As we reported last week, the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) new and absurdly low vitamin D recommendation flies in the face of scientific evidence. Now we need your help to get Congress to launch an investigation.
Some may ask, “Why are you treating this report as such a big deal? I’ll take however many vitamins I wish, and the government has no say in the matter.” But unless these findings are challenged, the public will accept it as true. Doctors, medical institutions, the media, and governmental agencies will all parrot these ultra-low recommendations on vitamin D dosage, pooh-poohing its important therapeutic benefits, and keeping the American public dangerously deficient in the vitamin. This will mean more colds, more flu, greater dependence on dangerous flu shots and antibiotics, more illness in general, more weak bones, more cancer, and many more deaths. Some experts calculate that proper vitamin D supplementation could save Americans $4.4 trillion over a decade—about $1,346 per person every year.
The IOM updated its official vitamin D recommendations for the first time since 1997. Despite raising the new vitamin levels by 300% for most Americans (suggesting that their previous vitamin D level recommendation was off by 300%), the IOM guidelines are still in contrast to overwhelming scientific evidence that confirms the significant medical benefits of higher vitamin D levels. A recent Harvard Medical School study and numerous other research institutes and doctors have found that vitamin D supplementation is safe and effective, and recommend significantly higher levels than the Institute of Medicine. The IOM now recommends 600 IU (international units) for people between the ages of 1 and 70—their previous recommendation was a mere 200 IU—whereas Harvard and the Vitamin D Council recommend anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 IU a day.
Studies also show that least one-third of Americans are wholly deficient in vitamin D (and a University of Tennessee Health Science Center study says 87% of patients are mildly to severely deficient). This is due to changing lifestyle and cultural trends in which many people in the US get less sun exposure and often inadequate dietary levels of the vitamin. A simple blood test will confirm whether one is deficient or not, although the IOM now appears to want to change the standard for optimum blood serum levels so that a lower level will still get a passing grade. (The IOM suggests the new standard should be changed to 20 ng/ml, whereas previously anything under 30 ng/ml was considered deficient. The Vitamin D Council recommends between 50 and 80 ng/ml.)
The IOM is supposed to be an independent voice. This “quasi-public” non-profit NGO (non-governmental organization) was founded in 1970 under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences. Its purpose is to provide national advice on issues relating to biomedical science, medicine, and health, and its mission is to serve as advisor to the nation to improve health. It works outside the framework of the federal government to provide independent guidance and analysis, and it is supposed to operate under a rigorous, formal peer-review system.
The problem is, the study carried out by the IOM Food and Nutrition Board violated sound scientific process, and its report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D, fails to meet the evidentiary standard. For one thing, the researchers refused to consider much of the evidence on vitamin D—their findings are based solely on the relationship between vitamin D and bone health, excluding all other health outcomes, citing a paucity of Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) evidence. They stated that only RCTs can show a causal relationship between an intervention (like vitamin D) and an outcome (like cancer).
In other words, the IOM is holding a vitamin to the so-called pharmaceutical gold standard. There’s a reason there are few RCTs for vitamin D: it’s not a patentable substance, so no big pharmaceutical company stands to make a bundle of money from it, so no one will shell out the millions of dollars necessary for a decent randomized controlled trial. It’s the proverbial Catch-22.
We might also add that the so-called drug gold standard doesn’t even fit dietary supplements. Supplements, which are concentrated food, must always be evaluated in the context of the rest of the diet. In the case of bone health, for example, vitamin D should be taken with calcium, vitamin K (especially K2), and other elements. These are vital co-factors and need to be present together. Supplemental calcium should not be taken without supplemental magnesium (although magnesium may be taken without calcium). And so forth. None of these essential nutrients is a synthetic drug and none of them should be evaluated in the same way as dangerous, synthetic drugs.
On top of that, the types of studies the IOM considered were arbitrarily selected and all over the map. For example, in looking at cancer generally, only four studies were reviewed—and none used vitamin D in doses higher than 1000 IU per day, far below the therapeutic dose, so of course they found no relationship between vitamin D and cancer control. Further, because the IOM declared that vitamin D benefits only bone health (their new, ultra-low, laboratory blood test level recommendations are the bare minimums for the prevention of bone disease), they never suggested optimum levels for overall health. Why didn’t they look at vitamin D levels in the healthiest of people before stating that vitamin D serves only one purpose?
In determining the upper limits of vitamin D dosage, the IOM reversed course completely. Here they used not random controlled trials but only observational studies and animal studies because of “ethical considerations”—though since they weren’t performing the studies themselves, one could hardly accuse them of overdosing their subjects. The upshot is that the evidentiary bar was substantially lowered in determining potential harm. They decided the upper limit should be 4,000 IU, even though many experts say 5,000 is a good daily dose, with higher amounts to correct imbalances—and even the majority of studies the IOM considered say that toxicity doesn’t occur until somewhere between 25,000 and 40,000 IU per day. But, as they put it, “In the absence of a benefit at higher levels [as shown by RCTs], the cautious approach was deemed justified.”
Please note that this conflates safety and efficacy in a typical example of circular reasoning. Even though the available evidence suggests that it is safe to take higher doses, it isn’t really safe because the benefits have not been demonstrated to the researchers’ satisfaction, using criteria that cannot possibly produce a positive result.
To put all this in context, 600 IU (the new recommended daily dose) is equal to just four minutes of mid-day full-body summer sun exposure. About thirty minutes of sunshine would produce approximately 4,000 to 5,000 IU of natural vitamin D in many American latitudes, which the new guidelines indicate may be an overdose. If this is true, nature seems to have goofed badly.
The Vitamin D Council reports that the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) consulted with fifteen vitamin D experts (whom they thank on page vii of their report) and, after reading these fifteen different reports, the FNB decided to suppress them. “Many of these consultants are either famous vitamin D researchers, like Prof. Robert Heaney at Creighton University or, as in the case of Prof. Walter Willett at Harvard, the single best-known nutritionist in the world. So why won’t the FNB tell us what Professors Heaney and Willett thought of their new report?” The Vitamin D Council has filed a federal Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the IOM’s FNB for the release of these fifteen reports.
