Vitamin D News – December 2010

Dear All,

 

Once again we would like to thank you for your input and suggestions following November’s Newsletter. In this month’s edition, we will inform you about the recent debate that took place between the European Parliament and the European Commission on Vitamin D deficiency in Europe. Furthermore, we will report on the annual Caroline Walker Lecture, whose subject this year was Vitamin D policy in the UK, an upcoming meeting on Vitamin D policy taking place in the United Kingdom (UK), and a new Dutch scientific publication on Vitamin D deficiency.

 

News

 

EP Oral Question to the European Commission debated in ENVI Committee

Following the numerous written Parliamentary Questions on Vitamin D submitted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) over the past several months (for more information please contact us or visit our website) the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee of the European Parliament held a debate with the European Commission on 29 November. The debate was initiated by an Oral Question submitted by Mr. János Áder MEP, in conjunction with Mr. Jim Higgins MEP and Dr. Anja Weisgerber MEP, on the issue of Vitamin D deficiency and the actions undertaken on behalf of the European Union. In his presentation Mr. Áder outlined the importance of Vitamin D as a public health issue, particularly in relation to children and adults. It was particularly relevant to act now considering the fact that current recommended daily intake levels were established over 20 years ago. Mr. Áder noted that it is estimated that around 50% of Europe’s population is Vitamin D deficient, and reiterated that the economic costs of acting to prevent Vitamin D deficiency were minimal when compared to the potential cost savings.

 

In response the European Commission, represented by Mr. Andrzej Jan Rys, Director of Public Health and Risk Assessment at the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG Sanco), stated that the Commission is aware of the health benefits provided by Vitamin D, and that the Commission welcomed the activities of the European Parliament. However, he argued that there were not a sufficient number of randomised controlled trials available to support the benefits attributed to Vitamin D other than for bone and muscle health. Furthermore, Mr. Rys stated that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is expected to deliver its updated scientific advice on Vitamin D by the end of 2012, and the Commission will consider further action following this.

 

In the debate with the Committee Members that followed, a number of issues were raised. Reference was made to the European Parliament’s previous experience with Vitamin C and legislation that the Parliament had passed on the regulation of food supplements. The fact that there were different recommendations in different EU countries, for example in the recommended intake levels for children in Finland and the UK, was brought to the attention of the MEPs. Despite some uncertainty expressed about engaging in focused action on one specific micronutrient such as Vitamin D, and concern on the part of some MEPs as to whether it was necessary undertake actions at the moment, it was agreed that Vitamin D deficiency was a relevant issue, and that an information campaign under the banner of health prevention could be a possible step going forward. Furthermore, it was noted that there should be a balance struck between a healthy diet and sun exposure to achieve optimum Vitamin D intake, and that the main focus of action should be on the vulnerable in society. At the end of the debate it was suggested that the ENVI Committee’s Working Group on Health would further deal with the issue. We will endeavour to inform you of further developments in this regard, and if you would require more information, please contact us at vitamind@pa-international.org.

 

New IoM Recommendations for Vitamin D and Calcium

The US Institute of Medicine (IoM) has released its report on new recommendation for Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Calcium and Vitamin D. For information on the outcomes of the research, please see our dedicated newsletter here.

 

UK public health policy on Vitamin D

On 16 November the annual Caroline Walker Lecture was delivered by Oliver Gillie entitled “Sunlight robbery: Vitamin D and public health – Is current UK public health policy on vitamin D fit for purpose?”. Dr. Gillie in his lecture described the state of UK policy on Vitamin D as being a “disgrace” for a number of years. Dietary and environmental factors, and modern lifestyles resulting in less sun exposure, have resulted in a decline in Vitamin D levels in the UK population, which Dr. Gillie stated as being at least in part responsible for the rise in prevalence of such chronic diseases as Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes, certain cancers and asthma. He said that compared to the economic costs caused by smoking, those caused by Vitamin D deficiency were much greater (£6bn and £27bn respectively). Furthermore, he identified five failures in UK Vitamin D policy:

• Government advice that healthy adults need no Vitamin D supplements, despite advice from such groups as British health insurer Bupa to the contrary;
• Government advice to mothers that babies do not need to be given Vitamin D supplements until they are 6 months old;
• the failure of Government programmes which provide free Vitamin D supplements to pregnant women and children to adequately reach all those that require them;
• the failure to follow countries such as the US, Canada, Finland and Ireland in fortifying milk with Vitamin D;
• and, Government advice highlighting only the risks associated with sun exposure and not the potential benefits

