A long-term Finnish study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has reported that vitamin D deficiency in childhood may be linked to hardening of the arteries later in life. In 1980 the researchers enrolled 2,148 children aged 3 to 18 who underwent periodic physical exams measuring serum vitamin D levels and other cardiovascular markers until they were 45 years old. During this time, doctors used ultrasound to examine their arteries (including the carotid artery in the neck) for thickening as a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. After adjusting for age, sex and other cardiovascular risk factors, the results showed children in the lowest one-quarter for vitamin D levels were nearly twice as likely to have thickening of the carotid artery as those in the other three quarters. This evidence suggests Vitamin D is important for good artery health. What are your typical sources of Vitamin D? How often do you recommend your patients to get their Vitamin D levels checked?
New observational research performed at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School was just published in the journal Gut. Researchers have associated higher levels of vitamin D with a reduced risk of colon cancer, stating that the higher the levels in the blood, the less is the likelihood of developing malignant tumors in the colon. The authors discuss how vitamin D boosts immunity in cancer as well as any other type of infection leading to greater number of T cells which target tumor cells and limit their growth. When did you have your vitamin D level check last?
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A 6 year research lead by Dr. David Llewellyn and his team at the University of Exeter Medical School, concluded that low levels of vitamin D in older people are linked to the risk of developing dementia. Vitamin D can be found in foods, such as oily fish, supplements, or exposure to sunlight, however elderly people have less efficient skin and must be supplement in other ways. The team found that in 1,169 subjects with sufficient levels of vitamin D, there is a 1 in 10 chance of developing dementia. In 70 subjects with deficiency, there was a 1 in 5 risk of getting dementia. They cannot say that low vitamin D causes dementia but it is worthwhile to continue studying the connection. What are your thoughts on the association of dementia risk with low vitamin D?
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Those with vitamin D deficiency, especially among New Englanders, are linked to a multitude of health risks. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that those who were obese and vitamin D deficient walked slower and were less physically active than their comparators who were not deficient. The results of this study suggest that vitamin D status may contribute to the reduction of physical functioning, leading to a more sedentary lifestyle. What are some ways you encourage or increase physical activity in your patients? How does this study influence your recommendation of vitamin D?
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Although some studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D are associated with joint pain and swelling,a post-hoc analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial suggest that vitamin D-3 (400IU) and calciumcarbonate (1000mg elemental calcium) are no better than placebo for relieving joint problems. After two years, 74.6% of the supplement group still had joint pain, compared to 75.1% of the placebo group. What has vitamin D and calcium been most effective for in your patients?
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A new study published in Dermato-Endocrinology suggests that consuming mushrooms can be as effective as consuming vitamin D supplements. Researchers from Boston University Schoolof Medicine studied 30 healthy patients who were randomly assigned to take capsules of mushroom powder or vitaminD. At 12 weeks, therewas no statistical significant difference between serum concentrationsin two groups.How often do you eat mushrooms? What are your favorites? Are you familiar with their health benefits?
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A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at use of vitamin D for osteoarthritis of the knee. 156 patients were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a daily dose of vitamin D (from 2000 to 8000IU). The results of the study found there were no significant differences in knee pain or loss of cartilage among the two groups. With the new data conflicting with the previous findings, the beneficial effects of vitamin D still remain unclear. What natural products do you generally recommend your patients for osteoarthritis of the knee?
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A new research on Vitamin D conducted at McGill University has shown promising effects on cancer. Vitamin D slows down cells progression from premalignant to malignant states, keeping their proliferation in check. Researchers found that the active form of Vitamin D halts both the synthesis and functioning effect of the protein cMYC. cMYC is responsible for cell division and is active at elevated levels in more than half of all cancers. What are you general recommendations to patients with history of cancer or active forms of cancer?
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The journal Pediatrics published two prospective cohort studies evaluating the effects of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Researchers tested vitamin D levels in 511 patients admitted to Boston Children Hospital and 326 pediatric patients admitted to hospitals in Canada. The study found that vitamin D deficiency was common in this population and lower vitamin D levels were associated with longer hospital stay. How do you counsel adult and pediatric patients about vitamin D?
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