Strength and Health Through Synergy

A look at Autism Today (online directory) has us wondering about the increase in autism, or at least the diagnosis says Dr. Wendy Roberts. She says the public ought to be cautious, and we’re in agreement especially because this particular topic involves pregnant women and the very young. When it comes to these two groups moderation is the best policy.

We’re of a mind that nutritional needs are intensely individual. It’s wonderful that we are all completely different and therein lies the challenge as well. It seems to us that the path laid out is fraught with danger and lined with the beauty of nature all at the same time. We want to enjoy our lives but be smart, too. Be wary of “being led down the garden path” as well as lead a carefree life, and at least allow our children to be children. The persuasive among us have a charge to be well-informed and make sure our stance is based on fact.

To be true, Vitamin D and autism is speculation from the standpoint of the most comprehensive resource for the cause of autism. There is a wide range of hope, despair and cool-headed truth…and the truth is: we don’t know. We do know that the stats are showing an increase, we know that autism is trendy, if a disease can indeed be called trendy. When we think of media we think news and what captures the attention of the masses–so the longer you’ve been privy to the daily news the wiser you become, as far as trends go.

Here are three powerfully opposing viewpoints…and don’t get us wrong, we invite and are glad for discussion because a spotlight can show up what we had not considered before or even endorse what our best guess is based on:

1) Autism may be caused by mercury (vaccinations, plus other sources)

2) Autism may be caused by what is called Vitamin D deficiency

3) Autism may be caused by something else

The question-asking teenagers who are fascinated by law will tell you that some facts are circumstantial. In fact, the ever-popular Sherlock Holmes would say that when you eliminate the impossible what you have left, however improbable, is the answer. So, collectively we’re actually in the process of elimination of theories which takes time. In fact we would all surely love to see long-term controlled studies on Vitamin D so that short-term studies do not sway too quickly the minds and hearts of the vulnerable in our society.

In light of practical treatment, Dr. Mercola has received unsolicited letters from mothers who found through trial and error an amazing decline of the worst symptoms of childhood autism through Vitamin D.

Right or wrong there are early adopters (those of us who act first) and there are those who are careful to go forward only after enough facts are in. Most of us fall somewhere in between.

Together there will be a consensus, together an answer will be found and until then let’s be synergistically minded and let our intake be based on toxin-free food, plus fresh air, sunshine and regular sleep. Moderation for the nation.

To hear what world renowned researcher Dr. Michael Holick has to say download his interview here

Cathy Fletcher

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

Benefits of Vitamin D

Studies show that there is some kind of connection between Vitamin D and diabetes. Even though, scientists still don’t know what exactly it is. Type 1 diabetes is a condition that usually starts in infancy and it’s possible that Vitamin D deficiency may play an important factor in it.

The high levels of sugar in the bloodstream are what define the health condition called diabetes. It presents itself in two ways: type 1 and type 2. Ninety percent of the diabetics are included in type 2 and they mostly adults. In the case of type 2 diabetes, either the insulin is too high or it’s not working properly, causing the blood sugar to rise.

Type 1 diabetes happens because of inadequate levels of insulin. It usually starts in childhood or the teen years. Doctors agree that type 1 diabetes develops when the beta-cells, the pancreatic cells that responsible for producing insulin, are destroyed. This destruction occurs because of some kind of immune system dysfunction. Therefore, type 1 diabetes may be considered to be an autoimmune disease.

Researchers did some epidemiological studies to see the relationship between Vitamin D supplementation in infancy (up to 1 year of age) and the future risk of developing type 1 diabetes. They found that supplementing with Vitamin D was associated with 29% less risk of developing this disease.

Those epidemiological studies cannot prove that Vitamin D is actually protecting against type 1 diabetes. However, the researchers see a strong relationship between the high levels of Vitamin D and the lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Other researches support the evidence that individuals who were diagnosed as having type 1 diabetes also showed low levels of Vitamin D. It’s also true that there’s more incidence of type 1 diabetes in countries that are colder, in other words, there’s not enough production of Vitamin D in the skin.

There are Vitamin D receptors on both the beta-cells in the pancreas and some cells in the immune system. So, scientists believe that Vitamin D probably helps normalize the immune system, which in turn possibly decreases an overreaction on the beta-cells, protecting them from damage. Animal experiments suggest that this is true: Vitamin D is able to protect against type 1 diabetes while normalizing the immune system.

While other medical doctors are waiting for volunteers to conduct some randomized trials, i.e. the children would be treated with Vitamin D or placebo, it’s safe to say that there is a strong evidence that there’s a connection between Vitamin D and Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is really a significant public medical condition, accounting for considerable precocious deaths. The growing incidence of this problem seems to be directly associated with overweight problems. However, during the last five years, a variety of substantial, observational research has indicated a strong connection between the onset of type 2 diabetes and Vitamin D insufficiency.  Studies have shown that Vitamin D affects insulin activity beneficially, correcting  processes in the body that might be significant in the development of type 2 diabetes. Despite the fact that there are data linking Vitamin D deficiency to type 2 diabetes, scientists still want to do additional investigation to make sure whether Vitamin D supplementation carries a role in the avoiding type 2 diabetes.

If you would like to listen to a 10-minute free interview with Dr Holick, a Vitamin D expert,  please click here.

To your health!

Ligia Fleckenstein

The words Vitamin D and Rickets usually come to mind when someone asks you to describe a common childhood disease.

Rickets

Rickets is one of the three bone diseases related to Vitamin D Deficiency and can be very debilitating if untreated.

