Vitamin D Receptors DO Play Role in Hair Loss, Although Effects of Vitamin D Itself Remain Unclear

Science has determined that defective vitamin D receptors in skin cells are responsible for at least one form of hair loss (alopecia), but the actual role of vitamin D itself remains unclear.

Back in February of last year (2011), the Vitamin D3 Blog published an article about Vitamin D Deficiency and Hair Loss, which at the time appeared to be accurate, but that nonetheless spurred quite a bit of controversy among readers. That particular post has been among the most read, and has attracted the most reader comments in the history of this website.

The gist of the post was that while plenty of speculation of a link between vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and inexplicable and/or premature hair loss could be found online, at the time, we here at the Vitamin D3 Blog had been unable to confirm a scientific link between the nutritional insufficiency and hair loss. The post set off a firestorm of comments (which still arrive at a rate that exceeds our ability to moderate all of them in a timely manner) by readers who believe based on personal experience that such a relationship does in fact exist.

In the time since the previous post on the topic of vitamin D and hair loss went live, a number of studies have been released that appear to validate the reader speculation regarding a possible association between low vitamin D and alopecia, which is a scientific term for baldness and/or hair loss.

According to one study conducted by a group of researchers at the Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, both humans with certain mutations in their vitamin D receptors (VDR), and mice lacking in these receptors developed alopecia (baldness). In that study, the mice were born with a full coat of hair, but failed “to initiate normal hair follicle cycling”. The study concluded that the lack of vitamin D receptors resulted in the disruption of the hair follicle structure, which resulted in subsequent failures of hair follicle cycling. The researchers went on to state that such changes are associated with increased hair loss, suggesting that the mutated VDRs were at least partially responsible for the regulation of the gene that controls hair loss, and hence the hair loss itself. (1)

Another study conducted by scientists at the Department of Dermatology at the University of Texas and the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston “sought to evaluate the role that vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor play in the hair cycle and assess how this can be clinically applied to the treatment of hair disorders.” While it was determined that the vitamin D receptor does in fact play a role in hair follicle cycling, this receptor acts independently of vitamin D itself in this regard. The research concluded that treatments that up-regulate the vitamin D receptor may hold potential as a possible future treatment for hair disorders, and that further studies should be conducted on the matter. The researchers were quick to admit however, that the actual role of vitamin D in hair follicle cycling is not well understood, and that no conclusions could be drawn at this time about the role of the actual nutrient itself. (2)

In yet another study, this one conducted by the Endocrine Unit, Massachussetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, researchers found that by genetically tweaking the vitamin D receptor-null mice, alopecia could be prevented. Effectively, what they did was take VDR-null mice and mate them with in mice by mating them with two “highly expressing transgenic lines of mice expressing the human VDR” in order to obtain VDR-null mice expressing the human vitamin D receptor-transgene. Expression of the transgene (the one created by cross-breeding VDR-null mice with genetically-altered mice expressing the human VDR) in the VDR-null mice prevented alopecia (hair loss). Thus, the scientists were able to restore the VDR expression in the VDR null mice, preventing the hair cycle defect that leads to the development of alopecia. (3)

One final study worth mentioned a likelihood that keratinocyte is the actual cell responsible for the defective vitamin D receptors, which are believed to lead to alopecia (hair loss, baldness). This study, conducted by the same group of Boston-based researchers responsible for the latter of the three previous studies mentioned, concluded that keratinocyte, the predominant cell type in the epidermis (skin), is the “origin of the defect”. They went on to suggest that “this form of alopecia is due to absence of ligand-independent receptor function.” (4)

Perhaps the most promising study of all was one conducted by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine. The very title of the abstract of their research sounds far more promising and to-the-point than those studies previously mentioned. The title reads: “Vitamin D3 analogs stimulate hair growth in nude mice”.  The study determined that “Vitamin D3 analogs dramatically stimulated the hair growth of nude mice,” adding that ”Vitamin D3 analogs seem to act on keratinocytes to initiate hair follicle cycling and stimulate hair growth in mice that otherwise do not grow hair.” (5)

To conclude, science has determined that a genetic defect in the vitamin D receptors found in skin cells is responsible for at least one form of premature hair loss/baldness/alopecia, or whatever other term one wishes to assign to describe the condition. However, the relationship of the actual vitamin D levels of a person suffering from alopecia has not been established relative to the development of the condition. It may well be that the mutated vitamin D receptors prevent proper absorption of the nutrient, resulting in vitamin D deficiency, which could factor into the loss of hair. Or, it’s entirely possible that new research will determine conclusively that vitamin D itself has nothing whatsoever to do with the condition.

