Some times it is good to repeat yourself, especially if it is on a very important subject. Have you been told you have significant occlusion of your coronary arteries? Maybe even had stents put in? A special exam was done and it showed calcium deposits in your coronary arteries? Btw, calcium in the arteries is considered the biggest indicator of a coming heart attack. How about you are a male and your male performance in the bedroom needs medical assistance with a pill? ( Factoid: the arteries in the males sexual organ plugs up with calcium and other deposits fastest because they are smaller arteries than the ones in your heart. So, a lack of male performance is a indicator that your coronary arteries are plugging up).  Makes sense and the way it is!
What if I told you there is a vitamin that would reverse these deposits. Takes it out. One study I saw was that 50% of the calcium was removed in six months by optimizing the dose of this vitamin. Optimized dose of that vitamin K is around 200 mcg a day. You can get this vitamin over the counter or you can ferment your own foods and get it that way.
The bad news is that those who are on anti coagulant therapy should not take this vitamin without a doctors supervision as it will negate the effects of the anticoagulant. I am talking about those on Coumadin,  or Plavix  and similar drugs to make the blood thinner. There are two names for every drug and the ones I have mentioned are the commercial names. The label on your bottle may have the chemical name. Check it out. More bad news....there is no test for K2, but trust me if you have the above problems you are low. Good news ......there is no over dose.
So, bottom line. Take k2 to reduce plaque ( if not on a anticoagulant blood thinner), vitamin D as it stabilizes the placque you have in your arteries and reduces inflammation and don't forget to take some magnesium to because that helps with making sure your rhythm stays normal. Magnesium is low in the  American diet and vitamin D uses magnesium ( lowers the magnesium level). A test for magnesium is not accurate and few doc's realize this. If the test says you are low in magnesium .....you are. If it says you are normal .....it might be, but maybe not. This information is repeated else where on the internet . I suggest you check VDC website out if you or your doc does not believe me.
Important stuff to reduce the bad effects of living in a civilization.
Bruce Bennett CRNA

Vitamin D Council November 20th, 2012 This newsletter is in part made possible by the support of our sponsors

Vitamin D may prevent clogged arteries in diabetics
November 14, 2012 -- Vitamin D Council
People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing clogged arteries, often leading to heart disease; vitamin D deficiency may play a role.

The research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry reports that blood vessels are less likely to clog in diabetic patients who have adequate vitamin D levels. In patients with vitamin D deficiency, immune cells bind to blood vessels near the heart, and trap cholesterol to block the blood vessels.

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 8.3% (26 million) of the American population has diabetes.

“As obesity rates rise, we expect even more people will develop diabetes. Those patients are more likely to experience heart problems due to an increase in vascular inflammation, so we have been investigating why this occurs,” says contributing author Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, MD.

The researchers measured vitamin D levels in 43 participants with type 2 diabetes, and 25 age, sex, and weight matched controls. They found that in diabetes patients with vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL, macrophage cells were more likely to attach to the walls of blood vessels, causing cholesterol buildup, and ultimately causing the vessels to stiffen and block blood flow.

“We looked at blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes control, body weight and race. But only vitamin D levels correlated to whether these cells stuck to the blood vessel wall,” lead author Amy E Riek, MD, explained. Continue reading → (news)
  What's the story with the recent news on vitamin D supplements?
November 16, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
We recently blogged about a Finnish study that found only a third of the vitamin D supplements in Finland were within 20% of what was claimed on the bottle. We also reported on the fact that the University was later asked to retest the results for accuracy. This past week the same Finnish University publicly apologized for the study, stating the testing method they used was unreliable. Follow the story → (news)

Extrasceletal health in children: The impact of vitamin D during pregnancy
November 16, 2012 -- Rebecca Oshiro
A recent systematic review examined the evidence for maternal vitamin D status and a variety of health conditions, including birthweight, infections, wheezing and asthma, and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Continue reading → (membership required)

RCT: Vitamin D improves musculoskeletal pain in non-Western immigrants
November 15, 2012 -- Kate Saley
A randomized controlled trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports that vitamin D improves nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in non-Western immigrants. Continue reading → (no membership required)



Dear Dr Cannell: Sleep disorders linked to vitamin D deficiency
November 13, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Cannell discusses research on vitamin D deficiency and sleep disorders. A reader asks about a possible link between sleep disorders and autism. Continue reading → (no membership required)

Winter in the UK: D supplementation of professional athletes
November 16, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Cannell discusses a randomized controlled trial examining the outcomes of vitamin D supplementation in professional UK football players. Continue reading → (membership required)



