Written by Dr. Welsh, Article reviewed and edited by Dr. Fine M.D.. Published on 22 May 2014
Vitamin
B3: Niacin - the Vitamin You Really Feel!
by
Don V. Richards
Vitamin
B3 - also known as niacin - is one of the few vitamins we can
take that often causes an immediate, dramatic effect that we can both
feel and see. That effect is called flushing,
and a niacin flush is exhilarating to some people, disturbing
and annoying to others, but it definitely can't be ignored. A
niacin flush can vary from a slight pink color and tingling of the
skin on the face and arms - not unlike blushing - to a dramatic
reddening that looks and feels like sunburn, along with a sensation
of heat. This flush is caused by a dilation of your blood vessels,
especially your capillaries. When you get a niacin flush, it's a
totally harmless reaction that shows that your body is saturated with
this essential nutrient. A niacin flush usually lasts fifteen minutes
to half an hour, and afterward you'll often feel more relaxed, with
an enhanced sense of well-being. In fact, some doctors recommend that
you take niacin right up to the point of slight flushing as an
indicator that you've taken just enough. The human body gradually
adapts itself to Vitamin B3 supplementation, too, so what causes a
flush today might not cause one next month.
One
of niacin's amazing properties is that it can help you relax
without the need for any artificial substances like "sleeping aids"
and help you fall asleep more rapidly at night. Dr. Andrew Saul says
"At really large doses, niacin can result in a sedating, calming
effect. This is more amazing as it is a nutrient." Saul uses
Vitamin B3 not only for help in relaxing, but to improve the mental
functioning of people suffering from schizophrenia, dementia, and
depression. (He also recommends supplementing at least an equivalent
amount of Vitamin C at the same time to moderate B3's effects on
the GI tract and other changes.) Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum calls niacin "a
natural tranquilizer" and cites a study on rats in which "niacin
had similar effects to valium on the turnover of serotonin,
noradrenalin, dopamine, and GABA in the areas of the brain that are
thought to be affected by anxiety without being addictive. Some
experts go so far as to call niacin 'Nature's Valium.'"
Vitamin
B3 is also one of the best - and most natural - treatments known
for elevating the "good cholesterol" [high-density lipoprotein
(HDL)] levels in your bloodstream, and diminishing the bad
cholesterol [low-density lipoprotein (LDL)]. Patients taking 3,000 mg
of Vitamin B3 daily (starting day one with 1,000 mg, day two with
2,000 mg, and 3,000 mg per day thereafter) were found to have up to a
25 percent lower level of bad cholesterol and a 50 percent reduction
in triglyceride levels. These factors also lead to lower heart
disease mortality among those taking niacin supplements.
Dr.
John A. Rumberger of the Princeton Longevity Center states that
niacin may not help if a patient already has minimized his bad
cholesterol levels through "proper diet, attaining a proper weight
and body composition, regular aerobic and resistance training" and
treatment with statins (cholesterol-reducing prescription drugs). But
if that goal has not yet been achieved, then supplementing with
Vitamin B3 is "quite clinically appropriate."
According
to Dr. Andrew Saul, niacin can also reduce the severity of anxiety
and depression. Dr. David Williams recommends patients with arthritis
take between 1,000 to 4,000 mg of niacin daily (in the form
niacinamide) taken in five or six doses throughout the day, to
relieve pain and stiffness in their joints. Niacin in this form, in
action very similar to a niacin flush, opens up the blood vessels
deep in the joints, giving significant relief.
Studies
have shown that niacin helps reduce atherosclerosis - the hardening
of the arteries - that is a major cause of cardiovascular disease,
one of the civilized world's major killers. If you've already had
a heart attack, taking Vitamin B3 supplements makes a second heart
attack less likely, according to some recent research.
Research
is ongoing to follow up initial clues that niacin also lowers the
risk of contracting Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, osteoarthritis,
and type 1 diabetes. Dr. David Williams says that if any prescription
drug had all the benefits of "dirt cheap" niacin, "the media
would be singing its praises."
