VITAMIN D - GATEWAY TO THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM ""No other method (as vitamin D) to prevent cancer has been identified that has such a powerful impact. " Dr. Cedric Garland, Vitamin D Researcher.
" ... There is aderegulation of the Vitamin D signaling and metabolic pathways in breast cancer, favoring tumor progression. Thus, during mammary malignant transformation, tumor cells lose their ability to synthesize the active form of Vitamin D and respond to VDR-mediated Vitamin D effects, while increasing their ability to degrade this hormone." Lopes N et al., 2010.
SHOULD YOU SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN D?
SO, SHOULD YOU SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN D? AND WHAT KIND OF VIT. D? AND WHEN SHOULD YOU TAKE SUPPLEMENTS? DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WHEN THE SUN IS WEAK AND SCARCE, WHEN THERE IS A PAUCITY OF VITAMIN D IN THE FOOD, OR JUST TAKE SUPPLEMENTS ALL OF THE TIME? ONE CAUTIONARY NOTE IS CITED BELOW, AND THERE ARE OTHER DIVERSE OPINIONS PRESENTED.
"So if you take vitamin D supplements, and vitamin D is regulated homeostatically, your body will turn down its endogenous production of vitamin D. If you believe that vitamin D is a 'biomarker' of good health, do you really want to turn down the upstream processes that synthesize vitamin D? Think about that before you pop a vitamin D capsule." Todd Becker
SO, SHOULD YOU SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN D? OR DECLINE VIT. D PILLS, AND GO OUT IN THE SUN (AT LEAST IN THE SUMMER)! Should you just take vit D pills because you are a breast cancer patient? "Despite a number of clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation, the efficacy, optimal dosage of vitamin D, and target blood level of 25D3 for breast cancer prevention have yet to be determined." (Crew K et al., 2013) But, "The 25D3 status at diagnosis and at the 1-year follow up is significantly associated with the survival of breast cancer patients." (Lim S et al., 2015.)
So, if you decide to supplement with vitamin D, should 1,000 IU be the maximum amount?
Richard Loyd, PHD, wrote, "For years, the prevailing view in the nutrition world has been the vitamin D deficiency causes inflammation and disease. So to treat many conditions, vitamin D in high doses is used.
For years we have known that high doses of vitamin D do not test good for people and in fact can be harmful.. ...Those who muscle test with good precision know that the idea that all people need 4000 or more units a day is wrong. By way of quick summary: Most people have bacterial infections. Many bacteria produce inflammation and materials that interfere with vitamin D receptors. This results in the rapid conversion of the inactive or precursor form of vitamin D called 25(OH)D to the active form called 1, 25(OH)2D. So the levels of the inactive precursor 25(OH)D are low.*And that is the form that is measured on blood tests*. But the levels of the active 1,25(OH)2D may be normal or high. In this situation, if your doctor tests for “vitamin D” (inactive 25(OH)D), it will be low and they will want you to take vitamin D3. *At this point, taking high doses of vitamin D3 will have the effect of raising the levels of active vitamin D to above normal. This results in turning the immune system down along with causing other havoc! Excess 1, 25(OH)2D affects receptors for cortisol, T3 thyroid hormone and progesterone among others resulting in hormone imbalances. The patient may feel better temporarily because their immune system is no longer able to kill pathogens so there are no die-off symptoms.They may not even be able to have a cold because cold symptoms are caused by the immune system’s inflammatory response to the virus! So the cold virus and other infections increase unchecked. Not a good situation. If levels of 1,25(OH)2D rise above 42 ng/ml, calcium begins to be leached from the bones producing bone loss. I once witnessed a situation where a woman was advised to take large doses of vitamin D3 by a physician resulting in spontaneous fractures. 1000 IU of vitamin D3 is a maximum amount for most people. I once heard a knowledgeable physician comment that a low score for 25(OH)D mainly tells you that the active vitamin D is high!.
So we have believed and taught that the prevailing view was backwards. The low levels of 25(OH)D on blood tests are the result of infections and not the cause. "
Richard Loyd, PHD, 2016. www.royalrife.com
READ THIS VITAMIN D SECTION AND OTHER RESEARCH AND MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
VITAMIN D2 AND VITAMIN D3
Vitamin D2 is the synthetic form of vitamin D that is found in products, such as milk, and is in many prescriptions given by doctors.
DO NOT TAKE VITAMIN D2.
