RE: Test, Calcium, Etc....

[Guest guest]

Hi All

 

In recent posts I read what Frank had said regarding testing with doctors and

checking conditions without getting carried away. I also saw what JoAnn had

written about calcium and other nutrients. I believe in testing as the only sure

way of assessing conditions and monitoring progress. It seems most important as

people seek alternative treatments that they overlook the roll that allopathic

doctors can play in this area. Because of these postings I thought I would share

my research paper I did last fall on Sunlight and Health which ties to both of

these issues.

 

Respectfully,

Michael Martin

Flax Your Way to Better Health &

The Amazing Flax Cookbook

www.flaxrd.com <http://www.flaxrd.com/>

 

 

Sunlight & Health

By Michael Martin

 

It's well known, that spending time outdoors, tends to increase a persons over

all activity and contribute to a sense of well being. Many people have been

reluctant to spend much time outside because of fears of skin cancer, melanoma

etc. There are ways to enjoy the sunlight and reap the benefits without fear.

Together, let's explore the science behind those golden rays.

 

 

 

Vitamin D

 

Ultra Violet light from the sun penetrates the skin and is absorbed by a

metabolite of cholesterol (7 dehyrocholestrol). Calciferol is then created from

the cholesterol. The liver further metabolizes the Vitamin D to produce 25(OH)D

(calcidiol). Conversion of 25(OH)D to the active hormone 1,25(OH)2D

(calcitriol), in the kidneys, is the final step. Boston University Medical

Center, reported increasing our vitamin D intake or casual exposure to sunlight

may decrease the risk of some of the most common cancers, type 1 diabetes, and

possibly even multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D is the only vitamin the body is

capable of producing on its own with the help of the sun.

 

Calcium Connection

Vitamin D plays a vital role in regulating the uptake of calcium from the

intestines. Most people understand the link between calcium and bone & tooth

structure. However, many do not realize that transmission of nervous, mechanical

and hormonal impulses are directly affected by calcium. Calcium also

participates in enzyme regulation and blood clotting.[1] Lack of calcium

contributes greatly to quality of life issues in women. Osteoporosis, brittle

bones and fractures can all be traced to poor calcium metabolism. Fletcher and

Fairfield supported this assertion in their 2002 study that low levels of

vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures.[2] You can take all the

calcium supplements you want, but without the necessary Vitamin D, it will be

of little use. In a state of low calcium uptake, the body activates the

parathyroid gland. Its purpose is the production of PTH (parathyroid hormone).

This hormone begins to remove calcium from bones for use in more important

bodily functions. When adequate levels of vitamin D exist, there is no need

for the body to produce PTH. For that reason, PTH presence, is a good indicator

of overall calcium utilization.

 

 

 

 

Mental Health

Many people report feeling happier after soaking up a little sun. There could be

clinical reasons for this. Australian researchers established a link with higher

suicide rates and sunlight. They discovered the incidence of suicide in

southeastern Australia displays a clear seasonal pattern, being positively

linked with prevailing levels of sunlight.[3] When sunlight is coupled with

omega-3 fats from fish or flax oil, this combination can have very dramatic

effects. " Increase in depression correlates well with the progressive depletion

of omega 3's in our diet throughout the 20th century. " said Dr. Andrew Stoll

when commenting about his landmark study of omega-3 fats and mental health.[4]

People facing health challenges are understandably much more susceptible to

depression. A positive attitude can do wonders when it comes to ones health.

This supported the findings of Adams et al in their 1996 study that arachidonic

acid to eicosapentaenoic acid ratio in blood correlates positively with clinical

depression.[5] In other words, the farther out of balance your Omega-6 to

Omega-3 ratio is, the greater the possibility of depression.

 

Cancer

 

 

Ovarian Cancers, researchers ES Lefkowitz and CF Garland working in conjunction

with University of California reported that their ecologic study supports the

hypothesis that sunlight may be a protective factor for ovarian cancer

mortality.[6]

 

Breast Cancer, Vitamin D may inhibit the expression of one T-47D gene in Human

breast cancer cells. The researchers found that vitamin D3 suppressed the

overproduction of Apolipoprotein by certain breast cancers. They also suggest

that apoD may be of interest as a biochemical marker of the action of

1,25‑dihydroxyvitamin D3 derivatives in current studies using these compounds

as inhibitors of breast cancer cell growth or as chemotherapeutic agents in the

prevention of breast cancer.[7]

 

Other Illness

Retinoblastoma, these findings suggest that 1,25-(OH)2D3 inhibits the growth of

retinoblastoma cells by causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.[8]

 

Tuberculosis, 1,25‑D3 acts to suppress the growth of Mycobacterium

tuberculosis in these cells and that this effect is inhibited by NG monomethyl

Larginine, suggesting that vitamin D induced NO (Nitrice Oxyide) production

may play a role in the host defense against human tuberculosis.[8]

 

Multiple Sclerosis, A study of 80 persons with MS by Nieves et al [8] revealed a

mean level of 25(OH)D of only 43 nmol/litre with a quarter of the subjects "

having frank vitamin D deficiency (<25nmol/l). Not surprisingly the bone

mineral density of most of the subjects was very low. Sadly, this study

indicates that many people with MS likely do not have enough vitamin D in-take

to maintain their bones let alone to counter autoimmune reactions. A more recent

study by Cosman et al supported the findings of Nieves et al. [9,10]

 

Phytoestrogens and Vitamin D

Phytoestrogens are estrogen like compounds found in plants. Soy and Flax are

known to contain the highest amounts. They function in the body as " weak "

estrogens. Hormone based cancers appear to react unfavorably to them, which aids

the body in its fight against cancer. Phytoestrogens in flaxseed, are found in

the lignans of ground seed. A 2002 study showed how phytoestrogens help regulate

Vitamin D metabolism.[11] The focus of the study was how phytoestrogens may have

helped suppress colon tumor incidence by enhancing Vitamin D synthesis. Although

soy was the source of the phytoestrogens, favorable results from ground seed

would be consistant.

