Vitamin D supplementation and recommendation by Dr. Grattan Woodson

[Shannon Bennett]

I plan to add 5,000 units of Vitamin D to my daily regimen. There are a few people that should NOT take vitamin D. Those suffering from Hyperparathyroidism, which is a common cause of hypercalcemia. A simple blood test should be done to determine if you have this problem. Also those suffering from renal stones, sarcoidosis should not take additional Vitamin D. The rest of us need to make sure we have our vitamin D tanks on full during the months when sun exposure is insufficient to keep the D at healthy levels.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=261791#post261791

post #275

IMO, the Marshall Thesis while intriguing and using the modern language of science, is without scientific merit. There is no evidence to suggest the linchpin of his thesis is true; mainly that many human cell lines are infected with a large number of bacteria. There can be no ligands produced by intracellular bacteria that do not exist. These non-existent ligands then can not bind the VDR down regulating its function. For these reasons I reject the Marshall Thesis and also declare that his recommendation against the use of vitamin D supplements is misguided and if followed could be of harm especially among those who already have insufficient levels of serum 25 OH vit D.

What is an indisputable fact is vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in all human societies. The VDR is the target of vitamin D and regulates many processes within the human body that affect our health and susceptibility for disease. There have been an explosion of data on both the action of vitamin D, the VDR, and common human diseases that result due to vitamin D deficiency.

I resolve then that vitamin D deficiency is the cause of VDR dysfunction in most people with the exception of the small percentage of people with VDR polymorphisms which result in the VDR being variously resistant to the effects of vitamin D. What's more, replacement of vitamin D by the judicious use of sunlight and supplements is a vastly underutilized method of improving human health. The daily dose of vitamin D3 required to obtain the benefits of this hormone is at least 12 times higher than the RDA of 400iu. This level of intake equates to a dose of 5,000iu of vitamin D3 per day from all sources including sun exposure and supplements.

The jury remains out on the benefits and risks of vitamin D supplementation at the 5,000iu dose level but IMO the data is clear; supplementation is clearly warranted and very likely to substantially improve the health of those who follow this course.

At the conclusion of a debate, a time honored practice is to ask those who have participated in it to voice their opinion on what they learned for the exercise, what position they support as a result of it and in what way if any the information they gleaned as a result of the debate has affected their life choices and behavior.

I will go first. The vitamin D problem is real and supplementation is a very good answer to it. Using vitamin D3 is the best supplement to use and the lowest dose for optimal health is 5,000iu per day. Serum levels of 25 OH vit D3 is the best way to monitor body stores of vitamin D. Levels below 32ng/ml are inadequate for bone health and those below 50ng/ml are inadequate for immune health. The healthy and safe range for serum 25 OH vit D3 levels are between 50ng/ml and 80ng/ml. There is no benefit for having levels above 80ng/ml. Toxicity due to vitamin D3 is observed in those with serum 25 OH D3 levels above 120ng/ml; a level seen only in those who supplement with doses above 30,000iu of D3 daily (from all sources) and only after 2 months at this dose. Vitamin D supplementation is not safe or effective for everyone. These include people with and unexplained high blood calcium level, a history of kidney stones, a history of sarcoidosis, those with untreated primary hyperparathyroidism and for those with renal insufficiency.

The dose of vitamin D3 for children that is safe has not been studied enough but is probably no more than half the level for adults.

I look forward to hearing from both those who have participated in this debate on this thread as well as the large number of FT members who have simply observed it. I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have and wish to thank The Mountain's Voice for starting this thread. It has been very informative for me.

Grattan Woodson, MD
__________________
The Doctor

[the doctor]

Re: Vitamin D supplementaion

Thanks for starting this thread Shannon. I have been working on a couple of related items that detail what to do and how to monitor serum levels etc. I will post them here later on.

GW

[the doctor]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

Vitamin D and its Remarkable Role in Health and Disease from Infections to Cancer
A considerable quantity of research data published in the peer reviewed medical literature over that past 2 decades has shown that many people within the developed and underdeveloped world are vitamin D deficient. There are a variety of reasons for this finding including diet, lifestyle and use of inadequate levels of vitamin D supplements.

