vitamin d - Page 2

Vitamin D3 and Influenza

Published on
5876 views
vitamin d and the flu

It’s that time of year again: Signs advertising flu shots dot the commercial landscape. Retail pharmacy stores conveniently sell flu inoculations while shopping. Flu-shot kiosks at airports are common. Pharmaceutical companies produce flu vaccines in nasal-spray form for younger people and high-dose flu shots for older folks. When I think about this ambitious marketing campaign, my reaction is the same: adequate vitamin D3 levels may protect us from influenza as effectively as flu vaccines.

The “flu” is a highly contagious, respiratory disease caused by a type (or strain) of influenza virus. Influenza A, the most common flu virus, usually prevails during the autumn and winter seasons when the least exposure to ultraviolet B sunlight occurs. Seasonal flu vaccines comprise a mixture of the most predictive influenza viruses. However, the effectiveness of flu immunization can be called into question due to the uncertainty about which flu strain will emerge during the season.

Activated vitamin D3 has a profound impact on the immune system. Vitamin D3’s anti-viral and anti-inflammatory functions may lower of the risk of contracting or dying from influenza. To strengthen the immune system, activated vitamin D3 produces two peptides called cathelicidin and defensin that combat viruses. John J. Cannell, M.D., founder and Executive Director of the Vitamin D Council, and colleagues published a paper in the British journal Epidemiology and Infections that proposed low vitamin D3 levels are why the flu occurs more often during the winter. They also suggested that adequate daily vitamin D3 supplementation may reduce influenza symptoms. Subsequently, Dr. Cannell led a team of researchers who further examined vitamin D3’s mechanisms of action on epidemic influenza. Published in the February 2008 issue of the Virology Journal, the researchers confirmed the association between vitamin D3 deficiency and the seasonality of influenza.

From December 2008 through March 2009, researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving over 300 Japanese schoolchildren. Children who took a daily 1,200 IU supplement of vitamin D3 benefited from up to a 60 percent reduction in the influenza A infection rate during the darkest months of the year. Four times as many children in the placebo group developed the flu compared to the vitamin D3 group. (Note: A daily dose of 1,200 IU is quite low compared to current recommendations of vitamin D experts.)

More than 186,000 persons died from the H1N1 “swine flu” (a strain of Influenza A) pandemic in 2009-10. Months after the initial outbreak of the virus, University of Virginia researchers published an article in the Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology strongly recommending that “all healthcare workers and patients be tested and treated for vitamin D deficiency to prevent” the spread of the H1N1 virus.

A 2012 article published in the journal Critical Reviews in Microbiology reviewed data from randomized, controlled clinical trials to examine the impact of vitamin D3 supplementation in infectious diseases including influenza. The Dutch scientists indicated that vitamin D3 supplementation may prevent or possibly treat influenza viruses but noted that the optimal daily dosage regimen of vitamin D3 has yet to be determined.

A study published in the September 27, 2012 issue of the European Journal of Nutrition examined laboratory results of the treatment of bronchial cells infected with influenza A virus, specifically the H1N1 strain, with vitamin D3. The Indian researchers found that vitamin D3 reduced the severity of H1N1influenza.

Sales of vitamin D3 supplements have dramatically increased over the past several years.However, for the first time in a decade, worldwide sales of influenza vaccines decreased over $4 billion in 2011, according to Kalorama Information, a healthcare market research publisher. Could vitamin D3 awareness and consumption have contributed to the decline in the flu vaccine markets? Given the research, some in the medical community believe that vitamin D3’s antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system may prevent influenza as well as potentially alleviate flu symptoms.

Copyright ©2012 by Susan Rex Ryan
All rights reserved.

Related posts:

No related posts.

You might be interested in

Maternal Vitamin D: Pregnancy and Beyond

Published on
7668 views
Pregnancy Vitamin D

Researching the role of vitamin D in pregnancy for this article, I unexpectedly blew inches of virtual dust from a page of medical correspondence published almost seven decades ago. With keen interest I read “Vitamin-D Requirements in Pregnancy,” published in a 1947 edition of the British Medical Journal. The author Edgar Obermer, MD asserted the necessity for English pregnant women to supplement with robust daily doses of vitamin D.

Perhaps Dr. Obermer was ahead of his time, or today we are behind in understanding the power of vitamin D. I think both are true. Nonetheless, his assertion about relatively high maternal vitamin D doses accentuates vitamin D’s importance during pregnancy. Today pregnant women typically supplement with prenatal vitamins, most of which only contain enough vitamin D to prevent rickets.

Unfortunately, taking prenatal vitamins without supplementing with extra vitamin D provides expectant mothers with a false sense of health for their babies and themselves. In this article, I address vitamin D’s role in pregnancy, recent evidence supporting the positive effect of vitamin D on expectant moms and their babies, and vitamin D supplementation guidelines for pregnant and lactating women and their infants.

A Healthy Pregnancy

Many people may not realize that vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone produced in our body. We manufacture vitamin D when we take a quality vitamin D3 supplement, expose our skin to optimal sunlight, or consume lots of wild-caught fatty fish or vitamin D3-fortified foods.

