|
|
A widespread link between heart disease, arthritis, and cancer now seems treatable
Adapted from THE CALCIUM BOMB: The Nanobacteria Link to Heart Disease and Cancer, by Douglas Mulhall & Katja Hansen (The Writers’ Collective) www.calcify.com What medical condition affects more of us than heart disease, arthritis, or cancer, and...
Identifying the Signs of Breast Cancer
Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths.
Every woman's breasts are different so it is important for each individual woman to be familiar with her breasts in order...
Menopause and Progesterone
Do women going through menopause have lowered levels of progesterone? Recent research tells us that women do suffer from decreased levels of progesterone and also experience other symptoms such as unexplained weight gain (particularly in the...
Two Substances That May Reduce the Risk Of Cancer
Food helps us by supplying many vital micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Your genetic composition can make you susceptible to some types of cancer. Your way of eating plays a major role in increasing or reducing the risk of cancer. ...
Zometa and Aredia Warning. Victim Compensation
2005 Zometa, Aredia,Fosamax Side Effects Warning Fosamax generic name Alendronate ,Zometa and Aredia are types of drugs known as bisphosphonates Recently a link has been found between bisphosphonates and a serious bone disease called osteonecrosis...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Test Your Vitamin D Knowledge
Vitamin D is the most common nutritional deficiency in the United States, and most physicians are clueless about its importance. If you can answer the majority of these questions correctly you are doing better than the majority of physicians.
Please remember that without question the best way to optimize your vitamin D level is with regular exposure of large portions of your skin to the sun. However, with Labor Day behind us it is time for most of us to consider switching our source of omega-3 fats from fish oil to cod liver oil, as that will supply the missing vitamin D that many of us will start lacking due to diminishing sun exposure.
This test was developed by Dr. John Cannell. He is one of the leaders in the vitamin D education movement and has a very comprehensive Web site dedicated to vitamin D. You can also subscribe to his free newsletter there.
1.Vitamin D reversesinflammatory changes associated with age-related memory impairment.
a) True
b) False
True.Researchers from Ireland were the first to demonstrate that vitamin D3 acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and turns old brains into young brains--at least as far as inflammatory cytokines are concerned.This research suggests vitamin D may prevent, or even treat, age-related cognitive decline!
Biochem Soc Trans. 2005 Aug;33(Pt 4):573-7.
2. Your blood sugar is closely associated with your vitamin D level.
a) True
b) False
True.Researchers in Australia added to the growing evidence that sun avoidance may have caused the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.The Australians' findings were straightforward and powerful. The higher yourvitamin D level, the lower your blood glucose.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2005 Jun;62(6):738-41.
3. In July, a group from Minnesota found that 100 percentof elderly patients admitted for fragility fractures were vitamin-D deficient despite the fact that half of them were taking vitamin D supplements.
a) True
b) False
True.The authors found that women taking supplemental vitamin D had average levels of 16.4 ng/ml while women not taking supplements had levels of 11.9.ng/ml, both dangerously low. None of the 82 women got enough sun or took enough vitamin D to obtain a level of 40 ng/ml. These were fragility fractures, not fractures caused by unusual trauma.That is, their bones just sort of fell apart.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2005 Jul;21(7):1069-74.
4. Women with the lowest vitamin D levels had five times higher risk for breast cancer.
a) True
b) False
True.Women with 25(OH)-vitamin D blood levels less than 20 ng/ml were more than five times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than were women with levels above 60 ng/ml. That is five, repeat five, timesmore likely!
Eur J Cancer. 2005 May;41(8):1164-9. Epub 2005 Apr 14.
5. Avoiding the sun doubles the risk of prostate cancer.
a) True
b) False
True.Again, the risk of avoiding the sun is clear, this time in another study with prostate cancer.However, the authors pointed out that sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer and believed that proper vitamin D supplementation "may be the safest solution to achieve an adequate vitamin D status."
Cancer Res. 2005 Jun 15;65(12):5470-9.
I also believe supplementation is the only way to go for many people.African Americans are simply unable to spendan adequate time in the sun.In addition, the sun ages the skin and that fact alone will keep many Americans out of the sun.That said, I go into the sun whenever I can. The reason is simple: it is the most conservative thing to do. Until we know everything the sun does--and itdoes morethan just make vitamin D--the conservative approach is to mimic our ancestors and the environment in which humans evolved, whenever we can.Therefore, it makes sense to sunbathe sensibly in the late spring, summer and early fall and take supplements or use UVB lamps the rest of the time.