With regard to risk for pandemic influenza, the most important thing this data suggest for those deficient in this key vitamin is that they are much more likely to contract influenza than the vitamin D replete and are at higher risk of experiencing severe complication from this infection including cytokine storm, post influenza pneumonia and death.

The data suggests that cytokine storm seen in young victims of the current and past pandemic is due to an immune system dysregulation. It is clear that vitamin D plays an important role in immune health and being deficient in this critical substance maybe playing a causal role in this fatal complication of pandemic influenza.

The vitamin D story is quite interesting and has a long history and is not limited to influenza mitigation. What we understand today is that vitamin D is converted into a hormone by the body that has many important roles. While most think of vitamin D in relation to its role in bone and calcium metabolism what has become apparent is that this substance plays a critical role within the immune system too. People that are deficient in vitamin D are at much higher risk for a variety of common human diseases including infections, autoimmune disease and cancer due to the fact that their immune system is impaired by this condition.

Vitamin D is widely available, inexpensive, and easy to obtain both in the drug or health food store without a prescription or by simply exposing yourself to the sun on a regular basis while attired in a short sleeved shirt and sorts for 15 minutes daily.

The early adopter expert consensus is people need between 5000iu and 10,000iu of vitamin D3 daily for optimal health. This provides one who follows this recommendation after a few months with an optimal serum level of 25 OH vitamin D3 of between 50 ng/ml and 80 ng/ml. What’s more, despite the fact that this dose is between 12 and 24 times greater than the US RDA, the data show that supplementing with vitamin D3 at this level has almost no risk of toxicity.

The US RDA for vitamin D of 400iu is clearly too low to provide immunological benefits but is enough to prevent rickets in children. The US RDA is focused entirely upon rickets prevention since it was established many years ago when it was first understood that vitamin D deficiency caused rickets and that by adding 400iu to the daily diet prevented this bone disease. What we understand today is that while one might be able to avoid rickets with this very low dose of vitamin D, there are many other things vitamin D does that are not prevented by this very small daily dose. Many people who obtain a dose of 400iu vitamin D daily remain deficient in this key vitamin, as we now understand what having an adequate serum level of this substance means.

Current studies show that people need much more vitamin D each day for optimal health than 400iu per day. At a minimum what research scientists whose work is focused on this vitamin recommend is that people have at least 5,000iu of vitamin D3 each day.

It is remarkable and frankly surprising that these dose suggestions are between 12 and 24 times higher than the US RDA and there is some older data to suggest that people taking supplements in this range could be placing themselves at risk for harm. However most recent studies show that this is not the case. Rather these data show that it is very rare for anyone to suffer vitamin D excess until they obtain more than 30,000iu on a daily basis from all sources for at least two months.

It requires about 2000iu of vitamin D3 daily to obtain a level of 32ng/ml of 25OH vit D3, the minimum needed for bone health. To approach optimum health with vitamin D, meaning a level that encompasses both bone and immune health requires having a serum 25 OH vit D3 level between 50ng/ml and 80ng/ml. To achieve this serum level of 25 OH vit D require a daily intake of between 5,000iu and 10,000iu.

What is meant by optimal health?
This means having enough vitamin D to prevent or at least mitigate common infections including influenza, having a beneficial impact on those with a wide rage of autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erthematosis, Sjrogrens syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis as well solid tumors including breast and colon cancer. There are other cancers that can be prevented by having optimum levels of this vitamin including prostate, uterine, ovarian and non-melenoma skin cancer. If you have one of these or a related conditions, don't jump for joy. While vitamin D probably plays a role in these disorders what most scientists think is that there are multiple reasons for people to contract them with vitamin D being only one.

That said, the data suggest that it is an important one and one that we can do something about which is nice since there are so many causes for disease that we can do nothing about. What I am saying is that while a low vitamin D level may be playing a role in these disorders it is not the only player on stage and correcting a low vitamin D level may not have a significant impact on these conditions so don't get your hopes up. Nevertheless, if you have one of these conditions or not and have low vitamin D levels, there is certainly every reason to bring those levels up to the optimal range even if it has no effect on your primary condition. This is because there are so many benefits to doing so that your overall health and wellness will improve by virtue of the practice irrespective of where or not is has an impact on your primary condition.