The Vitamin D Council also points out out that the new recommendation says that an infant and a 300-pound pregnant woman should have the same daily intake, which shows how totally absurd this recommendation really is.
There is, unfortunately, a hidden agenda afoot. A pharmaceutical company is developing a patentable man-made vitamin D analog—yes, a synthetic drug version of vitamin D. And Glenville Jones, PhD, one of the committee members who determined the new vitamin D guidelines and who is quoted as saying that under these guidelines, most people “probably don’t have vitamin D deficiency” and “We think there has been an exaggeration of the public’s interest in vitamin D deficiency,” is an advisor for that same pharmaceutical company.
While the IOM presents itself as a private entity, eighty percent of its budget comes from federal grants. The General Accountability Office (GAO) has a statutory authority to improve the performance and ensure the accountability of groups using tax dollars for the benefit of the American people. The IOM report was sponsored by multiple government agencies and administrations, which means the report and the IOM itself can be subject to investigation by the GAO. In addition, the GAO has previously investigated the IOM and their public health reports.
So beginning today, ANH-USA is collecting signatures for a petition which we will send to Congress. We will be asking Congress to do two things:
- Appoint a new scientific panel to look at all the vitamin D data, including the research from Harvard, the Vitamin D Council, and the fifteen reviewers whose research was suppressed by the FNB. The panel needs to look at all the studies, whether they were Randomized Controlled Trials or not, to see if there is a correlation between vitamin D and health benefits other than bone health, and specifically review whether it was appropriate to lower target serum levels based on limited evidence related to bone health alone. They also need to investigate how the IOM selected upper limits even while admitting there was a lack of evidence to support their findings.
- Ask the GAO to investigate the IOM’s behavior in the creation of this report. The GAO needs to find out why the opinions of the fifteen vitamin D experts were suppressed, and examine the relationship between the scientist on the IOM panel and the pharmaceutical company for whom he is a consultant. They also need to investigate the IOM’s Office of News and Public Information and its role in the widely divergent and inaccurate media coverage of the IOM report, in which many news outlets seemed to think the report was warning us about the “dangers” of vitamin D when in fact the FNB had raised the recommended daily allowance by 300%.
Please sign our petition! We must get Congress to review this latest example of flawed science and crony capitalism. Please take action today!
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TO SIGN THE PETITION TO CONGRESS |
Please allow the word to get out that Vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a hormone that is dangerously deficient in a third of the population and very likely the cause of massive pathology. The supplement is dirt cheap and would save us massively. Unfortunately, profits in health care are more considered to be way more important than wellness- in fact, wellness is a kind of scourge to health-care profiteers, just as peace is to Haliburton.
restructure the fda and big pharma
I have alwys believed that the FDA or any medical institute is in bed with pharmaceudicals. Pharmaceudicals are not here to save lives finding cures or advocating natural, cheap remedies. They are vultures feeding on sick,vulnerable people pushing their drugs, causing more harm than good. Their research money goes into finding more drugs for BIGGER and BIGGER profits. The FDA always passes these drugs. How many times have these drugs had to be taken off the shelf because they have caused death or devestating effects? The FDA and medical institutes have no ethics and should be monitored by governments who care about the wellbeing of their citizens and who are ethical and compassionate themselves. How much are the pharmaceudicals paying medical institutes to pass these drugs and never come up with any cures? Government has to be told that we don’t want these vultures in our health care.
I guessed that some drug company was trying to produce a synthetic Vit D3 and thats why this report has appeared.
Everyone I know who has started taking Vit D3 has seen an improvement in their health far quicker than most medication they take and I include myself and my family in that group.
All I ponder is if some drugs company finds a synthetic Vit D3 will that stop manufacturers producing the natural one for us all to purchase? Will the action of them patenting their synthetic version be the cause of the not patented version be taken off the market?
The more I take 20,000iu ++ a day, the better I feel in myself. I tested the tablets with kineseology and my body told me how much it woulld accept. The result was that anything UP TO 50,000 would be accepted. Hopefully my blood reading will be higher than it is, last reading was 52.
Appoint a new scientific panel to look at all the vitamin D data, including the research from Harvard, the Vitamin D Council, and the fifteen reviewers whose research was suppressed by the FNB. The panel needs to look at all the studies, whether they were Randomized Controlled Trials or not, to see if there is a correlation between vitamin D and health benefits other than bone health, and specifically review whether it was appropriate to lower target serum levels based on limited evidence related to bone health alone. They also need to investigate how the IOM selected upper limits even while admitting there was a lack of evidence to support their findings.
Ask the GAO to investigate the IOM’s behavior in the creation of this report. The GAO needs to find out why the opinions of the fifteen vitamin D experts were suppressed, and examine the relationship between the scientist on the IOM panel and the pharmaceutical company for whom he is a consultant. They also need to investigate the IOM’s Office of News and Public Information and its role in the widely divergent and inaccurate media coverage of the IOM report, in which many news outlets seemed to think the report was warning us about the “dangers” of vitamin D when in fact the FNB had raised the recommended daily allowance by 300%.
I am confounded by all these contrary reports about Vit D3. They make me crazy. I do not know what to beleive. I certainly do not believe big pharmaceuticals. They lie for profit. They do not manufacture cures. I wish it were not so and we could get truly unbiased reliable studies whose only motive is to report the real truth.
Well done!!!!
You should have a way for people to get a separate update (other than an email alert as this one) specifically re Vitamin D as an ongoing topic as this controversy will be with us for awhile
.
This will allow your readership to self select a topic of special interest and will make it easier for them to forward it to others.
In my opinion this will increase your readership (as not everyone read every email from you) and will increase the radiation of the message.
Well done!!!!
You should have a way for people to get a separate update (other than an email alert as this one) specifically re Vitamin D as an ongoing topic as this controversy will be with us for awhile
.
This will allow your readership to self select a topic of special interest and will make it easier for them to forward it to others.
In my opinion this will increase your readership (as not everyone read every email from you) and will increase the radiation of the message.