6. South Korean researchers associated vitamin D deficiency with Parkinson's disease.
a) True
b) False
True.Actually, they showed that certain genetic malformations (VDR polymorphisms) are more likely in patients with Parkinson's disease, implying an association with vitamin D and Parkinsonism.
J Korean Med Sci. 2005 Jun;20(3):495-8.
7. Researchers in England discovered that patients with chronic pain have phenomenally low vitamin D levels.
a) True
b) False
True.The authors added to the evidence that severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with chronic pain.They found that 88 percentof their patients with chronic pain had levels less than 10 ng/ml.If they treated their patients, they did not report it. However, Swiss researchers recently treated chronic pain patients with vitamin D and reported the pain "disappeared" within one to three months in most of their patients. This is the second open study that showed adequate doses of vitamin D dramatically improved chronic pain.
Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Aug;64(8):1217-9.
BMJ. 2004 Jul 17;329(7458):156-7.
Spine. 2003 Jan 15;28(2):177-9.
8. Severe vitamin D deficiency is common in TB patients.
Some English doctors don't know the difference between ideal and "normal" levels.
Most American doctors don't know the difference either.
a) All are true
b) All are false
c) Some are true and some are false
All are true.First, the authors reviewed the impressive animal evidence that vitamin D can help treat TB.Then they reported that most of their
immigrant TB patients had undetectable vitamin D levels.Then they reported the normal range for their lab was between 5 to 47 ng/ml but "normal" was any level greater than 9 ng/ml. Finally, the researchers reported they treated their patients with "normal daily doses" of vitamin D, without reporting how much they gave. Apparently, they gave just enough to get patients above 9 ng/ml.
J Infect. 2005 Jun;50(5):432-7.
Keep in mind that different laboratory techniques result in different ranges for 25(OH)-vitamin D levels. No matter what technique is used, ideal levels can roughly be defined as any level above the median. In this case, as you will see below in Dr. Heaney's article, the doctors should have treated their patients with 4,000 units a day.They should also have watched for evidence of vitamin D hypersensitivity, which can occur when treating tuberculosis patients for vitamin D deficiency.
We can only mourn for the poor immigrants who have to suffer from both TB and vitamin D deficiency.Of course, few physicians in theUnited Statesknow the difference between the Gaussian definition of "normal" (average ranges for the population tested) and the ideal definition of "normal" (levels above 32 ng/ml).Getting commercial reference labs to report ideal 25(OH)-vitamin D levels should be a priority of everyone involved in trying to end the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency.
9. Virtually all nephrologists give renal failure patients a vitamin D-like drug.
Virtually all renal failure patients are severely vitamin D deficient.
Some nephrologists know the difference between vitamin D and calcitriol.
a) All are true
b) All are false
c) Some are true and some are false.
All are true.Finally, the truth about renal failure patients: most of them are vitamin D deficient despite taking vitamin D analogs!Most nephrologists prescribe activated vitamin D (calcitriol) or vitamin D analogs but not vitamin D.Calcitriol and vitamin D analogs do nothing to prevent vitamin D deficiency. Renal failure patients need both vitamin D and a calcitriol-like drug. Moreover, 400 units a day of vitamin D will not correct their deficiencies.As you will see below, they need up to 4,000 units.
Am J Kidney Dis. 2005 Jun;45(6):1026-33.
P.S.If you think nephrologists know the difference between vitamin D and calcitriol, read this month's paper from some nephrologists at the University of Texas.They discuss the importance of vitamin D in preventing and treating heart disease.(I think adequate vitamin D nutrition may prevent more cardiovascular deaths than cancer deaths.)However, I read the Texas paper three times and still don't know if the authors know the difference between vitamin D and calcitriol.I hope they know the difference between cholesterol and testosterone.(Some cholesterol is metabolized into steroid hormones, vitamin D is a prehormone; testosterone is a steroid hormone, calcitriol is the most potent steroid hormone in the human body).
Kidney Int Suppl. 2005 Jun;(95):S37-42.
10. Professor Robert Heaney proved, again, that he is a gentleman and a scholar.
a) True
b) False
True.In the most important clinical paper published this month, Heaney gave the three best reasons why we should all maintain minimum levels of at least 32 ng/ml, the level that:
(a) Effectively suppresses PTH
(b) Maximizes calcium absorptio,
(c) Maximally improves glucose tolerance
Then he goes on to show that some of us, especially African Americans, will need to take 3,000 to 4,000 units every day to maintain healthy 25(OH)-vitamin D blood levels.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Jul 15.