According
to Dr. Abram Hoffer, who practices the regular use of niacin in the
treatment of depression and schizophrenia, 1,000 mg of niacin taken
three times daily improves memory and can actually reverse senility
in some patients. It also, as already stated, gives a relaxing and
calming effect without the necessity for using expensive, artificial
drugs.
Niacin
was first described by a chemist named Hugo Weidel in 1873. Weidel
was studying the properties of nicotine, and when oxidizing nicotine
using nitric acid he discovered what we now call niacin or Vitamin
B3. Originally it was called nicotinic acid, but when its
disease-curing and other biological properties became known, it was
decided to change the name to prevent the public from getting the
misapprehension that cigarettes are good for you (they're not!) or
contain vitamins. So "niacin" was coined, combining select
letters from the words "nicotinic acid vitamin."
Niacin
is one of the water soluble vitamins, meaning that 1) it's
needed for life to continue; 2) the body can't produce its own
supply; and 3) any B3 beyond what the body can use right now is not
stored and is instead almost immediately flushed out in the urine.
Therefore, we all need both an adequate and a steady
source of niacin.
Niacin
deficiency is known as pellagra, and Vitamin B3 was once known as
Vitamin P-P for "pellagra preventative." Pellagra symptoms and
effects include what doctors sometimes call the "four Ds":
dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death. More specifically, in
addition to the above pellagra can cause extreme sensitivity to
sunlight, skin lesions, hair loss, aggression, quarrelsomeness,
swelling, inflammation of the tongue, insomnia, muscle weakness,
confusion, lack of coordination, enlarged and weakened heart,
paralysis, and nerve damage. Pellagra is common in Africa and in
parts of Asia where diets are often poor - but it's also found in
advanced nations among the poor and homeless. Alcoholism, and drug
interactions which inhibit the absorption of Vitamin B3, can also
lead to the disease. Before its causes were understood, pellagra was
a major killer in the American South - it's estimated that over
100,000 died of it there between 1906 and 1940. When untreated,
chronic niacin deficiency can kill you in under five years. But
there's a simple cure: treatment with niacin or a niacin-containing
compound.
Currently
the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for niacin is 17 to 35 mg daily
- notably higher than for some of the other B complex vitamins.
Nevertheless, some physicians say that this is far too low to get
maximum benefits from this nutrient, and point out that 3,000 to
9,000 mg daily have been used for treating certain conditions, with
no known harm or side effects (outside of flushing). When using such
high doses, though, they recommend being under the care of a
physician, and accommodating the body to the vitamin by starting out
with a low dose and gradually increasing it over time. Since niacin
can interact with other medications, it's best to consult your
doctor when going outside the boundaries set by the RDA.
What
are the possible negative effects of taking Vitamin B3? Well, niacin
sometimes irritates the stomach lining if you take it on an empty
stomach - so always take it during or immediately after a meal. If
you suffer from gout, you should know that niacin can cause you to
excrete less uric acid than usual, so avoid taking high-dose niacin
if you have gout - though doses in the RDA range and small
multiples thereof are probably okay: ask your doctor. The worst side
effect reported with niacin use is liver damage, and that side effect
was only associated with the timed-release form of
niacin, developed to help those who wanted to eliminate the "niacin
flush." Just avoid the timed-release type of Vitamin B3 (and
regulate your daily input carefully if the harmless flushing bothers
you) altogether and this won't be a problem.
It
takes a tremendous amount of this very safe vitamin to achieve a
toxic dose. A toxic dose in dogs is 5,000 mg per 2.2 pounds of body
weight. (This would translate to 250,000 mg for a 110-pound human,
assuming the toxicity factors remain the same for the two species.)
But we don't actually know what the toxic Vitamin B3 dose for
humans is, for the simple reason that no one, to scientific knowledge
at least, has ever died from taking it. If you experience nausea -
a symptom that is very rare - after taking niacin, though, that's
definite sign that you've taken too much. (Ironically, nausea is
also a symptom of niacin deficiency!)
Vitamin
B3 is one of the "B complex" vitamins, and, like the others, is a
nutrient absolutely necessary for human life and health. It takes an
important part in the body's conversion of carbohydrates (food)
into fuel (glucose) for cellular energy and activity.