Well done!!!!
You should have a way for people to get a separate update (other than an email alert as this one) specifically re Vitamin D as an ongoing topic as this controversy will be with us for awhile
.
This will allow your readership to self select a topic of special interest and will make it easier for them to forward it to others.
In my opinion this will increase your readership (as not everyone read every email from you) and will increase the radiation of the message.
Well done!!!!
You should have a way for people to get a separate update (other than an email alert as this one) specifically re Vitamin D as an ongoing topic as this controversy will be with us for awhile
.
This will allow your readership to self select a topic of special interest and will make it easier for them to forward it to others.
In my opinion this will increase your readership (as not everyone read every email from you) and will increase the radiation of the message.
Well done!!!!
You should have a way for people to get a separate update (other than an email alert as this one) specifically re Vitamin D as an ongoing topic as this controversy will be with us for awhile
.
This will allow your readership to self select a topic of special interest and will make it easier for them to forward it to others.
In my opinion this will increase your readership (as not everyone read every email from you) and will increase the radiation of the message.
Well done!!!!
You should have a way for people to get a separate update (other than an email alert as this one) specifically re Vitamin D as an ongoing topic as this controversy will be with us for awhile
.
This will allow your readership to self select a topic of special interest and will make it easier for them to forward it to others.
In my opinion this will increase your readership (as not everyone read every email from you) and will increase the radiation of the message.
Well done!!!!
You should have a way for people to get a separate update (other than an email alert as this one) specifically re Vitamin D as an ongoing topic as this controversy will be with us for awhile
.
This will allow your readership to self select a topic of special interest and will make it easier for them to forward it to others.
In my opinion this will increase your readership (as not everyone read every email from you) and will increase the radiation of the message.
Since you folks are so vigilant about Congress actions that are against our best interests, I think it would be extremely valuable to see a report card published on the web when re-election campaigns are launched. If our elected officials are working for their constituents, they should get credit for their voting records. If all they’re doing is a song and dance to get (re)elected, where they can then collect money from lobbyists and special interest groups, then they should get credit (blame) for that as well. The last election hasn’t faded too far from memory for me to remember that the big money TV ads were nothing more than mud slinging campaigns. Maybe they need a little wake-up call to let them know who they work for and that we’re watching?
Scott
I am glad you care!
Dorothea
I know from personal experience how important, useful, and safe vitamin D is. From the researxch I did and from the information provided in this article, it appears that there is a direct connection between the low vitamin D recommendation and Big Pharma once again. When will this madness stop? Keep away from our vitamins Big Pharma!
Sad to say it looks like the old SF writers were on to something; years ago several different writers posited a near future where Big International Business became the true ultimate power, with national governments first falling under their sway through gifts, then graft, then finally became obsolete. We no longer declared our allegiance to the USA or France, but to whichever BIB held sway where we lived.
Our governments so-called watchdogs are already deeply in Big Oil, Pharma and Agri – now the governments themselves seem to be following suit. I never thought to see life imitate art in my lifetime, but if this continues that is where the world is headed.
I just “love it” when conflict of interest doesn’t seem to be an important issue when advising on the results of ineffective and worthless studies.
Perhaps everyone really ought to look at the research on Vitamin D. Personally, I think the new recommendations by the Institutes of Health are ridiculously off base–too low–while the 25,000 to 40,000 IUs a day on the other end are inordinately high. In my opinion, trying to equate actual sunshine conversion into Vitamin D and how that is utilized in the body is totally different than shocking the liver with a high IU vitamin D capsule. An analogy can be how the body utilizes
oils via the digestive tract as opposed to oils being injected into the body via vaccines.
At the end of the year, I’ll be flying to the Dominican Republic where I’ll get plenty of Vitamin D.
Big Pharma and the FDA have to go the way of the Federal Reserve … to prison!
When will our institution realize that they are harmed as well as us when they mess with Mother Nature?
YES- all of the medical industry and its associations are In Bed with Big Pharma. And they can’t
wait to pass Codex once they are done confusing the public and fear mongering them to feel like
scared little children.
Does congress care? Does the senate care? I thought they were all in bed with Big Pharma.
Strictly off the top, I can say the article is generally okay. However, you are missing one critical point: Codex Alimentarius. It is true that big pharma is controlling the FDA, etc. but the context has become much bigger than simply one industry with lots of political/money pull. As soon as the CAFTA treaty was signed with the slipped in clauses about supporting the Codex, the FDA began a major assault against nutritional supplements and other holisitic forms of healing and FOOD itself. They drew of up their DRAFT GUIDELINES for nutritional supplements which read like a copy of the CODEX guidelines. As you know quite well, the Codex demands that countries that sign onto the agreement, as per the WTO process, are required to bring their local laws into compliance. Thus, the increased assault against nutritional supplements and organic food. Why else would the FDA bring in the goon squads to assault a small family dairy and confiscate $250,000.00 of produce when in 30 yrs they never had a single health problem with their milk and milk products.
I am dismayed that an organization such as yours would not be doing more to educate the public about the New World Order efforts of Codex and its relation to the draconian tactics, recommendations and legislation that is coming from that agreement.
I take 5000 ui of Vitamin D a day as prescribed by my doctor. She found that I was low and recommended this dosage to improve my health. I was getting colds at least every other month. Since I have been taking the Vitamin D, 1.5 years, I am lucky to get one cold a year. My health has greatly improved.
I am very disappointed by the IOM’s recent report suggesting such low levels of Vit D as adequate – this is not in the best interest of public health and I am concerned by the stories that have been published in the papers the last couple weeks which even suggest that taking more that the new recommendations of 800iu as potentially harmful. This is not good data and needs to be challenged so that the public is not being mislead.
Dr Angela Agrios, ND
California Licensed Naturopathic Doctor (License ND -232)
If sitting in the Sun for 20 minutes in a bathing suit
your body produces 20,000 units of Vitamin D makeing
this claim MUTE ! . If your Bidy did not require
Large doses then nature would not alllow the you to
produce such a large amount so Quickly ! .