 

To counter the damaging effects of Vitamin D deficiency, Dr. Gillie proposed that daily intakes of Vitamin D of 2000-4000 International Units (IUs) would be required for optimal health, and more for pregnant and nursing mothers. Further necessary actions proposed include giving doctors more information on Vitamin D, advising all cardiology, diabetes, cancer and arthritis patients to take Vitamin D, encouraging industry to increase the production of fortified foods, and spreading the word to those that make the decisions, such as Parliamentarians, doctors, health authorities, and chief medical officers. For further information please get in touch with us.

 

New light on Vitamin D – Dutch article on the re-evaluation of an essential pro-hormone

The Dutch Journal for Medicine (Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2010; 154:A1810) has published on 16 November a new contribution entitled “New light on Vitamin D – Re-evaluation of an essential pre-hormone” by Dr. Jos P.M. Wielders, et al, under the Department of Clinical Chemistry of the Meander Medical Centre Amersfoort. The article deals with the fact that Vitamin D deficiency is no longer solely related to the occurrence of osteomalacia, rickets and osteoporosis. The paper states that there also exists a causal relation between Vitamin D and muscle function and the functioning of the immune system. Low Vitamin D-serum levels in the blood are associated with an increased risk of auto-immune diseases and diverse types of melanoma, such as prostate, colon and breast cancer. This has lead to discussions on the optimal serum concentration and the adaptation of recommended Vitamin D-supplementation. In Europe, a 25-hydroxyvitamin D consensus appears to emerge on a minimum value of 50nmol/l and a recommended target value of 75nmol/l in the serum. It has been observed that among the elderly and ethnic minority populations a majority of people are deficient or seriously deficient in Vitamin D – cases in which “one-shot” treatment with Vitamin D are being considered. Medical attention to Vitamin D deficiency is, above all, recommended when dealing with incomprehensible muscle pain or weakness and with patients from risk groups like the elderly, ethnic minorities, chronic diseases, people who spend too much time inside, excessive users of sunscreen and patients with serious overweight. The authors conclude that particularly among these risk groups and pregnant women attention should be paid to the important role of Vitamin D ‘from cradle to grave’. The article is available online, and will shortly be released in print. For further information please contact us.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Vitamin D Meeting, London

A meeting to provide an update on the status of Vitamin D policy is set to take place in London on 9 December, at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. At the meeting Dr. Robert Heaney, a leading member of the faculty of the Creighton University Osteoporosis Research Centre in the US, will provide an overview of the latest scientific evidence and an assessment of the recently released IoM report on dietary reference values for Vitamin D. Also, there will be a discussion on how doctors are currently treating Vitamin D deficiency, how to treat Vitamin D deficiency in the community, and what the next steps for Vitamin D policy are.

 

Please contact:

Rufus Greenbaum          Email: rufus@greenbaum.com Tel: +44 7831 135428

 

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information on any of the items above. If you have a Vitamin D story that you would like to share, let us know and we will circulate it through our dedicated “D” network – 1300+ concerned scientists, doctors, politicians, patients, industry and media which is constantly expanding.

 

Best regards,

The Vitamin D Team

Public Advice International Foundation

vitaminD@pa-international.org

Vitamin D News Extra – Institute of Medicine Report on Vitamin D

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, today the US Institute of Medicine (IoM) has released its report on new recommendation for Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Calcium and Vitamin D. We are please to present you below with the IoM’s findings. A summary of the report is available here, and the full report is available here.  There will be a press conference on the release of the report this afternoon (10.00 am Eastern Standard Time), for which you can register here.

IOM Report Sets New Dietary Intake Levels for Calcium and Vitamin D To Maintain Health and Avoid Risks Associated With Excess

WASHINGTON — Most Americans and Canadians up to age 70 need no more than 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day to maintain health, and those 71 and older may need as much as 800 IUs, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.  The amount of calcium needed ranges, based on age, from 700 to 1,300 milligrams per day, according to the report, which updates the nutritional reference values known as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for these interrelated nutrients.

