Importance of Vitamin D in cancer prevention, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis

[Guest guest]

Dr. Mercola mentioned this in his blog today at

http://mercola.com/blog/2004/feb/25/top_vitamin_d_review_just_published

 

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 79, No. 3, 362-371, March 2004

© 2004 American Society for Clinical Nutrition

 

 

SPECIAL ARTICLE

 

Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart

disease, and osteoporosis1,2,3,4,5

 

Michael F Holick

 

1 From the Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory, Section of

Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Boston

University School of Medicine, Boston

 

The purpose of this review is to put into perspective the many health

benefits of vitamin D and the role of vitamin D deficiency in increasing

the risk of many common and serious diseases, including some common

cancers, type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis.

Numerous epidemiologic studies suggest that exposure to sunlight, which

enhances the production of vitamin D3 in the skin, is important in

preventing many chronic diseases. Because very few foods naturally contain

vitamin D, sunlight supplies most of our vitamin D requirement.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is the metabolite that should be measured in

the blood to determine vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent

in infants who are solely breastfed and who do not receive vitamin D

supplementation and in adults of all ages who have increased skin

pigmentation or who always wear sun protection or limit their outdoor

activities. Vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia. A

new dietary source of vitamin D is orange juice fortified with vitamin D.

Studies in both human and animal models add strength to the hypothesis that

the unrecognized epidemic of vitamin D deficiency worldwide is a

contributing factor of many chronic debilitating diseases. Greater

awareness of the insidious consequences of vitamin D deficiency is needed.

Annual measurement of serum 25(OH)D is a reasonable approach to monitoring

for vitamin D deficiency. The recommended adequate intakes for vitamin D

are inadequate, and, in the absence of exposure to sunlight, a minimum of

1000 IU vitamin D/d is required to maintain a healthy concentration of

25(OH)D in the blood.

 

Key Words: Vitamin D • sunlight • 25-hydroxyvitamin D • cancer • bone

health • diabetes

 

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I have the full-text PDF article for anyone who is interested. Email me at

david (at) elfstrom.com

 

David