The purveyors of sun-scare, in inexplicable blind zeal for their cause, have made some outlandish and unsupportable statements about sunshine, UV, Vitamin D and tanning. Think about this: Because sunshine is free, there is no powerful pro-sun PR lobby aggressively countering these misstatements. Think about it some more: Just imagine if a large pharmaceutical company did own the sun and was able to send you a bill for your monthly sunshine. The mass-media marketing message you got about sunshine – based on the same science that exists today – would be completely positive. The statements that follow show you that, when it comes to “sun scare” marketing is more important than science….

Click here for the list of myths and more.

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People who spend more time outside have a better chance of surviving certain cancers, new studies suggest.

Those who had higher levels of vitamin D – produced by the body in the presence of sunlight -when diagnosed with colon cancer were 50 per cent more likely to survive than those with low levels, researchers found.

A separate study also found that patients who had high levels of the vitamin when they were diagnosed with skin cancer were more likely to have thinner tumours…

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Neither ETS, LLC nor its parent or affiliated companies operate or control, in any respect, any information, claims, representations, endorsements, recommendations, testimonials, products or services that third parties may provide on or through the website or on websites linked to by us. The inclusion of any link on this website does not, and shall not be construed, to imply any recommendation, approval, endorsement or testimonial of that third-party website by ETS, LLC. The views and opinions of authors expressed in any third-party website do not necessarily state or reflect those of ETS, LLC. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by ETS, LLC.

As more studies focus on the health benefits of vitamin D, many questions regarding deficiency and the “sunshine vitamin” are being raised. To help explain vitamin D a bit better, Jared M. Skowron, who specializes in pediatrics and the treatment of autistic spectrum disorders in children, created a list of the top 10 myths regarding vitamin D.

Myth 1: Vitamin D is a vitamin.

The truth: Vitamin D is a hormone. It’s derived from cholesterol. It activates cellular processes and does not do so as a co-factor. Vitamin D receptors have direct effects on the following cells: adipose, adrenal, bone, brain, breast, cancer, cartilage, colon, endothelium, epididymis, ganglion, hair follicle, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, osteoblasts, ovary, pancreatic B, parathyroid, parotid, pituitary, placenta, prostate, skin, stomach, testis, thymus, thyroid and uterus.

Myth 2: Normal activity provides us enough vitamin D from sun exposure.

The truth: Most people do not get enough sunshine to maintain adequate vitamin D levels. Our ancestors spent most of the day in the sun while farming, fishing and hunting. Our bodies physiologically developed to need that much vitamin D. Today’s indoor society of office workers, television watchers and hermits gets much less sun exposure and vitamin D production. Add clothing and sunscreen, which also inhibit vitamin D production, and you understand the problem.

Myth 3: Supplemented vitamin D in foods is adequate.

The truth: Vitamin D2 is one-third as effective in the body as naturally occurring vitamin D3. Most foods have D2 added. (Another thing to think about: A study that analyzed vitamin D2 levels in milk off supermarket shelves showed almost 50 percent had less than the label claim of 400 IU of D2.)

Myth 4: 1,25(OH)D3 is the best analysis for vitamin D levels.

The truth: Vitamin D is mostly stored in adipose and should not be routinely measured. It then converts to 25(OH) D3, which has a long half-life and is the best analysis of vitamin D levels. It then converts to bi-hydroxy forms such as 1,25(OH)D3 and other forms, which have the actual action of the cell receptors. However, 1,25(OH)D3 has a short half-life and is not a good measurement.

Myth 5: The reference range for vitamin D levels is accurate.

The truth: The reference range for 25(OH)D3 is horribly inaccurate and is resulting in vitamin D deficiency in this country. The current reference range of 20-100 is too low. Levels less than 25 are disease level. Levels between 25 and 75 are suboptimal. Levels between 75 and 200 are optimal.

Myth 6: Vitamin D supplementation is nontoxic.

The truth: The major consequence of vitamin D toxicity is hypercalcemia, which should be monitored periodically while under therapy. Changes in cardiac rhythms or lithiasis are common concerns. Urine calcium monitoring is not accurate. Serum calcium should be monitored monthly to check vitamin D toxicity, which normally occurs at 40,000 IU per day. Right now, 10,000 IU per day is being proposed as a safe upper limit.

Myth 7: The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is accurate.

