Vitamin D thread -Please use this for your Vit D info.

[R.B.]

This forthright video provides a range of useful information including highly thought provoking data, particularity if watched in combination with the Holick lecture. As ever trying to compress meaningful information in short intervals is difficult, and it is necessary to read widely round a subject to get the nuances, but hours in life are limited for all of us and the amount of information out there vast so sometimes a forthright approach is a better way of getting focus on a topic.

I as a lay person share his puzzlement as to why there is not greater public health focus on the issue of low vitamin D, and greater regard for the wider picture including biology and likely evolutionary importance as against basing conclusions and advice just on RCTs (randomized controlled trials). There are RCTs for rickets, but not for a whole range of other western diseases, largely because it is impossible to do them given they develop over years. Ultimately as with smoking a more common sense approach will have to be taken; there has never been an RCT smoking study in humans both for ethical and practical reasons, yet it is widely and rightly accepted that smoking is not a health promoting activity.





D is for Debacle - The Crucial Story of Vitamin D and Human Health

Ivor Cummings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3pK0dccQ38

[Laurel]

Glad I gave you a chuckle, R.B.! I remain confused on the sun vs Vit D, vs skin cancer, vs other cancer risk, bla and bla! Sometimes it just seems like one big crapshoot, doesn't it? Oatmeal lowers cholesterol this week, increases our risk of cancer the next due to the pesticide glyphosate (round up) present in oats!
Learned something new about UVB rays vs UVA however, so thanks for that!

[R.B.]

Another excellent resource;

https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/


Hi Laurel

You just need to be be aware adequate vitamin D levels are an important health factor be that by sensible non-burning sun exposure (see at appropriate time of day time of year where there is not too much air pollution which blocks UV etc Holick videos) or supplementation. . .

and as suggested by Confucius put knowledge into practice.

Supplementation may not entirely mimic nature but is way better than deficiency - and a way to meet out evolutionary needs in a modern world. . .

[R.B.]

More evidence that just because people live where the sun shines does not mean they are not D deficient

(helpfully referenced in Vitamin D council news page)

ABSTRACT

Eur J Nutr. 2017 Oct 31. doi: 10.1007/s00394-017-1564-2. [Epub ahead of print]
A systematic review of vitamin D status in southern European countries.
Manios Y1, Moschonis G2, Lambrinou CP3, Tsoutsoulopoulou K3, Binou P3, Karachaliou A3, Breidenassel C4, Gonzalez-Gross M4, Kiely M5,6, Cashman KD5,7.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:

Despite an acknowledged dearth of data on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations from Southern European countries, inter-country comparison is hampered by inconsistent data reporting. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a systematic literature review of available data on serum 25(OH)D concentrations and estimate vitamin D status in Southern European and Eastern Mediterranean countries, both at a population level and within key population subgroups, stratified by age, sex, season and country.
METHODS:

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify and retrieve scientific articles reporting data on serum 25(OH)D concentration and/or vitamin D status following standard procedures.
RESULTS:

Data were extracted from 107 studies, stratified by sex and age group, representing 630,093 individuals. More than one-third of the studies reported mean 25(OH)D concentrations below 50 nmol/L and ~ 10% reported mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations below 25 nmol/L. Overall, females, neonates/ infants and adolescents had the higher prevalence of poor vitamin D status. As expected, there was considerable variability between studies. Specifically, mean 25(OH)D ranged from 6.0 (in Italian centenarians) to 158 nmol/L (in elderly Turkish men); the prevalence of serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L ranged from 6.8 to 97.9% (in Italian neonates).
CONCLUSIONS:

Contrary to expectations, there was a high prevalence of low vitamin D status in the Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, despite abundant sunshine. These data further emphasize the need for strategies, such as fortification of foods with vitamin D and/or vitamin D supplementation, which will be tailored to the needs of specific population groups with higher risk of insufficiency or deficiency, to efficiently tackle the pandemic of hypovitaminosis D in Europe.

[R.B.]

Vitamin D and magnesium.

Low magnesium is quite commonplace globally (see next post).

It is suggested low magnesium may inhibit the ability of the body to utilize Vitamin D.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0226122548.htm

"Low magnesium levels make vitamin D ineffective
Up to 50 percent of US population is magnesium deficient

Date:
February 26, 2018
Source:
American Osteopathic Association
Summary:
Vitamin D can't be metabolized without sufficient magnesium levels, meaning Vitamin D remains stored and inactive for as many as 50 percent of Americans. In addition, Vitamin D supplements can increase a person's calcium and phosphate levels even while they remain Vitamin D deficient. People may suffer from vascular calcification if their magnesium levels aren't high enough to prevent the complication. "

[R.B.]