So, for those of you reading this in hopes of discovering how to re-grow your hair, vitamin D3 supplementation may help, but there is no direct scientific evidence to support any claim that it would. The Vitamin D3 Blog is neither suggesting or denying a relationship between an balding individual’s vitamin D levels and the condition of his or her hairline and scalp, nor are we encouraging those suffering from hair loss to go out and purchase supplements in hope of regrowing hair.

That said, if anyone suffering from premature hair loss or balding does decide based entirely upon his or her own rationale to purchase supplements for the purpose of attempting to reverse a receding hair line, we here at the Vitamin D3 Blog would most definitely like to be notified of the results. So if anyone reading this does decide to try vitamin D supplementation (hopefully using vitamin D3 as opposed to D2) in an effort to regrow hair, please fill out the contact form located on the Contact Us page of the site and share your story with us regardless of the end-result. If we receive enough responses, we may do a follow-up post on the subject comparing the results of the readers of this blog who tried D3 supplementation as a means of slowing and/or reversing hair loss or premature balding.

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Yet Another Disease

A team of anti-aging experts from Adonia Organics recently released the results of a clinical trial conducted at the AMA Laboratories in New York which concluded that the process by which dark circles and bags form around the eyes of young, middle-aged and older adults is actually caused in part by a lack of sunlight (or a lack of vitamin D). Insufficient sun exposure can result in a paler skin tone, which in turn enhances the appearance of dark circles and bags in the area of the face just below the eyes.

Researchers found that the dark bags are exacerbated by fatigue – particularly during the winter months – that is attributed to deficient levels of vitamin D, which is created in the body when skin is directly exposed to sunlight. The decreased sun exposure throughout the winter months also contributes to reduced levels of neurotransmitter serotonin, which is one of the chemicals produced within the brain that helps the human body “feel good”.

According to Dr. Mark Binette, “Lacking in Vitamins D and K has a considerable negative effect on the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes and can age a woman by 4.7 years putting over ten per cent on a woman’s age of 40.”

In all, the study found that more than twice as many women (82%) between ages 27 and 60 experience dark circles and puffy eyes in the winter, while only 38% reported the same symptoms during the summer months.

Dark circles underneath the eyes are typically the result of minor blood leakage just beneath the skin’s surface. This minuscule bleeding is typically the result of tiny capillaries bursting or becoming porous and leaking small amounts of blood. Once outside of the capillaries, the blood begins a process known as oxidation, which is what turns it that dark, blackish-blue color similar to the appearance of a bruise or minor contusion.

Since the skin under the eyes is already thin to begin with, during the winter months when skin becomes more transparent due to the typical decrease in sun exposure, fluid builds up inside the thin skin beneath the eyes, causing the dark circles and puffy-looking eyes.

The problem is not as widespread in the warmer months for two reasons: First, people spend more time outdoors wearing less clothes, which translates into increased direct exposure to sunlight. Additionally, people are less fatigued, and the darker complexion of the skin that typically accompanies warmer months as people are outdoors more and have more sunbathing opportunities makes what’s left of the dark circles and bags very difficult to notice when compared with the cooler months. The increased vitamin D absorption that goes hand-in-hand with sunbathing also helps to negate this effect, further removing the unnaturally dark areas underneath the eyes.

Since the study seems to suggest (although without stating it point-blank) that a highly-bioavailable (readily absorbably), high-quality vitamin D3 supplement (the form of the nutrient absorbed through sunlight and in supplement form the one that is more readily absorbed for use by the body – also known as cholecalciferol) may be able to help prevent the conditions that lead to dark circles, bags and puffy eyes so that come wintertime, one can look every bit as good as during the summer months without necessarily having to spend hours each week sunbathing in the cold.

