Vitamin D3 Blog

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

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.

There has been substantial scientific progress in recent years regarding the role of Vitamin D in the prevention of cancer. The research includes no less than 275 epidemiological studies, approximately 2500 laboratory studies and a confirmatory randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial (Lappe et al.).

Most of these studies support a preventive role of vitamin D with cancer. These studies have have been published in such medical journals as the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Lancet, Cancer Research, the International Journal of Epidemiology, and numerous other peer-reviewed biomedical journals.

The following CBS News video clip contains an interview with Dr. Jennifer Ashton in which she explains the significance behind new research suggesting that daily supplementation with Vitamin D may help to significantly reduce the risk of cancer.

The next video (appearing below), details how a study performed by researchers at the Moores Cancer Center and Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California at San Diego found that 75% of deaths from breast cancer and colorectal cancer could be prevented through adequate daily intake of both Vitamin D3 and calcium.

Related: Does Vitamin D3 Help Prevent Cancer?

UPDATE: The list of diseases, illnesses and various other health maladies that have been scientifically linked to Vitamin D Deficiency now stands at 32. The updated version of the list is posted at the bottom of the article.

If you’ve been following the news at all for the past year, you’ve probably read that Vitamin D — Vitamin D3 specifically — helps boost the immune system.  You’ve probably also read that increasing volumes of research seem to indicate a relationship between Vitamin D Deficiency and various diseases.  What you may not have known is just how many different diseases and conditions are now being linked scientifically to deficient levels of this vital nutrient.

Before I go any further, I’d like to clarify the difference between Vitamin D3 and regular Vitamin D. Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) is the form of the vitamin manufactured within the human body from sunlight. It is the most active and bioavailable form of the nutrient, which translated to better absorption within the body. The alternative form of the vitamin is known as D2, or Ergocalciferol.

Over the past several years, the general consensus of experts has been rapidly shifting in the direction of declaring Vitamin D2 a nutrient unfit for supplement form. This is due in part to health experts such as Nurse Practitioner and Health Columnist Pam Egan, who dared to challenge the conventional wisdom regarding Vitamin D at a time when the term “Vitamin D3″ was largely unheard of. Mrs. Egan has been distinguishing between the two forms of the vitamin in her published writings for most of the past decade, including a couple of years at the beginning when her peers wrote off her claims as speculative.

While scanning news headlines recently, I was simply awed by the sheer number of stories about the establishment of scientific links between Vitamin D3 Deficiency and disease. In light of this experience, I have assembled a partial list of the seemingly endless diseases and conditions for which the nutritional shortcoming is a contributing factor.

In no particular order, the following is a partial list of some of the diseases and conditions caused in part by Vitamin D Deficiency.

Diseases and Conditions Linked to Vitamin D3 Deficiency:

1. Parkinson’s Disease - Two new studies suggest that older people who are deficient in Vitamin D may be more likely to develop the neurological disorder.  The first study was directed by Paul Knekt of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.  David Llewellyn of Italy’s Exeter University spearheaded the second study, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Source

2. Asthma - A new study conducted by the Harvard Medical School in Boston found that children low in Vitamin D3 were more likely to suffer an asthma attack requiring hospitalization than were children with healthy levels of the vitamin. Source

3. Chronic Pain - Two studies – one by Dr. Greg Plotnikoff, the other by the Mayo Clinic – appear to show a link between Vitamin D Deficiency and chronic pain. Source

4. Childhood Obesity - A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that Vitamin D deficient children are likely to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than their better-nourished schoolmates. Source

5. Osteoporosis in Patients with IBD - A study by the American College of Gastroenterology indicates that Vitamin D deficient patients with IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis, osteopenia and an overall higher rate of abnormal bone density. Source

6. Autoimmune Disorders - A study published in Genome Research indicates that people with insufficient Vitamin D are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and Crohn’s disease. Source

7. Arterial Stiffness – The Endocrine Society published a study this past summer linking Vitamin D Deficiency to arterial stiffness in black teens. Source

8. Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome – Researchers from Johns Hopkins University presented a study at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting establishing a link between Vitamin D Deficiency and Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, which is the medical precursor to diabetes. Source

9. Cancer, Heart Disease and More – The following study appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition establishes the preventive benefits of Vitamin D3 with regard to various forms of cancer, heart disease and numerous others. Source

10. Rickets – This one has long-been established as fact by the medical and scientific communities, so I therefore feel no need to include specifics or cite sources.  The link has been firmly established and repeatedly confirmed.

