Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation

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http://mercola.com/2004/feb/28/vitamin_d.htm

 

 

Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation

 

 

 

Contributed by John Jacob Cannell, MD, executive director of The Vitamin D

Council

 

 

 

Researchers in Belgium appear to be the first to show that simple, natural and

cheap vitamin D (cholecalciferol) lowers C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a measure of

inflammation in the body, in critically ill patients.

 

 

 

Even small amounts of vitamin D, about 500 IU, lowered inflammation by more than

25 percent in a small group of critically ill patients. Another marker of

inflammation (IL-6) was reduced even more. The researchers also found that

critically ill patients were profoundly deficient in vitamin D.

 

 

 

In another study, researchers found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with

increased inflammation in otherwise healthy people. Increased inflammation in

the body can increase the risk of chronic inflammatory conditions, including

coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes. Further, the researchers found that

inflammation was lowered by simple vitamin D.

 

 

 

As vitamin D deficiency is associated with numerous illnesses with inflammatory

components, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune illness

and heart disease, the findings were important. The authors concluded, “This

finding provides a possible mechanism for tissue damage in chronic inflammatory

conditions, including CHD and diabetes.”

 

 

 

Inflammation in the body may be as important as cholesterol in determining the

risk of heart disease. Unlike cholesterol alone, cholesterol and inflammation

together predict a substantial number of cases of heart disease.

 

Various studies show that vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the

critically ill and suggest that that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the

inflammatory basis of various illnesses.

 

 

 

For example, earlier this year researchers studied patients with congestive

heart failure and found elevated levels of TNF, another marker of inflammation.

They also found critically low levels of calcidiol [25(OH)D], the only reliable

marker of vitamin D, and even found low levels of calcitriol, the active form of

vitamin D that is usually low only in those who are severely vitamin D

deficient.

 

 

 

They concluded vitamin D deficiency might contribute to the development of

congestive heart failure (CHF).

 

 

 

It is important to note that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory actions in humans

have long been suspected. For example, several studies using compounds similar

to vitamin D have been shown to significantly reduce inflammation and improve

the patients’ condition when given to patients suffering from rheumatoid

arthritis.

 

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

 

CRP is elevated when there is inflammation going on somewhere in the body, and

chronic inflammation is a risk factor for a number of conditions including

coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes. Numerous studies have shown that

vitamin D lowers inflammation.

 

 

 

Folks, we are in the midst of a radical revision of vitamin D understanding. The

leading vitamin D scientists in the world have changed their position within the

last few years and have started the warning sirens that most of traditional

medicine was dead wrong when it comes to sun avoidance.

 

 

 

Following the ridiculous recommendations of avoiding the sun has caused a

minimum of 20,000 extra cancers per year, and it is far more likely the number

actually exceeds 50,000. And that is just cancer deaths. It does not include

heart disease or autoimmune diseases like MS or rheumatoid arthritis.

 

 

 

The old RDA of 400 units was only put together to prevent rickets. It was

established long before the appreciation of sun exposure and optimized vitamin D

levels. The requirements for vitamin D are far closer to 10 times the current

RDA, or 4,000 units. If you only took the RDA of 400 units of vitamin D and

avoided the sun you can be virtually guaranteed you would be vitamin D

deficient, just like over 85 percent of the country currently is.

 

This is why it is crucial that you have your vitamin D levels tested now. By

far, the vast majority of people reading this right now have far too little

vitamin D in their blood. Over 85 percent of people have levels below 32, which

is considered deficient, but it is possible to overdose on vitamin D.

 

In my practice we don't like to see patient levels go much above 50, but 55 is

probably a perfect level and anything above 60 is likely to be toxic. One study

found cancer started to occur at 80. So, be smart and get your vitamin D level

tested.

 

We routinely put people on 10,000 units a day or more of vitamin D safely as

long as we monitor them. It is important to understand that most of us get

10,000 units on a sunny summer day if we have significant exposure.

 

If you are a health care professional I would strongly urge you to consider

subscribing to Dr. Cannell's excellent vitamin D newsletter. The top vitamin D

scientists in the world write it, and it is sent to the top scientists in the

world with the intention of sparking the important changes that need to occur in

the U.S. recommendations. I have learned quite a bit about vitamin D already,

but it seems that every issue Dr. Cannel surprises me with new and exciting

information about the health benefits of vitamin D.

 

Related Articles:

 

What is the Vitamin Most People in the U.S. are Deficient In?

 

RDAs of Vitamin D Far Too Low

 

How Much Vitamin D is Too Much? Take This Vitamin D Quiz to Find Out!

 

Test Values and Treatment for Vitamin D Deficiency

 

Breakthrough Updates You Need to Know on Vitamin D

 

Why You Need to Have Your Vitamin D Level Tested Now

 

 

 

 

 

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