When
considering niacin (Vitamin B3) supplementation, it's often wise to
take it as part of a B complex supplement (or multivitamin which
contains a blend of the B complex vitamins), because too much of just
one of the B vitamins can sometimes cause an imbalance, and it's
believed that these essential nutrients act in synergy, in which the
total input has a greater beneficial effect that just the sum of its
individual parts. Similarly, whether you use supplements or not, it's
good to include natural, unprocessed foods rich in Vitamin B3 in your
diet, as there are trace elements in these foods that many believe
also have a synergistic effect with niacin. Foods rich in niacin
include eggs and other animal products, avocados, asparagus, sweet
potatoes, carrots, dates, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, broccoli, nuts,
whole grains, legumes, and brewer's yeast.
And,
as I quoted Dr. Williams saying above, niacin supplements are "dirt
cheap," and niacin's benefits are equivalent to what we'd
imagine those of a "miracle drug" to be. But niacin is a simple
vitamin - not patented or patentable - and one can easily find it
at your local drugstore or pharmacy or online from many reputable
sellers at very low prices. Checking just Ebay alone, today I found a
bottle of 100 tablets (of 250mg each - a pretty high dose!) of
Vitamin B3 for as little as five dollars.
There
may be some things we don't like about the modern age, but one
thing for sure is very good about it: We've never had better
information about health more easily and widely available, allowing
us to take charge of own health through exercise programs, nutrition,
and health supplements in a better-informed way than ever before in
history. Take advantage of this situation, and begin achieving better
health and a better life today!
REFERENCES
Mayo
Clinic Online, "High Cholesterol,"
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/niacin/art-20046208?pg=2
, accessed 18 May 2014
Dr.
David Williams, "The Many Benefits of Niacin,"
http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/niacin-benefits/ , accessed 18 May
2014
Rumberger,
John, Princeton Longevity News, "The 'new' controversy
about Niacin to treat heart disease,"
http://princetonlongevitynews.com/2011/07/27/the-%E2%80%98new%E2%80%99-controversy-about-niacin-to-treat-heart-disease/
, accessed 19 May 2014
Saul,
Andrew W., Doctor Yourself, "How to Determine a Saturation
Level of Niacin," http://www.doctoryourself.com/niacin.html ,
accessed 18 May 2014
Smart
Publications, "Overcome Anxiety While Staying Calm and Energized
Naturally,"
http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/overcome-anxiety-while-staying-calm-and-energized-naturally
, accessed 18 May 2014
Haas,
E.M., "Vitamin B3Niacin," Excerpt from: Staying
Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional
Medicine
"Guidelines
for Niacin Therapy For the Treatment of Elevated Lipoprotein a
(Lpa)", Rush Hemophilia & Thrombophilia Center, August 15,
2002
Katzung,
Bertram G. (2006), Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, New York:
McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division. ISBN 0-07-145153-6
Barter,
P. (2006). "Options for therapeutic intervention: How effective
are the different agents?", European Heart Journal,
Supplements 8 (F): F47-F53
WebMD,
Vitamins and Supplements Lifestyle Guide, "Niacin: Vitamin B3,"
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-niacin?page=1
, accessed 18 May 2014
Saul,
Andrew, Doctor Yourself Online, "Psychosis, Schizophrenia, and
Nutritional Therapy," http://www.doctoryourself.com/psychiatry.html
, accessed 18 May 2014
Written by Dr. Welsh, Article reviewed and edited by Dr. Fine M.D.. Published on 23 April 2014
What
is Vitamin D and Why is It Important?
Vitamins
are nutrients that the body needs that it can't make on its own.
Vitamin D3 is unique, because the body has the ability to produce the
nutrient naturally, but most people still don't get enough of it.
The human
body can produce its own Vitamin D using two primary ingredients:
Cholesterol and Sunlight. Vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone, in
the same category as other hormones such as Testosterone, Cortisol,
and Estrogen. Vitamin D is important because it protects the body
from a number of medical conditions, and it also has a strong impact
on our genetic expression. Vitamin D is incredibly important for the
body to function properly, encouraging optimal health and wellness.