Vitamin D3 is made in our skin from the sun. Supplements are traditionally from lanolin (from sheep's wool).
* TESTING! TESTING! TESTING! THE TWO VIT D METABOLITES
-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-D3) - Active Form of Vitamin D
- 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-D3) - Storage Unit of Vitamin D - Must be converted to active form.
The active form of vit. D (1,25D3) is reported to be fifty-fold more likely to bind to the Vitamin D Receptor than 25D3 and upregulate our immune systems. (See http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2010/08/vitamin-d-dysregulation-in-chronic-infectious-diseases/.) *Most doctors only test the 25-D3, contending that this is the accurate vitamin D metabolite that reflects deficiency.
*You need to ASK to also have the 1,25D3 test.
Testing for 1,25D3, the active form of vitamin D, is a more costly, difficult test.
"The 1,25-D assay is very sensitive, and if it is not sent to the performing lab frozen, it will not be accurate. The sample must be frozen to prevent degradation leading to an inaccurate, lower result." (www.mpkb.org)
NUMBERS - RESULTS OF VITAMIN 25D3 and VITAMIN 1,25D3 TESTING
25-D3? The Merck Manual Eighteeenth Edition (2006) cites 25 to 40 ng/ml as being normal for 25-D3.
1,25D3? "The largest and most reliable published study identifying a valid 1,25-D reference range is a Danish population study. For non-smokers, the average 1,25D level was 29.0 pg/ml +- 9/5 pg/ml." (See mpkb.org)
WHAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE "NORMAL" LEVELS FOR VITAMIN 25D3 DIFFER.
COVERAGE OF VITAMIN D TESTING COSTS
CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR INSURANCE OR MEDICARE WILL PAY FOR BOTH VITAMIN D TESTS - 25D3 and 1,25D3. IS VITAMIN D TESTING ALLOWED ONCE A YEAR? TWICE A YEAR? EVERY TWO YEARS?
Make sure that the medical practitioner uses certain disease codes, such as vitamin D testing for a patient with osteoporosis.
Medicare denied payment to a member of our Breast Cancer Study and Support group for vitamin D testing. It was costly!
JUMPING INTO THE MORASS OF VITAMIN D OPINIONS
"Vitamin D isn’t like most other vitamins. Your body can make its own vitamin D when you expose your skin to sunlight. But your body can’t make other vitamins. You need to get other vitamins from the foods you eat. For example, you need to get vitamin C from fruits and vegetables. Also what makes vitamin D unique compared to other vitamins, is that when your body gets its vitamin D, it turns vitamin D into a hormone. This hormone is sometimes called 'activated vitamin D' or 'calcitriol'. Getting the right amount of vitamin D doesn’t depend on the foods you eat. To get enough vitamin D you need to expose your skin to sunlight regularly and you may also need to take supplements. This makes getting the right amount a little more complex." Dr John Cannell, Vitamin D Council. (See http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/what-is-vitamin-d/ .}
"Vitamin-D is a HORMONE…and a very powerful one at that…Despite its popularity, we as a species are NOT designed to EAT hormones, but are, in fact, designed to make hormones from cholesterol…" Morley Robbins (See http://gotmag.org/the-truth-of-hormone-d/.}
"Before the vitamin D scam was fed to consumers, the deadly 'D' was fed to rodents as a means of eradicating the pesky creatures. In their report, 'The Endocrine System,' the University of Colorado, reminds us, 'Ingestion of milligram quantities of vitamin D over periods of weeks or months can be severely toxic to humans and animals. In fact, baits laced with vitamin D are used very effectively as rodenticides [rat poison].' This is in stark contrast to naturally produced sunshine vitamins, and it isn’t hard to understand. Once swallowed, the copycat hormone bypasses our innate protective mechanisms and throws hormonal balance out of whack. This 'plugs' the body with calcium and induces calcification, which leads to heart failure, kidney damage, and more. Since it’s a 'cumulative poison,' people who take the recommended dose every day as vitamin D are saturating their fatty tissues, and at the same time, offsetting their God-given hormonal intelligence. Anyone eating and drinking foods 'fortified' with vitamin D are at serious risk. Nobody has ever been poisoned by naturally produced sunshine." Shane Ellison, The Peoples' Chemist (See.http://thepeopleschemist.com/chemist-exposes-5-deadly-pills/.)
