2/10/2010 - + BluePaddle I'm a Fan of BluePaddle I'm a fan of this user 8 fans permalink
You: "The minimum toxic dose of vitamin d is over 50,000IU a day taken for many months. no one is suggesting a dose that high." There's a reason why no-one is suggesting it. Because it's a f'ing false claim:
Mayo Clinic: "The upper limit (UL) for vitamin D has been recommended as 2,000 IU daily due to toxicities that can occur when taken in higher doses." Hmm ...
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:25 AM on 2/10/2010 There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All - + Faith1101 I'm a Fan of Faith1101 I'm a fan of this user 3 fans permalink Thanks for the note of caution. I would definitely at least research the matter before taking so much. Do keep in mind that Weil sells, or at least USED to sell, a line of vitamins. That, in and of itself, doesn't necessarily mean anything. But it's good to note.
Maybe we can post again if we see a difference in our health... Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:53 AM on 2/10/2010 - + Sean Kenniff I'm a Fan of Sean Kenniff I'm a fan of this user permalink
Naturally made Vitamin D from your skin is essential for the manufacturing of a lot of your hormones and neurotransmitters. For instance testosterone. Just this week a new report found MEN WHO SUNBATHE have a higher testosterone level and a higher libido. (not that that is always good!) Link below. It is on the bottom of healthapalooza's front page. www.healthapalooza.com http://www.healthapalooza.com Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:21 PM on 2/09/2010 - + lightist I'm a Fan of lightist I'm a fan of this user 3 fans permalink
I'm a daily huffpo reader and this article by Dr. Weil as well as the insightful comments section has me wondering if huffpo could begin a daily section devoted to this body health business. I think it would be a good balance to all the doom and gloom we digest every day in this amazing news journal. By the way, I was already on the vitamin D3 but now I will up my daily dose to the recommended 4-6000 IUs per day
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:38 PM on 2/08/2010 - + entopticon I'm a Fan of entopticon I'm a fan of this user 15 fans permalink I like Andrew Weil, but this article bugged me a bit, because the diet that he recommends is very (if not dangerously) low in vitamin D, so it seems a bit hypocritical of him. Red meat, which he advocates against eating (even from sustainable, humane sources) is the largest natural source of vitamin D. And soy, which he advocates, leeches the body of vitamin D, significantly increasing its need for it.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:49 PM on 2/08/2010 - + Pete59 I'm a Fan of Pete59 I'm a fan of this user permalink Oddly when I look up meat and vitamin d it say that it is only the liver that contains significant levels of vitamin d. Do you eat a lot of liver, then beware as it contains a lot more vitamin A than D. I am not a vegetarian, but I do not consider meat as a source of vitamin d because it isn't. How about some reference to support your comments.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:49 AM on 2/09/2010 - + TTAZ I'm a Fan of TTAZ I'm a fan of this user permalink photo Pete59, here is some info to support your point.
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp#h3 Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:00 AM on 2/09/2010 There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All - + TTAZ I'm a Fan of TTAZ I'm a fan of this user permalink photo
While I enjoy my red meat, your comment is way off the mark. The most beneficial, side effect free, form of D comes from you skin's natural synthesis caused by exposure to sunlight. Major sources from food are fish, dairy and whole grains. Near the bottom of the list is beef liver... Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:56 AM on 2/09/2010 - + entopticon I'm a Fan of entopticon I'm a fan of this user 15 fans permalink
Actually TTAZ and Pete, I don't think my my comment is off the mark at all. Your info is just out of date. Recent assays of meat in New Zealand have reported levels of 0.10 microg vitamin D3 and 0.45 microg 25-OH D3 per 100 g in beef and levels of 0.04 and 0.93 microg/100 g respectively in lamb. (21) Given the higher biological activity of the 25-OH vitamin D, this means that 100 g of cooked beef could provide 12% of the estimated adequate intake of 10 microg/day for a 51- to 70-year-old individual, (8) and cooked lamb could provide more than 25%, and hence be an important source of this nutrient.
The 25-OH D3 is considered to be superior in biologically availability. That is why many sources such as this now cite that "Red meat is the largest natural source of vitamin D, an essential vitamin for maintenance of organs and our bones." http://www.meateat.co.uk/vitamins-in-meat.html Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:12 AM on 2/10/2010 There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All - + entopticon I'm a Fan of entopticon I'm a fan of this user 15 fans permalink
And speaking of being way off the mark... Where on Earth did you come up with the completely fallacious notion that whole grains are a major source of vitamin D? That is absolute nonsense. I definitely agree that salmon and mackerel are great sources of vitamin D, but for many people, relying on sunlight alone with no dietary sources from the animal products that D comes from, and the saturated fat necessary for making D bioavailable, is a quick road to rickets. That is why vegan and macrobiotic children are particularly prone to developing rickets from a lack of vitamin D.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:59 AM on 2/10/2010 There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All - + flowereater I'm a Fan of flowereater I'm a fan of this user 24 fans permalink photo I'm glad the headline said vitamin D. I was cringing at the thought of more exercise. Or vegetables.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:35 PM on 2/08/2010 - + dawnlight48 I'm a Fan of dawnlight48 I'm a fan of this user permalink Better late than never, Dr. Weil! Wish you'd seen the research 2 years ago like many of your colleagues. Give your kids their Vitamin D, especially in the winter! And have you noticed it makes you feel better? Takes away the winter blues!
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:09 PM on 2/08/2010 - + listen2elvis I'm a Fan of listen2elvis I'm a fan of this user 6 fans permalink Great advice- since my family has started supplementing with Vitamin D3...we all take at least 1,000 IU per day...we have virtually stopped getting colds. I used to hit off colds with Airborne, but now, we hardly even get them.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:31 PM on 2/08/2010 - + jgarma I'm a Fan of jgarma I'm a fan of this user 9 fans permalink photo It's great that the benefits of Vitamin D are being so widely extolled. Hopefully, the importance and benefits of Vitamin D will soon become common knowledge.
HuffPost has reported on this topic before. Check out this very informative post about Vit. D: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-frank-lipman/vitamin-d-what-you-need-tb308973.html And if you rather watch video, youtube is loaded with Vitamin D info: http://www.youtube.com/results?searchquery=vitamin+d&searchtype=&aq=f
Consider using D3 as opposed to D2 (these being the two different forms of Vit D). There is (naturally) a debate about which on is better, but what I've read suggests that D3 is better absorbed. Vit D is but one of several very important natural supplements to consider: http://bit.ly/MustHaveVitamins
Jgarma Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:43 PM on 2/08/2010 Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next › Last » (6 pages total)
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