The female reproductive system comprises billions of cells. Every cell in the female reproductive system contains genetic codes as well as a receptor to receive vitamin D. Cells in the female reproductive system (including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, placenta, decidua, vagina, and breasts) are replete with vitamin D receptors.

When we have ample amounts of activated vitamin D in our cells, the vitamin D binds with its receptor to regulate genes in our reproductive system. For example, the vitamin D pathway genes affect in utero fetal development. Conversely, when the female reproductive system lacks activated vitamin D, genes essential to a smooth pregnancy and sound fetal health are not expressed.

Mom Needs Nutrients for her Health

Vitamin D is vital to a pregnant women’s health. An expectant mom with adequate vitamin D levels may enjoy a reduced risk of pregnancy complications including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, Caesarian section, and preterm birth. However, low vitamin D blood serum levels are common in pregnant women.

The recent findings of a Canadian study published in the December 2014 edition of the journal Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology once again accentuate the importance of vitamin D to maternal health. Lead researcher Shu-Qin Wei, MD, PhD examined scientific evidence of the role of maternal vitamin D on pregnancy outcomes. Focusing on studies published between January 1, 2013 and July 1, 2014, she concluded: “Recent evidence supports that low maternal vitamin D status is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Interventional studies demonstrate that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy optimizes maternal and neonatal vitamin D status.”

A Seed for Healthier Babies

Vitamin D is vital to fetal bone and cell development. Medical research suggests some seeds for disease are sown before birth. Low vitamin D during pregnancy may be one of those seeds. Babies born to mothers with a vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop a number of medical conditions including asthma; autism; soft bones (rickets, craniotabes); brain disorders; cardiovascular malformation; and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

A new study highlights the benefit of vitamin D to fetal skeletal development. Dutch researchers explored the effect of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early infancy on skull formations. The scientists recommended that women in their last trimester and early infants take a daily vitamin D dose of 400 international units ((IU) albeit a small amount). The research team found that non-adherence to their recommendations for vitamin D supplementation by pregnant mums and infants is linked to an increased risk of skull deformities in babies at 2 to 4 months of age. This study was published in a November 2014 issue of the journal Maternal & Child Nutrition.

Labor, Lactation, and Early Infant Life

Vitamin D also plays a beneficial role regarding labor pain, breastfeeding, and early infant health.

Labor. The benefits of maternal vitamin D have recently been extended to decreased labor pain. In October 2014, Andrew W. Geller, MD, a physician anesthesiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, presented a study about vitamin D‘s effect on labor pain to the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting. Dr. Geller and colleagues measured the vitamin D levels of 93 pregnant women prior to delivery. All of the patients requested an epidural for pain during labor. The research team then measured the doses of pain medication required by each woman during labor. They compared the quantity of pain medicine consumed by women with higher vitamin D levels with those with lower vitamin D status. The patients with lower vitamin D levels used more pain drugs than those women who enjoyed higher vitamin D status. Dr. Geller concluded that “prevention and treatment of low vitamin D levels in pregnant women may have a significant impact on decreasing labor pain in millions of women every year.”

Lactation. Nature intended for newborns to obtain their nutrients, including vitamin D, from breast milk. Breastfeeding provides babies with the vitamins and minerals required for healthy development. That’s why it is imperative that lactating mums supplement daily with adequate vitamin D. Vitamin D supplementation guidelines are discussed in the next section of this article.

Early Life. Vitamin D is important to all stages of life including neonatal. The growth and development of an infant is associated with the vitamin D intake during pregnancy.

Recent research from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom suggests that young children are likely to develop stronger muscles when their mums enjoyed a higher level of vitamin D during pregnancy.

The connection between vitamin D levels and muscle strength has been well-established by the scientific community. However, the Southampton study, published in the January 2014 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, marks the first time that the relationship between maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and the muscle development and strength in offspring was examined.

Led by Nicholas Harvey, PhD, the researchers measured the vitamin D levels in 678 mothers from the Southampton Women’s Survey in their later stages of pregnancy. Four years after the babies were born, the Southampton team measured their hand-grip strength and muscle mass. The researchers found that the higher the levels of vitamin D in the mother, the higher the grip strength of her child. A secondary finding addressed a lesser connection between maternal vitamin D and the child’s muscle mass. The Southampton study’s outcome suggests more far-reaching health benefits. Dr. Harvey commented,

“These associations between maternal vitamin D and offspring muscle strength may well have consequences for later health; muscle strength peaks in young adulthood before declining in older age and low grip strength in adulthood has been associated with poor health outcomes including diabetes, falls, and fractures. It is likely that the greater muscle strength observed at four years of age in children born to mothers with higher vitamin D levels will track into adulthood, and so potentially help to reduce the burden of illness associated with loss of muscle mass in old age.”

Supplementation Guidelines for Mum and her Newborn

The importance of vitamin D supplementation cannot be overstated for the health of mothers and their infants.