VITAMIN D INTRO
23D3 (INACTIVE STORAGE FORM OF VITAMIN D) > 1,25D3 (ACTIVE FORM, CALCITRIOL) > VDR (VITAMIN D RECEPTOR)
"Most vitamin D is obtained in the form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) from the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet B solar radiation. Vitamin D3 is transported to the liver and undergoes hydroxylation to form 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the major circulating form of vitamin D. Subsequently, a second hydroxylation of 25(OH)D occurs in the kidneys and breast tissues to create 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active form of vitamin D." (See Lim S et al., Association Between Alterations in the Serum 25-Hydroxylation D Status During Follow-Up and Breast Cancer Patient Progression, Asian Pac J Cancer prev, 2015.)
THE VITAMIN D RECEPTOR (VDR)
Vitamin D acts upon the VDR. However, 25D3, such as found in supplements and is derived from the sun, can not activate the VDR. Only the activated form, 1,25D3 can do so.
"When active, the Vitamin D Nuclear Receptor (VDR) affects transcription of at least 913 genes and impacts processes ranging from calcium metabolism to expression of key anti-microbial peptides.. . Located in the nucleus of a variety of cells including immune cells, the VDR is a control system of sorts. When exposed to infection and damage, especially that which is caused by pathogens, the body begins to convert the inactive form 25-D into the active form, 1,25D. As cellular concentrations of 1,25-D increase, 1,25-D activates the VDR, turning on any number of genes the receptor transcribes." (See http://mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/vitamind/metabolism.)
WHY IS THERE A DEFICIENCY OF VITAMIN D? A FEW REASONS...
"We estimate that vitamin D deficiency is the most common medical condition in the world." Michael Holick, MD, Vitamin D Researcher.
NO SUNSHINE?
Vitamin D is the "sunshine" vitamin. We make vitamin D by exposure to bare skin to sunlight.
Are we deficient in vitamin D because we are too busy to go out in the sun?
Or are we just too afraid to go out into the sun due to the worry about skin cancer?
But once we do go out in the sun, do we deprive ourselves of vitamin D because we slather on sun tan lotion to prevent burns and skin cancer?
And there really isn't any good sunshine in winter.....
INFECTION?
The usual measure for vitamin D is 25-monohydroxy vitamin D.(25D3). 25D3 is a precursor to 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25 D3), which is the activated form.
Consider the case of illness. The vitamin D pathway reflects a negative feedback system.This naturally means that when there is a high amount of the activated form of vitamin D, the storage form of vitamin D will be lower. In illness, there is more of a need for activated vitamin D to fight off the infection. Hence, there are demands, a drawing down of the storage unit of vitamin D which lowers the levels of the 25D3. And usually only this storage form of vitamin D, 25D3, is tested. Due to difficulty in the assay and financial concerns, the active form of vitamin D, 125D3, is generally not tested. In biochemistry, when there is any high concentration of an end product of a pathway, such as a high concentration of 1,25D3 in illness, this will lower the concentration of the precursor in the pathway, namely 25D3.
Is it any wonder that some scientists have questioned the notion of vitamin D deficiency? Couldn't a low tested vitamin D level in reality be a reflection that the person is just sick?
GLYPHOSATE?
Could glyphosate, in Roundup, be disrupting CYP (Cytochrome P450) proteins needed to activate vitamin D?
In their 2013 Review Article, Anthony Samsel, PHD and Stephanie Seneff, PHD, state, "There is a growing epidemic of vitamin D deficiency in the United States. In a study on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, it was found that vitamin D3 levels fell sharply in the interval from 2001 to 2004 compared to the interval from 1988 through 1994. While this problem is in part due to overaggressive sun avoidance practices, glyphosate's interference with CYP proteins may play a role in disrupting vitamin D3 activation in the liver." (See Samsel and Seneff, Glyphosate's Suppression of Cytochrome lP450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases, Entropy, 2013.)
FOODS?
Could a lack of vitamin D in the diet be contributing to a vitamin D deficiency?
Here is a list of some natural sources of vitamin D:
"Wild-caught fish (425 IU in 3 oz salmon, 547 IU in 3 oz mackerel) Beef or calf liver (42 IU in 3 oz) Egg yolks (41 IU per egg) Canned fish (154 IU in 3 oz tuna, 270 IU in 3.5 oz sardines) Shiitake mushrooms (40 IU in 1 cup)"
VITAMIN D AND CANCER - DEFICIENCY, DEREGULATION OF VIT. D DURING MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION INTO BREAST CANCER
Since vitamin D "mediates anti-proliferative and pro-differentiation signaling" in the mammary gland, Lopes N et al. in their 2010 study, hypothesized that as a tumor forms and became malignant there would be a disruption of the metabolism of vitamin D.
