Baltimore Sun

[Guest guest]

" The Vitamin D Council " <vitamindcouncil

Baltimore Sun

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 12:24:28 -0800

 

 

 

 

Dear Readers:

 

Michael Stroh, the science writer for the Baltimore Sun, wrote a very

good article this morning about the Vitamin D and Epidemic Influenza

paper. Dr. Scott Dowell, an infectious disease expert at the CDC, is

quoted by Mr. Stroh as saying, if the theory is true, " the potential

impact (of vitamin D) would be far greater than the current influenza

vaccine. "

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.flu26nov26,0,3590649.story?coll=b\

al-nationworld-headlines

 

On a sour note, a Professor James Cherry of UCLA said we " manipulated

the literature " and used " bad " literature to prove our points. I

don't know Professor Cherry, but he has insulted me, the co-authors,

and the editor of Epidemiology and Infection.

 

A quick internet search shows that there is a Professor James Cherry

at UCLA who has had substantial financial ties to the vaccine industry

for the last 20 years. If Professor Cherry read the conclusion of the

recent Science News article, he may be aware that his financial

well-being is at risk here. In the conclusion of the Science News

article, Professor Michael Zasloff was quoted as saying the payoff of

vitamin D, might " be amazing. Imagine being able to block the spread

of epidemic flu with appropriate doses of this vitamin. " Perhaps

Professor Cherry is imagining exactly that, and what it might mean to

his net worth?

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061111/bob9.asp

 

If Professor Zasloff and Dr. Dowell are right, vitamin D may have a

role in preventing more infections than just influenza. As some of

you know, a paper will soon be published in Epidemiology and Infection

looking at the association of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (the most

common cause of pneumonia in infants and young children) with vitamin

D producing UVB surface radiation. Invasive pneumococcal,

meningococcal, and streptococcal disease (all of which cause

horrendous disease) might be next as all three bacteria are

susceptible to antimicrobial peptides and all three diseases are

highly seasonal.

 

If this is shown to be true, Professor Cherry's income from the

vaccine industry is certainly at risk. I fear Professor Cherry or

others with ties to the vaccine or antibiotic industry will rapidly

orchestrate a paper showing two things: one, vitamin D does not help

prevent infections, and two, vitamin D is toxic and very dangerous.

Perhaps science is not as corruptible as I fear, I hope so.

 

I do hope Professor Cherry has the nerve to send a

letter-to-the-editor of Epidemiology and Infection, showing how we

" manipulated bad literature " to prove out points. That would give us

the opportunity of producing some of the data we left out for space

reasons.

 

John Jacob Cannell, MD

The Vitamin D Council

9100 San Gregorio Road

Atascadero, CA 93422