At the beginning of the 20th century, rickets reached epidemic levels among infants and young children in many areas of Asia, North America, and northern Europe. However, with the discovery of the role sunlight in curing rickets and the isolation of Vitamin D, inexpensive methods of preventing and treating nutritional rickets became available. Unfortunately, despite these developments, rickets remains a major public health problem in many developing countries and its prevalence is on the rise in many developed countries.

Firstly, let’s look at bone development in children

During childhood, bones continually grow and develop. Peak growth is through infancy and puberty. Growth stops once your child’s bones and skeleton are fully developed.

The strength of your child’s bones depends on the amount of minerals that are laid down in them. This is done through a process called “mineralisation”. Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are taken from the food your child eats and deposited in their bones. Vitamin D is important in this process, helping the body absorb calcium and making sure it gets to where it’s needed. During childhood, mineralisation ensures that bones grow and develop, whereas in adulthood it maintains and repairs them.

So what is rickets?

Rickets is a disease that affects growing bones, causing them to soften, weaken and break easily. As your child grows, his/her increased body weight can cause soft, weak bones to become bowed and deformed.

Soft bones can also affect adults (after their bones have stopped growing); this condition is called osteomalacia.

Low Vitamin D and Rickets – how does Vitamin D affect bone development?

In children more than 80 percent of Vitamin D comes from sunlight with the rest from their diet.

Deformed bones

The active form of Vitamin D3, calcitriol, acts as a hormone to regulate calcium absorption from the intestine and to regulate levels of calcium and phosphate in the bones. If Vitamin D levels are low, the body is unable to regulate calcium and phosphate levels. The body detects low serum levels of calcium and phosphate and stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH helps release calcium and phosphate from the bones to the bloodstream. Decreased amounts of calcium and phosphate prevent the bones from calcifying properly and weak, soft bones are produced.

The long-term consequences of low Vitamin D include permanent bends or disfiguration of the long bones, and a curved back.

How common is rickets?

Although rickets has been uncommon in the western world in recent years, levels of Vitamin D deficiency are on the rise again. Two 2009 studies show that approximately 20% of US children (between 1 and 11 years) and 15% of teenagers are Vitamin D deficient. Rates are higher for children and teens with darker skins, with one study showing that over 50% of African-American female teenagers are Vitamin D deficient.

Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004, which collected information on more than 6,000 children between the ages 1 and 21 has shown an alarming trend. Nine percent (7.6 million) of children are vitamin D deficient. Another 61 % (50.8 million) were vitamin D insufficient. Low levels are especially common in:

• girls,
• African-Americans and Mexican-Americans,
• the obese,
• those who drank milk less than once a week,
• those who spent more than four hours a day watching TV, playing videogames, or using computers.

Studies from the UK show that rickets affects less than 1% of UK children although levels are much higher in children of South Asian or African-Caribbean origin. Approximately 20 children per year are seen at a hospital clinic with a diagnosis of rickets.

In developing countries, rickets is one of the most common childhood diseases reaching epidemic proportions in some countries.

What causes rickets?

Nutritional rickets is the most common type of rickets. It is caused by low levels of Vitamin D or calcium, or a combination of both in your child’s diet. Both these minerals are essential for forming strong, healthy bones.

Typically rickets results from Vitamin D deficiency. Factors causing rickets include exclusive breast feeding, breastfeeding mothers who are Vitamin D deficient, as well as lack of sun exposure due to too much time indoors, covering up due to social and religious customs, or climatic conditions can prevent adequate skin exposure to sun light.

At the other end of the spectrum rickets can be caused by low dietary calcium. This is apparent for older toddlers and children from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Nigeria and South Africa. Low calcium is characteristic of diets that are cereal-based, with little variety, and where there is limited access to dairy products. Research has shown in these countries calcium supplements alone can reduce rickets.

Rickets can also be caused by a combination of low dietary calcium and Vitamin D deficiency. This has been found in Asian children and African American toddlers. The low calcium levels cause excessively high breakdown rates of Vitamin D and this leads to Vitamin D deficiency and rickets.

Famine or starvation during early stages of childhood results in a lack of Vitamin D and/or calcium.

Rickets can be caused by other medical conditions which affect the way the body processes Vitamin D or calcium. Some examples are:

• Problems affecting the gut such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease or malabsorption.
• Some types of liver or kidney disease (the liver and kidneys are involved in processing Vitamin D).
• Medicines which interfere with Vitamin D: carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone and barbiturates.
• A few rare conditions, including some inherited ones, which affect the way the body uses Vitamin D and calcium.

Which groups of children are at risk from rickets?

Lack of Vitamin D is caused by problems with our lifestyle and diet. Most of our Vitamin D is synthesised when our skin is exposed to the sun.

Children ages 6 months to 24 months are at the highest risk of rickets because their bones are growing very rapidly during this period. Risk groups include:

• Breastfed babies whose mothers lack Vitamin D or breastfed babies where weaning is delayed. (Do not stop breastfeeding just add a Vitamin D supplement.)
• Children who spend too much time indoors, cover up when outside, or wear sunscreen.
• Children with medical conditions which affect the way the body handles Vitamin D.
• Children with dark skins from Asian, African Caribbean and Middle Eastern origin. The dark skin requires longer sun exposure than light skin for the same levels of Vitamin D.
• Children living in higher latitudes where the sun is not strong enough to produce Vitamin D for much of the year.
• Children with a family history of Vitamin D deficiency.
• Children who do not get enough Vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus in their diet.
  • They may have diets that limit certain food groups (for example vegetarians, vegans or macrobiotics).
  • They may have diets lacking in foods that contain Vitamin D (liver, oily fish (such as sardines, herring, tuna, salmon, and mackerel), and egg yolk).
• Children who do not consume milk, such as those who are lactose intolerant.