Dear Dr Cannell: Sun exposure, vitamin D, and eczema
November 17, 2012 -- Dr William Grant
Dr Cannell talks with a reader about dishydrosis, also known as vesiculobullous hand eczema, which causes sudden onset of many itchy clear small blisters in the skin. Continue reading → (no membership required)

Birth month associated with MS risk
November 15, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Research published yesterday in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry suggest that birth month has a significant association with multiple sclerosis (MS), with as much as a 12% difference in risk. Continue reading → (news)



Vitamin D deficiency linked to type 1 diabetes risk
November 16, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
A study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine reports a correlation between vitamin D status and risk of type 1 diabetes. Continue reading → (news)

Thank you!
November 20, 2012
We want to thank all of our supporters who took the time to complete our survey last week. We rely on your input and feedback to continue improving our website and content. Thanks again!



Last chance to vote!
November 24, 2012
This is your last reminder to vote for VDC in the FedEx small business grant contest! Voting closes Saturday, November 24th! Help the council stay in the running! Click here to vote.

Just a note to make one point. I frequently hear people talking  about a condition they have or some one they know has. My comment is vitamin D helps with that, and there eyes roll like, oh boy here he goes again! I also add how much vitamin D are they taking? Frequently they will say 2 k a day. For a adult this is very likely inadequate to treat pain and to optimize the dose. 1k per 25lbs and test in three  months. The only way to tell if you are optimized to 70 to 100 ng/ml is to test. This dosing regime will get you in to the ball park a good percentage of the time. Still have pain and movement problems....get tested. Get tested in any case! Take magnesium malate too and prevent problems with heart rhythm and muscle spasms.
Now the letter...

Vitamin D Council September 13th, 2012 This newsletter is in part made possible by the support of our sponsors

Study links low vitamin D levels to longer lifespan: Did we hear that correctly?
November 8, 2012 -- Brant Cebulla
A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that offspring who have parents living past 90 years of age (nonagenarians) have lower vitamin D levels than their spouses.

Noordam R et al. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in familial longevity: the Leiden Longevity Study. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2012.

You may have seen this study covered by the media in a few places:

• Shocking Finding Links Low Vitamin D Levels to Longer Lifespan
• Low Vitamin D Linked with Long Life
• Low levels of vitamin D linked to longer lifespans in surprising study

While there may be a study or two that cast doubts on higher vitamin D levels, this is probably not one of them. We’ll explain.

The Leiden Longevity Study is a population of 421 families, consisting of nonagenarian (over the age of 90) white siblings, their offspring, and their offspring’s partners. Researchers gathered this study population to attempt to identify genetic and phenotypic (physical characteristics) markers related to longevity.

Families were only included if at least 2 nonagenarian siblings were still alive. Since it is difficult to match controls to people of this old of age, offspring were asked to participate because they have a propensity to reach that older age. And furthermore, researchers have the benefit of matching the offspring to spouses, who usually match well in age, BMI and exposures. Researchers are likely using these families to study and publish many findings, not just on vitamin D levels and vitamin D genetics. Continue reading → (no membership required)

Vitamin D levels during pregnancy and infant brain development
November 9, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
In a landmark study, researchers at the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Spain wanted to know if maternal vitamin D deficiency has an effect on infant brain development. Continue reading → (no membership required)
  RCT: Vitamin D and Prozac
November 6, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Iranian researchers recently conducted a randomized controlled trial to see if vitamin D in combination with Prozac worked better than Prozac alone in improving symptoms of depression. Continue reading → (membership required)


RCT: Vitamin D improves exercise tolerance in COPD patients
November 12, 2012 -- Brant Cebulla
A new analysis of a randomized controlled trial has found that vitamin D helps inspiratory muscle strength and peak exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Continue reading → (membership required)

Vitamin D scientist fatality in the 30's
November 12, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
In 1936, a scientist was apparently experimenting on himself to see if vitamin D could cure arthritis. Reportedly, he took 2,100,000 IU/day of D2 for 18 days and died. Continue reading → (no membership required)

Vitamin D: Repair and maintenance
November 8, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Cannell explains how vitamin D is involved in repairing and maintaining cells and ridding the body of toxins. Continue reading → (membership required)

Low vitamin D levels increase risk of bladder cancer
November 6, 2012 -- Vitamin D Council
Research published last week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that people who are vitamin D deficient had a significantly increased risk of developing bladder cancer. Continue reading → (news)


Merkel cell carcinoma prognosis linked to vitamin D deficiency
November 8, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Research presented at the annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology reports a link between vitamin D deficiency and Merkel cell carcinoma. Continue reading → (news)

