Serving Size: 1 softgel
Each capsule contains:
Vitamin D-3 1000 I.U.
(as cholecalciferol)
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, glycerine, water (capsule), rice bran oil.
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, adults take one capsule daily, preferably with a meal.
Contains no added sugar, salt, dairy, gluten, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.
Overview:
Many people are deficient of this vital nutrient. Important for bone density & strength, calcium & vitamin A absorption, blood pressure and cancer. Some practitioners are reporting better results using Vitamin D for the flu than flu shots.
The role of Vitamin D in helping to maintain bone density and strength is clear. It is required for the process of moving calcium through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Recent studies have shown a protective/preventative effect with Vitamin D on multiple sclerosis.
Even though the human body can manufacture Vitamin D under ideal circumstances, there is strong evidence that much of the American population suffers from a deficiency of the nutrient. This means that supplementation may be important.
Two forms of Vitamin D are commonly found in supplements: D-3 (cholecalciferol), and D-2 (ergocalciferol). Vitamin D-3 is more bioactive.
In Depth:
Update on Vitamin D
New studies find benefits beyond strong bones
Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin, so called because the body manufactures it with exposure to the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays in sunlight. It's found naturally in only a few foods, such as fatty fish, cod liver oil, and fortified milk and cereals. Many people are deficient in this vitamin, including those who don't get regular exposure to sunlight (especially in winter), or who always wear sunscreen outdoors. Also at risk for deficiency are infants who are exclusively breastfed, people with darker skin, and older people, as the body's ability to make this vitamin declines with age.
Scientists have long known that vitamin D is important for bone health, because it's required for the body to absorb the calcium that's essential for strong bones and healthy teeth. New research has found vitamin D may protect health in other ways, too.
ROLE AGAINST CANCER
Previous studies have suggested that there may be a correlation between high vitamin D intake and certain cancers. But new research has turned up conflicting results. Scientists at the National Cancer Institute recently reexamined data relating to nearly 17,000 people, but found no link between vitamin D intake and the risk of mortality from cancer, the one exception being colon cancer.(1) But other studies found an association between higher intakes of vitamin D and lower incidence of other types of cancers. The June 2007 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Diet and the May 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine published reports studying the effect of vitamin D intake on certain cancers.(2,3) For more information on these studies, go to www.pubmed.gov.
CONDITION-SPECIFIC STUDIES
Other research focused on vitamin D and particular health conditions, including:
• High Blood Pressure: A recent study found that people with low blood levels of vitamin D may have an increased risk of higher blood pressure.(4) High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined as having blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg. The analysis found that people with the highest average vitamin D levels had blood pressure levels 3.0/1.6 mmHg lower than those with the lowest vitamin D levels.
• Pregnancy: University of Pittsburgh researchers found that pregnant women with a vitamin D deficiency early in pregnancy had a five-fold increase in their risk of preeclampsia, a complication of pregnancy that can be fatal for the mother and infant.(5)
• Longevity: A meta-analysis of 18 clinical trials involving nearly 60,000 people found that vitamin D supplementation can help to promote longevity.(6) "What was most striking was another study finding that women with higher blood levels of vitamin D also have longer relomeres, stretches of DNA at the end of chromosomes," says Dr. Stacey Bell, IdeaSphere scientist and registered dietitian.(7) "Longer telomeres are associated with a longer lifespan."
BOTTOM LINE
"In my 35-year career in nutrition, vitamin D has always been the forgotten nutrient," says Dr. Bell. "Whether taking vitamin D supplements can prolong life and reduce disease risk is unknown, but under intense investigation. However, large intakes of vitamin D can be toxic, so it's prudent to get a blood lest before you take this supplement. Once the correct dose is determined, taking vitamin D supplements may have a major impact on your health."
1 Freedron DM, etal. JW2007;99(21):159^-1602.
2 Lapps JM, etal. Am Jdin Wufr2007;85(6):1586-91.
3 Un J. et al. Arch Intern Med200'7-167-lC60-S9.
4 Scragg R. ct al. Am J Hypertens 2007;20(7)713-19.
5 Bodnar LM, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab £00732(9]:
3517-22.
6 Autier P, et al. Arch Intern Med2007:167;1730-1737.
7 Richarts JB, et al. AmJCIm Nutr2007S6(5):1420-25.
© 2008 Rebus LLC.
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