This is a very exciting new field of medical research and the answers regarding these purported benefits have not yet been proven but what is clear is there are a considerable body of evidence being accumulated at a rapid clip that support both the efficacy and safety of vitamin D used for these purposes.

With respect to flu as well as these other serious common chronic diseases, having a serum 25 OH vit D3 level of between 50ng and 80 ng/ml is regarded as optimum. IMO, those who obtain the goal are those who are most likely to be able to experience an asymptomatic case of flu during this pandemic and if they become symptomatic are much more likely to have a benign course. Of course there are no guarantees in life and while having optimum levels of vitamin D has many potential benefits it is clear that it is no panacea. There are many reasons people die as a result of becoming infected with pandemic influenza with one of them probably being vitamin D deficient. What is important is to recognize this fact before being exposed to the virus and taking action now to obtain optimum serum levels of the vitamin. By doing so at a minimum you remove this source of risk from infection with the pandemic strain.

Getting your vitamin D3 from the sun
What is remarkable is light skinned people can obtain 15,000iu of Vitamin D3 by getting a MED (minimal erythema dose) meaning in the buff with 7.5 min on the front and back sides at high noon in the summer below 45 degrees latitude on a clear day. MED means not getting sunburned but just before it.

It is of interest that people of color need more sun expose than pale skinned people. A dark African American needs as much as 4 times this exposure to get the same benefit. So, what is needed is to time your exposure according to your skin tone.

An interesting thing about getting your vitamin D3 from the sun is that you cannot get too much! Why, because for the white person who gets their MED and 15,000iu of D3 in 15 minutes, if they stay out longer, while new D3 is being made, the UV light is destroying the D3 made earlier. This is apparently nature's way of preventing us from becoming vitamin D toxic from sun exposure. This means that there is no added benefit to exposing yourself for more than the MED.

Now, if you don't have a good place to obtain your MED in the nude, then you can do it in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt or bathing suit. This obviously reduces your exposed skin by up to 40% depending on the style of clothes, so in this instance for the white person, they will get about 6000iu of D3 with 15 minutes of full sun expose, an excellent dose. But remember, if you stay out longer, all you do is burn and damage your skin with no added vitamin D3 production so either go inside or put on sunscreen from that point on.

Sunscreen completely blocks the skins ability to make vitamin D3 so use it but not until after you have gotten your MED. Yes, tanned white folks will need to spend more time in the sun to get the full benefit.

The older you get the less efficient the skin becomes converting sunshine into vitamin D3. I think people in their 50s and 60s are able to convert much of the sun they receive into vitamin D3 but once you get into the 70s, then skin production gets pretty low. The best bet for older folks is to take at least 5,000iu of vitamin D3 daily.

Who should avoid vitamin D supplementation?
There are some medical conditions where vitamin D3 supplementation should be avoided or at least delayed until the condition is treated or cured.

Primary Hyperparathyroidism: this disorder is associated with high blood calcium levels, high vitamin D levels, kidney stones and osteoporosis. It is usually due to a benign tumor of one of the 4 parathyroid glands in the neck. Until the tumor has been removed, vitamin D3 supplementation is not recommended because it could make the consequences of this disease worse.

Sarcoidosis: this is a disease of unknown cause that is associated with abnormal production of activated vitamin D. Hypercalcemia is commonly seen with this condition especially in those who take vitamin D3 supplements. In this case, vitamin D supplementation should only be undertaken under your physician's guidance.

Kidney Stones: Most kidney stones contain calcium but not all kidney stones are due to calcium. If you have had kidney stones, vitamin D supplementation is not recommended until after the cause for the stones has been determined and treated and then only under the supervision of your physician.

Unexplained Hypercalcemia: If your blood calcium level has been elevated in the past or is presently, then vitamin D supplementation is not recommended until the cause of this is determined and an appropriate treatment has been applied. Afterward depending on the cause of the elevated calcium level and only with your doctors supervision can vitamin D supplementation be considered.

