The New England Journal of Medicine articles this week included two epidemiological (observational) studies that 1) compared women with average intake of 400 IU of Vitamin D and 800 mg of Calcium vs. women with low Calcium and Vitamin D intake. The endpoint observation after 8 years was to see if there was a reduced incidence of osteoporosis. 2) The second study, which also was part of the Women's Health Initiative, studied the same Vitamin D and Calcium intake over eight years through food and/or supplements to see if there was a reduced incidence of colon polyps and colon cancer in women taking 800 mg of calcium and 400 IUs of Vitamin D vs a lower intake of these nutrients in the control group.
The false conclusions of the study, printed in newspapers and on presented on TV, was that there was no difference in either of the study groups in incidence of osteoporosis with the amounts of Calcium and Vitamin D that were used in the treatment groups.
For study #1 the NEJM editorial and the researchers admitted that not enough Vitamin D or Calcium were used. The recently recognized proper dose of Vitamin D daily intake for treating and preventing osteoporosis (low bone density and increased risk of bone fractures in postmenopausal women) is 800-1000 International Units of Vitamin D and 1500 mg of calcium. One must use Magnesium to activate Vitamin D in the kidney as you need activated Vitamin D to absorb Calcium in the gut. Without proper amounts of Vitamin D and Magnesium, Calcium can increase in the urine and kidneys and slightly increase the risk of kidney stones. Also the study period was too short to see a significant difference in each group. Multiple previous studies have shown a dramatic decrease in the incidence of osteoporosis and fractures of the hip with Vitamin D and Calcium in the doses we recommend for Clinician Choice patients. A recent nursing home study revealed a 27% decrease in hip fractures and falls in women talking 800 units of Vitamin D/day.
Study # 2 had the same flaws built into it: too short a period of study-a previous Harvard Medical School study of 80,000 nurses revealed a declining incidence of colon cancer in the subset taking the higher amounts of Vitamin D and Calcium beginning at 7 years and reaching a 70% decrease after 13 years. Stopping this study at eight years reflects denial of known science on the part of the researchers. Vitamin D is the key as the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the gut, stimulated by Vitamin D, has been shown at studies at the University of Texas to dramatically reduce the incidence of colon cancer and calcium has been shown to to reduce the incidence of colon polyps. This study was v ery poorly done as endpoint evidence to determine presence of colon cancer was abdominal pain and bleeding not baseline,4 year and 8 year colonoscopies.
It should be noted that in all groups involved in this study there was poor compliance with the control groups taking larger amounts of Calcium and Vitamin D in food and supplements as well as some individuals taking Biphosphonate therapy to reduce fracture risk. In the treated groups there was also poor compliance with many participants taking less than the amounts of Calcium and Vitamin D as well as being on pharmaceuticals that cause nutrient depletion of Calcium absorption in the gut and prevent bone remodeling which occurs daily.
At a time when 50% of women have or will develop osteoporosis in there lifetime, associated with poor intake of dairy products, Calcium, Vitamin D , and Magnesium supplements, and 25% of men over 65 years of age have the same problem, it is great to know that we have the perferct pharma grade solution. And as the incidence of colon cancer rises statistically in the country, knowledgable prevention with absorbable Vitamin D and lead-free Calcium have been proven and are readily available by using Osteo Guard.
For further documentation of the need to use 800-1000 IUs daily of Vitamin D please refer to this month's jounal of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, March 2006;81(3) pp 297-299 (editorial) and article by Dr. Michael Holick, "High Prevalence of Vitamin D Inadequacy and Implications for Health", pp 353-374. Dr. Holick uses 264 references to studies in the medical literature. These contolled studies summarize a massive body of knowledge that proves that Vitamin D is not only essential for bone health long term but also helps prevent many diseases and effects more than 200 genes necessary for the health of many systems in the body.
Not only can Vitamin D prevent Rickets, Osteomalacia, and Osteoporosis but it helps with weight control, lowering elevated blood pressure, and preventing cancer of the breast, colon and prostate. Holick documents multiple research studies that demonstrate Vitamin D's effect on the immunomodulatory system. This can also lead to an increase in incidence of Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 and Type 2, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Periodontal Disease. Proper intake leads to improved muscle mass, strength, and better balance. Thus the studies that document a decrease in falls especially among the elderly.
The entire populations of industrialized nations have substantially lower intake of Vitamin D than our ancestors. The only question is what deficiency diseases are being caused by this "deficiency". The ability to modify thse deficiency states are by proper nutrition, exercise and supplementation with pharma -grade vitamins like Clinicians Choice. Take your CC daily multivitamins (400 IUs of Vitamin D) and four dairy products per day( 100 units per serving of Vitamin D, if fortified) or two tablets of Osteo Guard twice per day (400 IUs of Vitamin D).
Stay Healthy and you will be happier.
John P. Mamana M.D.
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