Science & Vitamin D


Vitamin D comes in two forms. The biologically active form is known as D3 or cholecalciferol. The terms “Vitamin D” and “D3” can be used interchangeably. 

The D2 version is essentially biologically inactive, and must be converted into D3 before it has any effects on the human body. This is a wasteful process – especially since the active D3 version is so economical to begin with.

In the last few years the science of Vitamin D has exploded. Careful review of the scientific literature points to the vital importance of Vitamin D in maintaining health. In one blockbuster study after another, Vitamin D is being revealed as one of nature’s wonder nutrients.


How Vitamin D Helps


Fighting Inflammation


We are just beginning to scratch the surface regarding the study of inflammation. Basically inflammation is the body’s reaction to stress or disease. Long term inflammations can lead to chronic diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pain, muscle pain, heart disease, depression, dementia and a wide range of cancers, including skin melanomas. 

NF-kappaB


So fighting inflammation is extremely important. One of the major recent findings about inflammation is the discovery of NF-kappaB. 

Living in the cytosol of cells, NF-kappaB appears to be the major promoter of the inflammatory pathway. It is activated by injury, radiation, stress, allergens, viral infections, certain prostaglandins, toxins (like pesticides), low levels of omega fatty acids and, you guessed it, low levels of Vitamin D.

Anything bad happening to the body promotes inflammation. The correlation between Vitamin D deficiency, inflammation and heart failure was confirmed as recently as Jan 5, 2008, in the Journal American Geriatric Society.

Vitamin D’s influence on mitigating or lessening the effects of NF-kappaB was more recently reported in the March, 2007 issue of Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

But as early as 1995, similar science described Vitamin D’s role in down regulating NF-kappaB – as described in the journal Immunology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.


Cancers… and More


“We are ALL Deficient”

An important lecture was held in May of 2008 in Vancouver - The International Conference of Orthomolecular Medicine. Dr. Damien Downing, MB, author of “Day Light Robbery” which describes how Vitamin D functions and how its deficiency affects our health, stated that:

“…we are ALL deficient in Vitamin D.”

Dr. Downing makes some interesting observations:

  • 11 kinds of cancer are inversely correlated with Vitamin D deficiency. Meaning the less Vitamin D in the body, the more cancer is likely to develop.
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  • Most cancer cells have increased numbers of Vitamin D receptors, so they may be plausibly more susceptible to Vitamin D deficiency effects.
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  • Vitamin D is a potent inhibitor of tumor cell induced angiogenesis - (meaning that Vitamin D can make cancers cells lose their blood supply, limiting their ability to expand).
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  • Vitamin D strikingly inhibits cell proliferation, and induces cell apoptosis (inability to divide) in breast cancer, prostate cancer and osteosarcoma.
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  • Influenza epidemics are inversely correlated with Vitamin D deficiency.
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  • Vitamin D levels are lower in obese people.
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  • Vitamin D suppresses leptins (which are correlated with obesity).



The Mayo Clinic Weighs In …


The renowned Mayo Clinic has also done some serious research into the effects of Vitamin D, reporting that overall 93% of schoolchildren and adults are deficient in Vitamin D, this according to a Minnesota-based study. 

Within that same study, the Mayo Clinic found 100% of African-Americans, East Africans, Hispanics and Native Americans were deficient.


FDA Recommended Dosage Totally Inadequate

The FDA’s recommended daily intake of Vitamin D is 400 IU. This amount ensures one thing: You’ll be deficient in this essential nutrient.

The most recent scientific findings indicate taking over 12 times that amount: 5000 IU per day.


Vitamin D Is Safe

Many people confuse Vitamin D with Vitamin A. That’s normal, because the two are usually lumped together when buying supplements.

While we do need both vitamins in maintaining good health, Vitamin D doesn’t have the toxicity of Vitamin A when taken in larger dosages.

The fear of over-supplementing with Vitamin D is a myth – and has been largely debunked by independent research.


Economical 5000 IU Capsules Now Available


A convenient way to meet that amount is by taking an easy to swallow 5000 IU natural Vitamin D3 capsule, available at: Order VitaminD.

Each of these capsules meets the new guidelines. By purchasing their 5-bottle offer, it works out to about $6/month.