Strength and Health Through Synergy

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

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.

Now this is the saddest article that I will write. It’s one of those vicious circles, Catch 22 things (famous book about the men in the war and no matter how many times they were promised their freedom and met their quota of downed enemy planes, they were denied leave to go home: they always had to meet new, higher number).

One thing I know: there is something going on, and if you strip it down to essentials—to what you have left when you find out what’s real and what isn’t, it boils down to something personal.

The cause of Vitamin D deficiency in moods is a mind set and a physical cause.

•    The mind set cause: that’s really a good framework gone bad, or not personalized in this case. What suited the masses at one time or another was based on one man’s skewed findings. He meant it for good, but over time the glaring lack showed up under intense scrutiny. Memory, imprints are funny things—they can be changed but are rather protective of themselves, because, well, they were FIRST.

•    The physical cause:  what can I say, but that most animals can make the necessary body synthesis. What the heck happened to us? We covered up for the most part, were born during such a time as amazing demand and scientific supply of comfort, distractions…you name it, it’s an interference between you and your sun.

Take the window, for instance, great invention…really great–and useful with its glass. Did you ever think much about it? That clear stuff actually filters some rays and lets others in…Unfortunately the good rays are kept out and the bad rays are let in. Interesting, at least to me, that glass (including eye glasses) speaks to our vision. Which poetically speaking comes full circle to mindset! We are “seeing” through glass and more glass, and dark glass, too.

Let’s just say they play off each other, these two important points of mind set and physical causes of Vitamin D deficiency. The cause of Vitamin D deficiency put into one word would be: non-compliance.

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency in Moods come in a variety of ways:

1.    Chem-trails from certain jets block the good of the sun

2.    Pollution is a modern-day challenge that is blocking the sun rays

3.    Sunblock has bad chemicals—melanomas increased with use of these creams

4.    Lifestyle–we are inside and we avoid the sun

5.    Health conditions—poor liver, kidney, or colon function

6.    Certain kinds of medication  (anti-seizure medication, chemo therapy)

7.    Mindset (pharmaceutics, media, misinformed medical industry)

8.    Obese bodies–the Vitamin D gets stuck when there is too much fat

So the causes of Vitamin D deficiency in moods are pervasive in our society and I see many people with bad moods and because they also see so many others like this then it becomes accepted. It’s tragic when people then look at others that are “sunny” and can’t believe that happy people are real.

The cause of non-compliance is a kind of apathy, which is a mood, where we’ve been bombarded with the “sun police” who are ordinary folk. They are in support of their own mindset. So you must be motivated to get it and take it (sun, supplements, food).

What side do you really want to be on? Either we can do something about our moods or not. Personally I’ve seen the causes of Vitamin D deficiency in moods treated with supplements that result in a stellar emotional state!

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

Cathy Fletcher

What Does Vitamin D Do?

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN OVER 50 are being found in new research being conducted throughout the world.

FINALLY Vitamin D Deficiency is being recognized by conventional medicine. Experts are starting to agree that more Vitamin D is needed for our bodies to keep a healthy immune system which prevents us from getting diseases.

At age 50 our hormones have declined significantly which results in the beginning of bone loss. Osteoporosis is strongly associated with low vitamin D also known as Vitamin D deficiency. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis respond favorably (and rapidly) to higher levels of Vitamin D plus calcium and magnesium.

Other Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms are:

• muscle aches, pains and/or spasms, weakness

• joint pain

• seasonal affective disorder

• uncontrolled weight gain

• sleep irregularities

• low energy and fatique

• high blood pressure

• poor concentration and memory

• bone pain

Vitamin D deficiency has been mistaken for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue or peripheral neuropathy, and conventional medicine has not found much relief for any of these conditions. Women seen to be afflicted with these diseases more often than men.

There is no way to know for certain if you are Vitamin D deficient without taking the 25-hydoxyvitamind test.

In a recent study by Bruce Hollis, Robert Heaney, Neil Binkley and others, now know that the minimal acceptable level is 50ng/ml. Heaney and others found that the body does not reliably begin storing Vitamin D in fat and muscle tissue until 25(OH)D levels get above 50ng/ml. The average person starts to store Vitamin D at 40ng/ml, but at 50ng/ml virtually everyone begins to store it for future use. That is, at levels below 50ng/ml the body uses up Vitamin D as fast as you can make it or take it, 25(OH)D levels should be between 50 and 80ng/ml year around for optimal health.

