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

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