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May 9, 2024
A recent article titled, “Vitamin D regulates microbiome-dependent cancer immunity,” published April 25, 2024, in the journal Science, reported that vitamin D supports the growth of the intestinal bacterium Bacteroides fragilis in mice, which improved immunity to cancer. Bacteroides fragilis is also part of the human microbiome. It has been observed that the composition of the gut microbiome in people with cancer who respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies differs from that of nonresponsive patients. Less Tumor Growth in Mice Among numerous findings revealed by the current research, mice that were bred to have greater vitamin D availability showed improved […]
February 14, 2023
This winter we need to be particularly careful to avoid colds and flu. I am just too busy to get sick, so I pay special attention to what I eat. My father was a doctor in Southeast Asia and he always said that if you are in general good health, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water and wash your hands frequently, you’re doing a lot to prevent a nasty case of the flu. Now, as we fight a pandemic, we need to wear masks in public to protect ourselves and others. Here are some immune-boosting foods that are […]
January 15, 2019
Are aching, creaking joints making your simple daily activities uncomfortable? For many of my patients, joint pain prohibits them from exercising and that’s not a good thing. I have to tell them that sore, aching joints does not have to be a function of getting older. The truths is, sore, aching joints and bones, are more likely due to nutritional deficiencies, specifically Vitamin D! That’s right. In fact, many health researchers believe there is an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency today, especially amongst older people. Most of my patients, like many people across the country, are deficient in Vitamin D. […]
August 8, 2017
The role of sun exposure in the formation of vitamin D in the body is well known. Now it appears that the vitamin may also play a role in protecting the skin from burning after being exposed to potentially damaging amounts of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. In a randomized trial reported on May 30, 2017 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 20men and womenwere given 50,000 international units (IU), 100,000 IU or 200,000 IU vitamin D3, or a placebo one hour following ultraviolet UV lamp sunburn to the inner arm. The patients were examined 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours and […]
May 30, 2017
The April 1, 2017 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published the finding of researchers at Johns Hopkins University of a correlation between increased physical activity and higher levels of vitamin D. Higher levels of vitamin D and exercise was also associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The study included 10,342 men and women who were free of coronary heart disease and heart failure upon enrollment in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study between 1987 to 1989. Physical activity levels were assessed during follow-up visits that took place over a 19.3-year period. Stored serum samples […]
February 28, 2017
A clinical trial reported in the January 2017 issue of Pain Physician uncovered a benefit for supplementing with vitamin D among individuals with chronic lower back pain. The condition is the second most common pain complaint after headache and can be notoriously resistant to treatment. The trial included 68 men and women who had chronic lower back pain for at least three months that did not respond to medications and physical therapy. Subjects were limited to those with plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels measured at the beginning of the trial of less than 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Participants received 60,000 […]
November 19, 2016
New understanding of vitamin D’s manifold benefits continues to expand. In an investigation published in the October 25, 2016 issue of Cell Reports, a team from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging found that the vitamin extended median lifespan by a third in the roundworm C. elegans and helped support protein homeostasis: the ability of proteins to maintain shape and function. “Vitamin D3 reduced the age-dependent formation of insoluble proteins across a wide range of predicted functions and cellular compartments, supporting our hypothesis that decreasing protein insolubility can prolong lifespan,” reported research team leader Karla Mark, PhD. “Vitamin D […]
September 22, 2015
Despite the research showing the benefits of higher amounts of vitamin D, many doctors continue suggesting 400 IU daily. The common fear is that higher amounts will result in toxicity. However, a new study conducted by the Mayo clinic may just put these fears to rest. The study found that vitamin D toxicity is, in fact, quite rare. The results were published in the journal, Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Higher Blood Levels of Vitamin D Proved to Be Safe Previous research shows higher amounts of vitamin D protect against age-related diseases including heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. Based on these studies, […]
July 29, 2015
Working night shifts can be strenuous under even the most standard conditions. So, when you flip the switch on daily life to battle through a night shift, things can really get tricky.