Vitamin D, Have you had your level checked?

[Guest guest]

This is rather long, you might want to print it out and read it. My

endocrinologist had read some research about this in April, and

wanted me to have my level checked out. No one EVER usually does

this. Mine was .7, and the normal is 25-50, needless to say, she

started me on a 50,000 iu of Vit. D. (Rx) I do have osteoporosis, and

osteoarthritis, as well as IDDM (32 yrs.),GERD, allergies and asthma.

I think it would be a good thing for everyone to have a level drawn.

Karen

 

 

Yes, dermatologists and experts debating the issue of Vitamin D and

sunlight has recently been scorching! These debates confuse the

public and generate more questions. We found the paper Sunlight

Robbery to be an interesting document regarding the epidemic of

vitamin D deficiency, the need for vitamin D supplementation and the

possible benefits of sunlight. [see document listed in the FILES

section of GNLDWisdomBuilders] In light of the questions we receive

on vitamin D and sunlight, this accumulation of research is quite

interesting, whether one agrees or disagrees with the conclusions of

the author. No, we do not agree entirely with Sunlight Robbery. For

example, we question the use of artificial tanning via ultra-violet

lamps since it is not natural as true sunlight is natural. We should

all remember that this document was written for the UK located at

northern latitudes with limited exposure to sunlight.

 

Personally we believe that if someone is going to be in the sun, it

should be done WITHOUT BURNING (which the paper does agree), as

excessive exposure to the sun may cause sunburn, skin aging and skin

cancer, and have regular yearly DERMATOLOGY CHECKUPS since sunlight

does have its inherent dangers. In addition, ANTIOXIDANTS help play

a valuable role safeguarding skin while in the sun, especially

Carotenoids (oil soluble antioxidants) with their function as an

important natural skin protector. Skin is an oil soluble part of the

body and thus the body needs quality oil intake – no hydrogenated

oils or trans fats. Support the body with nutrition known to support

skin health, and drink plenty of water for skin hydration. Of

course, the scientifically reliable GNLD Nutriance Skin Care system

is an important plus!

 

As we enter into winter for our part of the hemisphere, perhaps some

of us should consider the use of extra vitamin D through Cal-Mag

with/D, and some of the other GNLD products that contain vitamin

D.

 

The Clarks

 

P.S. For those who do not have time to read 30 plus pages, below is

the beginning Summary from the document.

 

 

 

SUMMARY

 

1. Many people of all ages in the UK have undesirably low levels of

vitamin D. In winter the majority of the population is at risk of

serious vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency which makes them

vulnerable to chronic illness.

 

2. Sunlight is the most important source of vitamin D for people in

the UK providing about 90% of the total vitamin D in the body. Small

amounts of vitamin D are obtained in the diet from fortified

margarine, butter, meat, eggs, oily fish and some breakfast cereals

and from supplements.

 

3. After synthesis in the skin vitamin D is processed into its active

form in several different tissues of the body. Vitamin D plays an

important role in regulating growth of some 30 or more tissues.

Vitamin D works in several ways. It controls calcium absorption,

influences differentiation and maturation of cells, triggers cell

death (apoptosis), and switches genes on and off. Despite being

described correctly as a vitamin, vitamin D is also a hormone. It

alters growth, signals to cells, inhibits growth of blood vessels

which is an important part of tumour formation, and has a modulating

activity on the immune system.

 

4. Accumulating evidence now suggest that vitamin D deficiency

increases the risk of many chronic diseases including 16 different

cancers, several nervous system diseases including schizophrenia and

multiple sclerosis, diabetes types 1 and 2, as well as being a

contributory cause of heart disease, raised blood pressure

(hypertension), inflammatory bowel diseases, polycystic ovary

disease, menstrual problems and infertility, infections and dental

decay. The cancers that have an increased risk as a result of D

deficiency include some of the most common types: cancers of the

breast, bowel, ovary, and prostate.

 

5. The cost of disease caused by vitamin D deficiency has been

estimated to be $50 billion per year in the United States, and must

be of the order of billions of pounds per year in the UK. According

to government figures, falls, and fractures alone cost some 2 billion

pounds per year in the UK. Scientific trials have shown that a

substantial proportion of these falls and fractures can be prevented

by vitamin D and calcium supplements. Diabetes costs 1.7 billion

pounds a year in the UK (official figures) and a substantial part of

this could be saved if blood levels of vitamin D in the population

were higher. The cost of other diseases such as cancer, heart

disease, hypertension and schizophrenia must also run into billions

per disease per year and a substantial number of people might be

prevented from getting each of these diseases if vitamin D levels in

the population were improved. Sunbathing is a popular and efficient

way of increasing vitamin D levels in the population.