The Vitamin D3 Blog recommends that anyone experiencing unnaturally dark, puffy eyes during the winter months talk with their doctor or healthcare provider about vitamin D3 supplementation and any other treatment options the doctor may suggest to help rejuvenate the youthful appearance of the eyes and the area just below them.

Video on Vitamin D3, Health, Immunity, the Sun and Skin Cancer:

 
I strongly encourage anyone who is hesitant to go outside and absorb some of nature’s vitamin D on a bright, warm and sunny day due to longstanding fears based upon rumors that sunbathing is a surefire recipe for skin cancer to actually spend two minutes watching the above video. The video features a medical doctor who is far better than this author at articulating the medical facts pertaining to the value of naturally-obtained vitamin D towards a person’s overall health. The doctor also discusses possible financial motives potentially underlying the mass-scare of the public over skin cancer followed by the major push for everyone who steps outdoors to wear a coat of sunscreen.

Vitamin D3: A Misnamed But Vital Element for Good Health

Guest Post By:  Holly Miller

Vitamin D is a pair of complex, essential nutrients that the human body uses to grow and develop healthily. Ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol are the two forms of D vitamins and are known as vitamins D2 and D3 respectively. Both of these nutrients must be incorporated in the diet to prevent harmful deficiencies.

An interesting fact is that “vitamin” is a misnomer for D3. Vitamins are important nutrient that are produced by plants. Vitamin D2 is found in fungus species and plants, so it fits the definition of vitamin. Vitamin D2 can be ingested naturally through vitamin-fortified foods such as cereal, juice and milk. Vitamin D3 is actually a hormone that is produced naturally within animals when the skin’s surface is exposed to sunlight. Indeed, the human body produces vitamin D3, but most people do not synthesize healthy levels of the nutrient.

Because of the preoccupation with the harmful effects of too much sun, most people do not get enough of it. Similarly, foods rich in vitamin D3, including egg yolks, sardines, fortified whole milk, mackerel and beef liver are unpopular or demonized by popular diet plans. As a result of the reluctance of consumers, supplementing vitamin D3 is suggested for many adults; however, it is unwise to rush to the vitamin shelf in the drug store and grab the first bottle marked “D.” A generic vitamin D tablet is likely to contain high levels of vitamin D2. While D2 is healthy in small amounts, large quantities of the vitamin can be toxic to the body. In contrast, there is no risk of toxicity with vitamin D3. Foods are uncommonly enriched with vitamin D3, but it can be found on sale in pill or liquid form.

Vitamin D3 helps the body absorb calcium and works to control the immune system. A lack of sufficient vitamin D3 can leave your body more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases and cancer. Obesity, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, type two diabetes, psoriasis and chronic fatigue syndrome are all linked to vitamin D3 deficiency. Mental conditions may rise from a lack of vitamin D3, as well. Those with insufficient levels of vitamin D3 have suffered from mood swings, depression and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D3 cannot be produced by exposure to fake ultra violet (UV) light, such as that found in tanning beds. Natural, nourishing sunlight is the only source of vitamin D3 synthesis in the human body. Consumers can save money on expensive supplements and avoid eating foods they may not enjoy by soaking in the sun’s free UV lamplight. Morning sun is the safest for the body. Head outside for at least 20 minutes each day and expose a minimum of 40 percent of your body to the sun for maximum D3 synthesis. During cold months, pill or liquid supplements may be necessary for many adults.

Guest Post by Holly Miller, a writer for CouponCroc.co.uk, the best resource for savings on health supplements, vitamins, and everything you need to stay healthy.
Editor’s Note:  The Vitamin D3 Blog would like to offer its most sincere thanks to Holly for this wonderful post!

The epic winters and rains experienced by Seattle are known to cause depression in a large percent of the population. Why? Research has shown that sesonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is linked to a lack of a Vitamin D3.

Vitamin D3 – cholecalciferol – is the form of Vitamin D that is obtained through human exposure to direct sunlight. It is considered to be superior to other forms of Vitamin D such as ergocalciferol, which is better known as Vitamin D2.