What the symptoms of rickets?

The symptoms of rickets may include:

• soft skull bones
• delayed closing of the soft spot at the top of your baby’s head (the anterior fontanelle)
• delayed growth (your child may be short for his or her age)
• pain in the bones of the spine, pelvis and legs
• floppiness in the limbs and body due to muscle disease or weakness
• teeth taking longer to come through
• weak tooth enamel which may lead to tooth decay
• bone pain in the arms, legs, spine and pelvis (but this is rare)
• fractures, as the result of a fall

Your child may also have skeletal deformities, such as:

• thickening of their ankles, wrists or knees (“knock-knees”)
• legs that curve outwards (“bow legs”)
• a breast bone that sticks out (“pigeon chest”)
• ribs that stick out – this may look like a set of beads on their chest (“rachitic rosary”)
• an asymmetrically shaped skull
• spinal deformities (eg a hunched back, scoliosis)
• pelvic deformities (eg a beaked pelvis)

If your child has any of these symptoms or skeletal deformities, you should see your GP.

How can my doctor tell if my child has rickets?

Your doctor will ask about your child’s health and diet and your family health history. Your child will need a full physical exam. A physical exam may reveal tenderness or pain in the bones, rather than in the joints or muscles. Blood tests and x-rays of the arms or legs can also help your doctor determine if your child has rickets.

How is rickets treated?

Take Vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the preferred form since it is more readily absorbed than Vitamin D2. Check our Vitamin D Dosage chart to find the recommended dosage for infants and children.

If low calcium is part of the problem, calcium supplements can also be taken. These can be liquids or tablets. If calcium levels are severely low and causing problems, calcium can be given by an infusion (a ‘drip’) in hospital.

Your child’s pain and muscle weakness will probably get better within a few weeks of treatment. If your child has inherited rickets or has an illness causing the problem, you may need to see a doctor who specializes in rickets.

If your child has bone deformities caused by rickets, he or she may need braces or surgery to correct the problem.

Are there any side effects of treatment?

It is very unusual to get side effects from Vitamin D or calcium if taken in the correct dose.

What is the outlook?

If treated promptly, the outlook is very good. Most cases of rickets can be cured by Vitamin D treatment. If rickets is untreated for a long time, there is a possibility that bone deformities could result. If these are a problem, they might need surgery.

With prolonged or untreated rickets, the risk of getting osteoporosis (bone thinning and fractures in old age) may be increased. the risks of getting other diseases may well be increased because Vitamin D is involved in preventing some conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

How can I prevent my child getting nutritional rickets?

Babies

All breastfed babies should be given vitamin drops. (Note that formula baby milk contains Vitamin D.) Toddlers who drink cows milk should have supplements, as this milk contains very little Vitamin D.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women

Take Vitamin D supplements, both for your own health and to help prevent rickets in your baby. This is particularly important for mothers of high risk groups. Supplements must be suitable for use in pregnancy and can be either a calcium/Vitamin D tablet, or a multivitamin tablet. Check our article on Vitamin D dosage to see how much Vitamin D you will need.

Note: if you are pregnant, do not take supplements containing large amounts of vitamin A, as too much can harm the baby. Take supplements that are labelled as suitable for pregnancy. Also, do not eat liver which contains large amounts of vitamin A. Vitamin A can be taken if you are breastfeeding.

Children

Supplements: The American Academy of Pediatrics, in its clinical report, Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents, recommends all children, from aged two months, and teens should have at least 400 IU of Vitamin D each day. Check our article on Vitamin D dosage to see how much Vitamin D your child will need.

Supplements are especially important for children and mothers in at risk groups, such as those with darker skins or living in higher latitudes.

Sunshine: Expose your child to 15 minutes of sunshine three times weekly. Darker-skinned people will need more sunshine. Be careful because babies and young children have very sensitive skin and can burn easily. Always apply sunscreen to the face and neck.

Remember that many countries in winter do not have enough sunshine to maintain adequate Vitamin D levels.

Diet: Ensure your child has plenty of foods that are rich in calcium and Vitamin D.

Good sources of calcium include:

• dairy products (eg milk, yoghurt and cheese)
• bread made with fortified flour
• beans and pulses (eg kidney beans and lentils)
• dried fruits
• green vegetables (eg broccoli and cabbage)

Not many foods contain enough of the Vitamin D your child needs, the main source is sunlight. However, it can be found in:

• oily fish
• eggs (cooked, not raw)
• margarine
• breakfast cereals fortified with vitamin D

Rickets and Vitamin D – the two are inextricably linked. Rickets is an exceptionally debilitating bone condition. It can be easily avoided by taking regular supplements of Vitamin D.

As a parent it is exceptionally important to make sure your child gets enough Vitamin D and calcium. Make sure they spend time outside and don’t apply sunscreen on them until they’ve been out in the sun for 10 minutes, so they can synthesise Vitamin D before sun damage.

Please read our article on Vitamin D Supplements or if you would like to find out how to choose the right supplement click here.

Make sure you read the article on Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms in children.

We also have articles on osteomalacia and osteoporosis, the other two bone diseases relating to Vitamin D deficiency.

Here’s to your long-term health!

Claire

Vitamin D and Osteomalacia

Vitamin D and Ostemalacia are inextricably linked. Osteomalacia is one of the major bone diseases that affects adults who have Vitamin D deficiency.

Osteomalacia - soft bones

This is a VERY serious, debilitating disease so please read on.

What is Osteomalacia?