And further more any one who has spent time in
Sun Knows how energized they feel especially in
the first few days .
Of course they are in bed with big pharma. It is now law that only a drug (synthetic substance)
can cure a disease.
Are you sure our Congress and Senate actually care about what is right or how much money big pharma give to re-elect their stoolies
What do you expect from greedy imbeciles!
I would like to see some sensible and REALISTIC guidelines on how much Vitamin D is a good dose for someone my age. As it is, I can only guess. I take only 2000 IU a day, probably not enough. But how much more do I need? I’m not afraid of “overdosing,” but I can’t afford (the money) to take supplements I don’t actually need.
I so appreciated you investigating this. When I heard of it I was aghast!
Big pharma just can’t stand any competition. We have to be on constant alert.
Thank you.
Please be careful in jumping to conclusions about Vitamin D levels. The science behind it is quite complex, and there is evidence to support the possibility that high levels of Vitamin D may seem beneficial short-term, but be detrimental to some health conditions over the long term. While called a “vitamin”, D is actually a type of steroid hormone, and may be functioning in some cases just like other steroids, like Prednisone — makes you feel great for a little while, but has nasty side effects when continued over the course of many years. It can be immunosuppressive. While I don’t trust or support Big Pharma (and I certainly don’t think we need a synthetic vitamin D drug!), in this instance it is quite possible that the IOM report may be correct. For some people with certain types of chronic inflammatory ailments, high doses of vitamin D may be detrimental!
I tried numerous times to click the link to go to the Action Alert page to sign the petition to Congress. Each time the little box at the bottom right of my screen said “done”, but the page never loaded – it stayed blank.
A well balanced and informed article. I had grave suspicions which I raised with several friends in the US and Canada about newspaper reports on the new Vitamin D standards. I suspected a link to the Pharmaceutical industry and this article puts more evidence into the arena which hints strongly of that outcome.
Sadly I am English and live in the UK so I cannot sign your petition. I look forward to hearing the results of this investigation should it get approved.
I think this is absurd. Is the IOM in bed with big pharma-I do not know but it would not surprise me. What is so absurd is that you are asking Congress to do something about it and WE ALL KNOW CONGRESS IS IN BED WITH BIG PHARMA.
I would bet a dollar to a donut that the IOM IS in fact doing as big pharma wishes!!!
I totally Support the Alliance for Natural Health. I Appreciate your Action Alerts!!! I read up on your alerts and take action. Then, I write a comment and encourage Facebook readers to take part in contacting Congress, also. Thank you for ALL that you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have read up on Vitamin D3’s benefits for years now. We must do our part or Congress will Strip us from Safe health measures.
Filled out all info on This Link to go to the Action Alert page, but there was NO submit button.?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
The Send button appears in the lower right-hand corner, below the text of the letter.
It makes sense to recommend the amount of Vitamin D which will achieve the same levels found in healthy people living in tropical or sub tropical regions. This is 50 to 70 ng per ml and most people living in the north would need a lot of Vitamin D to achieve it, e.g. 400 IU per day or the amount they make when they go in the sun for at least half an hour. Considering the number of genes upregulated by Vitamin D and the fact that most cells have Vitamin D receptors and the fact that epidemiology fiinds so many diseases associated with its deficiency, one would think that a scientific advisor to the IOM would not be recommending minimal doses. It is sad to think that he appears more interested iin the profits of a drug company than the health of millions. Why on earth do we need a Vitamin D drug any way? This woulld be Vitamin D with its structure altered for patenting!!! Just think what harm that could do. At this rate we will never have good medicine! Doesn’t he even care?
Please read and help stop these high priced pharmasuitacal Companies
Thanks for the information. I knew these new guidelines were a bunch of hogwash and now I know why. Please continue to keep us informed. I am passing this info on to all my friends who care.
May I send this report on to the LA Times? On Monday (Dec 6th) they ran a story in the Health Section about the “exhaustive” IOM report, giving the impression everything said was gospel and no other studies or data were valid. Perfect example of so-called reporting – but obviously with no investigation. Would love to have them run a retraction based on your information! Thanks!
Dr. Glenville is making a mockery of the institutions charged with the health safety and conciousness of the public. Shame.
For shame!
Let us use rational scientific principles of inquiry when determining the amount of Vitamin D is necessary. All humans before the industrial revolution spent many hour outside in the weather. I live in Seattle, WA…home of the highest MS and breast cancer stats. My vitamin D was way too low when tested a couple of years ago. I take 4,000-5,000 units daily and it is now normal.
God bless you people for giving it your all to protect the public! Many thanks to you!!
Thank you so much for your articles and site in general. I do not leave my name because I am a (sic) consumer still taking a psychiatirc drug that I have tried for years to wean myself off of. After repeated attempts, I am finally down to less that the minimum manufactered dosage, which I must keep a secret (consumers, both de jure and practically) do not enjoy the same rights as the general public. Unfortunately, so many “mind” pharmasuticals alter the brain (and body) in such a way that going off them places the consumer in a situation of extreme emotional/mental stress, not unlike (acknowledged, finally) withdrawal but much worse, because the damage is much more servere, particuarlly with the passage of many years of drug-induced bio-chemical damage. The psychiatic community in the US esp. believes this withdrawal confirms the efficacy of the drug and the need for it. Many of us, years ago, were simply suffering a “nervous breakdown” but misdiagonized as schizophrenic, etc. (see eg books authored by Robert Whittaker). Thank you so much for the insight and confirmation you offer to those of us who were told, many years ago, that the drugs were ok- it was us.
It is time to STOP BIG business’ of all kinds that prey for the gain of money instead of a product with integrity and safety. People’s health is not something to play with. Accountability is the name of the game, and our government needs to start with themselves and check out why they are not already taking action at these monopolistic inhumane juggernauts. It’s time for our Government to throw a wrench in the gears of the huge Pharmaceutical Companies and put them in their place. Isn’t it obvious that the pharmaceutical companies are FARMING the public, planning to make people sick and creating down the road business by popping out a new medicines what seems like weekly, for some new disorder or even, they have the gall to call these new designer illness “diseases”. Just to sell their new pill, that will no doubt give a person cancer down the road, resulting in tons of testing and constant control of that person until they die, wringing out every penny that person had including the closest family and friends who try to help… What a pity we even have to have this kind of conversation with the congress when they most likely know all about it… Doesn’t the pharmaceuticals companies give money to their campaign?