Vitamin
D Deficiency Common Throughout the World
Scientists
have understood the importance of Vitamin D for decades, but new
research continues to unearth new benefits, showing that the nutrient
is vitally important for both preventing premature aging and
softening the effects of the aging process itself. Even though our
body does have the capacity to create its own Vitamin D, there are
millions upon millions across the world that experience negative
effects directly as a result of Vitamin D Deficiency.
This isn't
just a 3rd world problem either, Vitamin D Deficiency is a major
problem in America and across the world. Medical research has shown
than if everyone on earth got the Vitamin D that they needed
throughout their lives, the risk of various forms of cancers would
drop by 50%!
How
Does Sunlight Produce Vitamin D?
Like the
vast majority of mammals, humans can produce their own Vitamin D3 as
long as they expose themselves to sufficient sunlight. This is an
effective way for most people to get sufficient Vitamin D, at least
until around the fifties. The problem with this method is that too
much exposure to ultraviolet light can lead to an increased incidence
of skin cancer, and it also prematurely ages the skin. Because of
these two reasons, most medical professionals and nutritionists
advise against getting Vitamin D primarily through sunlight, and
recommend Vitamin D supplements as a safer and healthier alternative.
When
was Vitamin D Discovered?
The
scientific name for Vitamin D3 is Cholecalciferol, and it is
undeniably important for optimal health. Like most complex nutrients,
Vitamin D was not discovered until just over one hundred years ago,
when physicians were attempting to discover a useful medical
treatment for rickets, which is a dangerous bone disease that
commonly affected pediatric patients.
Vitamin
D and Rickets
The
disease began to reach epidemic levels in the 19th century, in the
heart of the Industrial Revolution. During this period, agricultural
economies across the western world quickly converted from farming
work to factory work, and everyone, even children, began to work in
dark factories, away from sunlight. These factories were poorly lit
and dirty, and major industrial cities quickly became highly
polluted, diminishing the influence of sunshine, even outdoors.
Medical
scientists discovered that men, women, and children that lived and
worked in sunshine were at significantly less risk of rickets than
those that lived in industrial cities or cloudy cities further north.
Using this demographic evidence, doctors were able to deduce that
rickets was caused by a lack of sunlight, and they also found that a
prescription of cod liver oil could safeguard the patient completely
from the disease. Via this cure, physicians were able to prove that
Vitamin D deficiency was a condition of deficiency, rather than a
disease caused by a bacterium or virus. Although it would be years
before researchers discovered Vitamin D, effective treatment via
supplementation was already discovered.
How
Common is Vitamin D Deficiency?
Even
today, Vitamin D deficiency is still remarkably common. A French
study demonstrated that fourteen percent of adults were suffering
from exceptionally low Vitamin D levels. In another piece of
research, it was discovered that more than forty percent of
physicians that did not take Vitamin D supplements had clinically low
levels of Vitamin D by the last days of winter. Physicians that did
supplement their natural Vitamin D production over the course of the
winter only experienced Vitamin D Deficiency at a rate of around ten
percent.
Vitamin
D Deficiency Easily Prevented
Based on
the history of Vitamin D, it is crystal clear that Vitamin D
Deficiency is a significant medical condition. Even though this
condition is highly preventable, there are millions across America
that don't get the Vitamin D that they need. Rickets may be the most
obvious symptom of Vitamin D Deficiency, but there are many other
issues related to the condition as well. As mentioned earlier,
Vitamin D Deficiency can cause the body to age more quickly.
The
vitamin also has significant anti-inflammatory benefits as well, and
the nutrient also impacts psychological health and can reduce the
effects of depression. There is even strong evidence that Vitamin D
can enhance the human lifespan and even increase the longevity of the
neurons in the nervous system and the brain.
Vitamin
D Benefits
The
following is just a short list of the benefits of Vitamin D3:
Osteoporosis
is one of the most life-changing issues faced by aging women, which
significantly increases frailty and the danger of experiencing bone
fractures and breaks. The most dangerous of these breaks is hip
fracture, which severely increases mortality among aging patients.
