View it in your browser. Vitamin D Council December 19th, 2012 This newsletter is in part made possible by the support of our sponsors
RCT: Vitamin D levels and traumatic brain injury
December 18, 2012 -- Brant Cebulla
A new randomized controlled trial from Iran suggests that vitamin D could play an important role in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
The study, led by Professor Bahram Aminmansour and colleagues from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, investigated whether vitamin D in conjunction with progesterone could improve recovery rates in patients with traumatic brain injury.
Currently, physicians have few drugs that are effectively neuro-protective after a traumatic brain injury. Progesterone has been identified as safe and effective, protecting the blood-brain barrier, and helping prevent cerebral edema, excessive inflammatory response, and necrosis. It also helps stimulate myelin formation, reduces free radicals, and helps prevent neuronal loss.
Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency may worsen traumatic brain injury and reduce the effects of current treatment. Like progesterone, activated vitamin D is a neurosteroid and has proven to be effective aiding recovery in animal models, perhaps by mechanisms similar to progesterone, which is also a steroid hormone. Continue reading → (no membership required)
Vitamin D safety: Risks and benefits of fortification and supplementation
December 18, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Professor Reinhold Vieth wrote the seminal paper on the safety of vitamin D back in 1999. Recently, he published an updated review of vitamin D’s safety profile. Continue reading → (no membership required)
Risk of skin cancer vs importance of vitamin D
December 18, 2012 -- Dr William Grant
Two recent papers in the British Journal of Dermatology made recommendations on how to reduce skin cancer incidence rates in Europe. While reducing skin cancer incidence rates is a worthwhile health measure, overall health should not be compromised. Continue reading → (no membership required)
And we're back!
We want to apologize to all of you that our website has been down the past 3 weeks! To make it up to you, we'll be posting three blogs every day for the rest of the year. Be sure to stay up to date and check the VDC blog daily!
Study: Vitamin D reduces respiratory infections, antibiotic use
December 14, 2012 -- Vitamin D Council
Research published today in British Medical Journal suggests that daily supplementation with vitamin D results in less severe respiratory infections and less antibiotic use in a susceptible population. Continue reading → (news)
Vitamin D status during pregnancy linked to infant birth weight
December 12, 2012 -- Vitamin D Council
A recent study found that pregnant mothers who had sufficient vitamin D levels at 26 weeks or less gave birth to babies with increased weights and head circumference. Continue reading → (news)
Additional evidence that vitamin D reduces the risk of developing autism
December 14, 2012 -- Vitamin D Council
A new study found prevalence of autism among U.S. children is inversely correlated with solar UVB doses, the primary source of vitamin D. Maternal vitamin D deficiency or vitamin D deficiency in early life could explain this finding. Continue reading → (news)
Vitamin D linked to women's cognitive health
December 4, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Two recent studies appearing in the Journals of Gerontology: Series A suggests that vitamin D plays a vital role in the cognitive health of aging women. Continue reading → (news)
Nordic countries will reevaluate vitamin D recommendations
November 28, 2012 -- Vitamin D Council
The Nordic Council of Ministers has appointed a working group to review and set new guidelines for fat and carbohydrate quality, protein, alcohol, calcium, folate, iodine, iron, food-based dietary guidelines and of course, vitamin D. Continue reading → (news)
Vitamin D may increase women's ability to fight HIV
December 6, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Research published online in AIDS reports that women who start HIV treatment late in the course of their infection gain significantly fewer CD4 immune cells if they have insufficient vitamin D levels. Continue reading → (news)