I’ve just sat through a half hour “Medscape CME” video of CDC experts on H1N1 flu vaccine with the usual lies abut safety (1/1,000,000 serious adverse event) and efficacy………….not a word about Vitamin D and its role in flu prevention. Not a word about Thimerosal and Squalene (in it or not?)
or that it’s pretty much hit and miss with about 4% protection rate at best.
Sickening.
CDC…….Centre for Deceit and Corruption
FDA……..Fraud and Death Administration
now ,IOM………….?
Institute of Mendaciousness?
generally the us government, fda, big pharma and big agra, to some extent lie to the american people in an organized collusion with the purpose of financial and/or politicla gain. I recently discovered a tiny plaque build up in 1 heart artery , following a previous calcium score of zero on a ct scan. I e mailed doctors from the international cardioogical congress to find out what to do to reverse and prevetn the problem. They directed me to studies done bythe Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health in Washington DC ( not a gov agency)—It generally stated that the food we eat (big agra) contqains omega 6 to omega 3 ratios of 7:1 to 20 :1 and this highly inflammatory diet is the cause of all major diseases of welath (cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, autoimmune diseasess and so forth)–How can we fix this? Eat foods that have omega 6 ratios to omega 3 of between 4:1 and 1:1–add in a little Omega 3 pill to make up the difference and get a blood test called Essential Fatty Acid profile. Metramex labs does it for $300, but Quest Labs (if your insurance covers thqat) does it for free (paid by your insurnqace). Also a cuase of all these diseases is an imbalance in the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic . The sympahtetic is the exicitory one and is overbalanced in our society. What to do? Take Qi Gong classes . The other peice of info I got was from
Steven sinatra, a now retired cardiologist who did a lot of resesarch in CVD. He used Hawthorn (a natural ACE inhibitor to treat hypertension when someones’s angiotensin I makes too much angiotensin II.) He stuidied the energy physiology of the heart and discovered the heart needs, Calcium/masgnesium; d-ribose, carnitine,taurine and Co Q 10. in additon to the usual vitamins. Thesse give the mitochondrian of your heart more ATP (fuel) and other benefits. Acetyl L carnitine is similar for the brain. This is not a Vitamin D story–so why am I writing this?? Because it is one more BIG AGRA, BIG PHARMA scam on teh american public in order to increase their profits— the diet with the correct Omega balance excludes all the beef that big agra produceds by feeding cattle grains and chikens grains. What we should be eating for the correct omega ratios is: Grass fed beef (ratio of omegas 6 to 3 is about 2:1), real freee range chickens (they are on grass alll day eating grass and bugs not running around a chicken coop and being fed grain); the eggs of such chikens, the organ meat of such cattle(ratio is 1:1); wild alaskan caught salmon; wild caught sardimnes (off Spain coast); lots of organic green vegetables; berries; nuts; hemnp oil has a 3:1 raatio; canola oil has a 1 1/2:1 rqatio; olive oil has a higher ratio. Youj caN SEARCH THE WEB FOR RATIOS IN ALL FOODS. but THE BIGGEST OFFENDER HERE IS BIG AGRA. The average bloood level in Americans for Omega 6:to Omega 3 is bnetween 10:1 and 20:1, hence our rising and great numbers of cardiological diseases.who benefits? Pharmaceutical companies and the vendors of the diagnostic tools for CVD. In India the ratio is 58:1- which is why they have the highest rate of CVD in the worldThey do not eat beef since it is forbidden in the Hindu religion but they use many seed oils some of which have realy unhealthy omega 6 to omega 3 ratios and also eat mostly grains which is actually gnetically not suitable for humans. Although socially we our twenty first centruy, genetically we are in teh paleolithic era. So, humans have not evolved genetically for 40, 000 years. 10,000 years ago when agriculture was invented and humans began domesticating grains our health began to decline. Before that cardiovasculAr diseae and cancer did not exist. . The vitamoin D nonsense is part of this same problem. IF we are TOO HEALTHY who loses money? Pharmaceutical companies and the vendors of diagnostic devices. Another example. the supplement DMAE has been shown by much research to prevent the build up of amyloid plaques in the brain thius preventing alzheimers disease. How do we know that medical science and pharmacuetical companies know this is true? They are trying to creat a drug that they can patent by combining DMAE woith some artificial substance so it will be a drug, not a natural substance and to use it to cure alzheimers. Unfortuantely for them DMAE does not work after only before alzheimers.–so it combinged with Phosphidytyl complex is the best brain antioxidant–but phara cannot patent that. So they are not happy that we wilol not be getting alzheimers. How much money does that casjue them to loose??? Same thing with Vitamin D. If all americans ate healthjy diets, took appropriate suppplements and took a brisk 40 muinute walk every day, worked out with afew weights twice a week—how much money would pharmaceutical companies loose? Would slews of doctors go out of businmess? Would lthye all have to become anti aginh or preventative health alternative doctors. In this country we have the best scienc and also teh best manipulatrs to lie and cheat us of our health. What’s wrong with this piucture???
This article was very informative. Something I could direct my clients to, who were very upset and scared by the article by IOM.
Based on blood tests, I need to take 8000 IU D3 per day to maintain around 50 ng/ml 25(HO)D3. I have not had a cold or flu in several years. Earlier in life, before supplementing D3, I usually had 2-3 colds or flu per year.
My family (all five of us ages 67, 42, 40, 16 and 8) were found Vit D deficient after I myself insisted on getting the blood test done. I had to practically argue with all doctors (two internists for my husband and mother and the Pediatricians for my daughters) to get the tests ordered because they said that you should not be deficient in Vit D if you are eating a balanced diet. It has made a huge difference in the overall health of all of us after we started taking the supplement.
