Vitamin D3- by Larry Norton

[AlaskaAngel]

I wonder if exercise might increase the conversion process?

A.A.

[Debbie L.]

Hi all who've chimed in so far. Lots of questions and I'm pretty sure they're still working on the answers.

This is the time of year when Vitamin D levels are lowest. Ideally, we get it from sun exposure. But with the sun near its lowest point for us in the northern hemisphere, it apparently does not rise high enough to be of much good even we sunbathed naked at noon (brrr!).

I have been reading much of the recent research into Vitamin D and the many diseases/conditions that have an association with low levels. But for most of what's been observed so far, they don't even know if it's low levels contributing to the condition or the condition contributing to the low levels. Let alone the best way to handle the low levels. There's a long way to go before we'll have answers, alas.

Still, supplementation seems fairly innocuous. Might help, probably can't hurt. They used to say that it was easy to OD because D is fat soluble and thus not automatically excreted when there's an excess, as, for example, happens with Vitamin C. But apparently it's nearly impossible to take enough to OD, and that previous information was a theory presented as a fact (hmm, why am I not surprised?).

I have re-read the relevant chapter about cholesterol, vitamin D, folic acid, skin color r/t melanin, and sunlight - in "Survival of the Sickest" which I highly recommend as a book full of interesting ideas. The frozen frogs alone are mind-boggling. And then there's the semi-aquatic apes. Really, give it a try, you'll be fascinated.

I have a couple of links to more Vitamin D information/questions. One is about Quest lab's errors in reporting the test, and about unreliable assays in general. Another has cautions about supplementation. Right now, it's very PC to be promoting Vitamin D as a magic bullet. There are far more promoters than cautioners. Still, I'm somewhat skeptical that's it's as good as the hoopla would have us believe. One, I tend to distrust "magic bullet" kinds of solutions - it's always more complex than just one thing. And two, it just seems intuitively wrong that we should have to artificially add something to our body in such a large quantity. Our bodies are finely tuned machines (ideally). When we muck about with the tuning by adding large quantities of anything - that can have farther reaching effects than we may initially understand.

I never used to be such a skeptic. But still, I have now increased my daily D from 2000 IUs to 4000 IUs. I don't really want to get it retested though.

Debbie Laxague, going to look for those links:
Quest labs: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/bu...08labtest.html

or tinyurl: http://tinyurl.com/76o23u

Marshall's discussion of possible harms of supplementation (I do not know the reliability of this person - does anyone else? It's posted on a website called "Science Daily"):
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0125223302.htm

or tinyurl: http://tinyurl.com/3935y6

[vickie h]

Good discussion on Vitamin D3. I take 5,000 to 10,000 a day on the request from one of my Oncs. I was tested at 40 and she is doing her own research and wants my levels to be 50 to 60 ideally. Thanks for postging this and getting such wonderful feedback. Love, Vickie

[R.B.]

There are two good D3 lectures on this post by experts representing the position we need more D3

The first take a while to download but will if you leave it to run and do something else at the same time (-:.


http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=37448

[RobinP]

http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:...lnk&cd=4&gl=us

Above is Dr. Norton's lecture link, where he spoke of vitamin D during the second half of his talk, recommending a dose of 2000 IU daily.

Yes, vitamin D is becoming the new wonder vitamin, as it aids in cancer prevention, decreases aches in bones and joints, helps increase bone density with calcium and magnesium, etc.

KEYNOTE TO DR. NORTON'S LECTURE:
New watch for Rank Ligland antibody drugs in the next few years,which will eventually compete with or replace the biphosphonates for building bone and preventing bone mets.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j...TRY=1&SRETRY=0

[StephN]

Hi Everyone -

Vickie H - was wondering what the follow up is with your high dose vitamin D. How long are you supposed to take the 5 - 10,000iu daily? Will you have new bloodwork to test the level?

As for the level that seems to be theraputic, my med onc recommends in the same neighborhood as Vickie's. It is felt I should be at 50 to 55. I was given the impression that this is what is coming out of the cancer meetings.

I have always been a breakfast eater - need that boost in the morning. So no problem with my getting enough fat somehow for absorbtion of the vitamins I take. Always taken supplements with enough food except something like COX2 inhibitor which says to take between meals.

Don't know HOW many friends I have had to instruct that taking the vitamins with just a cup of coffee or orange juice in the morning is a waste of their money. So many seemingly intelligent people do not know that they need some fat to break down the vitamins. Wonder why the companies don't put such instruction on the labels or the stores don't print little handouts??

[RobinP]

http://www.enews20.com/news_A_Low_Vi...isk_07950.html