Renal insufficiency or failure: Chronic kidney disease that leads to reduced function is a complex medical disorder that affects vitamin D levels and metabolism. Patients with this problem should not supplement on their own rather they should only do so with their physician's guidance which might include forms of vitamin D available only by prescription.

Children: While children need vitamin D just as adults do, the safe dose for use in them is not certain. It is probably true that the recommended RDA for children is much too low as is the case for adults. The optimal 25 OH vit D3 range in children is the same as it is for adults but the adult dose is probably too high for kids. For pre-adolescent children then, one should not give them more than 2000 iu per day in the form of a supplement. Parents are advised to depend more of the sun as a source of vitamin D for their kids as it is impossible to get too much vitamin D from the sun although as in adults, in no case should you allow your child to remain in the sun long enough to obtain a sunburn. After 15 minutes of exposure, apply sunscreen to prevent this.

Children and adults living in the far northern or southern latitudes must use supplements to obtain vitamin D since sun exposure is inadequate. In this case, a starting dose of 2,000iu per day of vitamin D3 would be reasonable for kids and 5,000iu for adults. Monitoring blood levels of 25 OH vit D3 is recommended on the same schedule as for kids and adults. Working to obtain the optimal serum 25 OH vit D3 range with a "vitamin D friendly pediatrician or family physician" is the best strategy.

Everyone should have their vitamin D level checked
This is a simple test to have and while it is not cheap, it might be covered by insurance if you have it. If not, while the test cost varies, on average it is about $75 or so. The test to have is a 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 level (25 OH vit D3).

Interpretation of Serum Vitamin D Results
First rule, ignore the normal range provide by the lab as these have not kept pace with the research.
25 OH vit D3 level < 20ng/ml is grossly deficient
25 OH vit D3 level < 32ng/ml is insufficient
25 OH vit D3 level > 32ng/ml is adequate for bone health
25 OH vit D3 level > 50ng/ml is adequate for bone and immune health
25 OH vit D3 level = 80ng/ml is the highest recommended level
25 OH vit D3 level > 120ng/ml can cause toxic hypercalcemia and is potentially dangerous

The goal for optimal health is to maintain a 25 OH vit D3 level between 50ng/ml and 80ng/ml.

You can buy vitamin D3 in health food stores and online in much higher doses than 400iu. I have seen doses as high as 5000iu but this is rare. More commonly, you will find doses of 1000iu and 2000iu of vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is also sold but the experts recommend D3 over D2.

Recommended vitamin D3 dosing for optimal health
To obtain a serum 25 OH vit D3 level of >50ng/ml but <80ng/ml, the appropriate range for both bone and immune health requires a daily intake of at least 5,000iu of vitamin D3 every day. Begin at this level rather than a higher one. Below are instructions for how to monitor your level and make changes if needed.

There are two ways to get vitamin D3. The first is from the sun and the second is from a supplement. The daily intake from both sources needs to be considered when deciding on how much vitamin D is needed for optimal health on a daily basis. Some experts think obtaining your vitamin D3 from the sun is better than from a supplement, a sentiment that makes sense to me but if getting your vitamin D3 from the sun is not a good option for you, by all means supplement.
.
In both the northern and southern hemispheres a person dressed in shorts and a T-shirt exposed to full sun at noon for 15 minutes up to latitude 45 degrees between March and September or September and March respectively will obtain about 6,500iu of D3 +/- 2,500iu. The +/- has to do with the latitude and time of year. Higher latitudes and the closer it is to the equinox, the less vitamin D3 is obtained. In no instance should you remain in the sun long enough to get a sunburn. When using the sun to obtain vitamin D3, do not apply sunscreen
.
So, you can get all the vitamin D3 you need from the sun during these times of year. In the winter though or for those living above 45 degrees, the strength of the sun is too limited to provide a reliable dose of vitamin D3. Under these conditions, taking a supplement of 5,000iu of vitamin D3 is recommended.

If during your summer, on the days you are not able to take advantage of the sun, you should take 5,000iu of vitamin D3.

