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Weight Loss Forum / Low Carb / March 2010Vitamin D Helps Winter Depression? And Blood Sugar Control ?
Researchers are forming such a study now. Evidently, they had enough circumstantial evidence to get funding. Personally, this last winter, I have been really upping my D dosage to get more into the upper range of the 25(OH) vitamin D range and as miserable as the Midwest winter was, snow and ice on the ground for nearly 2 months straight, and for most of the last 3 months, with not much sunshine, I felt really good. May mean nothing, of course, as a sample of 1. My blood test hasn't come back yet to see how effective the 5,000 mg/day has been over the prior 2,000 mg/day which raised the levels from 24 to 38 ng/mL. Science News Vitamin D Lifts Mood During Cold Weather Months, Researchers Say ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2010) — A daily dose of vitamin D may just be what people in northern climates need to get through the long winter, according to researchers at Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON). This nutrient lifts mood during cold weather months when days are short and more time is spent indoors. "Vitamin D deficiency continues to be a problem despite the nutrient's widely reported health benefits," said Sue Penckofer, PhD, RN, professor, MNSON. "Chicago winters compound this issue when more people spend time away from sunlight, which is a natural source of vitamin D." Diet alone may not be sufficient to manage vitamin D levels. A combination of adequate dietary intake of vitamin D, exposure to sunlight, and treatment with vitamin D2 or D3 supplements can decrease the risk of certain health concerns. The preferred range in the body is 30 -- 60 ng/mL of 25(OH) vitamin D. Loyola faculty members plan to take vitamin D research a step further by evaluating whether weekly vitamin D supplements improve blood sugar control and mood in women with diabetes. Depression is associated with increased insulin resistance, so people with diabetes have a greater risk for the disease than those without depression. Women also tend to have greater rates of depression and poorer blood sugar control than men with diabetes. "There is evidence to suggest that vitamin D supplementation may decrease insulin resistance," said Dr. Penckofer. "If we can stabilize insulin levels, we may be able to simply and cost effectively improve blood sugar control and reduce symptoms of depression for these women." Loyola is currently enrolling women in this clinical trial. In order to enter the study, they must be 18 to 70 years of age, have stable type 2 diabetes, signs of depression and no other major medical illness. Eighty women with type 2 diabetes and signs of depression will be given a weekly dose of vitamin D (50,000 IU) for a period of six months. Study participants will be evaluated at three points during this time. "Vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health and certain chronic diseases in particular," Dr. Penckofer said. "Our research may shed greater light on the role this nutrient plays in managing two conditions that impact millions of Americans. If proven to be successful, vitamin D may an important addition to care for diabetes and depression." > Researchers are forming such a study now. Evidently, they had enough > circumstantial evidence to get funding. Personally, this last winter, I [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > to see how effective the 5,000 mg/day has been over the prior 2,000 > mg/day which raised the levels from 24 to 38 ng/mL. I think you probably mean 500iu, not mg! Most folks find that muscle and joint aches disappear, if they have them, once they take enough vit D3, which is the form one should take, in gel caps, not tablets. If one is clinically deficient, as you were, the usual dose is 50,000 iu D3 once weekly for 8 weeks, then re-test. Most folks see levels fall if they don't resume some degree of supplementation, though. Under 32 is considered deficient. Susan > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Susan My doctor never was involved in the Vitamin D3 decisions. I got the first test through a women's calcium and vitamin D screening and then did some reading. I initially didn't know about the 50,000 IU weekly method, and at first I would have probably shied away from it because it is such a high dose compared to the RDA of just 400IU. Now, I would be perfectly happy with trying that.... 5,000 IU and 1,000 IU was what I should have said in my posting. I joined this informal group called "Grassroots Health" which are advocates of Vitamin D, and they offer the blood tests as well as maintain a website that promotes research on Vitamin D. They and others suggest a formula for dosage for getting you D levels up into the high range, which some research associates with a variety of benefits - particularly cancer. After 1,000 IU and a modest gain over several months, the next step is 5,000 IU and test again. This is the "creep up on it" type approach to see where one's long term supplementation should be. Surely someone will talk about the danger of high doses, especially so much in excess of the RDA, but the RDA was based on prevention of rickets which isn't actually a statement about general health, or prevention of other diseases not as dramatically linked to disease as was rickets. It is commonly accepted that 20 minutes exposure to the sun (lots of skin exposed) will readily generate 10,000 IU of D3. There really is some interest in the research community on Vitamin D and some claim it also serves as a hormone. It is claimed that the RDA of the vitamin is currently under re-evaluation based on recent finding. I'm happy with what is going on. No hint of side effects. I backpacked 200 miles of the Appalachian Trail last summer. Felt tired, but then I had to leave my CPAP at home because they haven't wired the Appalachian Trail shelters for electricity, and the long cord would have been awkward. I'm far closer to 70 than to 60 years of age. In some ways my health is better than it has been for a long time. I do low carbohydrate WOE, and have for the last 6 years. > My doctor never was involved in the Vitamin D3 decisions. I got the > first test through a women's calcium and vitamin D screening and then [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > into the high range, which some research associates with a variety of > benefits - particularly cancer. Well, actually, the vitamin D research suggests both benefits and harm. Once you figure that it's a powerful steroid, you realize it actually both suppresses and upregulates immunity. As