Vitamin D deficiency contributes to pain in African Americans with osteoarthritis
November 9, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism reports that black Americans have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency and pain sensitivity when compared to white Americans. Vitamin D deficiency may be one of the many factors that account for increased pain in older black Americans with knee osteoarthritis. Continue reading → (news)

Dietary supplements and nutrient insufficiency in children
November 7, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Research published from the Office of Dietary Supplements in The Journal of Pediatrics reports shocking findings that more than one-third of children failed to meet calcium and vitamin D recommendations. Continue reading → (news)

I am seeing quite a few articles on the importance of sun light. Vitamin D is good, but sunlight has advantages like less cancer and MS seems to be controlled better by sunlight. So getting your vitamin D from the sun is best and second from a supplement.
Trouble is that to obtain enough vitamin D and at my age and this latitude ( northern NY state) is almost impossible. Even at any age. There are some studies that suggest a older person will not make use of the vitamin D rays as effectively as a younger one. There are differing conclusion by different experts on that question.
So, how do you get sun light when there is very little? You go to a sun parlor for your exposure. I recommend that you avoid high pressure lamps which are not similar to natural sunlight and avoid any exposure that causes reddening of the skin.
Reddening of the skin is damage and it is in the opinion of many what causes skin cancers. It should not be a surprise that some things are good in small doses and not so good in large doses.
So bottom line, cancer is less with vitamin D supplementation but all the indications are that sunlight maybe even more effective if you can get enough. Additionally they are seeing that remissions of symptoms occur more often when sunlight is part of the treatment with MS. No one knows exactly what component or effect causes this, but all we really need to know is that it works.
B Bennett CRNA Retired

Vitamin D Council November 6th, 2012 This newsletter is in part made possible by the support of our sponsors

Dear Dr Cannell: Sunlight, vitamin D and the prevention of cancer
November 5, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dear Dr. Cannell:

Making vitamin D through sun exposure is the natural way to maintain D levels as shown through hundreds of thousands of years of human history. I analyzed a paper on about 50 studies of various internal cancers and their relationship to vitamin D, latitude, and sun exposure. Most of the analysis was focused on four cancer types: breast, colon, prostate and lymphoma. Overall van der Rhee concluded that while vitamin D levels/supplementation was only consistently associated with a decrease in colon cancer, sun exposure was consistently associated with a decrease in all four cancers.

van der Rhee H, Coebergh JW, de Vries E. Sunlight, vitamin D and the prevention of cancer: a systematic review of epidemiological studies. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2009 Nov;18(6):458-75

I took it a step further by quantifying the percentage of studies that found a significant decrease in cancer as reported by van der Rhee.

• Sunlight and latitude studies: 77.1% show significant correlation
• Vitamin D level studies: 63.4% show significant correlation
• Diet or supplementation studies: 47.4% show significant correlation

I do acknowledge that many vitamin D supplementation studies are flawed in that the amount given are not high enough to show D’s full potential. However, let’s face it, the present results of vitamin D studies, particularly those dealing with supplementation, show that people are not getting enough sun to maintain optimal levels. Continue reading → (no membership required)

Review: The facts on vitamin D and fertility
November 2, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Up to 15% of couples are infertile and about 20% of infertility is unexplained by known causes. If you are trying to get pregnant or are having difficulty getting pregnant, a recent review paper should interest you. Continue reading → (membership required)
  RCT: Vitamin D, strength, and exercise in COPD patients
October 30, 2012 -- Brant Cebulla
A new analysis of a randomized controlled trial has found that vitamin D helps inspiratory muscle strength and peak exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Continue reading → (membership required)



Vitamin D Day video
November 2, 2012 -- Kate Saley
In this video, Dr Cannell discusses the importance of moderate sun exposure and vitamin D for Vitamin D Day, November 2nd. Continue reading → (no membership required)

Is D deficiency a risk factor for peripheral artery disease?
October 31, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) causes plaque buildup in the arteries, and is associated with cardiovascular disease and stroke. Dr Cannell discusses a paper reviewing the evidence that vitamin D deficiency is yet another risk factor for PAD. Continue reading → (no membership required)

Remember to vote for VDC in the FedEx Grant Contest!
November 6, 2012 -- Vitamin D Council
The Vitamin D Council is taking part in Fed Ex's small business grant contest for a change to win up to $25,000! The winner will be picked based on how compelling their story is and how many votes they acquire. Help us be a contender by voting! Each person can vote once a day up until November 24th. The grant will help the VDC continue our mission in educating health professionals and the general public about vitamin D and vitamin D deficiency. So, tell your friends and family to join in and vote daily! Click here to view our grant contest page.