It takes 2 months at this dose to obtain a steady state serum level of 25 OH vit D3. What is recommended is that you obtain a baseline value for 25 OH vit D3 before starting you sun/supplement regimen wait two months and then repeat the test
.
Use the table above for information on how to interpret the results of the test. Your goal is to have a serum level of between 50ng/ml and 80ng/ml. Levels above 120ng/ml have the potential to be toxic.

If your serum level of 25 OH vit D3 is less than 50ng/ml after 2 months on your regimen, increase your supplement. If it is >80ng/ml decrease your supplement. In the event that you are either above or below the goal range, it is necessary to recheck you level again after 2 months on the new regimen.

Once within the goal range, check your level annually to ensure that your regimen remains adequate.

Conclusion
It is true that these recommendations sound radical because they are so much higher than the standard recommendation. I thought the same when I first encountered them but have come to be a supporter of them over the last few years but especially of late. Education is a powerful tool. Don’t take my word for this. You can use the Internet to investigate this for yourself and this is what I recommend. Go on Google scholar and search vitamin D and immunity or vitamin D and infectious disease or vitamin D and dose and toxicity.
You will find a lot of very interesting articles that reflect the ebb and flow of this debate that has now become pretty clearly resolved in favor of people needing between 5000iu and 10,000iu of D3 for optimal health, not just rickets prevention.

Nevertheless, the vitamin D nay Sayers remain a potent force and have not capitulated. It will be some time before the conservative keepers of the RDA increase the recommendation for the general public. IMO, the argument has been won and resoundingly in favor of taking a lot more vitamin D than the RDA but this is something that you can investigate for yourself and decide this on the merits as I have.

[tropicalgirl]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

Not taking it as I do have my concerns on taking supplements... but adding 15 min of sunlight without sunblocks to my routine... guess it will make it, am I right? (I still have sun even during winter time )

[the doctor]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

The document posted above, Vitamin D and its Remarkable Role in Health and Disease from Infections to Cancer, is not my work. Rather it is a synthesis of the work of a great many FT members who contributed to a thread begun by The Mountain Voice on vitamin D and cytokine storm.

What happened on that thread in my opinion was simply fantastic. Our members searched the literature to find relevant articles, we had direct and indirect contributions from lead authors of key papers related to the topic. We entertained opposing views, explored alternative hypothesis and in the end settled on a few key concepts that I have tried to enunciate in the above paper. But did I succeed? Are these simply my parochial views of what the consensus was rather than the true consensus. This is important to investigate for this synthesis of our discussion to have the greatest impact.

The paper above is simply my interpretation of the work done by many FT members and our guest contributors. It belongs to no one including me and realizing this, I have removed my name from the paper. Please forgive me for the hubris to place it there in the first place. Removing my name does not mean I do not stand behind it but because while I might have written the summary, it is not my work. No, this paper is the result of the work of a great many of our members not just one.

I could not have written this paper if I had not participated so intently in the challenging and for me enlightening discussion that occurred on that thread. Participating on it changed my views, introduced new concepts and ideas to me that I had not considered before. To be honest, it has changed my practice of medicine and I believe that by instituting the things learned on that thread my patients will be the beneficiaries.

In that spirit, what I request is to consider this paper open for comment. What needs to be added? What should be removed? Where are the weaknesses that need to be strengthened? How about style, spelling, tense and grammar (one of my big weaknesses)?

Lets get this paper right and make it what it truly is, an example of what is possible when people of intelligence and good will come together to discuss an obscure issue but one that has the potential to be of great benefit to both those exploring it but also many more too.

Thanks for allowing me to be part of this exercise.

Grattan Woodson, MD

[the doctor]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

Not taking it as I do have my concerns on taking supplements... but adding 15 min of sunlight without sunblocks to my routine... guess it will make it, am I right? (I still have sun even during winter time )

This should work just fine especially if you have year round access to the sun which every tropical girl should.

GW

[The Mountains Voice]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

#1) ...............is not my work. Rather it is a synthesis of the work of a great many FT members who contributed to a thread
#2) ...............it has changed my practice of medicine
#3) ...............In that spirit, what I request is to consider this paper open for comment. What needs to be added? What should be removed? Where are the weaknesses that need to be strengthened? How about style, spelling, tense and grammar (one of my big weaknesses)?
#4) ...............Lets get this paper right

#1) You are too modest Doctor, and yet that is exactly what makes you worthy to carry the flag for this one, for it is a very rare quality nowadays, and much needed.

