Time to increase Vitamin D

[Guest guest]

Recent studies have linked adequate intake of vitamin d the most

natural source being sunlight to drastic reductions in cancer; MS;

and many

other illnesses. Is it to the point where the evidence requires a re

adjustment and has damage been caused by inordinate fear of even

sensible sun exposure. excerpts from a

recent editorial in the

 

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 3, 649-650,

March

2007

 

 

" The urgent need to recommend an intake of vitamin D that is

effective1,2 " .....................

 

 

........Randomized trials using the currently recommended intakes of

400 IU vitamin D/d have shown no appreciable reduction in fracture

risk (3). In contrast, trials using 700-800 IU vitamin D/d found

less

fracture incidence, with and without supplemental calcium (3). The

reduction in fracture incidence occurs when mean serum 25(OH)D

concentrations exceed 72 nmol/L, and this change may result from

both

improved bone health and reduction in falls due to greater muscle

strength (3). Although it is not yet proven through clinical trials,

higher intakes may also reduce the incidence of colon and other

cancers, and these relations indicate that the desirable 25(OH)D

concentration is 75 nmol/L (3). One recent report associates greater

25(OH)D concentrations with lower risk of nursing home admission;

the

most desirable category of concentration starts at 75 nmol/L (5).

 

 

Human diets do not provide sufficient vitamin D; if they did, the

abovementioned associations between health and serum 25(OH)D

concentrations would not be so routinely observed. The vitamin D

provided by foods and supplements is overwhelmed by the effect of

skin

exposure to ultraviolet B light. Geography, season, skin color, and

sun-related behavior are the main predictors of vitamin D

nutritional

status (6-10). Correction of low 25(OH)D concentrations can happen

only if some or all of the following are implemented: the

encouragement of safe, moderate exposure of skin to ultraviolet

light;

appropriate increases in food fortification with vitamin D; and the

provision of higher doses of vitamin D in supplements for

adults. ................

 

 

........It is important for major journals such as the AJCN to

publish

evidence of a widespread nutrient deficiency. Regrettably, we are

now

stuck in a revolving cycle of publications that are documenting the

same vitamin D inadequacy (1-3, 5, 7-9, 13-17). This phenomenon has

been referred to as " circular epidemiology " (18), and, for vitamin

D,

the phenomenon will continue for as long as the levels of vitamin D

fortification and supplementation and the practical advice offered

to

the public remain essentially the same as they were in the era

before

we knew that 25(OH)D even existed............

 

 

............A major reason is that there is little public pressure on

policy makers to support efforts to update recommendations about

nutrition. Public pressure is generally rooted in the media, but we

do

not think that the public media present the vitamin D story in a

complete and accurate manner. Reports about vitamin D inadequacies

are

presented straightforwardly, but, when it comes to discussing the

intake of vitamin D needed to correct the situation, outdated

official

recommendations for vitamin D are propagated by the public media.

This

probably occurs because of restrictive editorial policies driven by

concern about possible litigation if media were to advise a " toxic "

intake greater than the UL. The unfortunate result is that there is

minimal motivation for policy makers to implement the relatively

simple steps that could correct this nutrient deficiency.

 

 

Because of the convincing evidence for benefit and the strong

evidence

of safety, we urge those who have the ability to support public

health-

the media, vitamin manufacturers, and policy makers-to undertake new

initiatives that will have a realistic chance of making a difference

in terms of vitamin D nutrition. We call for international agencies

such as the Food and Nutrition Board and the European Commission's

Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General to reassess as a

matter of high priority their dietary recommendations for vitamin D,

because the formal nationwide advice from health agencies needs to

be

change " http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/85/3/649#R13

 

 

Thanks Vince