Osteomalacia means “soft bones”- osteo meaning “bone” and malacia meaning “softness”. Softening of the bones is caused by a lack of Vitamin D or a problem with the body’s ability to break down and use this vitamin.

Bones need calcium and phosphorus to remain healthy and strong, but the body also needs Vitamin D to absorb these two minerals. Without this necessary vitamin, bones can become soft and flexible. This softening is called osteomalacia in adults and rickets when diagnosed in children.

Is there a difference between Osteomalacia and Osteoporosis?

Yes. Although both are bone disorders that relate to a Vitamin D deficiency and result in bone fractures, osteomalacia is caused by a defect in the bone-building process, whereas osteoporosis develops due to a weakening of previously normally-constructed bone.

Let’s look at how bones develop

Throughout life your bones are continually maintaining and repairing themselves. This process is called “bone turnover”. Turnover occurs when tiny areas of bone are removed and replaced, swapping old bone for new bone.

Bone strength depends on the amount of minerals that are laid down in them during a process called “mineralisation”. Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are taken from the food you eat and deposited in your bones. Vitamin D is an important component of this process helping the body to absorb calcium and makes sure it gets to the right location. During childhood, mineralisation ensures that bones grow and develop, whereas in adulthood it maintains and repairs them.

Osteomalacia and bone development

Osteomalacia occurs when your bones don’t get enough of the minerals they need. This makes them soft and weak, and can cause them to crack or break more easily. It can also cause bone deformities.

The causes of Osteomalacia

Osteomalacia is caused by prolonged low levels of Vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D deficiency can occur because of:

• lack of Vitamin D in the diet
• not enough exposure to sunshine due to sun cream, smog, latitude or season.
• darker skin, which requires longer sun exposure for Vitamin D production
• conditions that inhibit the body’s absorption of Vitamin D, for example intestinal disorders (including Crohn’s disease and celiac disease)
• conditions that prevent the body from producing or activating Vitamin D, such as kidney disorders and hypoparathyroidism
• certain medications, including some medications prescribed for epilepsy

Low calcium and/or low phosphorus can also be a contributing factors for the development of osteomalacia.

Who is at risk from Vitamin D deficiency?

In the UK between 10 and 30% of adults are deficient in Vitamin D, whereas in the US up to 50% of adults are deficient.

You are more likely to have low Vitamin D leading to osteomalacia if you:

Covering up can make you Vitamin D deficient

• are of Asian, African Caribbean or Middle Eastern descent – the darker your skin the less likely you are to get enough Vitamin D in temperature regions
• cover up extensively with clothing (for example, wearing a burka, scarf)
• don’t spend much time outdoors
• use too much sunscreen
• are aged 65 years and over
• have a poor diet, lacking in vitamins and nutrients, or a restrictive diet, such as vegetarian or vegan
• have avoided drinking milk for many years

Less commonly, Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by underlying conditions such as:

• conditions that affect the way the body handles Vitamin D such as those with celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and some types of liver and kidney disease
• side-effects of some anti-epileptic medicines

Who is at risk of getting Osteomalacia?

The risk of developing osteomalacia is highest for people with very low Vitamin D levels.

• All the groups at risk of low Vitamin D levels listed above.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women (because much of their Vitamin D goes to the baby).
• People with a family history of Vitamin D deficiency.

Signs and Symptoms of Osteomalacia

Typical signs are general bone pain, muscle pain and easy fractures of bones in the adults. Specifically:

• Widespread deep bone pain in the back, hips, ribs and long bones. This is often nagging pain in the bones which comes from the skeletal tissue. Pain is also caused by minor cracks (partial fractures) in the bones. This pain differs from arthritis pain which is the inflammation of the joints.
• Weak muscles associated with decreased mobility due to increased pain. Reduced activity leads to a reduction in muscle mass and partial or complete wasting of muscles.
  • Low calcium and phosphorus levels, along with low Vitamin D levels can also affect muscle functioning.
  • Decreased muscle strength of the upper arms and thighs, in particular, reduces the quality of life as well as increasing difficulty in performing simple tasks like getting up from a chair or climbing a flight of stairs.
  • Bone fractures that occur during normal routine activities. Fracturing is caused by badly demineralised bones.
  • Deformities of the spine. For example, lordosis which is the curvature of the spine in the lower back giving a person a “swayback” appearance. Deformities to the pelvic girdle may show as a waddling gait in the sufferer.
  • Tetany – involuntary contraction (spasms) of muscles spasms and seizures caused by low levels of calcium.

In the early stages, you may have no osteomalacia symptoms, just a general feeling of being unwell, although signs of osteomalacia may be apparent on X-ray pictures or other diagnostic tests. As osteomalacia worsens, you may experience bone pain and muscle weakness.

How common is Osteomalacia?

We don’t know exactly how common it is. Possibly, it is under-diagnosed, or not recognised enough in people who have symptoms such as bone pain. We know that Vitamin D deficiency in adults is very common in many countries, particularly for darker skinned individuals.

How is osteomalacia diagnosed?

Your medical history, symptoms, or lifestyle may point to osteomalacia. Blood tests can test to see if your Vitamin D levels are low and will also detect problems with the liver or bone. Usually, the symptoms plus blood tests are enough to make the diagnosis. Sometimes osteomalacia shows up on an x-ray, but x-rays are not usually necessary.

How is osteomalacia treated?

The usual treatment is to take Vitamin D supplements.

Please read if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Supplements are extremely important to raise both your baby’s and your own Vitamin D levels. Treatment is essential to prevent the baby having low vitamin D, which could affect its growth and development. Please read our article on Vitamin D dosage to see how much Vitamin D you will need.