British nutrition expert Sara Patience, author of the new book Easy Weaning, stated, “It’s important for mums to understand that their baby will be born with the same vitamin D status as themselves, therefore, if mum is vitamin D deficient during pregnancy, baby will be too. Women, who are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, should ensure they are vitamin D sufficient, not only to protect their own health, but also to protect the health of their baby.”

The most effective source of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is an oil-based soft gel or liquid supplement. Vitamin D3 supplements (usually measured in international units) are available over-the-counter in retail and online stores. Beware of vitamin D prescriptions as most contain vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) that is much less effective than vitamin D3.

How much vitamin D a pregnant woman (or anyone, for that matter) needs continues to be a topic of debate.

First, let’s consider Dr. Obermer’s surprising recommendation in 1947. Remarking that the subject of vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy “is a difficult and complex one,” he concludes, “In a climate like that of England every pregnant woman should be given a supplement of vitamin D in doses of not less than 10,000 i.u. per day in the first 7 months, and 20,000 i.u. during the 8th and 9th months.” (Note: England’s distance from the equator denies its residents from enjoying optimal sun light exposure during the majority of the year.)

Second, a few noted organizations recommend daily intake of vitamin D for pregnant women as follows:

  • Vitamin D Council: 4,000-6,000 IU (Upper limit: 10,000 IU)
  • Endocrine Society: 1,500-2,000 IU (Upper limit: 10,000 IU)
  • Institute of Medicine (IOM): 600 IU (Upper limit: 4,000 IU)

It is interesting (and refreshing) to note that the Vitamin D Council and the Endocrine Society’s “upper limit” recommendations almost mirror those of Dr. Obermer’s. Please note that the IOM’s Food and Nutrition Board’s controversial recommendations, announced four years ago, were largely based on nutritional requirements for bone health. Most vitamin D experts agree that the IOM’s guidelines are woefully low with regard to vitamin D and way too high concerning calcium. Moreover, the intake of magnesium and vitamin K2 (vitamin D co-factors) was not addressed by this IOM panel.

According to the Vitamin D Council, if you are lactating and taking 6,000 IU of vitamin D daily, your breast milk should have enough vitamin D for your baby. If you are taking less than 5,000 IU of vitamin D a day, you should give your baby a daily vitamin D supplement (quality vitamin D3 drops are widely available).

Daily supplementation guidelines for babies include:

  • Vitamin D Council: 1,000 IU (Upper limit: 2,000 IU)
  • Endocrine Society: 400-1,000 IU (Upper limit: 2,000 IU)
  • Institute of Medicine: 400 IU (Upper limit: 1,000-1,500 IU)

Why risk pregnancy and neonatal complications? Vitamin D supplementation is a safe, inexpensive, and effective approach to a smooth pregnancy and birth of a healthy baby.

**This article is a companion post to “Improving Male and Female Fertility with Vitamin D”.

Editor’s Note: Susan Rex Ryan is an award-winning author who is dedicated to vitamin D awareness. Her extensive collection of health articles can be found on Hormones Matter as well as on her blog at smilinsuepubs.com Follow Sue on FB “Susan Rex Ryan” and Twitter @vitD3sue.

Copyright © 2014 by Smilin Sue Publishing, LLC
All rights reserved.

This post was published previously in December 2014.

Related posts:

vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Decreasing the Risk of Alzheimer’s with Vitamin D

Published on
3992 views
Alzheimers_brain

As a health writer, I must ask if adequate vitamin D can prevent and/or treat the progressive brain disease called Alzheimer’s. No one should have to endure Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a deadly cognitive disorder that the Alzheimer’s Association® claims cannot be prevented or cured.

Staggering Statistics

The number of Alzheimer’s patients is growing at an alarming rate. Nearly 44 million people worldwide have developed AD, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International. Moreover, incidences of the deadly disease are expected to increase significantly over the next decade.

About 5.3 million Americans have AD. In fact, at least three persons living in the United States will develop AD before you finish reading this brief article. Yes, every 67 seconds another American succumbs to Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. (1)

The medical community’s views about why the prevalence of AD is rising at a staggering rate remain varied. Many believe genetics and environmental pollutants may serve as risk factors. Some believe the predominance of vitamin D deficiency may be linked to the mounting incidences of AD. In fact, scientific research indicates that the majority of Alzheimer patients have low levels of vitamin D.

But first, let’s understand what happens to the brain when Alzheimer’s strikes it.

The Brain on Alzheimer’s

The sheer complexity of the human brain is daunting. A healthy adult brain contains approximately 100 billion nerve cells, called neurons, which connect at more than 100 trillion points in the central nervous system.

The adverse effects of Alzheimer’s on the brain are obvious to medical personnel interpreting the images. First, the brain of an AD patient is smaller than one of a healthy adult. The decreased brain size is a result of the brain tissue containing significantly fewer neurons. Second, abnormal clusters of amyloid-beta protein fragments, called plaques, collect between nerve cells in the brain. Thirdly, dead or dying neurons, called tangles, are visibly present in the brain of an AD patient.