See post above re vitamin D

A paper containing lots of thought provoking information as to the issue of low magnesium intakes globally.



'Subclinical magnesium deficiency: a principal driver of cardiovascular disease and a public health crisis'

https://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000668

Of particular interest to females . . . a small part of the total data summarized on the wider issue

"Magnesium deficiency has been found in 84% of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis diagnosed by low magnesium trabecular bone content and Thoren’s magnesium load test."

[R.B.]

Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplements on Development of Advanced Cancer
A Secondary Analysis of the VITAL Randomized Clinical Trial

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2773074

"Question Does vitamin D3 supplementation reduce the risk of developing advanced (metastatic or fatal) cancer among adults without a diagnosis of cancer at baseline?

Findings In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial with 25 871 patients, supplementation with vitamin D3 reduced the incidence of advanced (metastatic or fatal) cancer in the overall cohort, with strongest risk reduction in individuals with normal weight and no reduction among individuals with overweight or obesity.

Meaning These findings suggest that vitamin D3 may reduce the risk of developing advanced cancer among adults without a diagnosis of cancer at baseline; this protective effect is apparent for those who have normal but not elevated body mass index."

[JessicaV]

A while ago, I read that the blood/immune system entity that transports Vitamin D around the body and delivers it where it is needed also is involved in consuming seed malignant cells/telomer failures etc ie destroys the very initial forming cancers before they can become a problem. If we have low Vitamin D in our system, we do not have many of these entities transporting it around, so these tiny malignancies do not get nipped in the bud.

[AlfredoLong]

The vitamin D deficiency isn’t a result of COVID infection, they are saying if you have an existing deficiency you may be more likely to be symptomatic and have worse symptoms. Since the COVID hit, I was taking elderberry with zinc on a daily routine.

[R.B.]

https://www.healthline.com/health-ne...ou-should-know

" Researchers say higher vitamin D levels may help improve a person’s odds of surviving breast cancer.
Experts say most people in the United States don’t have sufficient vitamin D levels because only a few foods contain the nutrient naturally.

They add that vitamin D supplementation is necessary for only certain groups of people, including post-menopausal people.

Having enough vitamin D at the time of diagnosis is associated with better breast cancer outcomes.

That’s according to a new study highlighted at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 virtual annual meeting. "

Also see

https://www.newswise.com/articles/re...ncer-patients2

[R.B.]

Vitamin D 'derivative" calcifediol appears to significantly reduce COVID-10 ICU and mortality risk.

There is a huge amount of research suggesting vitamin D is central to immune function regulation.

Many observational studies point to low vitamin D increasing COVID-19 risks.

Why this information has not reached the main stream or been reported is really puzzling. As a result the necessary confirmatory research has not been done, and people are likley arguably dying unnecessarily.

"Do you know how many people Calcifediol has been able to save their lives in this pandemic?
We don't know the number, but we do know there have been thousands of covid patients around the world."

https://www.diariocordoba.com/cordob...-53335018.html

A group of us have been trying to highlight the likely effect of vitamin D insufficiency in COVID for well over a year but have very sadly failed to make much impact - to cheap and simple? - a hundred years research,side effects are very limited, part of our evolutionary physiology, a steroid like dexamethasone but largely ignored by the mainstream . . . .

Co-factors are also necessary - they include the minerals such as zinc and magnesium - B12 and iodine also have roles . . . as do other nutrients etc . . .

And this study "Epigenetic Factors Predicting More Severe COVID-19 Revealed "https://www.clinicalomics.com/topics/patient-care/coronavirus/epigenetic-factors-predicting-more-severe-covid-19-revealed/
evidences that epigenetics factors in COVID - of crucial importance diet is one of the major players in determining epigenetic switching on and off of gene function

A case of the Semmelweis Effect? The Doctor Who Championed Hand-Washing And Briefly Saved Lives https://www.npr.org/sections/health-...-women-s-lives





A recent published study


Calcifediol treatment and COVID-19-related outcomes

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/advanc...gab405/6294179




Conclusions

In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, calcifediol treatment significantly reduced ICU admission and mortality


"Main Outcome Measures

ICU admission and mortality.
Results

ICU assistance was required by 102 (12.2%) participants. Out of 447 patients treated with calcifediol at admission, 20 (4.5%) required ICU, compared to 82 (21%) out of 391 non-treated (p-value<0.0001). Logistic regression of calcifediol treatment on ICU admission, adjusted by age, gender, linearized 25OHD levels at baseline, and comorbidities showed that treated patients had a reduced risk to require ICU (OR 0.13 [95% CI 0.07;0.23]). Overall mortality was 10%. In the Intention-to-Treat analysis, 21 (4.7%) out of 447 patients treated with calcifediol at admission died compared to 62 patients (15.9%) out of 391 non-treated (p=0.0001). Adjusted results showed a reduced mortality risk with an OR 0.21 [95% CI 0.10; 0.43]). In the second analysis, the obtained OR was 0.52 [95% CI 0.27;0.99]."

