Laura Corin Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/23/vitamin-d-scotland-food-multiple-sclerosis Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 How interesting! Feeling sufficiently inspired to go for a walk and take in some sun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 How interesting! Feeling sufficiently inspired to go for a walk and take in some sun... :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Interesting! I know that the Seattle area has one of the highest rates of MS in the US, and it is, of course, known for its lack of sunshine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Laura, thank you for that very interesting link. This is what I've read. Thought to share. The association between D3 and MS is compelling Vitamin D helps normalize brain function. Its protective effects on nerve growth factors in the brain make it an ideal nutrient to use for either the prevention or treatment of MS. There are more people with MS who live in the low altitudes of Switzerland than in the high altitudes where UV rays are stronger. Almost no cases of MS can be found at the equator, but the further away you go, the more MS you find. Countries farther from the equator typically have higher MS rates. People with MS often have enough vitamin D to keep their bones healthy, but not enough to prevent the disease or reduce its symptoms Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level quarterly. It should be at least 60 ng/mL. If you're under 60, take at least 2,000 IU per day. If you're 60 or over, take at least 5,000 IU per day of vitamin D3. Always take your vitamin D with a fat-containing meal to ensure absorption. Your need for vitamin D3 is affected by age, skin color, and the severity of any deficiency Don't be concerned that 2,000-5,000 IU will give you too much. The human body can make 10,000 IU of Vitamin D in 30 minutes of sun exposure – children included – with no ill effects. In addition, no adverse effects have been seen with supplemental vitamin D intakes up to 10,000 IU daily. To this day, medical textbooks mention the risk of vitamin D toxicity. Yet, the scientific literature suggests that toxicity occurs only with very large intakes of vitamin D over prolonged periods (more than 10,000 IUs daily for longer than 6 months). Except in people with disorders known as granulomatosis (such as sarcoidosis or tuberculosis), little risk (if any) is associated with vitamin D supplementation. Most people are deficient! • Body-mass index (BMI) and obesity • Older people • Dark-skinned people • Strict vegetarians • People with celiac, Crohn’s disease, and cystic fibrosis • Heredity • Certain medications • Regular use of sunscreen • Northern Latitudes (above that of Atlanta, Georgia) D3 in pill form is very poorly absorbed. Be sure to take the oil-filled gelatin capsules, and take them with a meal that contains fat to help with absorption. If you have your D3 levels tested and you’re low, you can go up to 10,000 IU per day for a couple of months, and then re-test to see if there's improvement. If you get your D3 levels tested, I think the ideal is to get them to levels of at least 60-70. If it turns out that your body just doesn't absorb vitamin D very well, you may wish to talk to your doctor about whether 30 minutes of daily sun exposure in warm weather or very short tanning sessions in cold weather would be appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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