Signals traveling through the brain’s extensive neural network form the basis of memories, thoughts, and feelings. When plaques and tangles develop in the brain, the signaling essential to cognitive function becomes disrupted. Moreover, the brain cells are destroyed, resulting in progressive cognitive issues including memory loss, poor decision-making and behavioral problems.

Vitamin D’s Beneficial Effects on the Brain

Vitamin D crosses the blood-brain barrier. And every one of the 100 billion or so neurons in the brain includes a vitamin D receptor (VDR) that influences cognitive health.

In order to regulate specific brain functions, the VDR in these cells must be turned on by receiving activated vitamin D. Without sufficient vitamin D to activate its receptors, the neurons cannot work properly.

Activated vitamin D affects the development of neurons as well as their maintenance and survival, by regulating the synthesis of nerve growth factor.

Remember those plaques and tangles that disrupt the brain’s intricate signaling system? The neuro-protective effects of this vitamin also include the modulation of signal stability within the brain’s complex neural network.

Recent Research Links Vitamin D Deficiency and Alzheimer’s

An abundance of research connects vitamin D deficiency, a condition that is highly prevalent in adults aged 65 years and above, to cognitive decline. So I explored recent research to learn more about the association.

International experts gathered at an invitational summit on “Vitamin D and Cognition in Older Adults” to provide “clear” guidance to researchers and clinicians about the role of vitamin D in Alzheimer’s. They agreed that vitamin D deficiency (a blood serum level < 30ng/mL or 75 nmol/L) increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in adults aged 65 and older. Their report was published in the January 2015 edition of the prestigious Journal of Internal Medicine.

Dutch researchers reviewed medical literature about vitamin D’s association with cognition in older adults. They found “emerging evidence that suggests a beneficial role for vitamin D in brain physiology.” The researchers noted associations between higher blood serum vitamin D levels and better cognitive performance. The reviewers’ findings were presented in the January 2015 issue of the journal Current Opinion of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care.

Sir Michael J. Berridge, an eminent physiologist and biochemist, conducted a study at The Babraham Institute in the United Kingdom that was published in the June 1, 2015 edition of the journal Biochemical Society Transactions. His research suggests that vitamin D is the “guardian” of signaling stability. By examining vitamin D’s role in the constancy of the Ca2+ (calcium) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathways, Berridge postulated the necessity of activated vitamin D to maintain the normal function of these critical, intracellular “cross-talk” molecules. He concluded that “a decline in vitamin D levels will lead to erosion of this signaling stability,” suggesting that a plethora of diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency are also associated with a dysregulation in both Ca2+ and ROS signaling.

Bolster Your Brain with Vitamin D

The statistics of escalating rates of Alzheimer’s suggest that your life—in some way—will most likely be impacted this deadly disease.

A breakthrough study, published June 24, 2015 in the online version of the journal Neurology, revealed that Alzheimer’s may develop 20 years before any symptoms appear. These findings suggest that we may be able to prevent this deadly disease. They also indirectly hint at the need for humans to be vitamin D-rich throughout life.

Considering the association between vitamin D deficiency and Alzheimer’s, I encourage readers to consider seriously daily supplementation with vitamin D3 and its partners, magnesium and vitamin K2.

Perhaps Michael F. Holick, MD, PhD, one of the world’s leading experts, said it best: He concluded in an article on brain health, published in a 2015 issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine by stating, “There is no downside to increasing vitamin D status for all by encouraging vitamin D supplementation and sensible sun exposure.”

Footnote 1: “Dementia” encompasses a spectrum of brain-related diseases including Alzheimer’s.

About the Author: Susan Rex Ryan, author of the award-winning vitamin D book Defend Your Life, is dedicated to vitamin D awareness. Her extensive collection of health articles can be found on Hormone Matters as well as her blog at smilinsuepubs.com. Join Sue in her “Vitamin D Wellness” FB Group to learn more about vitamin D3, magnesium, and vitamin K2 supplementation. Follow her on Twitter @vitD3sue.

Copyright © 2015 by Smilin Sue Publishing, LLC
All rights reserved.

Related posts:

vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Soaking in Mother Nature’s Goodness: The Sunscreen Smokescreen

Published on
2993 views

Cancer is a word that strikes fear in most. We’re a society concerned with taking preventative measures to avoid getting “The Big C.”  We know to use sunscreen when outdoors and chow down on “super foods” rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals to help lower our cancer risk. The antioxidants found naturally in foods can counter free radicals that are produced in our bodies from exposure to environmental toxins and carcinogens such as tobacco smoke and radiation – except when they are covered in toxins that limit their antioxidant capabilities.

Strawberries are well known as a super food, rich in the antioxidants vitamin C, ellagic acid and flavonoids that suppress a DNA-damaging enzyme linked to lung cancer. Strawberries are 98-99% water, making them the perfect sponges for all the goodness that Mother Nature provides… that is, until Man mucks things up. The primary pesticide used on U.S. strawberry farms, methyl bromide, is highly carcinogenic and toxic to the central nervous system. Pesticides serve to protect strawberries from damage by insects, fungus, rodents and disease, but the sad truth is we would be better off eating a strawberry covered in insects than one that is literally a pesticide-soaked sponge. In some cases, the use of sunscreen is very similar to the use of pesticides on strawberries, in which the chemicals used to block the sun’s radiation, may do more harm than good. Let me explain.