[R.B.]

I just posted two responses - references to new published research papers and they are no longer visible - hopefully they will reappear . . .

Happily they have just reappeared . . .

Sometimes we appear to be in 'Scary Times' as to right to rational open debate . . . hence my happily irrelevant comment . . . in this case

[R.B.]

Vitamin D is essential to development in utero and early years, thus it makes evolutionary sense that breast tissue would have an affinity for vitamin D, and accumulate it particularly in pregnancy. A new study considers such issues.

It is open format so the PDF can be downloaded for free.

https://cancerpreventionresearch.aac....full-text.pdf

Endlessly depressing that it is such an uphill battle to get more focus on the role of vitamin D and wider nutrients in breast cancer.

Without the nutrients they need cells cannot function optimally - that is an evolutionary inheritance imperative.




Vitamin D as a potential preventive agent for young women's breast cancer
Sarah M Bernhardt, Virgina F Borges and Pepper Schedin
DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-21-0114


Abstract

Clinical studies backed by research in animal models suggest that vitamin D may protect against the development of breast cancer, implicating vitamin D as a promising candidate for breast cancer prevention. However, despite clear pre-clinical evidence showing protective roles for vitamin D, broadly targeted clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation have yielded conflicting findings, highlighting the complexity of translating pre-clinical data to efficacy in humans. While vitamin D supplementation targeted to high-risk populations is a strategy anticipated to increase prevention efficacy, a complimentary approach is to target transient, developmental windows of elevated breast cancer risk. Postpartum mammary gland involution represents a developmental window of increased breast cancer promotion that may be poised for vitamin D supplementation. Targeting the window of involution with short-term vitamin D intervention may offer a simple, cost-effective approach for the prevention of breast cancers that develop postpartum. In this review, we highlight epidemiologic and preclinical studies linking vitamin D deficiency with breast cancer development. We discuss the underlying mechanisms through which vitamin D deficiency contributes to cancer development, with an emphasis on the anti-inflammatory activity of vitamin D. We also discuss current evidence for vitamin D as an immunotherapeutic agent and the potential for vitamin D as a preventative strategy for young woman's breast cancer.

[R.B.]

Time is valuable - I have been posting here for around 16 years - (where did the time go . . .)

Not sure what is happening but another new post has disappeared just after I posted it . . . hopefully will reappear but anybody have any idea why that is happening . . . if a moderation issue surely I can be trusted after 16 years of contributions!

A link and comment on this paper - so nothing controversial - time and brain space consuming to have to worry about informational posts disappearing . . . reentering the site to check a few times etc

Many thanks

https://cancerpreventionresearch.aac...-0114.full.pdf

It did reappear a few minutes later . . . ????!!!

[Nguyen]

RB,

The same posting problems (and log-in irregularity) happens often to me the last several months. It's not a moderation issue, I don't think. Usually I need to wait the next day to see posting appears normally. But you could sort of get around by clicking either "next thread" (or "previous thread") then go backward (or forward) to the thread of your posting, then you will see your new post.

I believe the problem is due to "data caching" (temporary storage of data to local server and/or hub server) to reduce network traffic. Also it might be related to "vbulletin" forum software.

To see your post normally (immediately), make the post using one internet connection mechanism (such as local wifi) and view it using a different connection mechanism (such as cellular). The two different mechanisms generate two IP addresses which by-pass caching scheme.

Nguyen

[Nguyen]

Pre-infection 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels and association with severity of COVID-19 illness

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ar...l.pone.0263069

[Nguyen]

Daily Vitamin D Consumption May Reduce Cancer Mortality

https://scitechdaily.com/daily-vitam...pand_article=1

Efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation on cancer mortality: Systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...82X?via%3Dihub

[Nguyen]

Vitamin D Boosts Gut Bacteria and Enhances Cancer Immunity in Mice

https://www.technologynetworks.com/p...in-mice-386200

An update on vitamin D signaling and cancer

https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...140?via%3Dihub