Now the VDC news letter
Vitamin D Newsletter - March 12, 2013 View this email in your browser Supporters of the Vitamin D Council What's with the USPSTF report?
March 8, 2013 -- Brant Cebulla
We have received many emails regarding the calcium, vitamin D and fracture report from the United States Preventative Services Task Force, often just abbreviated the USPSTF. The USPSTF is a panel of physicians and epidemiologists appointed by the US Department of Health and Human Services. They publish recommendations for a variety of different things after evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, screening and other clinical practices.
Usually, the USPSTF publishes a draft for the public to read. They then open up a one month grace period for the public to comment before they release a finalized recommendation six months later. When their recent evaluation and recommendation hit headlines last week that vitamin D and calcium cannot prevent fractures, this was actually the same report that hit headlines around June/July 2012. Our Executive Director Dr Cannell responded to the draft then and what he stated then still echoes our opinions of now.
Their report is based on data from two systematic reviews and a meta-analysis. They stated the following:
- There is no evidence that 400 IU of vitamin D and 1000 mg of calcium reduce risk of fractures, thus these doses shouldn’t be recommended or prescribed for the purpose of reducing the risk of fractures.
- We need more research before we can evaluate if intakes greater than 400 IU and 1000 mg of calcium can reduce the risk of fractures.
On the other hand, the second contention that vitamin D of intakes of greater than 400 IU have not been tested enough to determine its effect on fractures is disputed. In fact, Professor Bischoff-Ferrari pooled 11 randomized controlled trials and determined that intakes of 800 IU of vitamin D and greater likely reduce fracture incidence, while lower intakes do not. Continue reading → (no membership required) Increasing incidence of rickets: Is D deficiency the culprit?
March 6, 2013 -- Rebecca Oshiro
Rickets, once a public health problem of urgent importance, has largely fallen off the public’s radar. However, many prominent vitamin D researchers are calling attention to a “resurgence of rickets,” fueled in many cases by low blood levels of vitamin D. Continue reading → (no membership required) Correcting vitamin D deficiency in obese adolescents
March 10, 2013 -- John Cannell, MD
Doctors at the University of Missouri School of Medicine recently conducted a randomized placebo controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in morbidly obese teenagers. Continue reading → (membership required) New randomized controlled trial says, omega-3s may protect against skin cancer
March 11, 2013 -- Brant Cebulla
The incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer is increasing, despite the increased use of sunscreen and the increased indoor lifestyles. This has lead many to believe that there are more risk factors than UV exposure. Continue reading → (no membership required) Link between latitude and lymphoma risk
March 7, 2013 -- John Cannell, MD
Researchers recently found a link between UV radiation and the risk of non-Hodgkin’s ad Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Continue reading → (membership required)
How does vitamin D reduce blood pressure?
March 5, 2013 -- John Cannell, MD
Researchers at the University of Pisa in Italy studied the effects of repleting vitamin D in patients with hypertension and vitamin D deficiency. Continue reading → (membership required) Vitamin D, vitamin A, and risk of hip fracture
March 9, 2013 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Cannell reviews the latest research on vitamin D, vitamin A, and bone health. Continue reading → (membership required)
Norway Food Safety Authority release new vitamin D guidelines
March 6, 2013 -- Vitamin D Council News
The Norway Food Safety Authority has concluded that the vitamin D daily recommended intake (RDI) should be doubled from 400 to 800 IU/day for the whole population. Continue reading → UVB therapy vs supplementation for vitamin D deficiency
March 7, 2013 -- Vitamin D Council News
A recent Swedish study reports that narrowband UVB therapy may be a more effective treatment for vitamin D deficiency than supplementation. Continue reading → Vitamin D deficiency linked to allergy in infants
March 9, 2013 -- Vitamin D Council News
One year old infants with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to have a food allergy when compared to infants with higher vitamin D levels, according to research conducted at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia. Continue reading → Vitamin D and physical performance in people with heart failure
March 9, 2013 -- Vitamin D Council News
A randomized controlled trial found that vitamin D3 did not improve physical performance in people with heart failure. Continue reading → How are your levels?
March 12, 2013 -- Vitamin D Event
Winter is almost over, how did your levels survive?
If you don't know what your vitamin D levels are coming out of this dreary winter season, test to find out! ZRT offers convenient, in-home vitamin D tests to find out how you and your family did this winter, and if any changes are necessary as we head into spring.
To order a test visit the ZRT home-test page. Workin' on our website
March 12, 2013 -- Vitamin D Council news
Just a heads up! We want to make sure you all are warned that our website may be down for a half day the week of March 17th-23rd. We will be working to get our new and improved, snazzy website up in action.
Although you'll be without vitamin D news and blogs for a few hours, don't worry it will be worth the wait! Why test?
March 12, 2013 -- Vitamin D Event
This week's free Grassroots Health webinar features Dr Robert Heaney discussing the question: "Why test vitamin D?!"
Register here for today's webinar, which starts at 10am PST! Have a vitamin D question? You can submit your questions for Dr Heaney when you register.