If you are pregnant, do not take supplements containing large amounts of vitamin A. Supplements labelled as suitable for pregnancy are safe to use. Also, do not eat liver which contains large amounts of vitamin A, as too much can harm the baby. Vitamin A can be taken if you are breastfeeding.

If you are breastfeeding and have osteomalacia with low vitamin D, your baby will need vitamin drops. Your milk will not have enough Vitamin D for a growing baby (unless you are being treated with very high doses of Vitamin D, which is not usually recommended). So, it is a good idea to discuss vitamin drops for the baby with your doctor or health visitor.

Will I recover from Osteomalacia?

If treated, the outlook is very good. Most cases of osteomalacia recover with Vitamin D treatment. However, it can take time (weeks or months) for bones to recover. So, if you have symptoms such as bone pain, this will also take time to improve. Most people who have had osteomalacia will need to take Vitamin D supplements long-term. This has many other benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and low moods.

With prolonged or untreated osteomalacia, the risk of getting osteoporosis (bone thinning and fractures in old age) may be increased. Additionally the risk of other diseases, such as heart disease and cancer is higher because these are also associated with Vitamin D deficiency.

How can I prevent osteomalacia?

1) Supplements. Low Vitamin D and Osteomalacia can be prevented most effectively by regularly taking supplements of Vitamin D.

For pregnant women make sure you take supplements that are labelled as suitable for use in pregnancy. Suitable supplements will be either a calcium/Vitamin D tablet, or a multivitamin tablet. Do not take supplements containing large amounts of vitamin A. Vitamin D supplements are important for your own health and to help prevent rickets in your baby.

2) Sun. Exposure your skin to direct sunshine for 15-20 minutes per day between 10 am and 3pm with hands, arms and face uncovered. People with darker skin may need longer exposure. Make sure you apply sun cream to your face and upper torso. Note that higher latitudes do not have enough sun during winter months for Vitamin D production.

3) Foods high in Vitamin D and calcium. Foods with higher levels of Vitamin D include liver, some fish (mainly oily fish such as herring, sardines, pilchards, trout, salmon, tuna and mackerel), egg yolk, and ‘fortified’ foods (which have vitamin D added) such as some margarines and breakfast cereals. Note these foods will not give you your daily requirement of Vitamin D.

Food rich in calcium include dairy products (milk, cheese, and yoghurt), beans and pulses, and green vegetables.

There is an unavoidable link between Vitamin D and Osteomalacia. Low Vitamin D levels prevent the proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus resulting in the development of soft bones. Osteomalacia is a serious, debilitating disease. However, this disease is easily treated with Vitamin D supplements. If you have low Vitamin D make sure you start taking regular Vitamin D supplements.

We recommend that you read our article on Vitamin D supplements or if you would like to contact us about finding the right supplement then click here.

Click here to find out information on Osteoporosis. You should also read the Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms, and more information on the Sources of Vitamin D.

Heart disease is a major disease for middle age and elderly. We also recommend that you read how Vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of heart disease.

How  to conquer colds and flu is something people have been searching for for hundreds of years.  In the following article by Dr. Mercola, read how to conquer a cold or flu.  Dr. Mercola is one of the top  doctors in the US  promoting alternative health care and has the number 1 health related newsletter on the internet.

THE Number One Way to Conquer a Cold or Flu: Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an amazingly effective antimicrobial agent, producing 200 to 300 different antimicrobial peptides in your body that kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.

In the United States, the late winter average Vitamin D level is only about 15-18 ng/ml, which is considered a very serious deficiency state. It’s estimated that over 95 percent of U.S. senior citizens may be deficient, along with 85 percent of the American public.

In 2009, a team of researcher’s from Children’s Hospital Boston analyzed blood samples taken from 5,000 children under age 12 and found that nearly one out of five children in the U.S. have low blood levels of less than 50 nanomoles per liter, the level recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They also found that two out of three children have a level below 75 nmol/L–which is still insufficient, based on most of the research coming out today.

No wonder colds and flu run rampant each year.

The best source for Vitamin D is direct sun exposure. But for many of us, this just isn’t practical during the winter. The next best thing to sunlight is the use of a safe indoor tanning device. If neither natural nor artificial sunlight is an option, then using oral supplements is your best bet.

Remarkably, researchers have found that 2,000 IU of Vitamin D per day abolished seasonal influenza. This is somewhat surprising, as it is half the dose of what most adults need to achieve ideal levels of Vitamin D.

Please note that this is far greater than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) advised by public health agencies like the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recently doubled the RDA of Vitamin D for children to 400 IU. This new guidance still falls absurdly short of what’s needed to keep kids healthy, especially during flu season.

In order to prevent the flu, children and adults need 35 IU of Vitamin D per pound of body weight. So, for example, a child weighing 57 pounds would need 2,000 IU a day of Vitamin D.

Adults typically need an average of 5,000 IU per day—but some adults have to take 20,000 to 30,000 IU daily to get their Vitamin D level up to optimal levels. Exactly how adults absorb and process Vitamin D so differently is still somewhat of a mystery, so the only way to know if your Vitamin D level is therapeutic and nontoxic is by having your blood tested.  New research is being continually and the levels of Vitamin D for optimal health have change with this research.  To see the latest recommendations on IU’s per day for all ages read this article, Vitamin D recommended Dosage.

Not all Vitamin D testing is accurate, so make sure your health care provider is ordering the correct test.

The correct test to ask for is 25-hydroxy vitamin d.

Vitamin D Deficiency is definitely a problem throughout most of the world today.