I agree with this article; so does Dr. Mercola in his website newsletter ie. mercola.com.
The FDA and IOM have been deceptive and do not protect the public. One must be proactive and do the research for food safety, drug safety, cosmetics, skin care product safety, etc. on their own.
As far as I’m concerned the FDA should be dismantled.
Thanks for this exceptional report. People like you keep the rest of us informed and cognizant of what is really the best way to care for ourselves.
Merry Christmas!!
Jorge
Please investigate the findings of the IOM regarding Vitamin D optimum levels. Are they truly independent or taking money/coming under the influence of big pharma! I WANT AN INDEPENDENT BODY interested in true scientific findings from true scientific studies!!
Sincerely,
Rosemary Fritz
It is noteworthy to see that the IOM used data from animal studies to “prove” that humans need less vit.D. This is yet another example, like the mice studies to determine human harm from nicotine, of animal study data trumping human study data to determine policy, to the detriment of humans (and animals).
Of course they are! I am taking part in “Grassroots Health project” A study by the University of California to see what it takes to raise ones Vitamin D levels to optimal levels. Based on research they say 40–60 nm/ml…it took 4000 IU a DAY to raise my levels to that point. I started out thinking that mine would be ideal as I took 1000 IU a day, Was I wrong! my level was only 15 nm/ml!
Most of our sunlight is being taken from us. People are getting sick. Sick people need meds but the world is catching on and getting really angry. More and more people turn to alternative because of distrust but they don’t catch on. No pharmas for me, I’ll find another way when possible and have found it very possible thanks to the internet. (until they take that) … although that might rupture this growing infection called corporate rule once and for all!
I don’t know how to break this to you but Darrell Issa will be in charge of the oversight hearings. He is pro Big Business in all ways shapes and means and already has released his statement that he already has a full schedule. You would do better going to CNN to one of the medical correspondents such as Elizabeth Cohen.
Being in very good health for a 70+ person who can easily walk 6-12 miles, I was shocked when my MD suggested an Vitamin D supplement because blood work showed an inadequate daily intake. I work part-time in my local library shlepping and shelving books, work outside in my garden, and hike frequently and assumed that sun exposure would provide adequate D, which at my age, helps ward off osteoporosis (brittle bones).
Boy, was I surprised!
Yes, good point about “sunlight being taken from us”; I hadn’t thought of chemtrails as doing that, but you’re right, they do decrease the amount of sunlight we’re getting on our skin. Far too few people realize our skies are being sprayed.
People aren’t catching on as fast as they might because they’re locked into looking to authorities for answers. Authoritarianism is a killer for the mind and freedom.
Mr. Issa is an honorable man. Please write him or call. He does have his plate full.
Thank you Alice,
How long did you have to take 4,000 IU to bring your levels up to the 40-60nm/ml level? Thank you.
“The thing that bugs me is that the people think the FDA is protecting them. It isn’t. What the FDA is doing and what the public thinks it’s doing are as different as night and day.”—Dr Ley former Commissioner of the FDA.
Bingo Chuck!
The FDA is a wholly owned organ of the HHS. HHS is a wholly owned organ of the Rockefeller clan. HHS is implementing UN Agenda 21 which posits a vast reduction int earth’s human population.
Until and unless we acknowledge these simple FACTS we can never have a healthy country.
It is growing increasingly difficult to remain healthy even as an individual who KNOWS the political and health facts.
With MANDATORY “vaccination” it will be IMPOSSIBLE to remain healthy.
I am one of the many individuals who has been tested and found deficient in Vitamin D and is on a recommended Vitamin D supplementation. I am of European, Native American, Hispanic, and African descent – the latter 3 groups having been found as some of the most in danger of Vitamin D deficiency.
I feel that it is important that this issue be looked at in a much more wholistic way and that all research be taken into account. I am thankful for the throrough article posted by Alliance for Natural Health and for all that they do.
I am currently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and, even though I am on two oral medications, it seems to be the Nutraceuticals that I take that are making the most difference (Fenugreek, Gymnema Sylvestre, Cinnamon, Bitter lemon, to name a few). Whenever I run out of my Nutraceutical supplements I notice a big difference in my blood sugar levels.
I firmly believe that my health, and even my survival, is dependant on my being able to make choices in my health path. These choices would, for me, include supplementation with natural healing herbs. And, I am quite concerned about the government constricting my choices unnecessarily – especially in service to Big Pharm, Big Medicine, the Factory Farm corporations, and International Corporate powers.
Leave me my freedom of health choices and use the offices of regulation to prevent abuse, dirty practices (in every sense of the word), & malpractice, and to promote preventative health, natural solutions, health coverage for all, and promotion of wellness in all aspects of the word!
You said it all Maria. I am currently taking 11,000 units of Vitamin D3 trying to get my levels up. I was taking over 7800 units for several months but it was not enough. And when I run short on my supplements I feel a big difference. It is time to stop the deception on the American public. We are not sheep to be tended by the government and big medicine!
Are you consuming enough magnesium? It is recommended to consume 1 serving of nuts or seeds every other day and eat at least one serving of leafy green vegetable.s
Remember that drinks like coffee, alcohol, etc suppresses the immune system.
Your article is right on. Several Physicians whom I respect greatly are reccomending up to 5,000 units of D. You can add the National Institutes of Health, in protecting Big Pharma and doing countless perpetuated Research projects in the name of Science. The NI.H spends more taxpayer dollars (32 Billion a year) than any other Government Agency except for Social Security, Medicare, and Defense. Probably 80% of this could be put to much better use. —-ANH USA please go after the NIH.—————————————————————-
My endocrinologist sugested that I take 2 1000mg of Vit. D per day. I have been taking the supplement for over a year now I look and feel much better thank before. I say pooh!! to the naysayer. We all to take certain supplements every day.
