Dr. Mercola August 24 2007 142,893 views
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology March 2007; 103(3-5):708-11Eurekalert August 21, 2007
Hello everyone. I thought this could be useful. After reading this post I run to see what kind of Vit D I was taking and it was Cholecalciferol , fuiiii.
blessings.
Cholecalciferol (D3)
Ergocalciferol (D2). Note double bond at top center.
Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol). Active form. Note extra OH groups at upper right and lower left.Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol).[1] The term vitamin D also refers to metabolites and other analogues of these substances. Vitamin D3 is produced in skin exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B radiation.
Vitamin D plays an important role in the maintenance of organ systems.[2]
Vitamin D regulates the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood by promoting their absorption from food in the intestines, and by promoting re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys.
It promotes bone formation and mineralization and is essential in the development of an intact and strong skeleton.
It inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion from the parathyroid gland.
Vitamin D affects the immune system by promoting immunosuppression, phagocytosis, and anti-tumor activity.
Vitamin D deficiency can result from inadequate intake coupled with inadequate sunlight exposure, disorders that limit its absorption, conditions that impair conversion of vitamin D into active metabolites, such as liver or kidney disorders, or, rarely, by a number of hereditary disorders.[2] Deficiency results in impaired bone mineralization, and leads to bone softening diseases, rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and possibly contributes to osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency may also be linked to many forms of cancer.
That's right Roqway! It sooooo disgusts me how billions of dollars, decades and decades later of these supposed cancer cure searches and still NO cure for cancer. More people than ever today are getting cancer and dying from it. I refuse to walk for any of these cancer walks because I know the money does not go to anything worth while with these organizations. I remember going with a friend somewhere and she had to first drop off her packet for the cancer walk out here and there they all were serving nitrate topping pizzas, sodas, and ice cream. Give me a break! And there standing next to me was a lady telling all how she was in the middle of her chemo as she went to get her cancer causing food to eat. I say lets use all this money to STOP giving everyone cancer in the foods that we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe etc!!!! Then we won't need to find a cure for cancer. Althogh it's clear that cures have been found, THEY just don't want anyone to know about that and have done evil things to keep it from the general public including murder. THEY are making way too much money on their chemo, radiation and surgery treatments etc. THEY don't want to the general population to find a cure.
Excellent statement. "We have a choice, fear the dark or simply turn to the light!" Studying healthy people will give us insight... no doubt.
Thank you for your excellent and influential way of well thought out advise.
God bless you.
Dr. Trudy
My preferred supplement company, Life Extension Foundation (LEF), produces an outstanding monthly magazine in which they publish fully researched and documented articles. Many of them echo and/or validate Dr. Mercola's views.
The September issue had an article that goes into real depth about the physiological actions and benefits of Vitamin D3, as well as the wide range of problems associated with a deficiency. You can access it here: www.lef.org/.../sep2007_report_vitamind_01.htm
Unfortunately, the October issue isn't online yet, because in that issue, Dr. William Faloon writes an open "call-to-action" letter to President Bush stating that Vitamin D3 deficiency is directly responsible for "several hundred thousand" deaths in the US alone each year. If this subject comes up next month, I'll provide a link to it as well. Of course, being a supplement company, he suggests that each American supplement with 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 each day. The cost of which is only $19 per year. And he says the LEF will donate 50,000 bottles of 365 x 1,000 IU capsules to the US government to provide to people who can't afford it on their own. Pretty compelling.
I know Dr. Mercola isn't a big fan of supplementation, and in this case, far recommends exposure to sunlight over supplementation with D3. But how about those of us who have more than exceeded our "lifetime" dose of sunlight when we were young? Pale complected, having lived in high UV regions and having been severely sunburned several times over a large area of our bodies (before the days of sunblock) AND who have had several surgeries to remove Basal Cell Carcinoma as a result. Supplement over sun? Or maybe he disagrees that there is such a thing as a maximum lifetime dose? I'm curious...
I still love the sun, but I love my skin MORE. As a result, I take my 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 every day - except for days I get a few minutes of sun - I now live in the inferno that is Las Vegas.
Be well!
You need to read my new book out in next May or get the condensed report mentioned above. You were NOT designed to get ORAL vitamin D.
Will it help?
Certainly, BUT it has SERIOUS potential for overdose and when you CHEAT your body by swallowing it instead of obtaining it the way God designed your body to, then you are missing out on the benefits that have been associated with taking vitamin D.
Remember that virtually ALL the science is from NATURAL produced vitamin D from sunshine on unexposed skin, NOT oral vitamin D. It is a major logical fallacy that you and experts like Falloon and other are making. Take a shortcut and you will NOT receive the benefits.
Your concern about skin aging is simply addressed by improving your skin antioxidant levels and/or wearing a protective hat.
There is a very good reason for Dr. Mercola's view of supplements. I was recently diagnosed with a severe Vit D deficiency by my doctor at the VA. She prescribed mega doses of Ergocalciferol (D2).
I didn't like the idea of taking the D2, so I went to a naturopathic doc which insisted that I did need to supplement with high doses, but gave me a script for a high quality D3 supplement.
After 2 months of taking the D2, I just had my VIt D levels retested. Now my levels are abnormally HIGH! My Vit D (25_Hydroxy) results were 105 ng/mL. The normal range for my lab is 15.1-50.0 ng/mL
I wish that I had stayed with my original plan of sunbathing and taking cod liver oil daily.