NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels in the body may help guard against bone disease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study in which researchers found a link between inadequate vitamin D levels and lower bone mineral density in a group of IBD patients.
IBD refers to the inflammation of the large or small colon and is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, bloody stool, weight and appetite loss, and ulceration of the bowel lining. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two common types of inflammatory bowel disease.
A higher incidence of osteoporosis and fractures is a recognized complication of IBD, but the role of vitamin D insufficiency in IBD-related bone disease is uncertain.
Dr. William D. Leslie and colleagues from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, identified adults recently diagnosed with IBD and measured bone mineral density and vitamin D levels in a subgroup of 101 subjects.
Only 22 (22 percent) had optimal vitamin D levels, they found. Six patients, or 6 percent, had deficient levels, 38 (38 percent) had insufficient levels, and 35 (35 percent) had marginal levels.
Higher vitamin D levels were associated with greater bone density; lower levels with reduced bone density.
In 94 of the 101 subjects who had repeat BMD measurements roughly 2 years later, researchers saw a positive correlation between a gain in BMD in that interval and vitamin D levels.
“Early optimization of vitamin D may help to prevent bone disease in inflammatory bowel disease,” Leslie commented to Reuters Health.
His group’s next step, he said, “is to see whether poor vitamin D status or the degree of activity in a patient’s inflammatory bowel disease lead to progressive loss in bone density.”
SOURCE: American Journal of Gastroenterology, June 2008.
functionmed Said:
on July 4, 2008 at 5:18 am
Hereunder are a few advantages of adequate Vitamin D .Past RDAs are proven totally inadequte at 200-400ICUs and 2000-400 ICus may now be essential. So the National Academy of Science and their Rediclulous Dogmatic Assertions (RDAs) together with sliop,slap, are responsible for countless deaths over at least 50 years. Especially breast cancer, intestinal and skin cancer, including melanoma.
Do not wait for an apology, and Big Pharma is alive and well as is the corrupt FDA.
Health Benefits of Vitamin D, berst obtained by 20 min body exposure to sunlight
Aging & Life Extension
Maintenance of proper Vitamin D levels may delay the onset of the Aging Process [scientific research - humans: serum Vitamin D levels decline by up to 50% in tandem with the Aging Process].
Digestive System
Many persons afflicted with Colic Disease are found to be deficient in Vitamin D (indicating that supplemental Vitamin D would benefit Colic Disease patients) [scientific observation].
Vitamin D deficiency is common in persons afflicted with Crohn’s Disease – this does not imply that Vitamin D alleviates Crohn’s Disease but does imply that persons afflicted with Crohn’s Disease may need to supplement with Vitamin D in order to avoid Vitamin D deficiency [epidemiological evidence].
Immune System
Vitamin D helps to prevent some forms of Cancer:
Vitamin D (Vitamin D3 form) stimulates the Apoptosis (programmed cell death) of some types of Cancer Cells (especially Breast Cancer Cells) [scientific research].
-Breast Cancer can occur as a result of Vitamin D deficiency.
-Colon Cancer can occur as a result of Vitamin D deficiency [epidemiological evidence: persons with the lowest serum Vitamin D levels have 4 - 5 times the risk for developing Colon Cancer as persons with the highest serum Vitamin D levels].
The Calcitriol and Vitamin D3 forms of Vitamin D induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the Cells involved in Gliomas by influencing the Genes that control the length of time Glioma Cells continue to replicate [scientific research - rats].
Vitamin D3 helps to prevent (the promyelocytic form of) Leukemia [scientific research - human promyelocytic leukemia cells cultured in the presence of Vitamin D3 for 3 years exhibited a reduction in their rate of tumor growth when subsequently injected into mice].
Vitamin D helps to prevent Ovarian Cancer.
-The Calcitriol form of Vitamin D helps to prevent Prostate Cancer [scientific research - Calcitriol levels in persons afflicted with Prostate Cancer are usually lower than those of males who are not afflicted, especially in males over the age of 57].
-Vitamin D3 (3,000 – 4,000 IU per day) causes Prostate Cancer Cells to differentiate into normal Cells [scientific research - Vitamin D3 has been shown to directly kill androgen-independent Prostate Cancer cells].
Vitamin D enhances some functions of the Immune System.
Vitamin D stimulates the activity of Macrophages.
Vitamin D (Vitamin D3 form) potently stimulates (activates) NK Lymphocytes in persons who exhibit depressed levels of NK Lymphocyte activity (it has no effect on persons with optimal NK Lymphocyte activity) [scientific research - humans].
Vitamin D boosts resistance to Tuberculosis (by stimulating the activity of Macrophages which normally “fight” Tuberculosis) [scientific research - in vivo].
Metabolism
Doctors often prescribe Vitamin D2 (50,000 – 200,000 IU = 1,250 – 5,000 mcg per day) for people afflicted with Hypoparathyroidism.
Musculoskeletal System
Arthralgia (Joint Pain) can occur as a result of Vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D stimulates the formation and growth of the Bones (by regulating the body’s Calcium:Phosphorus ratio and by activating Osteoblasts).
Vitamin D accelerates the healing of Fractures (by regulating the Calcium:Phosphorus ratio and by activating Osteoblasts).
Muscle Pain can occur as a result of Vitamin D deficiency [scientific research].
Muscle Weakness can occur as a result of Vitamin D deficiency [scientific research].
Vitamin D helps to prevent Osteoarthritis [epidemiological evidence: people with the highest intake of Vitamin D throughout their life have the lowest incidence of Osteoarthritis].
The Vitamin D3 form of Vitamin D activates Osteoblasts [scientific research].
Vitamin D prevents and cures Osteomalacia (adults) and Rickets (children):- Doctors often prescribe 5,000 – 50,000 IU (125 – 1,250 mcg) of the Vitamin D2 form of Vitamin D per day for people afflicted with Rickets or Osteomalacia.
Vitamin D helps to prevent Osteoporosis (by regulating the Calcium:Phosphorus ratio and by activating Osteoblasts) and is effective in the treatment of Osteoporosis [scientific research – humans].
20% of persons afflicted with Otosclerosis are found to be abnormally deficient in Vitamin D (25-OH form) and Vitamin D (500 -1,000 IU) combined with Calcium supplementation significantly improved the Hearing of these persons [scientific research - humans: it is strongly speculated that Vitamin D deficiency may be a cause of Otosclerosis].
Nervous System
Vitamin D improves Hearing in some cases (due to Vitamin D deficiency causing loss of Calcium from Bones within the Ears).
It is speculated that Vitamin D deficiency during puberty can cause Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Most people with Spinal Cord injury exhibit very low Vitamin D levels (indicating that people with Spinal Cord injury should consume supplemental Vitamin D) [scientific research - humans].
Oral Health
Vitamin D decreases the rate of Alveolar Bone loss in persons afflicted with Periodontal Disease (by improving the body’s utilization of Calcium).
Vitamin D helps to prevent Tooth Decay.
Respiratory System
Vitamin D alleviates Asthma.
Skin
Vitamin D (applied topically) causes definite and sometimes remarkable improvement of the skin lesions associated with Psoriasis [scientific research - humans: 100% success after using topical Calcitriol for five weeks]:
The most potent form of Vitamin D for the treatment of Psoriasis is Calcitriol.
-Persons afflicted with Psoriasis are generally found to have very low endogenous levels of Calcitriol.