In their study, the researchers evaluated human breast tissues from their benign to the malignant state for three proteins: The VDR (Vitamin D Receptor), CYP27B1 (synthesis of vitamin D), and CYP24A1 (breakdown - catabolism - of vitamin D).
How much vitamin D is available in a tissue "depends on the relative amounts of CYP27B1 (synthesis) and CYP24A1 (catabolism)."
And, depending on the stage of breast cancer development, there was a deregulation of these two proteins. Indeed, as there was a progression to the malignant state, there was a "clear unbalance" in the vitamin D "signaling and metabolic pathways".
Results for VDR:
In Benign Tumors: There was a 93.5% expression of the VDR.
In Invasive Tumors: There was a 56.2% expression of the VDR. Additionally, the VDR was "strongly associated" with estrogen-positive breast tumors.
"A reduction in the expression of the VDR in carcinomas indicates lower sensitivity of the tissue to vitamin D control."
Results for CYP27B1: The enzyme that synthesizes - converts vit. D - to its active form.
In Benign Tumors: 55.8% expression of this enzyme.
In Invasive Tumors: 44.6% expression of this enzyme.
"The stable levels of CYP27B1 throughout the transformation process, with only a small decrease in invasive carcinomas, may reflect a lower capacity to metabolize vitamin D into its active form."
Results for CYP24A1: The enzyme that degrades vitamin D - catabolism.
In Benign Tumors: This enzyme is expressed 19%.
In Invasive Tumors: This enzyme is expressed 53.7%.
CYP24A1 is "augmented" more than 2,5 fold in invasive tumors compared with benign tumors. The significant increase of this enzyme "points to an enhanced ability of the cells to degrade this hormone".
Conclusion: " ... There is a deregulation of the Vitamin D signaling and metabolic pathways in breast cancer, favoring tumor progression. Thus, during mammary malignant transformation, tumor cells lose their ability to synthesize the active form of Vitamin D and respond to VDR-mediated Vitamin D effects, while increasing their ability to degrade this hormone." (See Lopes N et al., Alterations in Vitamin D Signaling and Metabolic pathways in Breast Cancer progression: A Study of VDR, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 Expression in Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions, BMC Cancer, 2010.) Another research team, Thrill M et al., in their study, commented, "Because of the sparse VDR expression in the malignant breast cell lines, we suggest more a chemopreventive role, rather than a therapeutic one alone for calcitriol (active form of vitamin D), as well as in the combination with a COX-2 inhibitor." (See Thrill M et al., Influence of Calcitriol on prostaglandin-and Vitamin D Metabolizing Enzymes in Benign and malignant Breast Cell Lines, Anticancer Research, 2011.)
BREAST CANCER PATIENT DEFICIENCY IN 25D3 AND BREAST CANCER PROGNOSIS
25D3 levels may affect breast cancer prognosis,
In the Lim S et al. 2015 study, the researchers sought to "determine the alterations to the 25D3 status during follow-up and the prognosis of the breast cancer patients.
To evaluate the 25D3 status, the researchers collected data on breast cancer patients at the time of diagnosis, at the annual follow-up, and up until four times later.
Diagnosis: The patients were categorized as being deficient in 25D3 if their levels were below 20ng/ml, and non-deficient in 25D3 if their levels were above 20ng/ml. One Year Later: The patients were subsequently divided into the following groups according to 25D3 alterations: persistently deficient, improved, deteriorated, and persistently non-deficient. Median Follow-Up Period of 85.8±31.0 Months: The patients with advanced- stage disease or an older age in the non-deficient group showed a significantly better survival compared with the deficient group. In addition, at the annual follow-up, ,"The persistently non-deficient group and the improved group had better survival compared with the other two groups."