The report’s recommendations take into account nearly 1,000 published studies as well as testimony from scientists and stakeholders.  A large amount of evidence, which formed the basis of the new intake values, confirms the roles of calcium and vitamin D in promoting skeletal growth and maintenance and the amounts needed to avoid poor bone health.  The committee that wrote the report also reviewed hundreds of studies and reports on other possible health effects of vitamin D, such as protection against cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes.  While these studies point to possibilities that warrant further investigation, they have yielded conflicting and mixed results and do not offer the evidence needed to confirm that vitamin D has these effects.  Rigorous trials that yield consistent results are vital for reaching conclusions, as past experiences have shown.  Vitamin E, for example, was believed to protect against heart disease before further studies disproved it.

“There is abundant science to confidently state how much vitamin D and calcium people need,” said committee chair Catharine Ross, professor and Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair, department of nutritional sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park.  “We scrutinized the evidence, looking for indications of beneficial effects at all levels of intake.  Amounts higher than those specified in this report are not necessary to maintain bone health.”

The science on calcium’s role in bone health shows that 700 milligrams per day meets the needs of almost all children ages 1 through 3, and 1,000 milligrams daily is appropriate for almost all children ages 4 through 8.  Adolescents ages 9 through 18 require no more than 1,300 milligrams per day.  For practically all adults ages 19 through 50 and for men until age 71, 1,000 milligrams covers daily calcium needs.  Women starting at age 51 and both men and women age 71 and older need no more than 1,200 milligrams per day.

As for vitamin D, 600 IUs daily meets the needs of almost everyone in the United States and Canada, although people 71 and older may require as much as 800 IUs per day because of potential physical and behavioral changes related to aging.

The majority of Americans and Canadians are getting enough vitamin D and calcium, the committee determined from reviewing national surveys of blood levels.  Some adolescent girls may not get quite enough calcium, and there is a greater chance that elderly individuals may fall short of the necessary amounts of calcium and vitamin D.  These individuals should increase their intake of foods containing these nutrients and possibly take a supplement.

Confusion about the amount of vitamin D necessary to ward off deficiency has arisen in recent years as tests that measure levels in patients’ blood have become widely used.  The measurements of sufficiency and deficiency — the cutpoints — that clinical laboratories use to report test results have not been based on rigorous scientific studies and are not standardized.  This lack of agreement means the same individual could be declared deficient or sufficient depending on which laboratory reads the test.  There may be an overestimation of the number of people with vitamin D deficiency because many labs appear to be using cutpoints that are higher than the evidence indicates are appropriate.  Based on available data, almost all individuals get sufficient vitamin D when their blood levels are at or above 20 nanograms per milliliter as it is measured in America, or 50 nanomoles per liter as measured in Canada.

Although sunlight triggers the natural production of vitamin D in skin and contributes to people’s vitamin D levels, individuals’ sun exposure varies greatly and many people are told to minimize their exposure, so the committee assumed minimal sun exposure to establish the DRIs.  The new intake levels for vitamin D cover the needs of individuals who get little sun.

Greater amounts of food fortification and rising rates of supplement use have increased the chances that people consume high amounts of these nutrients.  Getting too much calcium from dietary supplements has been associated with kidney stones, while excessive vitamin D can damage the kidneys and heart.  Evidence about other possible risks associated with routine vitamin D supplementation is still tentative, and most studies have focused on very high doses taken short term rather than on routine, long-term consumption of large amounts.  However, some signals suggest there are greater risks of death and chronic disease associated with long-term high vitamin D intake, which informed the committee’s conclusions about levels that consumers should not exceed.

Upper intake levels represent the upper safe boundary and should not be misunderstood as amounts people need or should strive to consume.  The upper intake levels for vitamin D are 2,500 IUs per day for children ages 1 through 3; 3,000 IUs daily for children 4 through 8 years old; and 4,000 IUs daily for all others.  The upper intake levels for calcium are 2,500 milligrams per day from age 1 through 8; 3,000 milligrams daily from age 9 through 18; 2,500 milligrams daily from age 19 through 50; and 2,000 milligrams per day for all other age groups.

“While it is too early to make definitive statements about the risks associated with routine high doses of vitamin D and calcium, people don’t need more than the amounts established in this report,” Ross said.  “Past cases such as hormone replacement therapy and high doses of beta carotene remind us that some therapies that seemed to show promise for treating or preventing health problems ultimately did not work out and even caused harm.  This is why it is appropriate to approach emerging evidence about an intervention cautiously, but with an open mind.”

