It sounds too good to be true … a little inexpensive pill that could block the development of some cancers, strengthen bones, prevent multiple sclerosis and alleviate winter depression.
But it’s not science fiction. The “new aspirin” could be Vitamin D. Just as we discovered that aspirin can guard against heart disease, Vitamin D could become a useful weapon in the fight against MS, osteoporosis, mild depression and one of the most devastating diseases of our time — cancer.
“As time has gone by, Vitamin D has raised its head as a sort of ambrosia for cancers,” says Dr. Louise Parker, an epidemiologist and a world expert in the environmental exposures that can lead to cancer. Or, in the case of Vitamin D, the lack of exposure.
“One of the most important sources of Vitamin D is from the sun and through your skin,” says Dr. Parker.
The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that during the winter, Canadians take at least 1,000 units a day of Vitamin D, dubbed “the sunshine vitamin.” Those units can be contained in a tiny pill that comes in a bottle of 100 tablets ranging from $5 to $10, depending on the brand name.
Dr. Parker says 1,000 units a day is well beyond what you can obtain from your diet. Vitamin D is a bit of a rare vitamin, appearing only in fatty fish, cod liver oil and egg yolks. Even if you were to sunbathe in southern climates, you would not take in 1,000 units.
She notes Vitamin D as a factor is turning up in study after study. It turns out people with lung and colon cancer are Vitamin D deficient. And it helps the body absorb calcium. In a study examining whether women who took Vitamin D had a lower risk of osteoporosis, it was found the women taking Vitamin D had stronger bones than those who did not take the vitamin. Years later, researchers went back to that study and found that the women who took Vitamin D also had fewer cancers.
But before Vitamin D becomes the “new aspirin,” more research needs to be carried out.
Meanwhile, there is very little evidence that taking Vitamin D can harm you. Perhaps in huge doses it could cause kidney stones, but that has not been proven.
“On the average, 1,000 units a day is safe and is probably effective in reducing the risk of colon cancer, and maybe other cancers as well,” says Dr. Parker.
So does she take Vitamin D and recommend it? Absolutely.
“I take 1,000 units of Vitamin D — one day on and one day off,” she says
I am of the very strong opinion that we need adequate amounts of both ioding and vitamin D, and going even further, we need a good balance of a great many vitamins and minerals, Leave any on item neglected to a large extent, including the vital trace elements, and there will be problems - including the proper utilization of other vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
The bioessay and view you refer to is interesting - I am of the opinion that the problems discussed have more to do with LACK of iodine than with actual supplementation with vitamin D.
I am however, uncomfortable with the way most vitamin D3 supplements are made, as well as the companies who make them, and would encourage everyone to get as much of their vitamin D3 as possible from the sun and, if you can avoid mercury contamination, salt water fish such as herring, salmon, sardines, and fish liver oils.
The commercial production of vitamin D3 is completely dependent on the availability of either 7-dehydrocholesterol or cholesterol. 7-Dehydrocholesterol can be obtained via organic solvent extraction of animal skins (cow, pig or sheep) followed by an extensive purification. Cholesterol typically is extracted from the lanolin of sheep wool and after thorough purification and crystallization can be converted via a laborious chemical synthesis into 7-dehydrocholesterol. It should be appreciated that once chemically pure, crystalline 7-dehydrocholesterol has been obtained, it is impossible to use any chemical or biological tests or procedures to determine the original source (sheep lanolin, pig skin, cow skin, etc.) of the cholesterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol.
Next the crystalline 7-dehydrocholesterol is dissolved in an organic solvent and irradiated with ultraviolet light to carry out the transformation (similar to that which occurs in human and animal skin) to produce vitamin D3. This vitamin D3 is then purified and crystallized further before it is formulated for use in dairy milk and animal feed supplementation. The exact details of the chemical conversion of cholesterol to 7-dehydrocholesterol and the method of large-scale ultraviolet light conversion into vitamin D3 and subsequent purification are closely held topics for which there have been many patents issued (2).
The major producers of vitamin D3 used for milk and other food supplementation are the companies F. Hoffman La Roche, Ltd (Switzerland) and BASF (Germany).
Source:
Vitamin D and Milk
Prepared by Professor Anthony W. Norman;
Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences
University of California, Riverside CA 92521
(December 12, 2000)
Iodine is one of THE essentials in my estimation (and my appreciation for it grows daily thanks to good information sources like yourself, Trapper). Like an adequate supply of the 60 or more vital trace minerals, it appears that it can lead to lesser requirements for calcium, vitamin D and other essentials. Nothing though, is so magical that it will enable us to shortchange any of the other essentials altogether.
>> I am of the very strong opinion that we need adequate amounts of both ioding and >> vitamin D
From what I remember that thread trapper pointed you too goes deep enough into why this may not be so. First the distinction between 25-D and 1,25-D and then the fact that unconverted 25-D works opposite to 1,25-D so therefore massive intake without sun exposure and or the bodies ability to convert may be detrimental:
from that thread:
According to recent molecular models, the steroid 25-D binds the Vitamin D Receptor and affects the activity of the immune system as well, but in a manner opposite to 1,25-D. When the steroid 25-D binds the Vitamin D Receptor, it decreases the activity of the receptor, causing the innate immune system to slow down and shut off. This effect begins around 20 ng/ml and gradually increases with higher levels of 25-D, until the VDR becomes completely blocked.
you always come through with flying colors and good insight yourself. a little Iodine and a little sunshine should be all anyone needs. it took some doing and trying many things to reach that point.
real good info on what is actually in vitamin supplements these days. caveat emptor to the max.
while most people are of the opinion that vit D(3) will boost immunity, it looks to me like that in most people(iodine deficient) it may produce the opposite effect.
on another board i got opposition to the discussion i posted above from people in the northwest who said sunshine wasnt an option. you are in a similar climate. vit D stores in the body. it is also found in some relatively safe fish like sardines and salmon. personally, i have never felt better by taking vit A or D supplements. i simply dont think they are good for people.
from my research, i consider 1000 mg dy a bare minimum. i take that everyday when i'm out in the sun with my shirt off,as my skin tolerates the sun well (the incidence of melanoma in the Scottish islands(cold) is 10x higher than the mela. rate in the south coast of france- the sun worship capitol of europe).i take 4000mg when it's cloudy and i have my leukemia buddy on 10,000 mg day as recommended by dr. Rowen and also Life Extension Foundation. if you are one of those mainstream media believers that hide from the sun, you're going to get sick.
Despite all the nutritional Science and the debates that go with it, it shouldn't be this complicated.
The sun will provide all of the Vitamin D3 that anyone will need, depending on your skin type and density, but the body (in its own innate wisdom) will shut down production of this hormone precursor after the body has had sufficient exposure.
The problem lies with inadequate or insufficient exposure to sunlight on the skin, such as in the Winter months. The only way round this is by supplementation with a high quality source of the Vitamin.
There are very few natural resources of Vitamin D from food, hence the need for supplements.
On the other hand, the trace mineral Iodine can be a food/diet problem with a potential lack of iodine in the diet. If ones diet is extremely varied then deficiencies should not occur.
Deficiencies can produce the following symptoms:
Goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland)
Fatigue
Weakness
Depression
Weight gain
Concentrated food sources of iodine include sea vegetables, yogurt, cow's milk, eggs, strawberries and mozzarella cheese. Fish and shellfish can also be concentrated sources of iodine.
What then is the problem here? If someone would like to explain further.
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