Vitamin
D
The most natural form easily absorbed by the body is D3
cholecalciferol
 Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that has properties
of both a vitamin and a hormone, is required for the
absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus.
It is necessary for growth, and is especially important
for the normal growth and development of bones and
teeth. It protects against muscle weakness and is
involved in regulation of the heartbeat. It is also
important in the prevention and treatment of breast,
colon, ovary, prostate cancers, heart disease, multiple
sclerosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and
hypocalcemia, enhances immunity, and is necessary for
thyroid function and normal blood clotting. A lack of
vitamin D appears to be a prime factor in the rising
incidence of depression along with a lack of mega 3
fatty acids. Patients with Parkinson"s disease,
multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, and
Alzheimer"s disease have all been found to have
significant deficits of vitamin D and 70% of
Americans lack vitamin D.
Massachusetts General Hospital studied a group of 77
healthy patients with an average age of 44 years, 42%
were vitamin D deficient and in 11%, the lack was
severe. In this same study, 46% of those people were
regularly taking vitamin supplements and were still
lacking adequate vitamin D in their blood. Dr. Reinhold
Vieth unraveled this puzzle with his colleges at the
University of Toronto have learned that any amount of
vitamin D below 800 IU daily was unable to prevent
vitamin D deficiency from occurring. Dr. Vieth
recommends 1200 IU and that it be vitamin D3
Cholecalciferol the easiest form to absorb.
All persons suspected of fibromyalgia should have
vitamin D blood levels checked. Some women with
fibromyalgia who have similar symptoms have been
discovered to have lower than normal bone density, which
is very suspicious of osteoporosis. Dr. Plotnikoff of
the University of Minnesota Medical School measured the
vitamin D blood levels of 150 patients in a chronic pain
clinic. He discovered that 93% of all patients were
vitamin D deficient. Young women in their childbearing
years were found to be at risk for not being diagnosed.
Many of these patients had been having pain for years
without ever having vitamin D levels checked. This
suggests that chronic musculoskeletal pain is often
caused by undiagnosed vitamin D deficiency. Of this
same group 100% of the Black, Hispanic, East African and
American Indian were vitamin D deficient.
In
1990, Dr. David Ruben wrote an article in Reader"s
Digest About ultraviolet sunlight blaming 600,000 cases
of skin cancer annually on this form of light. It now
appears that blaming the ultraviolet light of the sun
for skin cancer was incorrect. The correct blame has
been found to be the synthetic fats found in margarine,
salad oils and cooking oils, which are very hard for the
body to dispose of. These fats lead to massive amounts
of free radicals, immune injury, high cholesterol,
cancer, obesity and arteriosclerosis in persons
consuming these abnormal fats.
Dr. John Ott who has done monumental work in the field
of photobiology states "the fear of getting to much
ultraviolet light is creating a deficiency of an
essential life supporting energy". His studies have
shown that light is a nutrient, similar to all the other
nutrients we take in through food and that we need the
full spectrum range of natural sunlight. He found that
if the skin is not exposed to solar radiation for long
periods, disturbances will occur in the physiological
equilibrium of the human system. The result will be
disorders of the nervous system, vitamin D deficiency,
weakening of the body"s defenses, depression and an
aggravation of chronic diseases. This state is called
malillumination (lack of natural sunlight). This
develops from window glass, windshields, tinted
eyeglasses, smog, sun tan lotions and sunscreens. This
problem can be corrected by exposure to sunlight, sun
lamps or vitamin D supplements in the form of
cholecalciferol.
Dr. Ott also advises women who are having difficulty
conceiving that exposure to sunlight activates the
production of estrogen an essential hormone for
conception.
Persons with sarcoidosis, granulomatous diseases,
lymphoma, cancer and overactive parathyroid glands
should not take vitamin D except under physician
supervision.
Sources:
Fish liver oils, fatty saltwater fish, dairy products,
and eggs all contain vitamin D. It is found in butter,
cod liver oil, dandelion greens, egg yolks, halibut,
liver, mild, oatmeal salmon, sardines, sweet potatoes,
tuna, and vegetable oils action of sunlight on the
skin. Herbs that contain vitamin D include alfalfa,
horsetail, nettle, and parsley.
References:
Naturopathy For The 21st Century, Robert J.
Thiel, Ph.D., Whitman Publications, 2000
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Phyllis CNC and
James Balch M.D., Avery Books, 3rd Edition,
2000
Nutrition Concepts and Controversies, Frances Sizer and
Eleanor Whitney, West Publishing, 6th
Edition, 1994
CureZone.com, vitamin E study rebuttal
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