As a pharmacist we have been following the grassrootshealth.net guidelines and findings at our community pharmacy, Glen Ellyn Pharmacy and have found similar findings. Several patients had to discontinue their blood pressure meds and anti depressant meds with medical supervision as they did not need the pharmaceutical products when the D got up to the new healthy level of 60 ng/ml. Many are taking 10,000 IU daily to get these benefits. Pain resolution is another big one we have experienced. Our pharmacy students have summarized the information from grassrootshealth.net to guide our patients to the new findings and need to increase their active D levels.
ANH,
Thank you for this effort. I recognized this need five years ago and visited my US representative. However, without the national spot light, he took no action. I have written extensively about this on my blog Vitamin D Deficiency Survivor. As your article described there is Glenville Jones conflict of interest, but there is greater concern as Hector F. DeLuca as a consultant to the FNB and most likely will have great monetary return from his vitamin D analog patents through Wisconsin Research Alumni Foundation if the 25(OH)D is kept low. There is an interconnection as Jones was DeLuca’s grad student. Check my post from this morning for details. Conflict of Interest at National Academies? I do not think any kind of conspiracy, just institutions working toward their best return. Steenbock – DeLuca-Jones The other side of the coin is that with vitamin D’s reduction in disease states, the loss of a large number of health care worker jobs – as many as ten percent or more and with extended life, increased elderly care – the governments interest.
Thanks,
Mark Pegram
A Vitamin D Deficiency Survivor
I wish there was some integrity in the health field
Well Adam we can help bring it back.
First spend a little time and learn about sunshine and vitamin D. Learn that the Vitamin D Council recommends for a person getting no sun a good vitamin D3 dose is 1000 IU of vitamin D3/25 pounds of body weight/day. Learn why this is so.
When dealing with anyone from the “Medical Industry” ask them what they think is a good daily amount of vitamin D3 for a person to take. If they have no opinion or their opinion is incorrect inform them in a nice way. Do not be so nice as to agree with their uninformed OPINION.
IMO there is nothing so embarrassing for a Physician as a patient who CLEARLY knows more about basic medicine that the physician.
A few million encounters like this and the “Medical Industry” as well as the “Medical Profession” may learn the facts about vitamin D.
It may be almost impossible to inform most Pediatricians, Oncologists and Obstetricians as they seem to be the most easily brainwashed. But IMO give it a go. Incidentally for these three disciplines to NOT test their patients for their vitamin D levels and NOT replete them to at least 80 ng/ml is IMO criminal.
http://healthyprotocols.com/2_sun.htm
There is “Some” integrity in the health field, but if you live in the USA you are a capitalist and as such should not be surprised when *anyone* attempts to profit off of you. We live in the land of the “I want a free lunch and I won’t pay taxes”, as far as I can tell.
As for integrity, I give out free advice daily on a huge variety of health issues, for example – why? Because I am a pharmacist. Overstressed, overworked, understaffed, and yes, I grew up in a corner drugstore complete with soda fountain so I THOUGHT I knew what I was getting into when I chose to follow my father’s trade. But to the matter at hand:
I have been titrating my own dosage of vitamin D3 for several years, and preaching the benefits of it daily. I have handouts I give to people I deem at risk or otherwise susceptible to either my advice or due to their particular health needs. I maintain an overstock of 5,000iu 100-count bottles in my pharmacy, with a prominent flip-down sign that reads, “Buy One, Get One Free”, because the chain I work for puts vitamins on sale once every few weeks and when it does, I urge people to stock up. I’ve been testing myself through ZRT labs twice a year ($65 a test right now), and have found that in order to achieve a blood level of 25(OH)D of around 100ng/ml, I must take 3 to 4 of the 5,0000iu caps daily. Amazing to me since I grew up in South Texas, was outside in nothing but shorts most of my adolescent life, and even now frequent the sun. Your needs will vary. I urge all to get tested, and then to take appropriate action to improve your blood levels to at least 40 if not higher, and keep an eye on the literature as more information/studies are published. As a high performance (elite level) archery coach I first discovered the benefits of D3 while trying to find a way to improve athletic performance – ironic, in that it DOES improve neuromuscular performance, in the young as well as the old. SO get tested, don’t dose yourself blindly as you may end up taking too little. And don’t trust any single source – Dr, Pharmacist, or Vitamin Shop teenage clerk – educate yourself. That’s what ixquick and google are for. 🙂 good luck and may Diogenes assist you on your way.
Thanks Ron, This is valuable dosing information.
I wonder how many “experts” received “gifts” from Big Pharma for their paltry vitamin D advice?
I can’t tell if the IoM is arrogant in thinking no one would be watching or if they simply don’t care, but yes, this result is such a tragedy. A co worker who lives for “mainstream medicine” told me the day after this study came out that I was going to get really sick from the Vitamin D I was taking. Even though her blood pressure is through the roof, and even though my blood pressure has dropped like a stone to low normal – she still has to use the IoM study to justify to herself that only mainstream medicine has the answers. That is the tragedy of this study.
From the first day I heard the Vitamin D hypothesis, I thought, that is it. When it is a sunny day, what does my cat do? Runs over to the sunlight spot (the window) and soaks up the rays. Sure she doesn’t get any Vitamin D but, she thinks she is. For millions of years prior to now, humans walked the earth with no clothing and, for hours a day. How come they didn’t all die of skin cancer? I mean the idea that sun or vitamin d could be bad for you just flys in the face of what nature is telling us. Nature is screaming at us, sun, outside, exercise, do it NOW – all the animals act that way. But, humans in their insane bizzaro arrogance, instead say, sun is bad for you, chemicals are good for you, trust not what nature says, trust in another human. A human compromised by big pharma and big chemical. And people buy this. It is just so sad.
For me, I know this is it. Since starting on 4000 IU of Vitamin D3, my blood pressure has taken a dive. I am no higher than 115/70 ever, for all of my 20’s I was 130/80 and greater. And all of my family members have high blood pressure. Since getting on vitamin d, my body temp has gone way up. I used to be 97.9 on a good day, now I am up at 98.4 and higher. (oh my doctor used to tell me that 97.9 was normal– right — doctors now try to tell you it is normal for you to be sick). I used to be able to gain weight hand over foot. I mean I could gain 30 lbs in 3 months. But now, my weight is stable no matter what I eat. I have also noticed improvements in my vision. Not to mention that I never have colds anymore and if I do (I got one after visiting a family member in a hospital) its degree of power is significantly lower. My level is around 50 ng per mil. There is no way I could have gotten there with 600 IU. I take 4000 IU and I stay out in the sun like once every two months if I can.