Click here for more information on Vitamin D Related Illnesses,  Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms in Children

Yes there IS an important link between Vitamin D and obesity, although it is not widely known.

If you’re like me you’ve wondered why some people can eat all they want and not get fat, while others are constantly battling extra pounds or obesity …. Well, a lot of it has to do with a close link between low Vitamin D and obesity as well as a link between Vitamin D and calcium.

Let’s start by looking closely at the link between Vitamin D and obesity

Obese people are less efficient at producing Vitamin D from sunlight because Vitamin D gets trapped in fat cells.  When you compare an obese person with someone of normal weight the obese person cannot absorb as much Vitamin D from food or supplements and needs at least twice as much Vitamin D to maintain normal Vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D normalizes food intake and blood sugar levels. Weight normalisation is associated to higher levels of Vitamin D and adequate calcium. Calcium absorption is aided by Vitamin D. When the diet lacks calcium there is an increase in fatty acid synthase, which is an enzyme that converts calories into fat. Higher levels of calcium with adequate Vitamin D inhibit fatty acid synthase. However, diets low in calcium increase fatty acid synthase by as much as five-fold leading to a high conversion of calories to fat.

Vitamin D also lowers leptin secretion. Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells and is involved in weight regulation. It is thought that the hormone signals the brain when fat cells are “full,” but exactly how the hormone controls weight is not entirely clear.

The take home message is that Vitamin D levels are lower in people with obesity.

Yes I am overweight – but is this REALLY a big deal?

Yes being overweight is a serious health hazard. About 280,000 adults die each year in the US from obesity. Obesity puts great stress on your body, particularly your heart and blood vessels. Your life expectancy is considerably reduced.  The risk of developing a number of serious illnesses increases.

These include several illness related to heart disease:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Strokes
• Heart attacks

Other illnesses associated with obesity include:

• Cancer (Obese men are more likely than non-obese men to die from cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. Obese women are more likely than non-obese women to die from cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix, or ovaries.)
• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Liver disease.
• Osteoarthritis – joint deterioration possibly resulting from excess weight on the joints.
• Gout, another disease affecting the joints.
• Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea in which a person can stop breathing for a short time during sleep.
• Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

Obesity is a BIG problem in our society and one that is on the rise.

• The incidence of obesity nearly doubled from 1991 to 1998.
• Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States with one in three people obese.
• The proportion of obese children has increased markedly. Approximately 20% to 25% of children are either overweight or obese.

OK- so what should I do to decrease my weight?

• Increase your Vitamin D levels with daily Vitamin D supplements.  As you have seen low Vitamin D and obesity are closely linked. An increase in Vitamin D will improve your calcium absorption and ability to normalize your weight.
• You will need to increase your regular exercise and change your diet to lose weight. Weight loss will bring significant health benefits by lowering blood pressure and lowering the risks of diabetes and heart disease.
• Your goal should be to reduce and maintain a “healthier weight”, not necessarily an ideal weight.
• It is important to have an achievable target that you can reach. Your long-term health will be better off if you only lose 5% to 10% of your original weight and can maintain that than if your lose a huge amount and then put it back on straight away.

It can be a real challenge to lose weight and overcome obesity. But remember your long-term health depends on it. The most important actions are increase daily Vitamin D levels, change your diet and lose weight, and lastly increase fitness.  These are your ticket to long-term health. We wish your every success.

We encourage you to download our free report on how to lose weight, become fit and healthy and improve long-term health.

We recommend that you read our article on Vitamin D Supplements or if you would find out how to choose the right supplement please click here.

Make sure you also check out the information on Vitamin D deficiency symptoms and heart disease

You will also be interested in the  What does Vitamin D do to prevent heart disease?

Click here for information on  Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency and Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Here’s to your long-term health

Claire

Vitamin D deficiency can cause osteoporosis

How are Vitamin D and osteoporosis related?

Osteoporosis is one of the major three bone-related illnesses associated with Vitamin D deficiency.

Key risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• genetic factors
• lack of exercise
• lack of calcium and Vitamin D
• personal history of fracture as an adult
• cigarette smoking
• excessive alcohol consumption
• low body weight
• family history of osteoporosis

In the United States, 44 million people have osteoporosis – about 55% of the population over 50 years of age. This is horrific and very serious.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis means “porous bone”. It is a disease that reduces the density and quality of the bones in our body, often without any obvious symptoms. As the bones become more porous and fragile the risk of fractures greatly increases. A bone fracture may be the first symptom of this disease.

• Fractures of the wrist, hip and spine are the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis, although a fracture may occur in any bone of the body. There are two types of fractures – compression (spine) and cracks (hips). Spine fractures can be intensely painful and may lead to a loss of body movement and body height.  In severe cases of vertebral spine fractures the spine will can compress and curve. This is sometimes known as the “dowager’s hump”.
• Hip fractures generally require surgery. In about one-third of cases patients are unable to continue to live independently.

How common is Vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is very common. One in two women and one in three men over 65 will suffer at least one fracture associated with osteoporosis. The hormonal changes that women undergo during menopause are one reason why the rate is higher in women than men.

Osteoporosis is a world-wide problem. It is estimated that 75 million people suffer from this illness in the United States, Japan and Europe and this figure is projected to double within 50 years.

Who is at risk?

Men and women over 60 years are at higher risk of osteoporosis, although it is possible to have this disease at a younger age.

How does osteoporosis develop?

Bones are living. Throughout your life old bone tissue is removed and new bone tissue is formed. Childhood and adolescence are the most important years for building bone mass. During these years new bone is formed more quickly than old bone removed, enabling bones to become larger and denser. Bone mass peaks about the mid 20’s.