11. Inflammation – A 2009 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirmed a link between Vitamin D Deficiency in otherwise healthy women and increased inflammation. Source

12. Autism - There is an increasing body of evidence that Vitamin D Deficiency is a contributing factor to autism. Dr. John Cannell, a psychiatrist and prominent vitamin D advocate, says flagging levels of the vitamin in pregnant women and young children could be the elusive factor explaining the rising rate of autism. Source

13. ADHD - Recent studies from the past several years increasingly point to a relationship between low levels of Vitamin D3 and an aggravation/intensification of the symptoms of ADD and ADHD. Source

14. Influenza & Swine Flu - Research presented by John Cannell, MD of the Vitamin D Council showed that Vitamin D3 is protective against seasonal flu. Further research performed by Norris Glick, MD and Ellie Campbell, DO, showed that Vitamin D3 helps prevent H1N1 Flu. Further, Dr. John Cannell showed that Vitamin D3 deficiency activates the influenza virus (the Flu). Source: Vitamin D3 and Influenza

15. Fibromyalgia - A study published in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association determined that Vitamin D3 deficiency is frequently seen in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia and nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Source

16. Hypertension & High Cholesterol - Evidence from numerous clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that increased dosages of Vitamin D3 can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol in patients deficient in the nutrient. Source

17. Depression - 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

18. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Vitamin D deficiency is closely associated with the chronic fatigue in patients with traumatic brain injury. Source

19. Tooth Decay - There is strong evidence indicating a relationship linking Vitamin D Deficiency to cavities and tooth decay. Dozens of studies were conducted in the 1930′s and 1940′s on this very subject. More than 90% of those studies concluded that supplementing children with vitamin D prevents cavities. Source

20. Lung Transplant Rejection - Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a significant increase in lung transplant rejection, according to research conducted at Loyola University Health System (LUHS). Source

Please keep in mind that this is only a partial list of the myriad of diseases and adverse conditions that are either caused in part by or aggravated by Vitamin D Deficiency, or that can largely be prevented with adequate sun exposure and/or supplemental intake.  Check back as I will be posting a follow-up article sometime in the near future listing even more diseases for which this nutritional shortage is a contributing factor.

Updated List of Diseases Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency:

• Breast Cancer
• Skin Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• ADHD
• Alzheimer’s
• Autism
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Allergies
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Depression
• AIDS
• Fibromyalgia
• Rickets
• Influenza
• H1N1 Flu
• Various Autoimmune Disorders
• Osteoporosis
• Lung Transplant Rejection
• Asthma
• Childhood Obesity
• Chronic Pain
• Tooth Loss
• Gingivitis
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Arterial Stiffness
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Lupus
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Seasonal Affective Disorder

Approximately 30 minute video providing an in-depth review of the claim that vitamin D and in particular vitamin D3 (also known as cholecalciferol) may aid in preventing some forms of cancer. The video references a study by researchers at the UCSD School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center that involved a computer-projection model that estimated that intake of vitamin D3 and calcium would prevent 58,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer per year in the US and Canada

The computer model went on make a number of other predictions that are discussed within the film.

All in all, this is a fairly in depth look into the relationship between vitamin D3 and cancer prevention, and whether or not the claims being made by a variety of scientists and clinicians of late that vitamin D can indeed help prevent cancer hold any validity. To find out the answer, you’ll have to watch the video below.

Related: Vitamin D and Cancer