The Sunscreen Smokescreen

Previously, I wrote about tanning basics and the benefits of sunscreen. I’m lucky to live in a coastal town where there is much to do outdoors; beach, hiking, taking our workouts outdoors, and leisurely drives with the top down. My fellow health fanatics and I know to use sunscreen to protect ourselves from the sun’s damaging rays, but more importantly, we know that not all sunscreens are created equal. There are some that actually contain cancer-causing ingredients, resulting in the exact scenario we’re trying so diligently to prevent… similar to our strawberry sponge. Like the strawberry we’re made up of mostly water, up to 60% in the average adult body. Like the strawberry we absorb our environment into our systems, for better or worse.

Clearing the Smokescreen

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is the nation’s leading environmental health research and advocacy organization on a mission to provide consumers with no-fluff facts to make healthier choices. EWG offers nine surprising facts about sunscreens which we would be wise to heed. Ultimately, we just want to know which sunscreens are best for us:

Bigger isn’t always better. High sun protection factor (SPF) products tempt us to apply too little sunscreen and stay in the sun too long. The FDA has proposed prohibiting sunscreen sales with SPF values greater than 50+ as they are “inherently misleading,” but there is no current regulation that carries the force of law. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. It’s also important to note that SPF refers only to protection against UVB radiation (responsible for sunburns), but SPF has no bearing on UVA rays, the beast which penetrates deep skin layers. Wise consumers need to read the label for products that offer both UVA and UBV ray protection.

Grade A fail. Vitamin A is a well known antioxidant that slows skin aging, and is a common sunscreen additive. Nearly one-quarter of all sunscreens contain vitamin A (often labeled as “retinyl palmitate” or “retinol”), but studies indicate that vitamin A may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to skin in the presence of sunlight. EWG recommends that consumers avoid sunscreens, lip products and skin lotions containing vitamin A.

Disruption junction. Some sunscreen ingredients disrupt hormones and cause skin allergies. Our current choices are either chemical or mineral sunscreens:

  • Chemical sunscreens have inferior stability, penetrate the skin and may disrupt our hormone system. Benzophenone-3 is labeled as oxybenzone, a common sunscreen ingredient which penetrates the skin, is absorbed into our bloodstream and acts like estrogen in the body. In fact, it mimics estrogen even more so than bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical found in certain plastics that has received much attention lately for its toxic effects. Oxybenzone can trigger allergic reactions, and preliminary data connect higher oxybenzone blood concentrations with significant female health issues. While the cause of endometriosis is not known, estrogen fuels this painful condition. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology in 2012 links oxybenzone to endometriosis in older women, while another 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that women with higher oxybenzone blood levels during pregnancy had lower birth weight daughters.
  • Mineral sunscreens consist of zinc and titanium dioxide, often “micronized” or in nano-particles. Manufacturers micronized particles to help reduce or eliminate the chalky white tint that minerals leave on the skin, but this comes with a trade-off. The smaller the particles, the better the SPF protection BUT at a cost to UVA protection.

If you can breathe it in, don’t buy it. Loose powder cosmetics with sunscreen properties, intended for the face and scalp, often contain tiny particles of zinc and titanium that offer strong UV protection by sticking to the skin. The problem arises when loose powder ends up in our lungs when we breathe in loose airborne particles. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies inhaled titanium dioxide as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Current FDA over-the-counter rules prohibit loose powders to advertise an SPF or make claims of sun protection, but small companies currently have a grace period to remove powders from the market. Sprays sunscreens are popular due to their convenience, but there’s growing concern of their inhalation risk. Sprays are also hit or miss, leaving areas exposed without protection.

Say bug off to bug repellents. Sunscreen and bug repellent combos may seem like a great idea, but the risks outweigh the benefits as repellents typically contain chemicals such as DEET (also listed on labels as N, N-Diethyl-m-toluamide or N, N-Diethyl-3-Methyl benzamide). DEET is a highly effective repellent, but is also littered with health concerns ranging from topical irritations to lethargy, confusion, disorientation and mood swings. It’s also an environmental toxin that breaks down slowly in soil, with detrimental effects coursing through waterways to all living things. There are also studies that show combining sunscreen and repellents lead to increased skin absorption of the repellent ingredients, which is discouraged for health reasons.

Towelettes are for eating fried chicken. Sunscreen wipes and towelettes were prohibited in 2011 by the FDA due to concerns that there wasn’t enough sunscreen to ensure skin protection. Keep in mind that small companies have a grace period to remove them from their product lines, so just because you see something for sale doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

Tanning Oil + SPF = Oxymoron. Some tanning oils appear to be a healthy choice because they contain SPF protection; however, the SPF levels are typically low and offer no true protection. Bottom line, tanning results from cellular DNA damage which leads to skin cancer.