The new DRIs are based on much more information and higher-quality study results than were available when the DRIs for these nutrients were first set in 1997.  At that time, limitations in the evidence resulted in intake levels called Adequate Intakes, which are rougher estimations of people’s requirements than the new values.  The old and new DRIs reflect different calculations and are not directly comparable.

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Defense, and Health Canada.  Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public.  The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies.  For more information, visit http://national-academies.org.  A committee roster follows.

Contacts:

Christine Stencel, Senior Media Relations Officer

Christopher White, Media Relations Assistant

Office of News and Public Information

202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu

Source: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=13050

If you have a Vitamin D story that you would like to share, let us know and we will circulate it through our dedicated “D” network – 1300+ concerned scientists, doctors, politicians, patients, industry and media which is constantly expanding.

Best regards,  The Vitamin D Team Public Advice International Foundation vitaminD@pa-international.org

Vitamin D News – November 2010

Vitamin D News – November 2010

 

Dear All,

 

Once again we would like to thank you for your input and suggestions following October’s Newsletter. As mentioned in the last newsletter this month we highlight the emerging partnership between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and PA International in working to raise awareness of Vitamin D deficiency. Also the award of the Pride of Britain award to Ryan McLaughlin in recognition of his campaign to raise awareness  of the issue of Vitamin D deficiency; recent activities in the European Parliament on Vitamin D deficiency; the forthcoming Institute of Medicine report on Vitamin D and an upcoming book investigating the links between cancer risk reduction and Vitamin D.

News

 

PA International and the WHO: Partners in promoting awareness of Vitamin D and mapping Vitamin D deficiency in Europe

PA International is proud to announce that it has begun a collaboration with the WHO Regional Office Europe on Vitamin D. At the meeting on 1 October in Copenhagen, the WHO and PA International addressed in detail the issue of Vitamin D deficiency in Europe. As a follow-up the partners have agreed a number of follow-up actions to maintain the momentum on to bring the issue Vitamin D deficiency to wider attention. In this respect the WHO has committed itself to:

• comprehensively review the literature on vitamin-D deficiency and its determinants;
• map vitamin-D deficiency in the Region as extensively as possible;
• develop an integrated plan to tackle it within the framework of a strategy on micronutrient deficiencies outlined in the Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy;
• coordinate with WHO headquarters on the continuing development of micronutrient guidelines

PA is looking forward to working with the WHO and other stakeholders over the coming months to stimulate funding support for these activities. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact PA International or follow this link: www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/news/news/2010/11/who-to-map-vitamin-d-deficiency-in-europe

Scottish Vitamin D Campaigner is Pride of Britain

Ryan McLaughlin, the 15-year old founder of the Scottish campaign group Shine on Scotland, has been awarded a prestigious Pride of Britain award, for his campaign to raise awareness of the potential benefits of Vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Ryan initiated his campaign to promote Vitamin D following the diagnosis of his mother with MS. As reported in last month’s newsletter Shine on Scotland was instrumental in organising the recently held high level ‘Scottish Summit on Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis’ that took place in Glasgow. Ryan was presented with his award on Monday 8^th November at the prestigious Pride of Britain awards ceremony (www.prideofbritain.com) following a visit to the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, at No. 10 Downing St. Speaking after the visit Ryan said that he hopes the UK Prime Minister can help him to continue his good work, and that he would not stop campaigning. Further information on the Shine on Scotland campaign can be found at www.shineonscotland.org.uk.

 

EP Oral Question to Commissioner Dalli discussed in ENVI Committee

Following the numerous written Parliamentary Questions submitted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) over the past several months (for more information please contact us or visit our website (www.pa-international.org/Vitamin-D.htm), the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee of the European Parliament has decided that on 29^th November they will debate with the Commission an Oral Question submitted by Mr. János Áder MEP on the issue of Vitamin D deficiency and the response of the European Union. Depending on the outcome of this debate, the Oral Question may then be taken up in a full plenary session of the Parliament at a later date. PA International will endeavour to provide more information on the Oral Question as the process develops.

New US Recommendations?