 

6. Deficiency of vitamin D during the final months of pregnancy

and/or in the first months of life increases the risk of several

chronic diseases e.g. schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis and diabetes

type 1. The problem is most acute for babies that are breast fed

because breast milk of women in the UK is generally deficient in

vitamin D while artificial milk is supplemented with D. Pregnant and

breast feeding mothers should be encouraged to sunbathe whenever

possible, and should be actively encouraged to use vitamin drops

(which contain D) [WB Note: Liqui-Vite] or other D supplements for

themselves and their babies.

 

7. Casual exposure of the hands and face to the sun has in the past

been thought to provide enough vitamin D for good health. But this

exposure is now known to be insufficient in the UK climate. Active

exposure of the skin to the sun by --- sunbathing is necessary to

provide healthy levels of vitamin D that will provide a reserve for

the autumn, winter and early spring (October to March or later) when

the sun is not strong enough to induce synthesis of vitamin D.

Vitamin D has a half life in the body of about six weeks and so high

levels must be achieved in summer to provide levels in the body which

remain sufficient at the end of winter.

 

8. A white skinned person in the UK needs at least three 20 minute

sessions per week --- in midday sunlight --- to obtain an optimum

amount of vitamin D. Longer will be needed if sunbathing occurs at

off-peak times for ultra-violet light (before 12noon or after 3:00pm)

or at the beginning or end of the summer (April or September) when

the sun is lower in the sky for most of the day.

 

9. Dark skinned people take up to six times as long to make the same

amount of vitamin D as white skinned people. So in the UK a person

with dark skin would ideally need to sunbathe for three two hour

sessions per week to achieve an optimum amount of vitamin D. It is

impossible for most people in the UK to achieve this length of time

in the sun in practice.

 

10. People with dark skin living in the UK have been found to be more

vulnerable than white skinned people to a number of diseases

associated with vitamin D deficiency including schizophrenia,

diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and tuberculosis. Ways are

needed of encouraging use of vitamin D supplements and/or artificial

tanning by people with dark skins in order to improve their vitamin D

levels and general health.

 

11. Deficiency of vitamin D may also be prevented in the population

at large by taking supplements, especially in winter. However

absorption of vitamin D, which is fat soluble, is not always

efficient. In particular, old people and people who suffer from

inflammatory bowel disease, which itself is caused in part by vitamin

D deficiency, may have trouble absorbing D supplements. Sunlight, on

the other hand, is free, enjoyable and widely available. Even though

the sun cannot always be relied upon in the UK climate it is the

natural source of vitamin D.

 

12. Excessive exposure to the sun may cause sunburn, skin aging, and

skin cancer. Melanoma skin cancer causes some 1,750 deaths a year in

the UK but the cause of melanoma is not clear and it is possible that

les than half of these deaths may be attributed to sun exposure.

Regular exposure to the sun seems to protect against melanoma while

irregular exposure increases risk. This is probably because vitamin

D protects against melanoma while excessive exposure to the sun

causing sunburn may induce melanoma. A reduction in exposure to

sunlight in the UK, as recommended by the government, might actually

increase the incidence of melanoma rather than reduce it. Melanoma

may occur on parts of the body such as the soles of the feet that are

seldom exposed to the sun. Other types of skin cancer which are

directly caused by excessive exposure to sunlight are very common.

However they can generally be treated relatively easily and cause a

few hundred deaths a year.

 

13. UK sunlight policy has been largely determined by dermatologists

who bear the onerous task of treating skin cancer. Doctors concerned

with the problems of osteoporosis and other bone disease do not

appear to have been consulted despite an obvious interest. Now that

vitamin D deficiency is known to be associated with a wide spectrum

of disease there is a need for a new national sunlight policy that

recognizes the positive aspects of sunlight.

 

14. SunSmart, the UK skin cancer awareness campaign, originated in

Australia which has a much sunnier and hotter climate and an

incidence of skin cancer about six times that of the UK. SunSmart

advises the public to cover up, seek the shade, and wear sunscreen.

It fails to provide any advice suggesting that people should sunbathe

in order to obtain vitamin D. Anyone following the SunSmart advice

in the UK risks becoming deficient in vitamin D and so risks chronic

ill health. The campaign is totally unsuited to British needs and

should be abandoned.

 

15. The public needs constructive advice on how to sunbathe safely

without burning. This should include advice on how to make best use

of the intense midday sun, how long to spend in the sun at different

times, how to recognize warning signs of burning, how to protect the

eyes and the sensitive skin of the face when sunbathing, and how to

make best use of the weak sunlight at the beginning and end of the

summer.

 

16. The SunSmart programme has made extensive use of the slogan:

There is no such thing as a healthy tan. In fact there is no

scientific basis for condemning tanning which is a natural side

effect of sun exposure. Scientific evidence suggests that a deep tan

actually protects against melanoma, although very rapid tanning or

holiday in fierce sun conditions may not be wise because of the risk

of burning. Nevertheless the public recognition of a tan as a sign

of good health is almost certainly well founded. Further attempts by

cancer campaigners to suggest that a tan is unhealthy or that a pale

complexion is desirable should be dropped.