The truth: People taking only the RDA of vitamin D will lower their 25(OH) D3 levels. The RDA is too low. When treating with vitamin D supplementation, three months of daily dosing is sufficient to max out 25(OH)D3 levels. Five thousand IU per day for three months should elevate 25(OH) D3 by 80 nmol/L, and 10,000 IU/ day for three months should elevate 25(OH) D3 by 120 nmol/L. People on 1,000 IU per day will elevate their levels by only 10 nmol/L.

Myth 8: Different forms of vitamin D are all the same.

The truth: Vitamin D3 is the preferred form. D2 is derived either from plant sources or from lanolin but lanolin-derived D3 is more active and absorbable.

Myth 9: Vitamin D only treats osteoporosis and rickets.

The truth: The therapeutic benefits of vitamin D are still being discovered. Benefits have been noted in relation to cancer, heart problems, immune disease, diabetes and neurological problems, as well as low bone density.

Myth 10: Vitamin D should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The truth: Pregnant women should receive 4,000 IU of daily vitamin D supplementation. Breast-feeding women should receive 6,000 IU of daily vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D, not 25(OH)D3, crosses into the breast milk, and daily doses are preferred over weekly doses. Avoid supplementing the infant and instead supplement the breast-feeding mother directly. If the infant is bottle-fed, supplement with 400-800 IU/day.

Source: lookingfit

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The importance of vitamin D for a healthy body is well known, but health experts have been in the news raising a hue and cry about a vitamin D deficiency crisis in this country .

Apparently we’re just not getting enough vitamin D in our bodies, and many people are wondering if the warnings of staying out of the sun and tanning booths are starting to swing this health pendulum too far the other way.

One of the most vital roles of vitamin D is to boost the absorption of calcium into the bones. Vitamin D also helps to keep teeth and gums healthy, especially in older adults.

The latest vitamin D study comes to us through the combined efforts of the Peninsula Medical School, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Michigan. They have shown that vitamin D may also help maintain cognitive skills. While not comprehensive, the study was based on information collected from almost 2,000 adults aged 65 and over who participated in a large health survey in England. The data shows that as vitamin D levels decreased, cognitive impairment increased.

Of the cognitive impairment diseases, Alzheimer’s is the most common form. It is an incurable, degenerative and terminal disease that was first discovered by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. It is usually found in people 65 and older, although it can sometimes occur earlier.

According to the study, a contributing factor to injuries in Alzheimer’s patients could be a lack of vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for the strength and development of bones, but since many Alzheimer’s patients are homebound or lacking mobility, they are frequently lacking sunlight.

People with Alzheimer’s also have an increased risk of hip and other bone fractures as a result. As Alzheimer’s disease is more prevalent in older populations, the ability of skin to convert vitamin D to its active form decreases with age, contributing to increased risk. One study of women with Alzheimer’s done by the Medical College of Wisconsin found that decreased bone mineral density was associated with a low intake of vitamin D and inadequate sunlight exposure.

There was also evidence linking a lack of vitamin D to Parkinson’s Disease, another disease associated with the aged, but there is still much study and testing to do to determine whether low vitamin D levels are linked to cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s.

Older adults should boost their vitamin D intake to help reduce chronic pain and strengthen their teeth and bones; younger adults should also boost their vitamin D intake to help reduce the risk of weakened bones, bone fractures, cognitive impairment, and even some forms of cancer.

Experts recommend that we get about 15 minutes of sun per day, or barring that, spending time in an indoor tanning bed.

All of this raises the question of whether tanning beds can offer the same health benefits as sunshine. The best source of Vitamin D is the sun, however tanning beds provide a good source of Vitamin D. Tanning beds are installed with bulbs that emit mostly UVA (long-wave) rays, said to be less harmful than UVB (short-wave) rays. Thus, a tanning bed gives customers the same emission as the sun, but at a more controlled level and shorter time.

Tanning beds, while not as powerful nor more popular than sunlight, still provides beneficial results in a safer environment, especially when the weather is too cold to be out in the sun.

Neither ETS, LLC nor its parent or affiliated companies operate or control, in any respect, any information, claims, representations, endorsements, recommendations, testimonials, products or services that third parties may provide on or through the website or on websites linked to by us. The inclusion of any link on this website does not, and shall not be construed, to imply any recommendation, approval, endorsement or testimonial of that third-party website by ETS, LLC. The views and opinions of authors expressed in any third-party website do not necessarily state or reflect those of ETS, LLC. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by ETS, LLC.