Following the debate in the European Parliament, indeed the very next day (30^th November) the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) will publish its (long awaited) report on “Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D”. The report release will take place at the National Press Club in Washington DC and be broadcast via live video webcast. At the time of the release, it will be possible to view the report online at www.iom.edu/vitamind.

 

Research in Germany on the benefits of sunlight and Vitamin D against the risk of cancer

In Germany, recent research increasingly points to the preventative potential of Vitamin D with regard to cancer, in particular breast cancer [European Journal of Cancer, 2010 Aug;46(12):2196-205]. Comprehensive practical information in German has now been made available: a new book will be published this month (November 2010), entitled “Cancer Cells do not like Sun. Vitamin D – the Shield against Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Diseases” (“Krebszellen mögen keine Sonne. Vitamin D- der Schutzschild gegen Krebs, Diabetes und Herzerkrankungen.“). It is authored by medical prevention expert Prof. Dr. med. Jörg Spitz and Vitamin D expert Dr. William B. Grant (Mankau 2010, paperback). The book provides firsthand medical advice for concerned patients, showing how important sunlight is for our health. It includes a Vitamin D-Barometer and a Lifestyle-Risk-Survey. The authors’ goal is to raise awareness about the fact that 70-90% of all people in Germany, Austria and Switzerland suffer from a lack of Vitamin D and are not aware that this may cause cancer. Additionally, the book provides an overview of the latest research results on UV-light and Vitamin D and gives guidance on their capacity to improve quality of life and extend life expectancy. As well as providing potentially practical advice on how the sun can help reduce or even prevent cancer, or multiple sclerosis and a range of other health conditions, Prof. Spitz and Dr. Grant also explain how Vitamin D status can be determined and regulated. Prof. Spitz comments: “A particular advantage of this book is the fact that it does not restrict itself to only presenting the newly discovered positives features of Vitamin D. These advantages are – indeed – reflected upon in the broader framework of an integral prevention concept together with already established aspects of nutrition and physical activity. Moreover, the content goes beyond the transfer of theoretical knowledge – concrete recommendations and examples are given to implement prevention in practice.”

 

New PA International Vitamin D homepage

This is just a short note to inform our readers that the PA International Vitamin D homepage (www.pa-international.org/Vitamin-D.htm) has been updated in order to provide greater ease of access to the information held there.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information on any of the items above. If you have a Vitamin D story that you would like to share, let us know and we will circulate it through our dedicated “D” network – 1300+ concerned scientists, doctors, politicians, patients, industry and media which is constantly expanding.

 

Best regards,

The Vitamin D Team

Public Advice International Foundation

vitaminD@pa-international.org

Pride of Britain Award for Shine on Scotland Vitamin D Campaigner

Ryan McLaughlin, the 15-year old founder of the Scottish campaign group Shine on Scotland, has been awarded the prestigious Pride of Britain award, for his campaign to raise awareness of the potential benefits of Vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). FOr more information please see here.

New Homepage

We are happy to announce, after not unconsiderable technological wizardry, a facelift for the PA International Vitamin D website. It will hopefully make the site simpler to navigate, and the information easier to find. Also, we have made available all the previous editions of the monthly Vitamin D Newsletters, for those who haven’t yet subscribed!

 

you can visit our shiny new home here.

Vitamin D News – October 2010

Vitamin D News – October 2010

Dear All,

Once again we would like to thank you for your input and suggestions following last month’s Newsletter. PA International’s campaign on raising Vitamin D awareness goes from strength to strength and couldn’t be done without your valuable input – this Newsletter is becoming a good mechanism for exchanging the latest news on Vitamin D promotion and research. Earlier this month PA International had the opportunity to meet with the World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for Europe on the Vitamin D issue and we hope to announce some news on this in our next newsletter…

As well as new events relating to Vitamin D, in this issue we highlight: the European Commission’s responses to Parliamentary Questions on the issue of Vitamin D and Vitamin D deficiency; the outcomes of the Scottish Summit on Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis, and a related awareness-raising initiative by the Scottish Government; new clinical practice recommendations for Vitamin D deficiency; a report linking increased Vitamin D (through sun exposure) and a reduced risk of cancer; and the return of ‘rickets’ to London.

News

Responses by the European Commission to Parliamentary Questions on Vitamin D submitted by the European Parliament

The European Commission has responded to the three Parliamentary Questions submitted in September by Mr. Jim Higgins, Member of the European Parliament. The questions, as reported in last month’s Newsletter, were focused on the activities of the Commission in relation to Vitamin D and Vitamin D deficiency.

