We already know that Vitamin D is like a miracle vitamin.  However we didn’t know just how much to take to be beneficial.  Well now we do.  Researchers have found what it takes to cut your chances of getting breast cancer, colon cancer, MS, and Diabetes 1 in half.   Truthfully it is  a lot higher than I have been taking.  Also, before I go and start taking such a high dose I am going to get my levels checked because you can get an overdose of Vitamin D.  Having said that, living in Canada and having Fibromyalgia, I really don’t have to worry about that at this time.  I only take 1000IU/day.  They are recommending 4000-8000IU/day to maintain levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by half the risk of several diseases.

Following is an excerpt from an article in ProHealth.com

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha report that markedly higher intakes of vitamin D than formerly thought are needed to reach blood levels that can prevent or markedly cut the incidence of breast cancer, colon cancer, and several other major diseases.

The report, “Vitamin D Supplement Doses and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in the Range Associated with Cancer Prevention,” was published Feb 21 by the journal Anticancer Research.

“We found that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults in the range of 4000-8000 IU are needed to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by about half the risk of several diseases…”– Prof. C Garland, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

The study reports on a survey of several thousand volunteers who were taking vitamin D supplements in the dosage range from 1000 to 10,000 IU/day. Blood studies were conducted to determine the level of 25-vitamin D – the form in which almost all vitamin D circulates in the blood.

• “Most scientists who are actively working with vitamin D now believe that 40 to 60 ng/ml is the appropriate target concentration of 25-vitamin D in the blood for preventing the major vitamin D-deficiency related diseases, and have joined in a letter on this topic,” says Garland.

• “Unfortunately, according to a recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only 10% of the US population has levels in this range, mainly people who work outdoors.”

To read the full article you can go here.

VITAMIN D:Role in Calcium Metabolism Safety

All studies, in virtually all nations, irrespective of latitude, show that the majority of the world’s population has inadequate vitamin D status.

vitD deficiency: a world-wide problem
– involves all ages & races
– rickets is on the rise in the U.S.
– prevention & treatment are inexpensive & easily implemented
– serum 25(OH)D needs to be above 40 ng/mL–as is commonly found outdoors
– needed total vitD inputs: ~ 75 IU/kg/d

~~Robert P. Heaney, M.D., F.A.S.N. Creighton University Osteoporosis Research Center

As long as kids are going to stay indoors playing their video games that have exploded into popularity, of course rickets is going to be on the rise.  Kids don’t play outside anymore; getting the fresh air and SUNSHINE.

I seriously advise you to visit the GrassRootsHealth website if you are interested in this issue :

http://www.grassrootshealth.net

It has everything you need to know about Vitamin D and for women calcium.  There is a pdf file on the presentation slides that Dr. Heaney is presenting tonight actually March 23rd, 2011 in London, Ontario .  There is a lot of important information in there that you can download and keep.  Actually the whole site is full of important information for everyone.

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Have a Great Day!!

Donna

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