Hello, I am a physician who used supplements in my practice from 1980 until I was force to retire for stress-related health problems 5 years ago. I still belong to the North American Medical Society. The day following the news release from IOM regarding VitaminD, NAMS sent all its members a link to the abstract of the article cited by IOM. Wouldn’t you know, the abstract was surrounded by advertizements from Big Pharma regarding one of its new diabetes drug! I was not surprised, but nevertheless, appalled!
I was told about Vitamin D a few years ago by the wife of my recently deceased nutritional advisor. She told me that 10,000 Units were often necessary to get ones blood level high enough. I started taking 5-10,000 Units then, depending on the time of year and other factors, such as exposure to infectious diseases. I recently moved from the Southwest with plenty of sun, to the north of the country, so I;m now taking 10,000 Units everyday, and I increase my dose if I get sick, or will be in a place with potentail massive exposures. My blood level was checked a few weeks ago and was 53—good, but definitely not too high. Food for thought…
I am 93 years old Recovering from a broken Hip. on Warfarin I am now taking 1000 IU of D3 I gather that this is much too low. I think that my bones are brittle. I wih I was back in Puerto Rico.for the REAL THING–God given Sun. Any comments?
I used to take flu shots every year, I quit last year taking those shots and I increase the vitamin D3 from 1000 to 5000 Units and haven’t get sick at all, my last blolod report was 57.
Now Big Pharma is trying to patent a synthetic vitamin D so they can make another cash cow out of illness! What is up with western science’s bizarre obsession with chemicals? Why do they always believe only a patent chemical can cure you? Seriously, its time we form a “Health Freedom Liberation Front” and revolt even more than we already are against this chemical-pushing craze. The body cannot metabolize chemicals so they build up inside wreaking havoc. Cancer is a man-made disease that can be treated by dozens of non-chemical cures. We need to keep these #ssholes from preying on vulnerable children another Big Pharma cash cow. Supplements are never as dangerous as synthetic drugs, in fact there very safe compared to any of conventional medicine’s dangerous nonsense. Which is all of conventional medicine.
Please check out these sites (no, I do not own them):
vaccineliberationarmy.com
nocodexgenocide.com
The RDA committee in the mid 1990’s ran into the same problem. At that time and probably now part of the rationale for low RDA’s or MDR’s is that the higher they are the more people will be receiving sub par nutrition and qualify for Food Stamps and other programs. Looking into this aspect of the problem would probably answer the question. There is an abundance of evidence for a higher level somewhere around 2000 to 4000 IU/day or even more in northern latitudes.
As an MS sufferer, Vitamin D3 is even more important to me and others than for normals. I (and others) discovered that liquid D3 drops are much more pure and raise serum D levels rapidly.
I was taking 5000-6000 IU’s a day. I thought I was in great shape “D-wise” and was shocked when I found out my blood level was only 30! Barely into the “normal” range. The dosage needed does indeed vary by person. Get your level tested!
Its sad what the medical profession has become in the US. I have had to argue with my physicians about refusing their prescriptions. When I had a recent intestinal infection, I was put on an antibiotic that gave me a headache until I finished the pills. The antibiotics created a negative flora balance, and I then had a dreadful case of diarrhea, so was prescribed another dose of antibiotics. Which still continued, and a third dose of antibiotics. Half way thru the third dose, I was blessed to receive some information on probiotics, bought myself a bunch and cured myself. I take a mild dose every day to ward off another infection (I have diverticulosis). The wonderful thing about this episode was the blood test that revealed that I was D deficient. My count was in the single digits! I thought as a normally active outdoorsy 59 year old, eating a balanced diet that I wouldn’t be deficient. Never avoided being in the sun and avoided sunscreens (I will use mineral-based sunscreens only, nothing with oxybenzone). Fortunately, my doctor saw the need to treat the D deficiency – with 50,000iu for 10 weeks at a time, which I did 3 cycles! Each blood test revealed that my level was barely climbing up, but after 9 months, ended up in the mid 20’s. As a menopausal woman, it is critical I keep my D up. If this had not been caught by accident, I was cruising for osteoporosis big time! There have been other health benefits also. Currently taking 3,000iu daily, but an annual checkup soon will reveal if I need more to stay at the potential new minimum level of 20ng/ml. Crazy! I also want to say thanks to all the people who leave comments – I have learned a lot from you and get a feeling I am not alone any more, arguing with my doctor.
I take 8 000 IU daily. Simply because I am over weight. For every 25 lbs I am suppose to take 1000 IU. So Vitamin D is suppose to help weight loss too.
Sadly I haven’t been taking it consistently until a few weeks ago now I will.
I have been monitoring my D levels for about 4 yrs. For 2 summers I spent about an hour in a bikini around the noon hr and my D levels only got to 50ng. In order to get to 98ng I have to take 12000iu of D3
Harvard and the Vitamin D Council recommend anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 IU a day.
Are you feeling smarter than Harvard doctors? You are acting as if you do. It is the reason that we don’t trust you to make healthy choices for us, the people. You have been bought by the drug companies. They have billions invested in lobbyist to convince you their right- and here’s a little gift for you…
We are tired of the lies!!!!!!!!!
Stop the lies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least 5 of the panel members had conclifcts of interest – details at
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1198
At least 5 of the panel members had conclifcts of interest – details at
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1198
At least 5 of the panel members had conclifcts of interest – details at
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1198
At least 5 of the panel members had conclifcts of interest – details at
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1198
At least 5 of the panel members had conclifcts of interest – details at
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1198
At least 5 of the panel members had conclifcts of interest – details at
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1198
At least 5 of the panel members had conclifcts of interest – details at
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1198