In response to a request for an update on the work and research of the European Micronutrient Recommendations Aligned Network (EURRECA), and the extent to which EFSA will draw on the recommendations on Vitamin D being prepared by the Institute of Medicine in the US, the Commission has asked EFSA, who provided the following information:

I.            Work on the Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) for micronutrients including Vitamin D will only commence at the end of 2010

II.            EFSA carefully monitors all available scientific opinion from authoritative bodies, including from the Institute of Medicine in the USA, which EFSA views as being of high value for its work on setting Vitamin D DRVs.

III.            EFSA stated that it cooperates with EURRECA to prevent duplication of the work they both undertake, and to ensure that EURRECA’s work is complementary and supportive to EFSA.

In response to a request for information on how and to what extent the European Commission could support further research into the potential benefits of Vitamin D for several serious illnesses, the Commission highlighted a number of recent and current research projects:

I.            The establishment of EURRECA, following the 6^th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6), which is tasked with developing a framework for harmonised advice on micronutrients, including Vitamin D.

II.            Two projects, as part of the 7^th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7), aiming to establish the role of Vitamin D as a preventive measure against gestational diabetes development; and assessing the immune-modulation properties of Vitamin D with a view to developing novel immunotherapy strategies preventing the destruction of pancreatic cells (the natural immunomodulators as novel immunotherapies for type 1 diabetes (NAIMIT) project and Vitamin D and Lifestyle Intervention for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Prevention (DALI) project respectively).

III.            The project regarding Mechanisms of early protective exposures on allergy development (EFRAIM), also under FP7, will evaluate the role of Vitamin D status in relation to the development of allergic diseases in five birth cohorts from Austria, Finland, France, Germany and Switzerland.

In response to MEP Higgins’ request for information on the use of the latest scientific research is incorporated into the European Commission’s evaluation of the impact of Vitamin D deficiency, the Commission stated that it does not perform economic impact analyses related to Vitamin D status. The European Commission did not comment when asked of the potential role of the European Parliament in this process.

If you would like the full text of the responses please do not hesitate to contact us via VitaminD@pa-international.org.

Scottish Summit on Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis

The Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, delivered the keynote address to the recent high level Scottish Summit on Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis that took place in Glasgow on 21 September. The meeting brought together researchers, patients and policy makers for a discussion on public health policy in Scotland. Also speaking at the event were Professor George Ebers of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Ryan McLaughlin of Shine on Scotland, and internationally renowned scientists from Australia, Canada and the US. Closing the conference Professor Ebers suggested that supplements should be introduced to Scotland in order to see if they can help prevent MS, which would cost under £5 per person a year. The summit coincided with the announcement of a new awareness-raising initiative by the Scottish Government on the dangers of Vitamin D deficiency in Scotland. Leaflets produced by the National Health Service (NHS) Scotland were issued in September to all doctors and health professionals. The campaign focuses in particular on at-risk groups: pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under five, adults aged over 65, the housebound and people with darker skin. Shine on Scotland was applauded by all for the continued effort it has made to keep the issue on the agenda – this is even more amazing given the limited resources available. The McLaughlin family intend to create a charitable foundation to continue this important work and support is welcomed – they can be contacted at http://www.shineonscotland.org.uk.

New Recommendations for clinical practice and Vitamin D

A panel of 25 experts on Vitamin D from various fields, including cardiology, autoimmunity and cancer, recently met to set out Vitamin D recommendations for clinical practice concerning adult patients with or at risk of fractures, falls, cardiovascular or autoimmune disease and cancer. The report, published in Autoimmunity Reviews [Volume 9, Issue 11, September 2010, Pages 709-715], recommended that the 25(OH)D (the blood calcidiol level) level in the identified risk groups (above) should be above 30 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL). The expert panel agreed on an upper safe limit for 25(OH)D of 100ng/mL. It was recommended that in Vitamin D deficient patients, a treatment of 20ng/mL/day was proposed. If you would like more information on this publication please contact us at VitaminD@pa-international.org.

