Can vitamin D and Sunlight make you smarter? Do you think so?

The preponderance of evidence suggests that higher blood levels of vitamin D correlate to better cognitive ability (ability to think), so if you want a higher IQ, it behooves you to keep your vitamin D levels high. In the winter in the Northern US, Northern Europe, Canada and other high-latitude countries, this may mean supplementing with 3,000-5,000 IU daily for most people and up to 6,400 IU daily for nursing mothers.[1] Another alternative is to use a tanning bed two or three times weekly or take frequent tropical vacations (unless you have type-one skin that does not tan—never burn).

The latest scientific paper on cognitive abilities as compared to vitamin D levels shows that persons who have the lowest levels are more than twice as likely to be cognitively impaired as those with the highest levels.[2] I was not surprised at the results of this study; in my book, I had documented other research indicating that in elderly people with the highest levels of vitamin D scored 3-5 times higher on two cognitive tests than those with the lowest levels.[3] Those with the lowest levels were also 12 times as likely to be depressed.

When we consider that vitamin D is absolutely essential to proper nerve function and development,[4] [5] and that there are vitamin D receptors throughout the central nervous system,[6] it stands to reason that mental abilities would be compromised by poor vitamin D status. It also follows that depression would be higher in those whose levels are low. Therefore, it follows that sunlight and vitamin D may make you both smarter and happier.

[1] Wagner C. et al. High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in a cohort of breastfeeding mothers and their infants: a 6-month follow-up pilot study. Breastfeed Med 2006;1:59-70.
[2] Llewellyn, D. et al. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Cognitive Impairment. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol Online. December 10, 2008.
[3] Wilkins C. et al. Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With Low Mood and Worse Cognitive Performance in Older Adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry;2006;14:1032–1040).
[4] McCann J. et al. Is there convincing biological or behavioral evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to brain
dysfunction? FASEB J. 2008;22:982-1001.
[5] Carlson, A. et al. Is vitamin D deficiency associated with peripheral neuropathy? The Endocrinologist 2007;17:319-25.
[6] McCann J. et al. Is there convincing biological or behavioral evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to brain
dysfunction? FASEB J. 2008;22:982-1001.

Does Vitamin D help prevent Type-one Diabetes?

A new study shows that most type-one diabetic children have low levels of vitamin D.[1] Dr. Lori Laffel, senior author or the research, expressed surprise that only 24% of the children studied had adequate levels. The researchers then suggested that the children be supplemented with 400 IU daily.

What makes this research and its recommendations so interesting is that it is already established that supplementing 2,000 IU per day in children correlates to an 80% reduced risk of type-one diabetes.[2] Why the surprise? Do these people read the research? Type-one diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In my book, I thoroughly cover the research showing that vitamin D is exceptionally effective in reducing autoimmune disorders. A study like this one is a case of “discovering” something that is already known and then expressing shock. Children need summer sunlight (without burning) and in winter they need sufficient vitamin D supplementation to maintain their summer levels. Believe me; 400 IU does not cut it.

Check with you doctor, and be sure your children have optimal levels of vitamin D, which will probably require at least 1,000 IU daily.

[1] http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-12/jdc-jrf121508.php
[2] Hypponen, E. et al. Intake of vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Lancet 2001;358:1500-03.

Vitamin D and infertility part 2

We previously discussed the relationship of fertility to vitamin D, but a new report adds credence to the idea that infertility may be due in great part to vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Anne Clark, who works at the Fertility First clinic in Sydney, Australia, assessed the blood levels of vitamin D among about 800 men who were unable to produce a pregnancy in their wives. About a third had low levels of vitamin D. Interestingly, after a regimen of lifestyle changes (stopped smoking, coffee drinking and alcohol consumption) and vitamin D supplementation, 40% of the men were able to impregnate their wives, probably due to improvement in the quality of sperm.
Dr Clark stated that “Vitamin D and folate deficiency are known to be associated with infertility in women, but the outcomes of the screening among men in our study group came as a complete surprise.”

Though it may have surprised Dr. Clark, the results of her findings should not be surprising to those who read my previous blog on vitamin D and infertility. In that blog, I mentioned that female rats mated to vitamin D-deficient males produced 73% fewer pregnancies. Nearly all tissues of the body contain vitamin D receptors (VDR). For the testes to function properly, those receptors must be stimulated by vitamin D. For couples who are having difficulties in producing a pregnancy, this information is critically important. Pass it on!