#2) #3) #4) This is a cause worth fighting. It is the simplest, most inexpensive, most effective issue I have found, which could actualy make a substantial dent in what is looming as a global health catastrophe in regards to Swine Flu / Bird Flu. And yes, Bird Flu will rear it's ugly head in all of this before it is over. That's the scary one, with what will probably be a very high CFR, and yet as we see from the volume of work on Vitamin D here - that this one small step, of elevating and maintaining Vitamin D Level to the 50 - 80 range could probably impact positively a huge portion of those cases.

Taking that a step further - we could see huge reductions in cancer, and other illnesses, if this information were widely disseminated.

So it is important to get it right. And it is important that it have a spokesperson of humble nature, a throwback to times of old, when doctors served the patients, spoke plainly, and cared.

Because the information must be trusted to be picked up on by the media, and accepted bythe media. It cannot be tainted with personal desire, nor reward. And this is the challenge, because the only thing standing between extra unnecessary millions of deaths, and not, is simply that the word spreads forcefully. It won't be enough to do as the WHO, or CDC, and simply whisper a fine print comment, and then wash yourself of your sins, saying, "But I told them". This is the sort of information that is useful, and if the collective body of work, and entire existence of Flutrackers were to be judged upon this one topic alone - then it would be good.

It's time that this body of work was set out in the light for all to see. I would reference the original thread as a "Collected Body of Research" by link. I would reference all other supporting threads by link. These are the only footnotes needed, and will do dual duty by further exposing the power of what can be accomplished when mankind comes together outside a political environment to tackle a subject.

This has been very good.

The question is how to condense all of this into a single page, that can serve as a press release to the media, and a gentle push to officials, and an eye-opener to the average citizen. From a marketing perspective, I have often looked back to the advice of a man, given me long ago.....

"Write it for an 8 year old. It must be so simple, yet commanding, that not only could an 8 year old understand it, but would want to read it."

I will think about distribution method. We need 1 page.

[The Mountains Voice]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

The following is an unapproved sample format. Comments at end.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO GLOBAL MEDIA:

Major Breakthrough Announced in Swine Flu Treatment
Released By: http://www.FluTrackers.com
July 8, 2009

Reference Data:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111947

Above thread has several hundred data feeds and discussion points from Flutracker members + input from global experts on the subject. FluTrackers put out a call to global experts – and they came! Thread contains links to supporting scientific studies.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114594

Above thread has some more easily digested layman summaries of the final agreed upon facts.

Background:
The Flutrackers Forum is a collection of people from around the globe. You will find a wide variety of participants, including experienced Virologists, Geneticists, Research Scientists, and Medical Professionals. This group does a wonderful job of analyzing incoming flu data, and then summarizing it in a way that the average layman can understand. The data is collected by an extraordinary group of people that works around the clock, in various shifts from around the globe - continually monitoring Global News and information sites for breaking news.

All of that Data / News is posted at the site for central review. The data is categorized into topical threads, and all groups interact to discuss implications, suggest new areas of focus for everyone to search for / research on. We also have Focus Areas that collect data, discuss and make practical suggestions directed to actual preparation / response to various scenarios.

One of those scenarios involved the role of Vitamin D in Influenza. As data began to flow in, our members began to get excited. It seemed that the data existed to support the hypothesis that Vitamin D played a very important role in the human health condition, much larger than is normally published. One of our members, Dr. Gratton Woodson, an Atlanta Physician and expert in Global Influenza studies, took it upon himself to put out the call to some of the world’s most respected Vitamin D researchers. They came. They discussed. They shared findings.

Following is a summary of the generally accepted conclusions from this Forum Event.

1. Fill in the blanks.
2. Simple, powerful data points.
3. Our “Footnote” will simply be the threads.
4. Factual, yet emotional points are suggested as the lead.
5. The goal is to get attention. Once the attention is had, THEN the supporting facts can be explored by the larger scientific community.

