OT: Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation--Dr. Mercola--Dr. Cannell

February 2, 2005

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http://www.mercola.com/fcgi/pf/2004/feb/28/vitamin_d.htm

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Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation

Contributed by Cannell, MD, executive director of The Vitamin D

Council

Researchers in Belgium appear to be the first to show that simple, natural

and cheap vitamin D (cholecalciferol) lowers C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a

measure of inflammation in the body, in critically ill patients.

Even small amounts of vitamin D, about 500 IU, lowered inflammation by more

than 25 percent in a small group of critically ill patients. Another marker

of inflammation (IL-6) was reduced even more. The researchers also found

that critically ill patients were profoundly deficient in vitamin D.

In another study, researchers found that vitamin D deficiency is associated

with increased inflammation in otherwise healthy people. Increased

inflammation in the body can increase the risk of chronic inflammatory

conditions, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes. Further,

the researchers found that inflammation was lowered by simple vitamin D.

As vitamin D deficiency is associated with numerous illnesses with

inflammatory components, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes,

autoimmune illness and heart disease, the findings were important. The

authors concluded, " This finding provides a possible mechanism for tissue

damage in chronic inflammatory conditions, including CHD and diabetes. "

Inflammation in the body may be as important as cholesterol in determining

the risk of heart disease. Unlike cholesterol alone, cholesterol and

inflammation together predict a substantial number of cases of heart

disease.

Various studies show that vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the

critically ill and suggest that that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to

the inflammatory basis of various illnesses.

For example, earlier this year researchers studied patients with congestive

heart failure and found elevated levels of TNF, another marker of

inflammation. They also found critically low levels of calcidiol [25(OH)D],

the only reliable marker of vitamin D, and even found low levels of

calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D that is usually low only in those

who are severely vitamin D deficient.

They concluded vitamin D deficiency might contribute to the development of

congestive heart failure (CHF).

It is important to note that vitamin D's anti-inflammatory actions in humans

have long been suspected. For example, several studies using compounds

similar to vitamin D have been shown to significantly reduce inflammation

and improve the patients' condition when given to patients suffering from

rheumatoid arthritis.

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Dr. Mercola's Comment:

CRP is elevated when there is inflammation going on somewhere in the body,

and chronic inflammation is a risk factor for a number of conditions

including coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes. Numerous studies have

shown that vitamin D lowers inflammation.

Folks, we are in the midst of a radical revision of vitamin D understanding.

The leading vitamin D scientists in the world have changed their position

within the last few years and have started the warning sirens that most of

traditional medicine was dead wrong when it comes to sun avoidance.

Following the ridiculous recommendations of avoiding the sun has caused a

minimum of 20,000 extra cancers per year, and it is far more likely the

number actually exceeds 50,000. And that is just cancer deaths. It does not

include heart disease or autoimmune diseases like MS or rheumatoid

arthritis.

The old RDA of 400 units was only put together to prevent rickets. It was

established long before the appreciation of sun exposure and optimized

vitamin D levels. The requirements for vitamin D are far closer to 10 times

the current RDA, or 4,000 units. If you only took the RDA of 400 units of

vitamin D and avoided the sun you can be virtually guaranteed you would be

vitamin D deficient, just like over 85 percent of the country currently is.

This is why it is crucial that you have your vitamin D levels tested now. By

far, the vast majority of people reading this right now have far too little

vitamin D in their blood. Over 85 percent of people have levels below 32,

which is considered deficient, but it is possible to overdose on vitamin D.

In my practice we don't like to see patient levels go much above 50, but 55

is probably a perfect level and anything above 60 is likely to be toxic. One

study found cancer started to occur at 80. So, be smart and get your vitamin

D level tested.

We routinely put people on 10,000 units a day or more of vitamin D safely as

long as we monitor them. It is important to understand that most of us get

10,000 units on a sunny summer day if we have significant exposure.

If you are a health care professional I would strongly urge you to consider

subscribing to Dr. Cannell's excellent vitamin D newsletter. The top vitamin

D scientists in the world write it, and it is sent to the top scientists in

the world with the intention of sparking the important changes that need to

occur in the U.S. recommendations. I have learned quite a bit about vitamin

D already, but it seems that every issue Dr. Cannel surprises me with new

and exciting information about the health benefits of vitamin D.

Sign In

OT: Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation--Dr. Mercola--Dr. Cannell

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