Research has shown that people in cold, rainy climates, are more susceptible to Vitamin D Deficiency, which has been scientifically linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder. This means that people who live in places like Seattle, Washington, where the climate is often rainy and generally cold, are more likely to suffer from SAD, which is a type of seasonal depression that occurs primarily during the winter months.

Take this passage from an earlier post about Vitamin D Deficiency appearing on this site:

A scientific link between low Vitamin D3 levels and depression has been established following several recent studies confirming the relationship. According to one such study by scientists at Georgia State University: “The likelihood of having depression in persons with vitamin D deficiency is significantly higher compared to those with vitamin D sufficiency. Early diagnosis and intervention are paramount because coexistence of vitamin D deficiency and depression has serious negative consequences on health.” (Source)

There has been a surge of interest the medical research community concerning Vitamin D3. Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University School, one of the world’s leading experts on the topic, has been quoted as saying “You’re more likely to live longer and you’re less likely to die of serious chronic disease if you have adequate vitamin D on board. It may well be the most important nutrient of the decade.”

There is also current research being conducted on Vitamin D3 at the Mayo Clinic, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and The U.S. Institute of Medicine to name a few. Existing research has already linked Vitamin D Deficiency to at least 32 different diseases, illnesses and various other health ailments.

People who live in northern climates that are cold and/or rainy have limited opportunities to obtain Vitamin D from sunlight. It is recommended that these individuals in particular take high-quality Vitamin D3 Supplements in order to prevent Vitamin D Deficiency.

Dr. Marc Sorenson on Vitamin D Deficiency, Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Guest Post

By: David Munson

There has always been evidence that ingesting certain vitamins and minerals in sufficient amounts can have many positive health benefits.  Vitamin D specifically can play a significant role in preventing colon cancer, diabetes, and even help to relieve depression.  Many studies are performed to find out what types of infections and diseases can be helped with vitamin D.  The most recent study, performed by Gill Diamond of the New Jersey Dental School in Newark, has produced a significant finding and sparked debate about the usefulness of vitamin D.

Vitamin D May Help Prevent Gingivitis, Tooth Loss

The study found that vitamin D can help fight bacterial infections that attack the gums which can lead to gingivitis and tooth loss.  These findings were supported by an earlier study that found that vitamin D can cause the lungs to produce a natural antibiotic that can actually kill harmful bacteria.  This latest study also found that vitamin D is involved in expressing some genes that were not believed to be part of the vitamin D pathway, but now may help in fighting infection.  This research could develop specific therapies using vitamin D.

It was also discovered that gum cells can activate inactive forms of vitamin D, and according to Gill Diamond, “This means that we may even be able to use vitamin D therapy topically, if that proves true.”  This has the ability to create special drugs and ointments that can be applied to the gums and fight gingivitis which affects 75% of the one-third adults that suffer from untreated tooth decay.  Gingivitis is inflammation or infection of the gums.

Vitamin D is important to the health of people and must be given in correct dosages.  A debate lies in what the proper dosage amounts are.  The United States Food and Nutrition Board has established that children and adults age 70 and below need 600 IU of vitamin D while the elderly, age 70 and above, need 800 IU.  While the Vitamin D Council, without proper exposure to sunlight, recommends 1,000 IU for children over 1 year and 5,000 IU for healthy adolescents and adults.  People with illnesses may require more.

There is also something of a debate being had over which form of vitamin D offers the most health benefits. For years, supplement manufacturers preferred a form of the nutrient called ergocalciferol, or vitamin D2. However, in the past decade, scientists and health practitioners are finding that vitamin D3 is a superior form of the nutrient. This tends to be the prevailing viewpoint among those in the know.

The reason for this is that vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is the natural form of the vitamin obtained from the sun, and is more easily accessible for use by the human body than the synthetic, man-made D2. We here at the Vitamin D3 Blog strongly recommend that anyone considering vitamin D supplements consider purchasing vitamin D3 supplements as opposed to those containing D2.

Vitamin D is one the most well-known and yet still underrated of all the vitamins.  The health benefits are just starting to be understood by science, and the nutrient can easily be obtained through proper amounts of sunlight or in supplement form.  It also seems that science hasn’t even scratched the surface of what vitamin D can achieve in help to the body, but according to this most recent study, we know that it can provide a beneficial step for healthy gums and teeth.