November 2nd is Vitamin D Day; Vitamin D Council takes action to help spread awareness
November 1, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
The Vitamin D Council is doing their part on Vitamin D Day by using their member base and social media outlets to help spread awareness on vitamin D. Continue reading → (news)


Finnish University to re-analyze vitamin D supplements
November 5, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Last week, researchers from The University of Finland revealed that a majority of vitamin D supplements the university tested contained significantly less vitamin D compared with what they advertized. Continue reading → (news)

Vitamin D Day success!
November 2, 2012
Vitamin D Day was a complete success! We want to thank everyone for your involvement in getting the word out about Vitamin D Day. Remember to continue discussing vitamin D awareness throughout the month of November. Follow the action on the Vitamin D Day Facebook page to see what others are saying about Vitamin D Day!

As I have said many times, I do not take the flu shot. Now the big news it has been suspended in Europe and Canada because of bad science. I am not surprised.  Lots of things you can do to avoid the flu. The big one is take a optimized dose of vitamin D as it is up to 60% effective. I don't normally advocate a product or person, but feel this is a good way to get the information out. I am sure profits for the drug industry will suffer. I don't feel sorry for them. Remember, you can not sue them.....it is against big government law.
Bruce Bennett CRNA
and the article...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/06/flu-vaccine-efficacy.aspx?e_cid=20121106_DNL_art_1

Vitamin D Council November 2nd, 2012 Vitamin D Council takes action to help spread awareness
November 2, 2012
November 2nd is Vitamin D Day, as declared by organizations throughout the world, assembling together to spread awareness on vitamin D and the vitamin D deficiency pandemic.

Vitamin D is a nutrient the own human body produces in response to sun exposure. When the sun shines overhead, it triggers the skin to start making vitamin D for the body. Given the ever increasing indoor lifestyles of humans in the 20th and 21st centuries, many people are deficient in vitamin D and many scientists believe there is a deficiency pandemic.

One organization taking action this Vitamin D Day is the Vitamin D Council, a nonprofit organization based out of California that solely educates the public on vitamin D and sun exposure. “I believe being aware of your vitamin D status is the most important and simple thing you can do for your health,” says John J Cannell, MD, Executive Director of the organization.

During the winter, vitamin D deficiency becomes even more prevalent, as the sun becomes less intense and shines less overhead. Vitamin D “blood levels” are usually lowest at the end of winter, after weeks and weeks of the body no longer getting vitamin D from its own skin.

Hence why organizers have set November 2nd as the Day, to help educate people before winter and make sure they are aware of how to get vitamin D depending on the season. Dr Cannell says, “Virtually everyone that works indoors is at risk for insufficiency and more than likely deficient. The problem is even worse in the fall and winter.”

The Vitamin D Council is doing their part on Vitamin D Day by using their member base and social media outlets to help spread awareness on vitamin D. Furthermore, they are offering free one-month memberships to their educational blog for anyone that signs up on Vitamin D Day.

To check out all the action on Vitamin D Day, visit http://www.vitamindday.net.
About Vitamin D Day and the Vitamin D Council

The Vitamin D Council is 501(c)(3) nonprofit based out of California, working to educate the public on vitamin D and sun exposure using an evidence-based approach.

Promotion of vitamin D awareness in November began as early as 2007 by the Vitamin D Society, as they used the month as a time to promote awareness in Canada. InspireHealth began promoting Vitamin D Day in 2009, and Canadian Parliament Member Dr. James Lunney introduced a bill to establish National Vitamin D Day in Canada. Since then, several organizations have collaborated to spread awareness annually on November 2nd.

To redeem free one-month membership from the Vitamin D Council, email membership@vitamindcouncil.org with the title “Vitamin D Day” in the heading.
Get Involved
On Facebook:

1. Like the page Vitamin D Day
2. Change your profile picture to the Vitamin D Day logo.
   • Or better yet, spread awareness for the entire month with a universal vitamin D/sun logo.
     
3. Share an infographic, educate your friends and family.
   • Share the infographic “Winter is here, be D aware“
   • Share the infographic “Vitamin D: a nutrient for the entire body“
4. Share your favorite quote from leading vitamin D researchers and public health officials.

Join the conversation on Twitter:

1. The hashtag will be #VitaminDDay
2. Share your favorite quote from leading vitamin D researchers and public health officials.

Use other social media like Pinterest? Here is an idea: pin one of the infographics mentioned above:

• “Winter is here, be D aware“
• “Vitamin D: a nutrient for the entire body“

Email friends and family: Social media not your thing? Look for sharing icons on most pages.