All that said, the sun isn’t taboo. Don’t go running from it to hide in dark shady spots. Sunlight is critical for our bodies to produce vitamin D, which is important in strengthening bones and the immune system, reducing the risk of breast, colon, kidney and ovarian cancers, and perhaps other disorders. Life is short. Enjoy it… but enjoy it wisely.

This was posted previously June 2013.

Related posts:

sunscreen and coral reefsReefs, Redox and ROS: The Sunscreen Dilemma vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Low Neonatal Vitamin D: A Risk Factor for Autism

Published on
2363 views

An alarming number of children–in the United States and other industrialized countries—are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or autism, a group of complex brain disorders. The medical community’s views about why the incidences of autism are escalating remain varied. Many believe genetics and environmental pollutants may serve as risk factors. Some believe vitamin D deficiency may be linked to the mounting cases of autism.

Vitamin D’s Importance to Brain Development

The link between brain development and vitamin D is far from new to me and other vitamin D experts. Autism may be caused–at least in part—by genetic impairment to a child’s developing brain. Vitamin D plays an essential role in brain development by influencing genetic expression.

Every cell in the brain includes vitamin D receptors (VDR) that control genes that influence brain development. In order to regulate gene expression, the VDR in the brain cells must be turned on by receiving activated vitamin D. Without sufficient vitamin D to activate its receptors, the brain cannot properly develop.

A Landmark Study

A groundbreaking study from Sweden has revealed that children who develop ASD have significantly lower vitamin D levels at birth than their non-ASD siblings.

The Swedish team, led by award-winning autism researcher Elisabeth Fernell, M.D., analyzed the circulating vitamin D levels (25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D) of 58 Swedish-born sibling pairs, in which one sibling had ASD, the other did not. The children with ASD had significantly lower vitamin D levels at birth than their respective typically developing sibling. Of the paired siblings, the study included 28 pairs where the mother was of Swedish origin, 18 pairs who had African or Middle Eastern mothers, and 12 pairs with “miscellaneous” [1] maternal ethnicity.

The darker one’s skin, the more challenging it is to make vitamin D. Melanin, the pigmentation in our skin, absorbs ultraviolet B rays to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. Not surprisingly, the researchers found an increased risk of ASD in offspring of dark-skinned moms as well as mothers who wear concealing clothing for cultural reasons.

In fact, many of the newborns with African and/or Middle East heritage had vitamin D levels that were barely traceable. Moreover, the researchers determined that their season of birth did not account for the differences. The research team opined that children born to dark-skinned mothers were exposed to “suboptimal” vitamin D levels during the year.

Finally, the authors of the Swedish study state, “Although low levels of vitamin D could have a genetic origin and as such be associated with ASD, our study is the first to rule out ASD-related lifestyle mechanisms as explanations for low 25(OH)D levels, since the samples were taken in the newborn period.” ASD-related lifestyle mechanisms include indoor living and dietary limitations.

Adequate Maternal Vitamin D May Prevent Autism

Newborns depend solely upon their mother’s nutrition for their cellular development including vitamin D levels. The founder of the Vitamin D Council, John Cannell, M.D., aptly stated that the brain levels of activated vitamin D in a baby “directly depend on the amount of vitamin D the mother makes in her skin or puts in her mouth.”

And, indeed, the findings of the Swedish study, recently published in the journal Molecular Autism, indicate that prenatal vitamin D deficiency may act as a risk factor for ASD in the child. The measurement of maternal vitamin D however was not included in this study. This omission in the study design also precluded a better understanding of the role genetic and environmental factors play in autism development.

Nonetheless, the researchers’ conclusion is implicit: vitamin D is essential to fetal development. These leading-edge results serve as a reminder to all women of reproductive age: ensure your vitamin D levels are adequate by getting a 25(OH)D test and taking a daily vitamin D3 supplement and/or getting optimal sun exposure.

It is also important to note that pregnant mothers typically rely on their prenatal vitamins, most of which only contain enough vitamin D to prevent rickets. Taking prenatal vitamins without supplementing with extra vitamin D3 provides expectant mothers a false sense of health for their babies, as well as a potential risk for their children to develop autism.

Footnote (1): Study participants in the designated “miscellaneous” group are of non-Scandinavian Europe, South America, and East Asia ethnic origins.

Note: For a further look at vitamin D’s role during pregnancy, lactation, and neonatal life, I offer my December 2014 article that includes vitamin D supplementation guidelines for pregnant and nursing mothers as well as babies.

About the Author: Susan Rex Ryan, author of the award-winning vitamin D book Defend Your Life, is dedicated to vitamin D awareness. Her extensive collection of health articles can be found on Hormones Matter as well as on her blog at smilinsuepubs.com. Follow Sue on FB “Susan Rex Ryan” and Twitter @vitD3sue.

Copyright © 2015 by Smilin Sue Publishing, LLC
All rights reserved.

Related posts:

picky eaterFood Aversions in Children with Autism vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

The Flu and You: Thoughts on Prevention and Treatment

Published on
2063 views

Epidemic incidences of influenza are sweeping across the United States. This highly contagious respiratory disease—targeting all ages—is spreading with a vengeance. Forty-seven states have reported widespread “flu,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) current flu activity report. CDC officials estimate that the United States is only about halfway through a typical, 12-week flu season.