Among the nation’s leading experts in the subject of clinical nutrition and in particular vitamin D benefits is a primary care Nurse Practitioner from Louisiana named Pamela Egan. It was Nurse Practitioner Egan who was the very first media figure in the entire country and indeed the world to distinguish between the two different forms of vitamin D that are commonly sold as supplements. The two are D2 and D3, respectively.

NP Egan, who is a world-renowned health columnist, was writing about the hands-down superiority of D3 relative to D2 a full four years before the terms D2 or D3 were even mentioned by a writer other than Pamela Egan in an actual print or broadcast media publication.

Mrs. Egan’s original article on the topic of vitamin D3 and the potential health ramifications that coincide with being deficient in the nutrient is still among the very first articles to appear in search results when someone queries the term “vitamin d3″ (with or without quotation marks). There is a reason for this. Even though several years have passed since the article was originally published, there are few if any health professionals in the United States and the world who have a better or more fundamental understanding of the subject and the intricacies involved with how it all works.

For example, a medical doctor named Susan Hill published an article about vitamin D in late May of this year (2011) for the Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group. Dr. Hill obviously hadn’t inconvenienced herself with research before writing the article, rehashing the standard lines that seem to appear in every news story about the topic.

Dr. Hill listed four benefits of vitamin D: calcium absorption, bone strength, muscle strength and balance. Interestingly enough, while she didn’t find it necessary to include a sentence or two about the other 32 or so diseases that have been found to occur in dramatically increased proportions in the presence of a vitamin D deficiency, she did make a point of citing decades-old information that has been inaccurate for at least five or six years now.

She incorrectly stated that research had not conclusively established a link between healthy vitamin D levels and a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease (see note at bottom of post). She also incorrectly stated that there is a lack of scientific evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to winter depression.

Last but not least, she engaged in a bit of unnecessary fear mongering by asserting that people who reside in areas with sunny climates and who also supplement with vitamin D are at risk of getting “too much” of the nutrient, a real condition known as vitamin D toxicity. While technically, this statement is not 100% inaccurate, she should have pointed out that in order for this to occur, a person would have to be either hypersensitive to the vitamin; take far more vitamin D supplements than directed by a physician or the instructions on the bottle; or ingest a contaminated supplement containing several times more of the active ingredient than is listed on the label.

While the above makes up all of the factually inaccurate statements made by Dr. Susan Hill in her May article for the Wheaton Group, she did make one onerous omission that in light of the factual inaccuracies, should come as no surprise to those qualified to write on the subject. Throughout the entire article, she failed to make any mention of the fact that there are two different forms of vitamin D that are sold as supplements in the United States, and that only one of those forms offers any meaningful health benefits to the human body.

For anyone not already familiar with the two forms of vitamin D, they are D2 (also known as ergocalciferol) and D3 (also known as cholecalciferol), respectively. Vitamin D3 is the form of the nutrient absorbed through sunlight and processed for use by the body. D2 is a synthetic chemical made largely of plant materials. The two forms of vitamin D were absolutely not created equal.

D2 is technically a form of vitamin D, but offers very little in terms of benefits to the human body due to the fact that it is lacking in bioavailability, or usability by the human body. D3 on the other hand is extremely bioavailable, and the body benefits substantially from both exposure of the skin to sunlight as well as from vitamin D3 supplements.

While the remainder of this article is largely a matter of opinion (note that it is being disclaimed as such), this author highly recommends that consumers who decide to buy vitamin D supplements not only go with D3 over D2, but also that they go with a very high-quality brand of D3. Vitamins, like anything else, are subject to the standards and quality control measures in place at the time and place of manufacture, and some brands are made to a higher standard than some others. How big a difference it makes is anybody’s guess, but this author gets the highest quality available for purchase when he buys D3 supplements.