You may be wanting to know more about Vitamin D so click on the links below:

Vitamin D Recommended Dosage

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D Related Illnesses

To your health, The Be Healthy With Vitamin D Team

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms and heart disease: - is your body trying to tell you something - is your lifestyle letting you down?

What is the link between Vitamin D deficiency symptoms and heart disease?

Heart disease is common among middle-aged and elderly men and is becoming increasingly common in women. Researchers are finding that in many cases there is a complicated association between Vitamin D deficiency symptoms and heart disease.

Consider this common scenario:

Work and life catches up with many people, particularly for men in their middle years. Daily and weekly habits have slowly lost balance: work is all consuming and often stressful and there doesn’t seem to be the time nor the energy to fit in a regular regime to stay fit and healthy. The weight has started to pile on but it’s easy to ignore this or make excuses.

Out of the blue one of your best mates has a heart attack. You are jolted back into reality – he is younger that you and has a similar lifestyle. That could have been you ….. so what will you do to ensure this isn’t YOU next time?

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for middle aged and older men

Risk factors for heart disease include:

• Age
• Family history
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Poor diet
• Excess weight and inactivity
• Other health problems (such as diabetes)

Men over age 45 and women over age 55 are at greater risk for heart disease.

BUT DON’T DISPAIR… You cannot do much about your age, but you do have control over many of the other risk factors.

One major risk factor for heart disease is low Vitamin D levels

Low Vitamin D predisposes the body to many of the heart-related illnesses and health issues that become common through middle-age, retirement and beyond. This knowledge is not widely known outside the medical and wellness industry.

The great news is that this deficiency can be easily fixed!

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms and heart disease – recent studies show that Vitamin D deficiency:

• increases the risk of heart disease
• predisposes the body to high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and chronic blood vessel inflammation (associated with hardening of the arteries).
• is linked to other major associated heart disease risk factors such as obesity and diabetes.
  • can alter hormone levels and immune function which can increase the risk of diabetes, a major contributor to cardiovascular heart disease.
  • obese people are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, possibly they are less efficient at producing this hormone.
• people with low vitamin D levels are twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other heart-related condition that individuals with higher levels of vitamin D (examples: 1,2).

“Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized, emerging cardiovascular risk factor, which should be screened for and treated“ says researcher James H. O’Keefe, MD, director of preventive cardiology at the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Mo. “Vitamin D is easy to assess, and supplementation is simple, safe and inexpensive (3).”

Who is Vitamin D Deficient?

• Up to 50% of American adults.
• People in higher latitudes (Alaska, Canada and northern Europe) where the sun is too weak to power vitamin D production in the skin.
• Older people because they tend to get less sun exposure and the skin is less efficient at producing Vitamin D.
• Obese people also absorb less because Vitamin D gets caught in the fat cells.
• People with dark skins because they need longer sun exposure for Vitamin D production

The skin produces Vitamin D when exposed to the sun. High rates of Vitamin D deficiency probably relate to people spending more time indoors and efforts to minimize skin cancer through the use of sunscreens. Suncream with a skin protection factor (SPF) of 15 blocks approximately 99% of Vitamin D synthesis by the skin.

How can I boost My Vitamin D levels – what are the sources of Vitamin D?

• Sun exposure. Spend 5 to 15 minutes in the sun at least 2 or 3 times per week in the spring, summer and autumn. Expose your arms and legs, but always put suncream on your face, neck and upper torso.
• Food. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel provide the best source of Vitamin D. However, the required daily intake of Vitamin D cannot be acquired through food.
• Supplements. The best way to increase your vitamin D levels is to take daily Vitamin D supplements (at least 1000IU per day).

Make sure you check for Vitamin D deficiency symptoms. Many of us are Vitamin D deficient and because of this we have a higher risk of developing heart disease. However, we can dramatically reduce our risks of heart disease greatly by taking Vitamin D supplements to raise our Vitamin D to optimum levels.

Remember Vitamin D is the “sunshine vitamin” breathing life into us and is our ticket to long-term health.

We invite you to download our free report with 8 steps on how to become fit and healthy and reduce your risk of heart disease.

You will also be interested in reading the benefits of Vitamin D for heart disease.

Check out  Causes of Vitamin D deficiency and Vitamin D related illnesses.

Here’s to your long-term health!

Claire

References:

1. Dr. M. Holick et al. in New England Journal Of Medicine 2007;
2. Dr E. Giovannucci et al. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men: A Prospective Study. Archives of Internal Medicine 2008, 168(11) p 1174-1180.
3. American College of Cardiology (2008, December 2). Lack Of Vitamin D Could Spell Heart Trouble. ScienceDaily. Retrieved http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201200032.htm