In one piece of research, financed by the Women's Health Initiative,
it was discovered that older female patients taking both calcium
carbonate and Vitamin D3 supplements experienced twelve percent
fewer fractures of the hip than patients in the control group. The
dose which produced these benefits was 800 IU daily.
Vitamin
D3 is an integral nutrient which protects the health of the immune
system, and helps the body ward off a wide variety of diseases. Each
of the active cells of your immune system have receptors for Vitamin
D, and there is clear evidence that Vitamin D deficiency impairs the
body's resistance to infection and boosts the chances of symptoms of
a number of autoimmune disorders.
In
particular, Vitamin D is effective and protecting the respiratory
system from viral infection. Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency are
more likely to come down with the flu, and are also more likely to
become a victim of tuberculosis. Deficiency also impacts the
severity of both diseases.
A
recent study presented at the American College of Cardiology in 2010
provided powerful evidence that patients with Vitamin D Deficiency
were more likely to experience cardiovascular disease. Just taking
an effective Vitamin D3 supplement was sufficient to reduce the risk
of death via cardiovascular disease by thirty percent!
There
is a growing body of evidence that suggests that Vitamin D has the
ability to prevent cancer cells from proliferating. Although it is
true that excessive exposure to sunlight increases the chances of
experiencing skin cancer, there are many types of cancer that are
mitigated by sunlight therapy which enhances Vitamin D synthesis.
Among the types of cancer which sunlight therapy proves beneficial
include cancers of the kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine, as
well as myeloma and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Vitamin D Supplementation
and sun exposure are also valid aspects of the treatment of
prostate, rectal, stomach, uterine, bladder, colon, and cancer of
the vulva.
Vitamin
D Supplementation also reduces the risk of both Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's Disease, although the connection is not yet fully
understood. In one survey, fifty-five percent of patients with
Parkinson's Disease experienced Vitamin D Deficiency, and over forty
percent of Alzheimer's patients experienced a similar deficiency.
Vitamin
D supplements also prove beneficial for patients with Multiple
Sclerosis. Patients treated with Vitamin D were more able to walk
and engage in daily activities. They also had fewer lesions.
Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency are also more likely to
experience Multiple Sclerosis relapses. There is demographic
evidence that people that live closer to the equator are less likely
to experience Multiple Sclerosis, which also suggests a strong
connection between Vitamin D and the condition itself.
Overall,
simultaneous Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplementation have been
clinically shown reduce general mortality risk in elderly patients
by around nine percent.
How to
Get Enough Vitamin D
The most
obvious way to make sure you get sufficient Vitamin D is to make sure
you get a reasonable amount of sunlight each day. It's important to
be cautious when utilizing this natural method, however. Spend no
more than fifteen minutes in unscreened, direct sunlight. More has
been shown to increase the risk of experiencing skin cancer.
We
recommend getting in direct sunlight around 5-10 minutes three times
per week. You don't have to walk around with your shirt off, however.
Sunlight exposure to your face, hands, and arms should be sufficient
to provide for optimal Vitamin D Synthesis.
Vitamin
D Boosting Foods
You can
also increase your body's capacity for Vitamin D if you consume
particular foods. Fatty fish are some of the best options, and they
include sardines, mackerel, salmon, tuna, catfish, and eel. If you
don't eat meat, some of the best sources include egg yolks and
fortified foods such as milk, cheese, and cereal.
How
Much Vitamin D Do I Need?
Different
groups have different recommendations for optimal Vitamin D
supplementation. The International Osteoporosis Foundation suggests
800-1000 IU of Vitamin D per day, and the U.S. Institute of Medicine
suggests 600 IU of Vitamin D for individuals up to seventy years of
age, and 800 IU for older men and women.
It's in
your best interest to take the maximum daily recommendation that you
find from a respected source, because Vitamin D has a very low
toxicity. It is considered dangerous to take 10,000 IU daily for
three months, or 300,000 IU in a single day, far above any
recommended dose. When taking any supplement, it's important to
understand that too much of even the most beneficial medication can
be harmful to your health.
Vitamin
D: An Easy Way to Safeguard Your Health and Enhance Longevity!