The Facts About Vitamin D3, Cancer and Heart Disease:  “A study that appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition conclusively established the preventive benefits of Vitamin D3 with regard to various forms of cancer, heart disease and numerous others ailments.”  Source: http://www.ajcn.org/content/79/3/362.abstract

Vitamin D3 supplementation is highly recommended, according to the Endocrine Society in its guidelines published online in the June edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The recommendations apply to suggested daily intake and tolerable upper-limit levels, in particular for those most at risk of developing Vitamin D Deficiency.

The recommendations are the product of a task force comprised of several experts in the field of clinical nutrition headed up by Michael F. Holick, M.D., Ph.D., from the Boston University School of Medicine, for the purpose of establishing guidelines for clinicians for the prevention, evaluation, treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency. The guidelines place an particular focus on at-risk patients.

The research found widespread Vitamin D Deficiency in all age groups studies, hence the widespread nature of the recommendation.

Prior to being published, the recommendations were peer-reviewed by the Endocrine Society’s Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee, Clinical Affairs Core Committee and various other co-sponsors of the research. Members of the organization also reviewed the material once it had been put up on the web, providing feedback where appropriate.

Vitamin D Deficiency has been associated with dozens of illnesses, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, rickets, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, depression and many others. Vitamin D supplements can help to prevent Vitamin D Deficiency by maintaining healthy blood-levels of the nutrient.

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form of the vitamin absorbed through the sun. It is superior to the synthetic Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). We highly recommend that anyone shopping for a Vitamin D supplement check the label in order to ensure it is D3 and not D2.

Guest Post by David M.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading killers of men.  According to the National Cancer Institute, the disease is diagnosed in almost 200,000 men each year and kills almost 40,000 men each year.  A recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues, led by Dr. Edward Giovannucci has found that vitamin D can prolong the life and even help fight cancer.

The study has shown that men with the expression of vitamin D receptors at high levels tend to have less severe prostate cancer.  The nutrient has been shown to decrease proliferation and boost apoptosis. The study showed that patients who had high levels of vitamin D in their tumor tissue had lower levels of prostate specific antigen at diagnosis.  This leads to the thought that higher levels of the sunshine vitamin render the cancer less aggressive.

Doctors think it can lower death rates among cancer patients by attaching to cancerous cells and stopping the cell division process.  Then it will find other cells in the body and attach to them thus slowly rebuilding the prostate.  It has been found that when Vitamin D is put into a culture sample with cancer cells, the the cancer cells will stop growing and begin a return to normal, though more study is needed to actually witness this phenomenon in the human body.

The study consisted of 841 men already having being diagnosed with prostate cancer.  They were divided into two cohorts, the Physicians’ Health Study, and the Health professionals Follow-up Study.  The results revealed a link between vitamin D and prostate cancer progression.  Also that if healthy men would take a daily dose of the nutrient, it would actually help to prevent the disease.

Most Doctors say that between 1,000 and 2,000 IU of vitamin D a day is needed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 50%.  Although it is still a good idea to supplement with a good multivitamin to give nutrients to help process the vitamin D.  The nutrients should consist of magnesium, zinc, vitamin k2, boron, and small amounts of vitamin A.

Prostate cancer is a leading killer of men, and the best thing for men to do is try to reduce the risk being afflicted as much as possible. Early detection and prevention are the most basic tools in the arsenal against prostate cancer and in due time more secrets about the disease will be uncovered, but until then the best thing for men is to be prepared and preventative.  This includes a good diet, regular exercise, and a daily supplement of vitamin D.

A new study conducted by a network of scientists called EuroSIDA found that vitamin D deficiency is extremely common among HIV patients, and that the deficiency is associated with the progression of the disease.  While not the first study to show that patients infected with HIV tend to be deficient in vitamin D at a rate well above that of the normal population, the research by the EuroSIDA cooperative went above and beyond existing research in the establishment of a direct relationship between low levels of the nutrient and the overall mortality rate as well as the progression of the disease that can lead to AIDS.

Once they had firmly established that vitamin D deficiency was in fact prevalent in patients infected with the HIV virus, the scientists took aim at the relationship between the nutritional insufficiency and the progression of the disease.  Five years after the initial testing was conducted on the patients and baseline readings established, follow-up interviews and tests revealed a very distinct pattern.