Bone loss typically begins at about 40 years of age when new bone cannot be replaced as quickly as we lose it. For women the rate of bone loss increases after menopause when estrogen production stops. The rate of bone loss in men is much slower. At this stage in life preventative measures should be taken to help slow bone density loss and reduce the risk of fractures.

Bone density is determined by genetic makeup as well as nutrition, exercise and disease. The best time to ensure good bone health is when we are adolescents and young adults. Strong bones are helped by exercise and good nutrition, including plenty of calcium-rich foods and plenty of Vitamin D through sunshine or supplements. These factors are also important later in life to help maintain bone density.

Can I be tested for osteoporosis?

Yes. Testing is quick, easy and painless. It is important to get early diagnosis.

What can I do?

There are important nutritional and lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of low Vitamin D and osteoporosis.

• Exercise. Exercise helps slow bone loss in adults. It also strengthens muscles, increases flexibility, improves coordination and balance which are all exceptionally helpful for reducing the risk of falls.
  • Weight-bearing exercise is particularly good for bone health. This includes walking, jogging, tennis and other racket sports, aerobics and dancing.
  • Resistance training is also good for muscle strength and maintaining bone mass

• Nutrition. A well-balanced diet high in calcium and Vitamin D is important to maintain healthy bones. However, we absorb less calcium and Vitamin D as we grow older so need more calcium-rich foods, calcium and Vitamin D supplements to get our daily requirements.
  • Calcium-rich foods include dairy products, greens (broccoli, kale), tinned fish with bones, almond and brazil nuts, and tofu, as well as calcium-fortified foods.
  • Vitamin D helps calcium absorption in the body. Lack of Vitamin D can cause calcium-depleted bone (rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults), which further weakens the bones and increases the risk of fractures. Vitamin D is synthesised into the body through sun exposure to the skin. However, older people and people are high latitudes do need supplements to obtain their daily recommended Vitamin D levels.
  • Protein is also important to maintain muscle function and bone mass.

How does osteoporosis relate to osteomalacia – are they the same?

No. Both diseases are bone disorders that relate to a Vitamin D deficiency and result in bone fractures but the origin of each disease is different. Osteoporosis develops when previously normally-constructed bone weakens, whereas osteomalacia is caused by a defect in the bone-building process.

Osteoporosis is a very serious and common illness. It is a highly delibilating disease. By taking supplements, exercising and eating well you can reduce your risk of low Vitamin D and osteoporosis. We recommend you act now.

Find out more information on Vitamin D supplements here or if you would like advice on how to choose the right supplement click here.

We recommend that you download our free report on how to improve your health and fitness.

Click here for more information on other Vitamin D related illnesses, Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms and Sources of Vitamin D.

here’s to your long-term health!

Claire

Vitamin D and cancer – is there really a link?

Some studies show that there is a link between Vitamin D and cancer. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with four of the most common cancers:

Vitamin D protects against cancer

• Breast
• Prostate
• Colon
• Skin

Cancer develops when cells lose their ability to “stick together” in a healthy, normal way. Why does this happen? The key factor may be a lack of Vitamin D. Research shows that when there is enough Vitamin D present, cells stick to one another and act as normal, mature cells. When there is not enough Vitamin D, cells lose their ability to stick together, as well as their identity as differentiated cells. At this point they may revert to a dangerous stem cell-like state and become cancerous.

Vitamin D the protector against cancer

Vitamin D plays an important role in the prevention of colon, prostate, and breast cancers as well as some other cancers. Cell growth and differentiation into different cell types, including cancer cells, are regulated by Vitamin D.  If Vitamin D levels are moderate or higher the cells develop into normal, mature cell types and the risk of cancerous cells forming is low. Lab studies have shown that biologically active forms of Vitamin D, such as 1,25(OH)₂D, induce cell differentiation and/or inhibit proliferation of a number of cancerous and noncancerous cell types maintained in cell culture.

Communities in areas with plenty of sunshine tend to have lower death rates from certain types of cancers and a lower overall cancer death rates. This relates to Vitamin D production. For example, there is some evidence of a “prostate, breast and colon cancer belt” in northern United States, which has higher cloud cover than other regions during the year. The rates for these cancers are two-to-three times higher than in sunnier areas.

The inverse relationship between levels of Vitamin D and cancer risk is best documented for colon and colorectal cancers. Studies have shown that people with adequate Vitamin D levels have a lower risk of developing colon cancer than people with low Vitamin D levels. One study of 3,000 adults found that people with high Vitamin D levels had a significantly lower risk of advanced cancerous lesions than individuals with low vitamin D levels.

If you are a male there is also a link between Vitamin D and cancer. Vitamin D inhibits the formation of cancer in the prostate and may slow prostate tumour growth. However, watch your diet. A diet high in meat and dairy products, which means a high intake of calcium and phosphors lowers Vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D (Vitamin D2)) levels.

Vitamin D is also important for women. A recent clinical trial that focused on bone health in 1,179 postmenopausal rural Nebraskan women found that subjects who supplemented daily with calcium (1,400-1,500 mg) and Vitamin D₃ (1,100 IU) had a significantly lower incidence of cancer over the 4 year-trial than women in the same trial who took the placebo.

Sun exposure, Vitamin D and cancer of the skin

Excessive sun exposure can cause skin cancer. However, studies since the 1930s have known that skin cancer patients are less likely to have other types of cancers. One researcher estimates moderate sunning would prevent 30,000 annual cancer deaths in the United States.

Darker skinned people are more susceptible to cancer

People with dark skins require more sun exposure for Vitamin D production. Dark human skin is thicker than pale coloured skin and only transmits about 40 percent of the UV rays for Vitamin D production.