Suggested Immediate Actions for the General Population:

1. Fil in blanks - Doses
2. Level Testing
3. Ask your doctor
4. Warnings / Exceptions , etc, etc...

Because of his extraordinary work to pull together so many experts in this field, his tireless efforts to objectively gather and organize the facts regarding this most important subject, his expertise as a Physician who cares deeply about those he serves, and his humble nature, the general FluTrackers Forum community has nominated Dr. Gratten Woodson as our global spokesman for this topic.

A review of the reference data (above) should offer a fascinating real time history of the evolution of this topic, and should provide a wealth of editable material for news release. Further detailed inquiries can be directed to Dr. Gratten Woodson. (insert email and/or phone here)

PAGE 2 – Additional References

Other contributors to our research, and generally accepted experts in this field include:

XXXXXXXXXXXXX (email / phone)
Major reference papers include: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

XXXXXXXXXXXXX (email / phone)
Major reference papers include: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


XXXXXXXXXXXXX (email / phone)
Major reference papers include: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


XXXXXXXXXXXXX (email / phone)
Major reference papers include: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

All of the above are available for media inquiry as well.

The following persons have read this document, and support the general findings:

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Qualifications / Position: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Qualifications / Position: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Qualifications / Position: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Qualifications / Position: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comment #1 - Obviously Sharon & Dr. Gratson would have to approve this before I started launching it around the globe. Sharon, when completed in final acceptable format, you could pop this out as well to your contacts.

Comment #2 - Doc, you are the best man for the job. Perhaps you could do the "Fill in the blank sections". I know you will probably argue humbly against this - but I think you have a greater calling in this one. Pray on it.

Comment #3 - For additional power, legitimacy,and to get more news media interaction, I believe that some of the major contributors here should add their names. I think that some some big name persons who follow this should also perhaps have an "I have reviewed this, and add my name in agreement" statements. Perhaps Dr. Woodson could be pointman for selections.

Doc, if you take this on, and if Sharon approves it, then I will devote some major time to issuing press releases. Both of you think on this. This has been an incredible breakthrough, except that it hasn't. Hasn't broken through into the general knowledge base of the human population. If this collected knowledge isn't shared - then it becomes dead knowledge, and if we wait for big pharma to release the info - then people wil simply die waiting.

What say ye?

[the doctor]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

#1)
The question is how to condense all of this into a single page, that can serve as a press release to the media, and a gentle push to officials, and an eye-opener to the average citizen. From a marketing perspective, I have often looked back to the advice of a man, given me long ago.....

"Write it for an 8 year old. It must be so simple, yet commanding, that not only could an 8 year old understand it, but would want to read it."

I will think about distribution method. We need 1 page.

You are absolutely right TMV, this long tome needs to be condensed into a single page document that is easy to understand yet still provides the essential content.

Florida1 has been discussing the need for this kind of simple but useful communication on several recent threads and I agree with you both.

I will work on boiling the initial synthesis down to its essence and strive to keep it down to a single page.

Great suggestion. Thanks,

GW

[the doctor]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation and recommendation by Dr. Gratten

I sent the vitamin D information to some First Nations chiefs associations and their heatlth directors and there was no response. I sent the same information to a First Nations fire chief, responisble for community response to pandemic in Northern Canada and lights went on;

He wrote me back;



I will bet you dollars to donuts that front line emergency workers have networks of communication that can ring louder than any ambulance siren or fire bell and once those are sounding media and politicians will not be able to ignore them.

That is my personal opinion, and I am sure it will inflame many, and may sound quite cynical to some, but in my opinion is very action oriented.

I know there is one northern community no longer in the dark.

Tom

That is great news Tom. Hey, if we can only help a few people that is much better than helping none. I am working on the one page summary but plan to focus it primarily on relationship between vit D and flu since I think this is what is needed most now. The pandemic is here and now, cancer is somewhere in the future.

GW

[tropicalgirl]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation and recommendation by Dr. Gratten

One page is great to inform people who needs information with a link to FT for more detailed discussion surely is great, but Twitter can spread the word very very easily... I can translate (the one page and the twitter alert) to Portuguese and spread to my net...