Patients were broken down into three groups according to their vitamin D levels.  Of the group who registered the lowest blood-levels of vitamin D, 10% of the patients had developed AIDS.   Of the middle group, 6% of the individuals had developed AIDS, as compared to only 5% in the group whose blood-levels of vitamin D were the highest.

That means that HIV patients who are deficient in vitamin D are twice as likely to develop AIDS as are patients with sufficient levels of the nutrient.  Not surprisingly, in addition to being more susceptible to developing AIDS, HIV patients who are vitamin D deficient are also nearly twice as likely to die, according to the same study.

Mortality rates were highest among those with the lowest levels of vitamin D.  Interestingly enough, the ratio for the mortality rates was very similar to the ratio of AIDS.  In order from lowest levels of vitamin D to highest, the mortality rates were 11%, 7% and 6%, respectively.

“These results provide strong evidence that vitamin D deficiency is an important cofactor in HIV disease progression, even in the setting of widespread, efficient cART [combination antiretroviral therapy]. Whether the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and events is casual must now be addressed,” concluded the study, which appeared in the online edition of AIDS.

HIV-infected patients can take measures to prevent and/or reverse vitamin D deficiency. First, a distinction between the different forms of vitamin D must be made. There are two main forms of the nutrient that are sold as supplements: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is superior form, so HIV patients must set out acquire it and not waste time with D2.

Vitamin D3 can be obtained in three ways: through sunlight, food and supplements. Since food and sunlight fall under the “lifestyle” category, we can effectively dismiss these methods of ingestion, as the HIV patients are already deficient, and rather than expect them to completely change their diet and lifestyle, the safe alternative is to focus exclusively on supplements, as they are the only viable long-term solution. HIV-infected patients should obtain a high-quality, high-potency vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplement. 5,000 IU is a dosage amount that is common among high-potency vitamin D3 supplements. While not an amount officially endorsed by a government or health organization, it is the amount this author would recommend HIV patients start on until they’ve had time to have their blood-levels of vitamin D tested to determine their exact nutritional needs.

According to Eurocoord.net, “EuroSIDA is a prospective observational cohort study of more than 16,000 adult patients under care and follow-up in a network of 103 hospitals in 33 European countries plus Israel and Argentina.

SOURCE:  Viard J-P et al. Vitamin D and clinical disease progression in HIV infection: results from the EuroSIDA study. AIDS 25, online edition: doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e328347f6f7, 2011

Related Posts:

- Vitamin D Deficiency and Disease
- Vitamin D3 Supplements: When are they Necessary?
- Vitamin D3 Deficiency

Over the past several years, a number of studies have been released which appear to show a direct relationship between low levels of Vitamin D in children and the prevalence of childhood allergies.

In February of this year, a study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York concluded a study involving 3,100 children that was published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed that children and adolescents suffering from Vitamin D deficiency were highly susceptible to the development of sensitivity to allergens (development of allergies). More than 50% of those studied within the respective child-adolescent age bracket who had low levels of Vitamin D also suffered from allergies.

A 2007 study by scientists at Harvard University showed that increased sun exposure (which the body converts into Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol) could help to prevent both asthma and allergies in children. This study also showed that pregnant women deficient in Vitamin D were more likely to bear children with asthma and/or allergies.

In 2006, the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study established a relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and susceptibility to respiratory infection. A follow-up study by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital Hospital confirmed the results of the original study and went beyond the original in specifically identifying asthma as a respiratory ailment the prevalence of which in children was far higher in those suffering from Vitamin D deficiency than those with healthy levels of the nutrient.

In March of 2011, researchers from the Medical University of Lodz in Poland found that Vitamin D3 supplements may help to reduce the number of asthma attacks in children.

Below are a couple of videos dealing with the topics of allergies, asthma and Vitamin D. The first video involves a report from outside the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology in New Orleans in which Dr. Daniel A. Searing talks about the relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and the development of allergies and asthma in children. The second video, also hosted by Dr. Searing, is a slightly more in-depth elaboration upon the first video, addressing the subject in a more general context.

Dr. Daniel A. Searing: Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Allergies, Asthma in Children

Asthma and Vitamin D