This season’s predominant strain of influenza is H3N2, a more potent type of influenza A virus that is statistically associated with more deaths and hospitalizations. What can you do to protect you and your family from this dreaded illness?

Is It Too Late to Prevent the Flu?

Proponents of the influenza vaccine are encouraging healthy people to get a flu shot, pronto. On the one hand, this season’s vaccine includes the H3N2 strain. On the other hand, anecdotal reporting suggests that some individuals who received the influenza vaccine have contracted the flu. However, it is too early in the season to understand the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Common Sense Approaches to Help Prevent the Flu

  • Frequently wash your hands. Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes.
  • Enjoy nightly sleep of at least seven or eight hours.
  • Routinely exercise and consume a healthy diet.
  • Avoid crowds, if possible, as well as people who exhibit flu-like symptoms.

An effective approach to thwart the flu is to maintain a healthy immune system. Benefits of a substance called “Beta 1,3D Glucan” include strengthening the immune system. High-quality, beta-glucan supplements are derived from the cell wall of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and available over-the-counter and online. Some healthcare practitioners exalt the effectiveness of taking a daily, beta-glucan capsule when your immunity may be threatened.

From a longer term standpoint, enjoying year-round, circulating vitamin D3 levels of at least 50ng/mL may be a proactive approach to fight influenza and other viruses. The direct correlation between influenza and winter seasons is no coincidence. Flu outbreaks typically occur during the season’s darkest days when little vitamin D is available from the sun’s rays. As a vitamin D advocate and writer, I emphasize the important role that vitamin D3 plays on the immune system. Activated vitamin D3 strengthens the immune system by producing peptides that combat viruses such as influenza. The more activated vitamin D3 in your body to bolster your immunity, the less likely you are to contract viruses such as the flu.

What Can You Do to Feel Better from the Flu?

Influenza strikes suddenly, usually without warning. According to the CDC, influenza symptoms include some or all of the following: fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.

You may feel as if you have been run over by a bus. Here are some tips to help alleviate your symptoms:

  • Staying hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine and alcohol. Try decaffeinated tea with honey.
  • Enjoy chicken soup—a centuries-old remedy.
  • Add natural garlic, ginger, and lemon to your diet.
  • Stay home and rest. Misery likes company but no one wants your misery.

Lucine’s First Woman, Chandler Marrs, PhD, CEO and president of Lucine Health Sciences, says her flu remedy is black elderberry plus a vitamin cocktail and plenty of rest.

What’s your “tried and true” flu remedy? Join our conversation as we share tips about dealing with the flu.

Related posts:

vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Vitamin D3 and Lupus

Published on
3405 views

The untimely death of 23-year-old Sasha McHale, daughter of professional basketball’s Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, recently shocked the world.

Sasha inherited her father’s athleticism, energy, enthusiasm for life, and love of the northern U.S. state of Minnesota. An insidious disease called lupus prematurely snatched Sasha from her family, friends, and life.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s cells, tissues, and organs, and results in severe inflammation, fatigue, and, in some cases, death. The medical name for the most common form of the lupus is “systemic lupus erythematosus” (SLE). According to the Lupus Foundation of America, about 1.5 million Americans, and over five million people globally, suffer from a form of lupus. Ninety percent of persons diagnosed with the disease are women, many of whom are in their child-bearing years.

Mounting evidence suggests adequate vitamin D3 in the body may protect against the development of autoimmune diseases including lupus. Genetic and environmental factors including vitamin D3 deficiency have been linked to lupus. Sensitivity to sunlight, the primary source of vitamin D3, is common among SLE patients. Scientific research indicates a high prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency among people suffering SLE:

Researchers at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic studied 124 female SLE patients to understand, inter alia, their circulating vitamin D3 levels. Eighty-four percent of the women had vitamin D3 blood serum levels less than a sub-optimal reading of 32 ng/mL.

The Medical University of South Carolina conducted a study of vitamin D3 blood serum levels of 123 individuals who had been recently diagnosed with SLE. The findings suggested vitamin D3 deficiency as a possible risk factor for SLE.

Researchers studied 25 Canadian women diagnosed with SLE and found that over half of these patients had less than 20 ng/mL of vitamin D3 circulating in their blood. The research also suggested that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a drug used to treat SLE, may inhibit vitamin D3 production.

A study published in a 2012 edition of the journal Dermato-Endocrinology not only documented the prevalence of low vitamin D3 in SLE patients but recommended oral vitamin D3 supplementation for SLE patients. The researchers lauded the safety, low cost, and wide availability of vitamin D3 supplements as well as their potential effectiveness against SLE progression.

Maintaining adequate vitamin D3 levels may forestall the development of autoimmune diseases including lupus. In addition, vitamin D3’s capability to reduce inflammation may alleviate lupus symptoms. Further research is required to confirm the extent of vitamin D3’s connection with lupus.