New recommendations and report from the Dutch Cancer Society

The Dutch Cancer Society has recently released a report which outlines the potential benefits of sun exposure and Vitamin D for a number of serious illnesses. The report, entitled De relatie tussen kanker, zonnestraling en Vitamine D, advises daily exposure of the head and hands to the sun for about 15-30 minutes during the early afternoon, in order to maintain a healthy level of Vitamin D. Furthermore, the report states as “plausible” the beneficial effects of sun exposure (as the main source of Vitamin D) as a risk-reducing factor in cancer of the colon, prostate and breast and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as reduced mortality in cases of colon, prostate and breast cancer. Overall, the report stated as “probable” that the production of Vitamin D plays a role in the risk reduction of several types of cancer, and having the strongest link to a reduction in colon, prostate and breast and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“Rickets making a comeback in London”

A report (http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9067000/9067980.stm) by the BBC has highlighted the growing problem of Vitamin D deficiency and the rise of rickets in children in London. According to the news report, the health services in London are now reporting hundreds of cases a year of rickets in children. For example London’s Somali community has reported instances of Vitamin D levels as low as a tenth of those recommended. Pharmacists and health workers have stated that one of the main problems is the sourcing of sufficient and sufficiently effective Vitamin D treatments, and the Department of Health are now said to be actively looking for partners to assist in providing the necessary supplies of Vitamin D.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at VitaminD@pa-international.org if you require further information on any of the items above. If you have a Vitamin D story that you would like to share, let us know and we will circulate it through our dedicated “D” network – 1000+ concerned scientists, doctors, politicians, patients, industry and media which is constantly expanding.

Best regards,

The Vitamin D Team

Public Advice International Foundation

Brussels, Belgium

http://www.pa-international.org/Vitamin-D.htm

Excellent BBC doc on Vitamin D

Broadcast on Sunday 1^st August, BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme discussed whether in view of the mounting evidence, we should be consuming more Vitamin D. The programme is available on their website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t66nr.

The programme has contributions from a number of renowned Vitamin D experts including Professor Reinhold Vieth, Professor Sue Lanham-New and Dr. Oliver Gillie. Dr. Ann Prentice, the newly appointed Chair of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) also contributes and talks about the forthcoming review of Vitamin D that her Committee will be undertaking. The programme challenges the current fortification policy in the UK and elsewhere and suggests that industry is “missing a trick” by not voluntarily fortifying more foods with Vitamin D, especially since they can make health claims if they do.

It comes highly recommended

IOF Recommendations

While this may not exactly be breaking news, the release of recommendations by the Interntional Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) for Vitamin D intake in older adults is nevertheless important.

In May 2010, the IOF released at its World Congress new recommendations for older adults on Vitamin D intake, the key ones of which are:

• The estimated average vitamin D requirement of older adults to reach a serum 25OHD level of 75 nmol/l (30ng/ml) is 20 to 25 µg/day (800 to 1000 IU/day).
• Intakes may need to increase to as much as 50 µg(2000IU) per day in individuals who are obese, have osteoporosis, limited sun exposure (e.g. housebound or institutionalised), or have malabsorption.
• For high risk individuals it is recommended to measure serum 25OHD levels and treat if deficient.

The recommendations were formulated by a team led by Professor Bess Dawson-Hughes of Tufts University and were published in the leading bone journal, Osteoporosis International (OI DOI 10 1007/s00198-010-1285-3).

For more information see the IOF site here.

Vitamin D Wiki – A great resource

Hello All,

Spending the days trawling the internet for information on Vitamin D, I came across this excellant website: http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php. It is full of information on Vitamin D science, recommendations for daily intake levels, and sources of Vitamin D.

It is also so kind as to have an entry on the recent event held in the European Parliament organised by the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME, http://www.cpme.be/index.php) and PA International Foundation (http://www.pa-international.org/Vitamin-D.htm) and the Vitamin D  Workshop (http://vitamind.ucr.edu/workshop.html), entitled “Vitamin D Nutritional Policy in Europe: The Need for Prevention, Education and Consumer Choice”.

I Hope you find it a useful resource!

Vitamin D deficiency – A Call to Action in Europe

Hello All!

Welcome to our new blog (and please bear with us as it still in development phase). We hope it will prove to be a worthwhile and useful source for information regarding Vitamin D policy in Europe and the need to address the deficiency issue.

In relation to our recently held conference in the European Parliament, we are delighted to post a short video summary of the day’s events for your information. Enjoy.