Unlike
pharmaceuticals, Vitamin D is a natural nutrient. It's absolutely
vital to your health, and you have the ability to make it on your own
in the presence of sunlight. We need the vitamin all throughout our
lives, and our need for supplementation grows as our body becomes
less efficient at naturally producing the nutrient. Luckily, it's
cheap and easy to get all the Vitamin D you need to maximize your
vitality and minimize the associated health risks!
References
Aranow, C. "Vitamin D and the immune system." Journal of
Investigative Medicine. 2011 Aug;59(6):881-6
Evatt, M.L., et al. "Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in
Patients With Parkinson Disease and Alzheimer Disease." Archives of
Neurology 2008; 65(10):1348-1352
Holick, M.F. "Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention
of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease."
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004 December; 80(6
Supplement):1678S-88S
Jackson RD, et al. "Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the
risk of fractures." New England Journal of Medicine.
2006;354:669-83
Mohr, S.B. "A brief history of vitamin D and cancer prevention."
Annals Epidemio. 2009 Feb; 19(2):79-83.
Regulska M, et al. "Involvement of PI3-K in neuroprotective effects
of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogue - PRI-2191." Pharmacology
Reports. 2006 Nov; 58:6,900-907
Rejnmark, L., et al. "Vitamin D with Calcium Reduces Mortality:
Patient Level Pooled Analysis of 70,528 Patients from Eight Major
Vitamin D Trials." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism. 2012 May 17
Schleithoff S.S., et al. "Vitamin D supplementation improves
cytokine profiles in patients with congestive heart failure: a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial." American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2006 Apr; 83:4, 754-759
Tangpricha V, Pearce EN, et al. "Vitamin D insufficiency among
free-living healthy young adults." American Journal of Medicine
2002; 112:659-62
Vitamin D Council, "Am I getting too much Vitamin D?",
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/am-i-getting-too-much-vitamin-d/,
retrieved 22 March, 2014
Written by Dr. Welsh, Article reviewed and edited by Dr. Fine M.D.. Published on 09 April 2014
by Tracy Smith
Technically, Vitamin D is not a true vitamin because, under the right circumstances, the body can synthesize its own using sunlight and cholesterol. It 's really a steroid hormone that strongly affects gene expression and resistance to multiple diseases. It 's vitally necessary for life and health, and new discoveries show that it 's more important for vibrant, youthful health than we ever thought before. Vitamin D deficiency is chronic around the world, even in developed countries. It 's estimated that the incidence of many cancers could be cut in half if we all got enough of this important nutrient. (ILLUSTRATION: Vitamin D3 is often available in gel caplet form.)
Humans and, in fact, most mammals create their own Vitamin D when exposed to direct sunlight. But, because excessive exposure to the Sun is known to increase the risk of skin cancer, doctors generally don 't recommend being out in the sunlight as a way to get adequate Vitamin D. Instead, supplements are called for.
Vitamin D, in its D3 form known to chemists as cholecalciferol (don 't worry, I won 't force you to pronounce it!), is absolutely necessary for health. It was first discovered over a century ago when doctors were trying to find a cure for rickets, a serious bone disease that often affects children. It was noticed that this disease started to become much more common during the Industrial Revolution, when large numbers of people moved from the countryside and outdoors work to polluted cities where they worked in dark, dingy factories. Scientists also found that those living in warm, sunny places were much less likely to contract rickets than those living in cloudy, northern, high-latitude climates. Eventually it was discovered that Sun exposure or the taking of cod liver oil could absolutely prevent the disease, proving it to be a deficiency disease, meaning that it is not caused by a virus or other microorganism, but by a simple lack of something essential in the victim 's diet. That "something " proved to be Vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency is very common. A study in France showed that fully 14 percent of otherwise healthy adults had extremely low levels of Vitamin D. Another study, this one of medical professionals living in New England, indicated that 42 percent of them had a Vitamin D deficiency by the end of Winter among those who did not take D3 supplements. But among those who did supplement their diet with D3, the deficiency rate was only 11 percent!
It 's pretty clear that without enough of this vitamin, you can get very sick indeed. And it 's also clear that many of us, in fact, aren 't getting enough. But there 's a lot more to Vitamin D3 than preventing rickets. The vitamin has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory aspects, and it has been shown to positively affect your mental outlook, too, helping to combat depression. Vitamin D3 can even help improve the lifespan and survival of the neurons which make up your brain and nervous system. Let 's take a look at what it can do for you!
One of the major problems faced by older women is osteoporosis, which greatly increases the risk of bone fractures and hip fractures late in life can sometimes amount to a death sentence. In a study commissioned by the Women 's Health Initiative, it was found that women on a Vitamin D3 and calcium carbonate supplementation program had 12 percent fewer hip fractures that women taking a placebo. These effects were seen on fairly high doses of D3 over 800 IU per day.
Vitamin D3 boosts your immune system and your body 's ability to fight off all kinds of diseases. Immune system cells have structures with Vitamin D receptors, and it 's been shown that being deficient in this vitamin increases your risk of of infection generally and especially increases your risk of autoimmune diseases.
Vitamin D3 helps your body fight off viral respiratory infections.
Vitamin D3 also has been shown to be beneficial in helping your body fight off the flu.
Vitamin D3 can help your body fight off tuberculosis.
In 2010, a presentation at the American College of Cardiology showed that patients with low Vitamin D levels who were suffering from the leading cause of death among human beings worldwide cardiovascular disease were about 30 percent less likely to die if they took Vitamin D3 supplementation.
Studies suggest that Vitamin D has a role in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells: Even though high sunlight exposure increases the risk of skin cancer (and a few other kinds), a large number of cancers have a risk profile that is actually decreased with large amounts of sun exposure (which increases the body 's own Vitamin D production). Hodgkin 's lymphoma and myeloma, cancers of the small intestine, pancreas, and kidneys; as well as cancer of the colon, bladder, vulva, uterus, stomach, rectum, and prostate all have this inverse relationship with sun exposure and Vitamin D production.
Vitamin D also evidently has a role in reducing the incidence of Parkinson 's and Alzheimer 's diseases: 41 percent of Alzheimer 's patients and fully 55 percent of Parkinson 's disease patients were found to be deficient in Vitamin D.
Among Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, Vitamin D3 supplementation was found to both decrease the number of lesions and increase the ability to walk and perform daily tasks. It 's also been discovered that relapses are more common among victims of MS who are deficient in Vitamin D. And it has long been observed that the incidence of Multiple Sclerosis decreases the closer you get to the equator, where there is more exposure to the Sun and hence more natural Vitamin D production.
Vitamin D3 taken in combination with calcium has been shown to decrease mortality in the elderly by some nine percent.
Some call Vitamin D the "sunlight vitamin " because our bodies synthesize it naturally when we are exposed to direct sunlight. The only danger is that too much sunlight isn 't good for you it can increase your risk of skin cancer. So be careful!
One way to insure you 're getting enough Vitamin D is the natural way: Sun exposure. But you have to be careful with this approach, since more than 15 minutes a day of direct, unscreened sunlight on your skin has been shown to increase your chances of developing skin cancer. But getting five to ten minutes a day, two to three times every week, of direct sunlight on your arms, hands, and face should be safe, and should also be enough to prevent any deficiency in the vitamin, according to experts.
The body can also absorb extra Vitamin D if you eat certain foods. Making sure you consume fat-containing fish, like eel, catfish, tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines can help. If you 're a vegetarian, cereals, cheese, fortified milk, and egg yolk are also rich in the nutrient.
The United States Institute of Medicine has established a recommended daily intake of Vitamin D3 at 600 IU (International Units) for those 70 and under and 800 IU daily for those 71 and up. The International Osteoporosis Foundation recommends even more, suggesting that Vitamin D levels that require a daily intake of 800 to 1000 IU daily are more appropriate.
Much higher doses can be taken safely, too, but don 't ever get close to 300,000 IU in any 24-hour period or 10,000 IU per day for three months or more: such doses can be toxic. Remember that too much of anything, even the most harmless things like water, can be harmful.
Unlike drugs, Vitamin D is a natural compound one that your body needs and one that your body also makes itself every time you go out in the Sun. You need it, and, thanks to modern technology, you can easily and inexpensively make sure you 're getting the maximum benefit possible from this health-boosting and life-improving nutrient the vitamin that isn 't really a vitamin!
REFERENCES
Tangpricha V, Pearce EN, et al. "Vitamin D insufficiency among free-living healthy young adults. " Am J Med. 2002; 112:659-62 Mohr, S.B. "A brief history of vitamin D and cancer prevention. " Annals Epidemio. 2009 Feb; 19(2):79-83
Schleithoff S.S., et al. "Vitamin D supplementation improves cytokine profiles in patients with congestive heart failure: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. " American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2006 Apr; 83:4, 754-759
Holick, M.F. "Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. " Am. Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004 Dec; 80(6 Suppl):1678S-88S
Regulska M, et al. "Involvement of PI3-K in neuroprotective effects of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogue PRI-2191. " Pharmacol. Reports. 2006 Nov; 58:6,900-907
Jackson RD, et al. "Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of fractures. " New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;354:669-83
Aranow, C. "Vitamin D and the immune system. " Journal of Investig. Medicine. 2011 Aug;59(6):881-6
Evatt, M.L., et al. "Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Patients With Parkinson Disease and Alzheimer Disease. " Arch Neurol. 2008; 65(10):1348-1352
Rejnmark, L., et al. "Vitamin D with Calcium Reduces Mortality: Patient Level Pooled Analysis of 70,528 Patients from Eight Major Vitamin D Trials. " Journ. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2012 May 17
Vitamin D Council, "Am I getting too much Vitamin D? ", http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/am-i-getting-too-much-vitamin-d/, retrieved 22 March, 2014
All of our Board Certified Medical Physicians and Doctors are knowledgeable specialists in prescribing HGH, Testosterone, Sermorelin, and HCG Weight Loss Diet. Our HRT Doctors have a minimum of 20 years expertise providing legitimate prescription programs for hormone optimization and hormone replacement therapy.
Norditropin Pen System is activated with first usage and can be used for three weeks without any refrigeration, Pen will last 4 weeks with refrigeration after which potency might begin to degrade.
Pens not being used must be refrigerated.
TESTOSTERONE CYPIONATE VIALS
OMNITROPE VIALS OR OMNITROPE PEN
Omnitrope Comes with multi-dosage vials which you mix with Bacteriostatic water to activate. Refrigeration between usage is always required. Mixed and unmixed vials must be refrigerated.
GENOTROPIN PEN
SERMORELIN ACETATE VIALS
HUMATROPE PEN
TEV TROPIN PEN
Tev Tropin comes with multi-dosage vials which you mix with bacteriostatic water to activate. Refrigeration between usage is always required. Mixed and unmixed vials must be refrigerated.
Medical Specialist Consultants
Testosterone Therapy Benefits
Correctly performed testosterone therapy can be your ticket to
health.
Three sided solution: Testosterone + HCG + Arimidex
If your doctor only prescribes testosterone by itself, you will
probably have a rough ride. The tendency is for you to feel
great the first couple months, while you increase testosterone
levels, followed by a slow deterioration, once your estrogen
creeps up.
High estrogen negates a lot of the positives from testosterone
therapy, resulting in the same symptoms of low testosterone you
had in the first place!
The solution is to add a drug called Arimidex. It's called an
aromatase inhibitor, which essentially blocks the conversion of
testosterone to estrogen. It has the effect of increasing
testosterone levels, while keeping your estrogen low.
Once you have your testosterone and estrogen solved, it's time
to stop the next inevitable decline? Shrinking testicles.
This is where HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) comes in. It
prevents both infertility and testicle shrinkage. Your
testicles shrink because your body thinks it doesn't need to
make testosterone anymore.
For some, small testicles may seem like just a cosmetic
problem. But HGC does more than increase testicle size, it also
increases adrenal function, which can have positive effects on
well-being, libido, and energy.
Ageless By Suzanne Somers. The naked truth about Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is a comprehensive book about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) by Suzanne Somers. The book discusses the revolutionary medicine of HRT....