Researchers have found that African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than pale skinned women of the same age. African-Americans also have lower survival rates for colon, prostate and ovarian cancers. The study adjusted for the effect of socioeconomic status and access to healthcare and found that lower survival rates were significantly linked with a decreased ability of African-Americans to produce Vitamin D.

People with darkly pigmented skin who live in sunny equatorial climates experience a higher mortality rate from breast and prostate cancer when they move to geographic areas that have low sunlight exposure in winter months. There may also be some link between poor nutrition and limited health care.

What can I do to reduce the risk of cancer?

There is enough evidence of a link between Vitamin D and cancer to show that it is important to be actively maintain your Vitamin D levels at a moderate to high state as protection against cancer. One of the most successful ways of increasing your Vitamin D levels is by taking supplements.

Cancer prevention specialists at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center recommend taking 1,000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D3 daily. This dosage level has been shown to nearly halve the risk of developing certain cancers, including colon, breast, and ovarian cancer.

If you live in the northern latitudes supplements are particularly important because there isn’t enough sun in the winter for  for adequate Vitamin D production. In fact the Canadian Cancer Society recommends that Canadians take a daily dosage of at least 1,000 IU of Vitamin D during the winter months. They recommend that people with a higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D supplements year-round.

Exposure to sun can help but for most people will not produce enough Vitamin D. This is especially true for the elderly and people with obesity.

Please click here to find out what is the right Vitamin D dosage for you.

There is a strong relationship Vitamin D and cancer. Low levels of Vitamin D increase the risk of cancer. However, adequate levels of Vitamin D can protect the body from cancer. It is particularly important to take Vitamin D supplments to reduce the risk of cancerous cells developing.

Remember Vitamin D is the “sunshine vitamin” – your ticket to long-lasting good health.

Please read our information on Vitamin D supplements and Sources of Vitamin D. If you would like information on how to choose the right supplement click here.

You may also be interested in learning about other Vitamin D related illnesses, Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency and Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms.

Here’s to your long-term health!

Claire

Vitamin D and depression are like day versus night. Really, Vitamin D is the antithesis to depression. In fact a book called The Invisible Plague: The Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to the Present shows almost three hundred years of a worsening picture and D is the antidote.

We see it in industrialized nations, and we’re on the lookout for what will surely happen in the developing nations. So far so good, but if what happened to the western world happens elsewhere there will be more than fifty per cent depression to deal with worldwide.

In essence go without enough Vitamin D and depression shows up as:

1) in children—irritability, loss of interest in school, decline in academic performance, clingy, demanding, dependent, insecure, moody

2) in adults—low mood affects relationships, preoccupation with regret, not able to enjoy previously liked activities, wake early, not be able to get back to sleep; recent onset of forgetfulness, noticeable slowing down in older adults

In ordinary depression one in five people benefit from bright light to help  slow-acting anti-depressants and get them to respond to the drug. Also, those with winter depression respond to morning light therapy, while you’d be better off with evening light therapy if you’re not particularly seasonally affected. So if you’re light deprived consider phototherapy.

Generally speaking, depression is one overall low mood. Are you bummed out? If you are you’re twice as likely to be a woman, which still leaves you half as likely to be a man. In fact Ebenezer Scrooge was a grumpy old man, and when he snapped out of it no one could recognize him at first. If you’re taking the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D and depression is still with you, make sure it’s high quality D3 and take more!

In our society if you talk about depression and reach out you’ll be managed most likely with dope, either self-medicating or prescribed by doctors.

You know, it’s hard to get dozens of studies of the kind that we need on Vitamin D3. But we’ve known that since 1999 that 100,000 IU of Vitamin D given as a one-time oral dose improved depression scales better than light therapy in a small group of patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

This might just be the key to “non-compliance”, that is: having to take a dose every single day, and remember to do it. And you’ll have to trust me on this one: you cannot overdose on Vitamin D. In fact you’d have to have it in a bowl like cereal and start eating D like granola if you are looking to come close to some kind of non-existent contraindication.

It’s just a matter of the same old song about big pharmaceutical companies not being able to patent the sun or some “magical” nutrient that is free. So sad. Speaking of SAD, a noticeable “seasonal affective disorder”, it has its own name that’s not so funny if you’re suffering from it. We talk about February being a “write-off” in that we predict that we will not be motivated no matter what we plan in the high sun months of summer. That’s in Canada but what about the rest of the world?

A Finnish study showed their people did not have a seasonal variation in their Vitamin D blood levels, which was low all year round. Somehow they just were not able to build up to a high level in the peak months of summer, to benefit them for the winter. It seems to take about five months to really get it up there, but fortunately with awareness you can build it up at any time.

Perhaps this is the draw of people to the warmer climes during winter…not only do you get your D levels up and start smiling, but you don’t have to hang out with the rest of the depressed population, especially if you’re senior and you can stay away longer.

With awareness, it’s a different story. You can get out there and get your D without any fear from the naysayers, stand your ground and be happy to boot.

Here’s the correlation that you’ll note in your research: we don’t get enough sunlight because of tall buildings, or being in buildings, pollution, driving everywhere, clothes, sunblock and fear.

The up side is my friend has attained benefits in a very short time even though on anti-depressants. So, what are you going to do with Vitamin D and depression? We’ve done the research and come to the conclusion of supplementation to augment your sun-loving self.

To hear what world renowned researcher Dr. Michael Holick has to say download his interview here

Cathy Fletcher

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D Related Illnesses

Benefits of Vitamin D Lens