Copyright ©2012 by Susan Rex Ryan
All rights reserved.

Related posts:

vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

tangled ribbons poverty mammography

Tangled Ribbons, Tangled Lives

Awareness ribbons looped on lapels. Around trees. Through chain-link fences. Yellow for missing children and bone cancer. Red for heart

Eat your Sunscreen?

Published on
2637 views

As summer approaches (or feels like it is already here, as the case is where I live), sun protection is definitely something to plan for, though I do it differently than most. Conventional wisdom says to slather on some sunscreen and call it a day, but this is problematic for a couple of reasons. Wearing any sunscreen blocks the body’s ability to produce Vitamin D, which is vital for hundreds of reactions in the body (including cancer prevention).

Most sunscreens also contain toxic chemicals that can be more dangerous than moderate sun exposure. As I mentioned in a previous post:

Despite the push for more awareness about sun exposure, and the advice to use sunscreen whenever we go outside, incidence of skin cancer, especially melanoma, is rising dramatically.

So, if skin cancer rates are rising despite sunscreen use and reduced sun exposure, perhaps there is a deeper underlying cause. I’ve written before about the link between nutrition and sunburn, and I’m becoming even more convinced of this as more evidence emerges. The most convincing part for me personally was my own reaction to the sun over the last couple of years.

I’m Irish-Scottish (which is Latin for very fair skinned!) and have always burned. In fact, even moderate sun exposure would leave me with a pinkish glow rather than a tan… until the last couple of years.

Last summer, I was able to garden for 6-8 hours including during the heat of the day without burning. We also went to Florida for a friend’s wedding and I was at the beach for 4 hours between 11-3 with no sunscreen and I didn’t burn… at all!

To those of you blessed with olive skin, this may not seem like a big deal, but to me, this is huge! I also noticed looking back at pictures of me from last summer that I don’t look like the pale-stepchild among my Italian in-laws for the first time.

The Underlying Cause:

Doctors and sunscreen manufacturers are quick to push sunscreen for those who burn easily, but this is often the equivalent of giving antibiotics for every illness. It may address a short term problem, but it does nothing to address the underlying cause.

Sunburn is a type of inflammation, and diet has a tremendous impact on inflammation in the body. As such, addressing diet is often a much more important that just slathering on the sunscreen, plus dietary improvements can improve other areas of health as well.

Certainly, it is also wise to avoid burning by wearing protective clothing or by using homemade sunscreen for prolonged exposure, especially early in the year, but a good diet and a few supplements are often far more effective at day-to-day sun protection. (You can also use coconut oil on the skin for light protection, as it is naturally about an SPF 4)

Diet for Sun Protection:

A large part of natural sun protection is eating an anti-inflammatory diet. This type of diet will also be beneficial for many other health conditions, and if you’ve read my blog before, you know the drill:

Avoid:

  1. processed foods
  2. vegetable oils (this is the most important for sun exposure)
  3. grains
  4. sugars

Eat:

  1. lots of healthy saturated fats
  2. lots of foods rich in omega-3s (fish, etc)
  3. lots of leafy greens
  4. 2+ tablespoons of tomato paste daily

Supplements:

About this time of year, I also start taking a specific regimen of supplements that help reduce inflammation and improve sun tolerance. The supplements I take are:

  • Vitamin D3 (I take about 5,000 IU/day)- Emerging evidence shows that optimizing blood levels of Vitamin D can have a protective effect against sunburn and skin cancer
  • Vitamin C (I take about 2,000 mg/day)- A potent anti-inflammatory, and it is good for the immune system too.
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted in a cup of herbal tea per day- the Medium Chain Fatty Acids and saturated fat are easily utilized by the body for new skin formation and are protective against burning
  • Fermented Cod Liver Oil/High Vitamin Butter Oil Blend (also great for remineralizing teeth)-Probably the most important supplement for sun protection. I take double doses during the summer and the kids take it too. Since adding this and the coconut oil daily, none of us have burned. It’s also great for digestive and oral health. (Amazon finally has the capsules back in stock)
  • Astaxanthin– A highly potent antioxidant which research shows acts as an internal sunscreen. It’s also supposedly an anti-aging supplement. I don’t give this one to the kids though.

That’s our regimen and we don’t ever use conventional sunscreen and only use the homemade stuff a couple times a year.

Do you eat your sunscreen? Still use the toxic stuff? Avoid the sun completely? Tell us below!

About the Author: Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases.

Disclaimer:  This article was originally published on Wellness Mama and represents the opinions of Katie, the Wellness Mama.  All information and resources found on Wellness Mama are based on Katie’s opinion and are meant to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider. Katie is not a doctor, lawyer, or psychologist and she doesn’t play one on TV.  Readers should consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition. No information on this site should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis or determine a treatment for a medical condition.

Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Lucine Medical Disclaimer: All material on this website is provided for your information only and may not be construed as, nor should it be a substitute for, professional medical advice. To read more about our health policy, see Terms of Use.

Related posts:

sunscreen and coral reefsReefs, Redox and ROS: The Sunscreen Dilemma vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

1 2 3