Why Our Governments Refuse To Increase Vitamin D RDAs

[tex]

Hi All,

This article describes the reasons why our governments will not be increasing the guideline recommendations for daily vitamin D intake, probably for many years to come. It's a sad commentary on the misuse of science, and the inability of science to cope with the stranglehold that Big Pharma has on government, the medical community, and most importantly, research money.

IOW, it's the same old song and dance that we see repeatedly, regarding the ways that the policies of the pharmaceutical industry adversely affect world health. This particular issue, though, will really pay off for them, since inadequate vitamin D intake contributes to so many diseases. By refusing to change the guidelines, our governments are guaranteeing that the pharmaceutical companies will continue to sell even more drugs in the future, to treat diseases that could have easily been prevented.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/11180df8-beaa ... ab49a.html

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

tex
true true

hence my cynacism of the whole big pharma inter-relationships. the set up as it is now is almost 'unchangeable' they have the lock hold.

Even major adverse reactions (ie death) and drugs withdrawn from sale doesnt affect them for too long, there is an apology, a payment and within 1 year it is all forgotten.....

[Joefnh]

Tex, it still amazes me the same faulty logic keeps being used for their decision making processes. I have read other articles like that one and cant believe the ignorance involved. My GI & PCP have me taking 2000 iu a day now due to my earlier very low blood test.

--Joe

[tex]

Joe,

And these are the same people who make countless critical decisions about policies that affect virtually every aspect of our daily lives.

"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you."

At least, like you, many of us have doctors who are willing to break away from the blanket recommendations, when the evidence shows that it is needed.

Tex

[mbeezie]

I just got my vitamin D checked - it was 39.8 which is normal but not above 50 where I want it. It was 39 one year ago and I take 1500-2500 IU daily plus I try to get some sun. Grrr. Looks like I can safely go up on the dose. Thankfully I don't rely on RDAs or other dietary guidelines . . . I shudder when I say that because when I taught nutrition at a university that's what we taught students to do. Made a big deal of it in fact because one of the professors served on the committe for dietary guidelines, so we strongly supported the process, which boils down to a review of literature by highly overpaid professors who would rather travel and read than do research or teach. Research clearly lags behind what is going on in the real world so it's no wonder the RDA, food pyramid, dietary guidelines . . . are useless. Dang, I'm cynical today

Mary Beth

[wonderwoman]

My Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy test on 4/23 came back as 46. Should it be higher? Normal range it says is 20-100.

GI dr didn't know which vitamin D test to order so this is the one he chose. Is that the correct one?

[tex]

Charlotte,

That sounds like the correct test. I believe it's usually listed as 25-Hydroxy D, or 25 (OH) D.

46 is a pretty decent result. Slightly more wouldn't hurt, but your level is certainly reasonable for most practical purposes.

Higher levels are indicated for people who have serious issues that can be helped by higher levels, such as cancer, (or people known to be at a higher risk of developing cancer), inflammation, etc. Someone with breast cancer, or prostate cancer, for example, should keep their level over 80 or 90, up to around 150, as the upper limit, for theraputic purposes. I wouldn't consider exceeding 100, though, unless I were fighting cancer, or Crohn's, for example. The last time I checked my level, (about a year ago), it was 96.8 ng/mL, and I was still taking 4,500 IU daily, in mid-July, so I stopped taking the supplement, until fall arrived, (since I live in sunny Texas).

I take 4,500 IU daily, from late fall through early spring, and then I drop it to 2,500 IU for the rest of the year, (IOW, 2,500 IU is what I'm taking now). If I lived further north, I'd increase the dose. If I lived at the latitude of the Canadian border, for example I would probably double the dose. I've got a blood test coming up a week from today. If I think about it, I'll request a 25 (OH)D test, and a B-12 test, (since B-12 is absorbed in the terminal ileum, and my terminal ileum was removed, along with my colon).

Tex

[wonderwoman]

Looking back at my B12 it was 533 on 5/11/07, 574 on 7/29/09, and 418 on 4/20/2010.

This tells me it has dropped since being diagnosed February 2010 with CC. Normal range is 243-894. Just before going on vacation I purchased a high potency Vitamin B complex and have been taking it since 5/26. Hopefully I can get it raised.