Conclusion: ".Interestingly, the improved group and the persistent non-deficient group showed better survival compared with the persistently deficient group. These results suggested that even if a patient's 25D3 status at diagnosis was not optimal, an opportunity to improve the patient's survival arises by correcting their 25D3 status through vitamin D supplementation or appropriate life-style modifications....The 25D3 status at diagnosis and at the 1-year follow up is significantly associated with the survival of breast cancer patients. These findings may provide the grounds to justify clinical efforts to maintain and improve a patient's 25D3 status through vitamin D supplementation or lifestyle modifications, not only before diagnosis but also after surgery, to enhance breast caner patients' survival particualrly in advanced-stage cancer and older patients." (See Lim S et al., Association Between Alterations in the Serum 25-Hydroxylation D Status During Follow-Up and Breast Cancer Patient Progression, Asian Pac J Cancer prev, 2015.)
*IS IT TIME FOR BREAST CANCER SUPPLEMENTATION WITH VIT. D?
"Vitamin D deficiency is a potentially modifiable risk factor that may be targeted for breast cancer prevention and treatment." Is it time for vitamin D supplementation?
In a 2013 review article, Katharine Crew noted that, "Vitamin D deficiency among breast cancer patients has been associated with poorer clinical outcomes and increased mortality." (See the above discussion of the Lim S et al. study.)
However, "The relationship between vitamin D and mammographic density, a strong predictor of breast cancer risk, remains unclear. Studies analyzing the link between genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D pathway genes and breast cancer incidence and prognosis have yielded inconsistent results."
In addition, "Despite a number of clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation, the efficacy, optimal dosage of vitamin D, and target blood level of 25D3 for breast cancer prevention have yet to be determined."
CONCLUSION: "Despite compelling data from experimental and observational studies, there is still insufficient data from clinical trials to make recommendations for vitamin D supplementation for breast cancer prevention or treatment." (See Crew K, Vitamin D: Are We Ready to Supplement for Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment?, ISNR Oncology, 2013.)
SOME WAYS VITAMIN D MAY BE SABOTAGED!
BENZENE EXPOSURE DEGRADES VITAMIN D Breast cancer patients have long been warned about benzene exposure, and here is one very good reason why.
Benzo[a]pyrene was studied relative to its harm on vitamin D. Benzene is found in such things as cigarette smoke, wood burning, coal tar, fumes from diesel engines, and charbroiled food.
Benzo[a]pyrene was found to stimulate the breakdown, the catabolism of vitamin D in breast cancer cells. Specifically, there was a "modulation of vitamin D signaling" by enhancing CYP24A1. Thus, vitamin D is degraded. Avoid benzene! (See Matsunawa M et al., The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activator Benzo[a]pyreneEnhances Vitamin D3 Catabolism in Macrophages, Toxicological Sciences, 2008.)
CADMIUM AND LEAD MIMIC VITAMIN D
"The VDR is a potential receptor channel for heavy metals to affect bone metabolism, while to date there is no report about the binding activity between heavy metals and the VDR."
The researchers studied the binding activities between a fusion protein and the VDR after exposure to cadmium and lead. Depending on the amount of cadmium chloride, there was an increase in binding activities by 2.29 (100 micromol/L) or 1,000 micromol/L that led to an increase of 3.52 times over that of the control.
For lead, there was an increase to 2.29 times and 3.62 times over that of control after exposure of 150 micromol/L and 1000 micromol/L respectively of lead.
Conclusion: "These results indicate that cadmium and lead can mimic the activity of 1,26D3, and disrupt the normal function of the VDR receptor channel, which may be the underlying mechanism of abnormal bone metabolism and osteoporosis caused by cadmium and lead." (See Jiao J et al., Prokaryotic Expression of Human Vitam D Receptr and its Binding Activisies to Cadmium and Lead, Huan Jing Ku Xue, 2010.)
EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS DOWNREGULATES, BINDS, PREVENTS VDR GENE ACTIVATION "Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human gamma herpes virus that infects B cells and induces their transformation into immortalized lymphoblasts."
In an earlier study, the Yenamandra SP et al. research group was able to find, "Interestingly, the level of VDR expression (at mRNA and protein levels) was found to be lower in the EBV transformed cells compared with primary B cells."
In another study, this research group showed how the wily Epstein Barr virus is able to protect itself against "vitamin D3-induced growth arrest and/or apoptosis."
Not only does EBV encode for a protein family (EBNA-3) that binds to the VDR, but EBNA-3 "blocks the activation of the VDR-dependent genes" for protection.