 

 

How Can I Tell If I am Deficient?

Even Following these guide lines, it's important for everyone to have their

25(OH)D concentration measured once a year. This is the blood work you can ask

your doctor to perform. The objective way to assess vitamin D nutritional status

is through the circulating 25(OH)D concentration. Concentrations < 20-25 nmol/L

indicate severe vitamin D deficiency, which will lead to rickets and

histologically evident osteomalacia . Concentrations between 25 and 40 nmol/L

reflect marginal vitamin D deficiency, a situation that is common in countries

north of the United States, where 40 nmol/L is a typical winter average in

adults. Marginal concentrations of 25(OH)D are associated with mildly elevated

parathyroid hormone (PTH) and diminished 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin

D[1,25(OH)2D;calcitriol] concentrations. PTH concentrations become minimal when

25(OH)D concentrations exceed 100 nmol/L.

 

How Much Do You Need?

IR Reid, DJ Gallagher and J Bosworth found in their 1986 study, that as little

as 30 minutes per day was effective in raising vitamin D levels.[12] Skin type

can make a difference to the body's ability to react to sunlight. Darker skin

pigmentations may need to spend more time in the sun other fairer skin

individuals. Researchers from the United Kingdom found a link be EPA and

sunburn. They discovered that Sunburn sensitivity was reduced on EPA.[13] Which

means the more EPA which is present in the blood the lesser the likely one is to

burn. In summary, a daily intake of vitamin D of 4000 IU along with 800 mg of

both calcium and magnesium are required for adequate levels of metabolized

vitamin D products to be maintained in circulation. Even following these guide

lines, its important for everyone to have their 25(OH)D concentration measured

once a year. This is blood work you can ask your doctor to perform.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

 

1. Maria C. Linder Phd.

" Nutrition and Metabolism of the Major Minerals "

Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism with Clinical Applications (1985)

Pg 134

 

2. Robert H. Fletcher, MD,MSc; Kathleen M. Fairfield, MD,DrPH

" Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults "

JAMA 287 No. 23, June 19, 2002

 

 

3. Gavin Lambert, Ph.D., Christopher Reid, Ph.D., David Kaye, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.,

Garry

Jennings, M.B.B.S., and Murray Esler, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

" Increased Suicide Rate in the Middle‑Aged and Its Association With Hours

of

Sunlight "

Am J Psychiatry 160:793‑795, April 2003 - American Psychiatric Association

 

 

4. Patrick Perry

" Omega 3 for Bipolar Disorder: Restoring the Balance "

The Saturday Evening Post ‑ September/October 2001

 

 

5. Adams P.B., et al.

" Arachidonic Acid to Eicosapentaenoic Acid ratio in blood co-relates

positively

with clinical symptoms of depression.

Lipids 1996;31:S157-S161

 

 

6. ES Lefkowitz and CF Garland

" Sunlight, vitamin D, and ovarian cancer mortality rates in US women "

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San

Diego.

 

 

7. Y.S. Lopez‑Boado, XS Puente, S Alvarez, J Tolivia, L Binderup and C.

Lopez‑Otin

" Growth inhibition of human breast cancer cells by 1,25‑dihydroxyvitamin

D3 is

accompanied by induction of apolipoprotein D expression " .

Cancer Research, Vol 57, 4091‑4097, Copyright © 1997 by American

Association for

Cancer Research

 

8. Kirk A. Rockette, Roger Brookes, Irna Udalova, Vincent Vidal, Adrian V.S.

Hill

And Dominic Kwiatkowski

" 1, 25-Dihydroxvitamin D# Induces Nitric Oxide Sythase and suppresses Growth

Mycrobacterium tuberculosis in a human Microphage-like Cell Line " .

American Society for Microbiology Infect Immun. 1998 November; 66 (11)

 

9. Cosman, F. et al,

" Fracture history and bone loss in patients with MS. "

Neurology, 1998 v. 51, p. 1161‑1165

 

 

10. Nieves, J. et al, 1994,

" High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and reduced bone mass in multiple

sclerosis " . Neurology, 1994 v. 44, p

 

11. Enikö Kállay, Herman Adlercreutz, Hesso Farhan, Daniel Lechner, Erika

Bajnan

Waltraud Gerdenitsch*, Moray Campbell** and Heide S. Cross

" Phytoestrogens Regulate Vitamin D Metabolism in the Mouse Colon: Relevance

for

Colon Tumor Prevention and Therapy. " The American Society for

Nutritional

Sciences J. Nutr. 132:3490S‑3493S, November 2002.

 

12. IR Reid, DJ Gallagher and J Bosworth

" Prophylaxis against vitamin D deficiency in the elderly by regular sunlight

exposure "

Age and Ageing, Vol 15, 35‑40, Copyright © 1986 by British Geriatrics

Society

 

13. Lesley E. Rhodes1,2,6, Hassan Shahbakhti1,2, Richard M. Azurdia2, Ralf M.W.

Moison3, Marie-Jose S.T. Steenwinkel4, Marie I. Homburg5, Michael P.

Dean1,2, F.

McArdle2, Gerard M.J. Beijersbergen van Henegouwen3, Bernd Epe5 and Arie A.

Vink4

" Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty

acid, on UVR-related cancer risk in humans. An assessment of early

genotoxic marker4 "

Carcinogenesis, Vol. 24, No. 5, 919-925, May 2003© 2003 Oxford University

Press