He then defends the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendation that we only take one-tenth that amount, as the best science that was available in 1997.I admire Dr. Heaney for trying to cover for the IOM.The truth is that both Dr. Heaney and Dr. Holick told the IOM that 2,000 units a day was not toxic and would prevent both adequate treatment and meaningful research.The IOM then proceeded to ignore the only two vitamin D experts on the panel.
Writing two years later, Professor Reinhold Vieth came up with dozens of studies the IOM overlooked.These studies conclusively showed 2,000 units a day could not be toxic. Furthermore, Vieth found the literature published before 1997 clearly showed 10,000 units a day was unlikely to be toxic.Vitamin D toxicity probably starts around 20,000 units a day, and then only if taken for months or even years.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 May;69(5):842-56.
Related Articles: Vitamin D Deficiency is Major Health RiskThe Secret Benefits of Vitamin D Vitamin D Lowers Inflammation
About the Author: Dr. Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com, one of the world's most visited and trusted health websites, and publisher of the free Mercola.com e-newsletter -- the #1 dietary health and wellness newsletter on the Web with over 500,000 subscribers. Dr. Mercola, a physician for over two decades, is also a New York Times bestselling author whose latest book, "Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program," presents his entire renowned dietary health program and has sold over 150,000 copies. He is routinely interviewed by the media for his expert insights, including CNN and ABC World News Tonight. His passion is to change the fatally flawed conventional medical system to one focused on real prevention and cure.
Source: www.isnare.com
|
|
|
|
|
BreastCancer.org - Breast Cancer Treatment Information and Pictures |
Breast Cancer Information from a Nonprofit Organization. |
www.breastcancer.org |
  |
The Breast Cancer Site |
Founded to help offer free mammograms to underprivileged women nationwide. With a simple, daily "click" visitors help provide mammograms to those in need. |
www.thebreastcancersite.com |
  |
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation |
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to education and research on breast cancer causes, treatment and the search for a cure. |
www.komen.org |
  |
Breast Cancer Information from National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc |
Breast cancer information including early signs and symptoms of breast cancer, myths, early detection, breast cancer research and more from National Breast ... |
www.nationalbreastcancer.org |
  |
BreastCancer.Net: http://www.breastcancer.net |
A clearinghouse for the latest news and information on the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. |
www.breastcancer.net |
  |
Breast Cancer Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine |
Educational resources on using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat and prevent breast cancer. |
www.breastcancer.com |
  |
Breast Cancer Care - Homepage |
Breast Cancer Care is the UK's leading provider of information, practical assistance and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer or breast ... |
www.breastcancercare.org.uk |
  |
Breakthrough Breast Cancer |
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is the UKs leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research and education. |
www.breakthrough.org.uk |
  |
MedlinePlus: Breast Cancer |
Search MEDLINE/PubMed for recent research articles on Breast Cancer: • Breast Cancer ... Select services and providers for Breast Cancer in your area. ... |
www.nlm.nih.gov |
  |
Breast Cancer Research | |
Online and print journal covering topics of basic and clinical research relevant to breast cancer. Research articles are free to all users. |
breast-cancer-research.com |
  |
National Breast Cancer Centre - Evidence based information for ... |
The National Breast Cancer Centre of Australia providing information about breast cancer for consumers and health professionals. |
www.nbcc.org.au |
  |
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation: Run for the Cure: Select Language |
Charitable organization which raises money to advance research, education, diagnosis and treatment. |
www.cbcf.org |
  |
Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
That is why you will see breast cancer patients wearing braces, ... [5] Men can also develop breast cancer, but their risk is less than one in 1000 (see sex ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
End Breast Cancer from Care2.com and TBCF! |
Help stop Breast Cancer by clicking daily - free! Supports efforts by The Breast Cancer Fund. |
breastcancer.care2.com |
  |
National Breast Cancer Foundation |
The ultimate goal of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is to raise enough money to fund a cure for breast cancer. As Australia’s leading national ... |
www.nbcf.org.au |
  |
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization |
Support and information about the condition from this non-profit entity. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. |
www.y-me.org |
  |
Breast Cancer Home Page - National Cancer Institute |
Information about breast cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, research and statistics from the National Cancer ... |
www.cancer.gov |
  |
What You Need To Know About™ Breast Cancer - National Cancer Institute |
Information about detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. NIH Publication No. 05-1556. |
www.cancer.gov |
  |
Breast Cancer Campaign - Researching the cure |
Breast Cancer Campaign is the only charity that specialises in funding independent breast cancer research throughout the UK. |
www.breastcancercampaign.org |
  |
NBCC - NBCC - National Breast Cancer Coalition |
The National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending breast cancer through the power of action and advocacy. |
www.natlbcc.org |
  |
|