Note: The comments on this blog are for information only. Do not make any changes in sunlight exposure, tanning-bed exposure or nutritional habits without first consulting a medical professional.

I told you so! A new study shows that vitamin D is critically important to prevent breast cancer.

There was an uproar recently about a study indicating that vitamin D supplementation had no affect on breast cancer risk.[1] The press picked it up and regurgitated it ad nauseam as if were the end-all-be all of scientific studies. I told you then that it was bad research because it used a miniscule quantity of vitamin D—400 IU per day—rather like trying to attack an elephant with a bb gun. In fact, a 400 IU daily supplementation for seven weeks has been shown to lead to reduced vitamin D levels in winter, whereas tanning bed exposure raises vitamin levels by 150% in the same time period.[2] It should be no surprise that a vitamin D supplement that is so tiny that it leads to deficiency would not help women to prevent breast cancer. Now we have a new study from Germany showing that women with the highest vitamin D levels have a 55% reduced risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest levels.[3] Another study showed that three years of supplementation with calcium and vitamin D correlated to a reduced risk of all cancers in women by up to 77%.[4] However, the supplementation was 1,100 IU per day, not 400. What can I say? I told you so. [1] Chlebowski R, et al. Calcium Plus Vitamin D Supplementation and the Risk of Breast Cancer. JNCI Published online 11-11- 2008. [2] Holick, M. et al. Boston University. “Effects Of Vitamin D And Skin’s Physiology Examined.” Science Daily 21 February 2008 . [3] Abbas, S. et al. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and premenopausal breast cancer risk in a German case-control study. Int J Cancer 2009;124:250-5. [4] Lappe, J. et al. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:1586–91.

Vitamin D, Flu and the Immune System: Part 2…The Answer!

We now have the answer to preventing the next flu pandemic. This is the second part of the blog on flu. See the first for the background information.

Dr. John Cannell and his colleagues wrote a remarkable paper[1] showing that cold and flu outbreaks are almost completely seasonal.

In the northern hemisphere, they occur in December through March.

In the southern hemisphere, outbreaks occur June through September—almost exclusively in winter in both hemispheres.

The outbreaks of flu and colds in each case occur in times of lowest UVB light and therefore the time of least vitamin D production.

It follows then, that essential cathelicidin production is also extremely low during winter, which dramatically dampens the immune response. It would stand to reason, if the theory is correct, that flu and cold outbreaks would occur mainly in winter in both hemispheres.

It also stands to reason that increasing vitamin D blood levels by supplementation would be able to reduce the incidence of colds and fly in winter. This is exactly the case.

Shortly after this paper’s publication, other researchers reported results of a three-year study of African-American women.[2]

One group was given a placebo and another group received 800 IU per day for two years and 2,000 IU during the third year.

The placebo group experienced three times as many cold and flu cases as those who received 800 IU. The 2,000-IU group had only one cold or flu case the entire year, and none in winter. The placebo group had 24 cases in winter—that is a 24:0 ratio!

These findings are especially important because flu shots are not very effective.

A review in the British Medical Journal came to the following conclusion: “Evidence from systematic reviews shows that inactivated vaccines [flu shots] have little or no affect on the effects measured.”[3]

Perhaps flu shots do save some lives, but there is little doubt that vitamin D does a profoundly better job. Considering that daily supplementation with 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D can cost as little as $10.00 per year, a tremendous financial burden could be lifted from the health-care system and from the budget of elderly persons!

Approximately 36,000 people die yearly from flu in the USA, and it is estimated that a pandemic similar to the one in 1918 could kill a billion people worldwide.

It simply does not need to happen.

The solution: maintain higher vitamin D levels. This can be done during winter by vitamin D3 supplementation of at least 2,000 IU, and as much as 5,000 IU per day in the absence of UVB exposure.

Do not use vitamin D2; it is not nearly as effective.

The flu season is upon us. This year, work to maintain adequate vitamin D levels and kiss the flu goodbye!

[1] Cannell, J. et al. Epidemic Influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect 2006;134:1129-40.
[2] Aloia, J. et al. Colds and Flu. Letter to the editor. Epidemiol Infect Jan 15, 2007.
[3] Jefferson, T. et al. Influenza vaccination: policy versus evidence. BMJ. 2006;333::912-15.