[The Mountains Voice]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation and recommendation by Dr. Gratten

One page is great to inform people who needs information with a link to FT for more detailed discussion surely is great, but Twitter can spread the word very very easily... I can translate (the one page and the twitter alert) to Portuguese and spread to my net...

Excellent idea....
I think the Twitter could link to Static Main Thread, that has sublinks off of it for further detail.

[Desolation_anonymous]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation

Hi,

If you live north of 35 degrees lattitude from October to April there is not enough UV penetrating to the ground for you to make vitamin D at noon on a cloudless day.

If you, live in a smoggy area smog blocks UV rays as effectively as sunscreen and though the sun may be shining, your body cannot produce vitamin D. Hence Mexico City one of the smoggiest on the planet.

The natural ozone layer of the planet also acts like sunblock and blocks UV rays from the sun. If you happen to live in an area where natural ozone stacks up into mountains even if the sun is shining in a cloudless sky you will not be able to produce vitaman D in the skin.

Note: Australia has an ozone cloud over it.

If you are overweight up to 50% of the vitamin D will get caught up in fat deposits for vitamin D is fat soluble.

If you are a senior your body loses up to 75% of its ability to produce vitamin D due to changes in the skin.

If you are darker pigmented it will take more time in the sun to get the same results.

You need to calculate all your risk factors, know the current UV level, and then calculate sun time, knowing that in winter above 35 degrees latitude it is impossible for anyone to make vitamin D in the skin.

To do a quick risk assesment and calculate exposure times use online calculators like these;

Risk Assesment
http://www.thevitamindcure.com/assessment/

Sun Calculator
http://www.thevitamindcure.com/calculator/

There is no "one size fits all solution" and I hope this information helps you.

It is also good to own a personal UV indicator. They come in watch form for the wrist and the better ones will give timers based on your risk criteria and the current UV hitting the device.

Tom

Could you let us know where you get the information re: latitude? I find that really depressing, I live 38 degrees latitude, in an area of northern California that gets really hot (110 degrees plus) and sunny in the summer, and is sometimes sunny through November. yes, i know this dosen't = UV exposure, but I'm surprised the skin doesn't convert it at ALL. . .

I was also wondering- what if you only have your face/neck and arms exposed, how to determine how much exposure is needed?

Do you know if the vitaminDCure calculator shows that during the winter months?

I'd be curious to know if you can get exposure through pantyhose, as well

[The Mountains Voice]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation and recommendation by Dr. Gratten

Call me a cynic, for in all probability I am, but I have little confidence in media, politicians and bureaucrats. I put my trust and stock in pragmatic people, applying common sense to help others in risk. Hence FT...

I have no intention of limiting the "Press Release" to actual News Media. They'll get a go around. 1st the Big Media, then down through small town news papers. Then you release it to every email you can find inside CDC / WHO / HHS / Argentinian Health Depts, and so on and so on.

Then you hit major medical blogs, forums. Example: allnurses.com

Then you pop it onto al the many many flu forums.

And so on and so on.

And I share your lack of confidence in the media.... but you keep pumping it out there anyway. You keep doing, and doing, and doing. And when you get tired, you take a break and hope someone noticed, and that they pick up the flag and carry it a while.

Then when you are ready, you get off your A%#, stand up, pick up the banner, blow the trumpet, and march on for a while longer.

...or you sit silently, and watch people die, and things deteriorate, when you know you could have made a difference. Not my nature.

But we need the 1 page 1st (maybe 2 if we go with references).

[tropical]

Re: Vitamin D supplementation and recommendation by Dr. Gratten

#12: "The pandemic is here and now, cancer is somewhere in the future."


Ehm, with all the respect to the initiative, I must object the above.

Cancer is everywhere, and overwhelming now, and in the future.

If we could trespass eventual future cancer inducing evidence by augmented drug usage of this vitamin, than we could freely take the squalene based (already accepted by EU regs) adjuvanted vaccines, and even the cell technology fast produced vaccines, or other something inducing flu atenuating compounds.

I know that vaccines are not ready, and that we need a cheap worldwide solution, but if taking vit. D augmented supplements is not a peace of cake, than, maybe ...