Did sunshine help Ann Romney's multiple sclerosis?
August 27, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
The wife of presidential nominee Mitt Romney, Ann, has recently been the central figure in several news pieces covering her battle with the disease, multiple sclerosis. Ann was diagnosed with MS in the late fall of 1998. She recalls, “I didn’t have the energy to even talk to anybody. It’s like a gray cloud that invaded every cell of my body. It was in the brain. It was in my muscles. It was in my organs. I had no ability to almost do anything.”
Despite this feeling, Ann reportedly started riding horses outside every day, no matter the level of fatigue. She says, “As soon as I got on, I completely forgot I was even sick or tired or — that fatigue feeling — I just was so filled with joy that it just was like a magic pill for me.” In 2001, her multiple sclerosis went into remission. She credits traditional therapy and some alternative treatments like yoga and reflexology in helping her MS, but she was in the sunshine, too.
Therefore, I’ll be the first to ask, did the sunshine she got while riding horses help her MS? Continue reading → (no membership required)
Vitamin D status in indigenous populations: Part 1
August 27, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Researchers have investigated new findings that will change our understanding of vitamin D forever. Part one of this three part blog series focuses on how vitamin D levels change with age. Continue reading → (no membership required)
Omega-3 supplementation ups activated vitamin D levels?
August 24, 2012 -- Brant Cebulla
Researchers out of South Korea have recently reported that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increases activated vitamin D levels in dialysis patients. Continue reading → (membership required)
Low D linked to depression during pregnancy?
August 23, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Branderbarg and colleagues found that pregnant women with low levels of vitamin D were 3 times more likely to get clinical depression during pregnancy compared to pregnant women with sufficient levels. Continue reading → (membership required)
Dear Dr Cannell: Vitamin D in the 1930's
August 21, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Cannell and Dr Clark discuss toxic doses of vitamin D2 and how specific cases were dealt with in the past. Continue reading → (no membership required)
The many guises of vitamin D deficiency
August 25, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Vitamin D deficiency may be on its way to being known in medicine as a grand deceiver, presenting in various guises and imitating different diagnoses. Continue reading → (no membership required)
Dear Dr Cannell: To fortify or not to fortify
August 22, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Cannell discusses food fortification with a reader and contemplates what the most effective approach would be. Continue reading → (no membership required)
Sunbed centers allowed to advertise vitamin D benefits August 22, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Tanning centers in Scotland are now allowed to promote the benefits of the tanning beds as a source of vitamin D, despite protest from the Scottish government. Continue reading → (news)
Thank you Council followers!
Thanks to your support and interest in vitamin D, the Council raised over $20,000 in 30 hours! We have been astounded by your generosity and support, but we’re not finished yet!
Our campaign lasts another five weeks and we still need all the help we can get. Let’s continue to expand the vitamin D community and grow our membership base! The Council will use funds to:
- Create better and more lay-friendly content for patients and health care providers
- Create better and more materials for patients and health care offices
- Improve usability of website
- Launch more powerful awareness campaigns
- Continue to support current programs and day-to-day operations
Vitamin D: Beyond Bone Conference
September 21, 2012
Reminder to sign up for the upcoming Vitamin D: Beyond Bone Conference held in New York on September 21st, 2012! Click here to visit the conference website.