Orthodox medicine is catching up on the benefits of vitamin D. Now the American Medical Association admits that if you are an older woman and take only 700 IU daily of vitamin D, you can reduce your odds of falling by a whopping 46%.
Interestingly, the study was designed to measure the effects of the nutrients on bone density. This was a side finding.
The study reports that if you are not physically active, a combination of vitamin D with calcium (500 mg as citrate or malate) can lower your falling risk by as much as 65%. Men did not seem to benefit.
Falls in the elderly are a major cause of injury, especially hip fractures and other broken bones. Not only will vitamin D harden your bones, but apparently it will also decrease your risk of dangerous trauma.
Action to take: I think a supplement of vitamin D is an excellent idea for all seniors. I like cod liver oil, one-half tablespoon daily. Or you can take vitamin D3 capsules (5,000 IU daily). Do not be afraid of bogus claims of vitamin D toxicity at these modest doses. It just does not happen.
Ref: Archives of Internal Medicine, February 27, 2006.
This One Nutrient Fights Inflammation and Congestive Heart Failure
While vitamin D is great for bones, there is a lot more to this nutrient than osteoporosis treatment. Now there is evidence this nutrient can reverse congestive heart failure (CHF).
And, amazingly, it can also save you from other inflammation-related problems.
Many years ago, researchers proved that chemicals called cytokines in your blood regulate inflammation. Some generate inflammation. Others reduce it. In congestive heart failure, there are too many cytokines that produce inflammation.
We have known for some time that vitamin D can suppress these inflammatory chemicals in lab tests. But we did not know if it worked on live humans. Until now!
A group of German researchers studied 123 patients with congestive heart failure. Half the patients got vitamin D and the other half took a placebo.
The researchers proved the lab results were no fluke. Not only did the vitamin D levels go up in the first group, but so did the activity of the anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D also reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines.
While the researchers did not find any decrease in the mortality rate, they only studied it for 15 months. I suspect 15 months is not long enough to assess vitamin Ds clinical benefit in CHF. Just the fact that all the measurements improved suggests the longer-term survival rate would improve as well.
I see great results in my congestive heart failure patients who take CoQ10 and thiamin (two nutrients we have discussed in the past). I suspect Ill see even better results by adding vitamin D to their regime. Ill keep you posted.
However, you do not have to suffer from congestive heart failure to benefit from this information. The fact that vitamin D fights inflammation is exciting news for anyone who suffers from inflammation — no matter where it is in your body.
Ref: Schleithoff, Stefanie S, et al. Vitamin D supplementation improves cytokine profiles in patients with congestive heart failure: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, AJCN, April 2006.
Is Your Body Temperature Low? It Could Lead to Heart Trouble
I get more calls and letters from people asking about atrial fibrillation (AF) than just about anything else (except maybe cholesterol). Atrial fibrillation is the heart condition where the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria) experience irregular, rapid beating.
The condition can cause strokes (about 15% of stroke victims have atrial fibrillation). As a result, doctors almost always place atrial fibrillation sufferers on Coumadin (rat poison), with no plan to take them off.
Rarely do we see doctors search for the cause. They are usually happy just treating symptoms. And, with atrial fibrillation, there is a cause we can treat.
Ive previously told you how hypothyroidism can be very subtle — almost undetectable. And hypothyroidism can predispose you to atrial fibrillation.
In fact, a prospective study on 3,233 Americans (age 65 and older) found that subclinical hypothyroidism can double your risk for atrial fibrillation.
Subclinical hypothyroidism means you have lower than optimal thyroid function, yet you do not consciously feel it. Sometimes even the lab cant pick it up.
In my experience, the most accurate way to detect a sluggish thyroid is with a basal body temperature test.
Heres what you do: Take an accurate thermometer and put it on your night table before you go to bed. Immediately upon waking, before you get out of bed or move around, place the thermometer snugly in your armpit for 5 minutes. If your temperature is below 97.8 degrees, you probably have a weak thyroid. But to make sure, do the test for at least three consecutive days.
In addition, have your doctor test for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Your levels should be less than 2.0. Be sure that your free T3 and T4 are checked, too, since the free forms are the active hormones.
I have not seen data on whether correcting the thyroid deficiency can fix atrial fibrillation after the fact, but it sure seems worth a try.
In the meantime, if you are over age 65, ask your integrative doctor to evaluate you for subclinical hypothyroidism the next time you have a visit. Your hearts conduction system will thank you for it.
Ref: Cappola, A.R., L.P. Fried, et al. Thyroid status, cardiovascular risk, and mortality in older adults, JAMA, 2006; 295(9): 1033-41.