Thus, "The presented data shed some light on the anti-apoptotic EBV program and the role of the EBNA-3-VDR interaction in the viral strategy." (See Yenamandra SP et al., Epstein-Barr Virus Encoded EBNA-3 Binds to Vitamin D Receptor and Blocks Activation of its Target Genes, Cell Mol Life Sci, 2010.)
BACTERIA, BIOFILM BACTERIA AND VDR While different bacteria are reported to reduce the expression of and downregulate the VDR, such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and mycobacterium leprase, of interest is "gliding" biofilm bacteria.
From the Marshall Protocol Knowledge Base: "Gliding biofilm bacteria have been shown to create Capnine ... created by the genera Cytophaga, Capnocytophaga, Sporocytophaga, and Flexibacter. The secretion of capnine meets an important evolutionary need for bacteria. Capnine possesses a high affinity for the VDR as evidenced by the fact that molecular modeling shows that its stable in the ligand binding pocket. Molecular modeling further shows that when capnine is docked in the VDR, it inactivates the receptor."
Thus, it is possible that bacteria and biofilm bacteria act like 1,25D3 as ligands for the VDR. But, instead of activating the VDR, like 1,25D3, the bacteria and biofilm are unable to activate the VDR, and they INACTIVATE it. This hinders the innate immune system.
Editors' Note: Just like viruses, the bacteria have found ways to attempt to block the VDR and shut down the immune system. Won't the bugs in us now be able to go crazy? And one wonders how getting more sun or taking vitamin D supplements could be helpful in such cases. (See Marshall Protocol Knowledge Base, http://mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/vitamind/metabolism.}
THE MUDDLED MORASS OF VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION OPINIONS
HOW MUCH VITAMIN D?
SUPPLEMENTING WITH VITAMIN D?
Carole Baggerly, the founder of Grass Roots Health, cautions people who supplement with vitamin D. "Pay attention to the serum level." A person taking 5,000 IU of vit. D a day can test with a serum level of 20,30,40,50, all the way up to 110 nanograms per milliliter. There is no way to know how supplementing with vitamin D can affect you unless you do serum level testing. SEE MORE BELOW
Less than 10,000 IU of Vitamin D for Breast Cancer Per Day "If you have breast cancer or you are trying to prevent breast cancer and want to take vitamin D, it is unlikely to make your breast cancer worse or cause you any harm, as long as you take less than 10,000 IU per day. However, it’s not proven that you will have a better outcome if you have breast cancer. It’s also not proven if taking vitamin D will help you prevent breast cancer Vitamin D Councilhttp://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/breast-cancer/#
Our modern lifestyle does not permit most people to obtain sufficient vitamin D from the sun, even though 90% of our vitamin D comes from the sun. Thus, supplements are an effective way to obtain sufficient vitamin D for optimal health.
The reason the medical system does not like vitamin D is that it is both very inexpensive and very effective at reducing risk of many types of disease, which lowers income and profit.https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/blog/the-end-of-illness-needs-a-dose-of-vitamin-d/# Dr William Grant 1100 IU Per Day of Vitamin D
"We found that improving vitamin D nutritional status substantially reduced all cancer risk in postmenopausal women."
In the Lappe J et al. 2007 study, 1179 postmenopausal women received 1100 IU of vitamin D per day for a four year period. During that time, the women raised their vitamin D levels from around 28 ng to around 38 ng/mL, and decreased their risk of ALL cancers by 77%. (See Lappe J et al.m Vitamin D and Calcium supplementation Reduces Cancer Risk: Results of a Randomized Trial, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, 2007.)
Levels of Vitamin D - 36-40 ng/mL
"In considering higher doses, oncologists should aim to achieve the benefits of adequate vitamin D levels, but they should also be guided by the principle primium non nocere (above all, do no harm).Some oncologists may be comfortable endorsing a higher dose in all patients; a dose of 1,000 IU/d is often suggested, However, rather than endorsing an arbitrary higher dose, measurement of blood levels of 25D3 is the most prudent approach to determine those who might benefit from vitamin D supplements, and to ensure that levels are in the advantageous range of 36-40 ng/mL in patients who are taking them." (See Pamela Goodwin, Vitamin D in Cancer Patients: Above All, Do No Harm, Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2009.)
Levels of Vitamin D - 40-60 ng/mL, Possibly Higher
Carole Baggerly, the Founder of Grass Roots Health, stated, "I think the research is there to support - that breast cancer, in particular - is a vitamin D deficiency, as scurvy was a vitamin C deficiency disease." indeed, she believes that 90% of all breast cancer is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D.