a steroid, it can have suppressive effects on other hormones. In my case, trying to push my vit D above the lower third of normal results in severe symptoms of adrenal suppression, so I don't. > After 1,000 IU and a modest gain over several months, the next step is > 5,000 IU and test again. This is the "creep up on it" type approach to > see where one's long term supplementation should be. I guess that's one way to go about it... > Surely someone will talk about the danger of high doses, especially so > much in excess of the RDA, but the RDA was based on prevention of > rickets which isn't actually a statement about general health, or > prevention of other diseases not as dramatically linked to disease as > was rickets. That someone won't be moi. RDAs have nothing to do with health. > It is commonly accepted that 20 minutes exposure to the sun (lots of > skin exposed) will readily generate 10,000 IU of D3. Not really; a lot of folks aren't making the conversion to active D3. Here's my pitch; I think it's really stupid to treat vit D deficiency before one has had a competent (HARD to find) endocrine evaluation of the pituitary and adrenals. It's never just one hormone, and it's happening to folks who get plenty of sun. > There really is some interest in the research community on Vitamin D and > some claim it also serves as a hormone. It is claimed that the RDA of > the vitamin is currently under re-evaluation based on recent finding. Thats' not a claim, it IS a steroid hormone! > I'm happy with what is going on. No hint of side effects. I backpacked > 200 miles of the Appalachian Trail last summer. Felt tired, but then I [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I do low carbohydrate WOE, and have for the last 6 years. Sounds like a great trip; so glad to hear you're doing so well on it. Taking it daily rather than occasionally could make you feel weaker, too. Not saying it is, but that's one thing it does to me. Susan > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > case, trying to push my vit D above the lower third of normal results in > severe symptoms of adrenal suppression, so I don't. Any quick suggestions as to where to look for more info on this? >> After 1,000 IU and a modest gain over several months, the next step is >> 5,000 IU and test again. This is the "creep up on it" type approach to [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > the pituitary and adrenals. It's never just one hormone, and it's > happening to folks who get plenty of sun. I might have to skip this, but I'll ask around about people who do endocrine evaluation as you suggested. >> I'm happy with what is going on. No hint of side effects. I backpacked >> 200 miles of the Appalachian Trail last summer. Felt tired, but then I [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Susan My fatigue was lack of oxygenation from sleep apnea, uncontrolled by my missing nighttime breathing "assist" , Continuous Positive Air Pressure or CPAP. Before the machine came into my life, I was complaining about lack of energy, inability to get my bike up hills that I had been easily able to do two years prior, falling asleep reading in the bookstore (and I do snore) and falling asleep during NOVA TV programs ... I had been through several doctors to no avail - all they do is treat your blood panels and assume that you are just crazy aged and falling apart naturally... I got referred to a cardiologist for questions following an EchoCardiogram(ultrasound) and he gave me the standard quiz for sleep problems and had me set up for a sleep study in a week. The finding was Sleep Apnea, mixed Obstructive and Central. Treatment is a CPAP that gently prevents many of the apnea events from fully happening. In a few weeks my blood oxygenation went up from 89% to 93% and in six months it was up to 99%. I stopped snoring/sleeping in bookstores and had lots more energy and could ride up the hills again. I just don't care to watch NOVA on TV anymore. I have partial Apnea improvement if I sleep on my side, and that is how I managed to backpack that distance. But, gradually, the lack of really good sleep began to show, and I finally packed it up and came home when doing 8 miles in a day was pretty hard. Too many shelters were more than 8 miles apart. (My eyes REALLY looked baggy and old as well) After all that being said, I don't have reason to suspect that a difference in taking Vitamin D3 daily was responsible - the poor sleeping was pretty likely responsible because of the common weakness and fatigue from the Apnea. My Pulmonary Doc was amazed that I did so well. I offered to give him lessons at $120 each, and he laughed. > Any quick suggestions as to where to look for more info on this? On the adrenal suppression I experienced? No, haven't looked it up. But I did find information on how vit D has differing effects on adaptive vs. innate immunity. Upregulates one, down regulates the other. > I might have to skip this, but I'll ask around about people who do > endocrine evaluation as you suggested. It's hard to find an endo who's knowledgable and takes careful time. Most just want to get certain test results and give you pills for diabetes or thyroid. > My fatigue was lack of oxygenation from sleep apnea, uncontrolled by my > missing nighttime breathing "assist" , Continuous Positive Air Pressure [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > and fatigue from the Apnea. My Pulmonary Doc was amazed that I did so > well. I offered to give him lessons at $120 each, and he laughed. I'm sure you're healthier than most of your docs! I know well what CPAP is, and how helpful it can be. I know a lot of pituitary/adrenal disorder patients who need it, especially Cushing's patients, who are often very obese, no matter how little they eat. I'd be thrilled if I could hike 8 miles in a day, and I'm a lot younger than you are. Susan > That someone won't be moi. RDAs have nothing to do with health. If you're not getting the RDA, you are probably not going to be healthy. It is usually set abysmally low.  SignatureA computer without Microsoft is like a chocolate cake without mustard. > Researchers are forming such a study now. Evidently, they had enough > circumstantial evidence to get funding. Personally, this last winter, I [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > that impact millions of Americans. If proven to be successful, vitamin D > may an important addition to care for diabetes and depression." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100303162854.htm Signature"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html |
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