How much vitamin D to take? "Pay attention to the serum level." A person taking 5,000 IU of vit. D a day can test with a serum level of 20,30,40,50, all the way up to 110 nanograms per milliliter. There is no way to know how supplementing with vitamin D can affect you unless you do serum level testing.
Levels of Vitamin D - 50-70 ng/mL Comments by Dr. Joseph Mercola: "The window you're shooting for it 50-70 ng/mL."
Dr. Mercola dubs 50-79ng/mL the "sweet spot".
"The best way to optimize your vitamin D level is through sun exposure or a safe tanning bed as that virtually eliminates any risk of overdose. As a very general guide, you need to expose about 40 percent of your entire body to the sun for approximately 20 minutes between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, when the sun is at its zenith. There appears to be no risk of vitamin D toxicity from ultraviolet B exposure.
If you’re using an oral supplement, recent studies suggest adults need about 8,000 IU’s of oral vitamin D3 per day in order to get serum levels above 40 ng/ml. However, remember that if you take oral vitamin D, you also need to boost your vitamin K2, either through your food choices or a supplement. Vitamin K2 deficiency is actually what produces the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity, which includes inappropriate calcification that can lead to hardening of your arteries. In general, however, taking vitamin D3 is very safe. Even the conservative Institute of Medicine has concluded that taking up to 10,000 IU per day poses no risk for adverse effects" (See Dr. Mercola, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/12/vitamin-d-may-prevent-breast-cancer.aspx.)
Around 20ng/mL and Up Turns Off Immune System? Amy Proal, PHD, stated, "25D3 does activate the VDR and keep it on. But Marshall (Trevor Marshall, PHD), one of the first to study 25D3 at the molecular level, discovered that the secosteroid actually SLOWS the activity of the VDR until the level of 25D3 becomes high enough that it shuts the receptor off. The immunosuppressive effect of 25D3 starts around 20 ng/ml. This makes sense. If you think of the VDR as a switch that controls innate immunity, it is logical that the body would create one form of vitamin D to turn it on and another to turn it off." (See http://mpkb.org/home/publications/proal_intro_to_mp_2008)
No Vitamin D Supplements? Get More Sun?
Stephanie Seneff, PHD, commented, 'Vitamin D is produced in the skin and it's sulfated. This is something very few people realize. The vitamin D that your produce in your skin goes into the blood as vitamin D sulfate." Mote that vitamin D that is sulfated is water soluble and can travel freely in the blood.
To the contrary, "When you take a vitamin D pill, it's not sulfated." And vitamin D can not be converted into the sulfated form.
Why is the sulfated form important? "And, in fact, I think it's the sulfated form of vitamin D that offers the protection from cancer."
"The skin produces vitamin D3 sulfate upon exposure to sunlight (from the sun (oxidation of the cholesterol is the first step in the transformation of cholesterol into vitamin D3), and the vitamin D3 found in breast milk is also sulfated. In light of these facts, it is quite surprising to me that so little research has been directed towards understand what role sulfated vitamin D3 plays in the body. It is recently becoming apparent that vitamin D3 promotes a strong immune system and offers protection against cancer, yet how it achieves these benefits is not at all clear. I strongly suspect that it is vitamin D3 sulfate that carries out this aspect of vitamin D3's positive influence."
Some of sulfate's virtues: "Sulfates decorate the exterior of the cell, e.g., as heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPGs) or as cholesterol sulfate (Ch-S) Sulfates carry negative charge and keep suspended cells from sticking together. Sulfates, as kosmotropes, create exclusion zone - gel-like environment to protect cell."
Dr. Seneff elaborated, "The sulfate keeps the negative charge around the outside of the cell and the negative charge keeps the bacteria out. ... And the other neat thing is that sulfate is actually, if you break down the sulfate, you will release energy, which means that the sulfate is actually absorbing the energy from light so it's a battery. I think the skin as a battery - or solar panel you might say - taking in the sun's energy and saving it in the form of the sulfate molecule storing the energy in the sun." (See http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/ExpertInterviewTranscripts/InterviewStephanieSeneffonSulfur.pdf Dr Seneff's website, people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/.) EDITORS' NOTE: According to Dr. Seneff, are vitamin D supplements useless? More sun
There are countless views about supplementing with vitamin D. However, there is nothing definitive. YOU MUST MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND!