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Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining normal calcium metabolism (1). Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) can be synthesized by humans in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from sunlight, or it can be obtained from the diet. Plants synthesize ergosterol, which is converted to vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) by ultraviolet light. Vitamin D2 is less active in birds than vitamin D3 and may also be less active in humans (2). When exposure to UVB radiation is insufficient for the synthesis of adequate amounts of vitamin D3 in the skin, adequate intake of vitamin D from the diet is essential for health.

Vitamin K has been known as the coagulation vitamin, because of its role in the blood-clotting process. However, research over the last few decades has shown that the role of K Vitamins - and natural Vitamin K2, the menaquinones, in particular - has been greatly expanded. Of note, K Vitamins activity outside the liver is required for calcium utilization, the key factor in maintaining both bone and cardiovascular health.\n\nVitamin K2 helps to activate vitamin K-dependent proteins responsible for healthy tissues. In bone, it activates osteocalcin, a protein required to bind calcium to the mineral matrix, thus strengthening the skeleton. In circulation, Vitamin K2 participates in carboxylation of Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), the most potent inhibitor of arterial calcification known, lowering the risk of vascular damage.

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. The "K" is derived from the German word "koagulation." Coagulation refers to the process of blood clot formation. Vitamin K is essential for the functioning of several proteins involved in blood clotting (1). There are two naturally occurring forms of vitamin K

"April 28, 2009 (Seattle) -- High doses of vitamin D dramatically cut the relapse rate in people with multiple sclerosis, a study shows. Sixteen percent of 25 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) given an average of 14,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day for a year suffered relapses, says Jodie Burton, MD, a neurologist at the University of Toronto. In contrast, close to 40% of 24 MS patients who took an average of 1,000 IU a day -- the amount recommended by many MS specialists -- relapsed, she says. Also, people taking high-dose vitamin D suffered 41% fewer relapses than the year before the study began, compared with 17% of those taking typical doses. People taking high doses of vitamin D did not suffer any significant side effects, Burton tells WebMD."

Thanks! I think, almost every vitamin taken in high doses can lead to health issues. Personally I prefer double checking the information about the medications (including vitamins and supplements).

A Track Your Plaque member brough the following webcast to our attention: Prospects for Vitamin D Nutrition\nwhich can be found at http://tinyurl.com/f93vl (The above link no longer seems to work, use http://wildhorse.insinc.com/directms13oct2005/ instead) Despite the painfully dull title, the webcast is the best summary of data on the health benefits on vitamin D that I've seen. The presenter is Dr. Reinhold Vieth, who is among the handful of worldwide authorities on vitamin D. In 1999, Dr. Vieth authored the first review to concisely and persuasively argue that vitamin D nutrition was woefully neglected and that its potential for health was enormous.

Increased intakes of vitamin K2, but not vitamin K1, may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women, says a new study.\nFor every 10 microgram increase in the amount of vitamin K2 consumed, researchers from the Netherlands report a 9 per cent reduction in the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD).

This is a very long newsletter. I will answer questions about oil versus water-soluble Vitamin D, depression, mental clarity, malignant melanoma, Crohn's disease, an imagist poet, multiple sclerosis, sun-exposure, high-intensity red light and collagen repair in the skin, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, influenza, the 1918 influenza pandemic, statins, the new Food and Nutrition Board, thyroid disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, athletes, the upcoming 14th Vitamin D Workshop, prostate cancer, the wrong blood test, pregnancy, autism, Alzheimer's disease, soap and sebum, asthma, sleep, the co-factors vitamin D needs to work (all contained in spinach), and-my favorite-UVC light and Vitamin D

"This website is about Vitamin D and MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS), with an uncertain cause. Colleen Hayes and Donald Achaeson have suggested that insufficient sunlight exposure and chronic viral infections might be unrelated environmental risk factors for MS. These risk factors may act synergistically to enable the pathogenic autoimmune response. The prevalence of MS is highest where environmental supplies of vitamin D are lowest. Sunshine enables the production of vitamin D3 (VD3) in the skin. Epidemiological studies have shown that higher vitamin D blood levels are associated with lower risk, less relapses and a slower progression of multiple sclerosis. Higher vitamin D levels can be achieved in part by increased oral intake of VD3. Optimal health requires serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels higher than 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L) P Lips, 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) P Heaney or at least 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) R Vieth. "

ScienceDaily (Feb. 10, 2009) - Vitamin D is significantly associated with muscle power and force in adolescent girls, according to a new study. Although vitamin D is naturally produced in the body through exposure to direct sunlight, vitamin D deficiency has become widely common in the United States. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to have a significant negative impact on muscle and bone health, and can lead to conditions including osteoporosis and rickets.

In today's fast paced world, we sometimes do not eat a proper diet all of the time. Even celebrity Chef's like Jamie Oliver is highlighting this issue. He is presently going round to schools and towns trying to teach people how to cook healthy food. On one of his shows on Discovery Channel, he was at this town that had this one parent whose three year old child has never had a nutritious home cooked meal. On a Bill Cosby's Show "Kids Say The Darndest Things", when he asked a kid who cooks his meals at home the kid answers "Pizza Hut". Sad but true. Nowadays since both parents are working to make ends meet, they often resort to fast food to fill their family's tummies. Same goes with us, to keep up with the rat race we just pop whatever we can get into our tummies. So in order to acquire sufficient vitamins to help your body overcome nutritional deficiencies to function properly, you should compensate with natural vitamin supplements. Vitamins are organic components in food that are needed in very small amounts for growth and for maintaining good health. Growing up as a skinny kid, my parents made sure I had my Vitamin Supplements. They tried everything to get some flesh on this bag of bones. Then a doctor told them not too worries as long as I'm a healthy kid. I still took multivitamins. Nowadays I take a herbal supplement called spirulina. So far I have found Spirulina to be good for me; it helps to keep my toxins in my body to a minimum. I don't feel very tired in the morning.

This aromatic spice retains a host of active compounds, especially 'oleoresins and alkaloids like piperine and chavicine. It also has antioxidants, flavonoids, and other phenolic chemicals that help defend your cells and boost digestion-linked issues. It is also a source of the following vitamins and minerals: Vitamin K Vitamin E Vitamin A Thiamine (B1) Riboflavin (B2) Pantothenic Acid (B5) Vitamin B6 Manganese Copper Iron Calcium Phosphorus Potassium Selenium Zinc

Vitamine D kan oogveroudering stoppen Je verouderingsproces heeft niet alleen vervelende gevolgen voor je organen, je lichaam en je huid. Ook je ogen, een bijzonder complex orgaan, ontsnappen er niet aan. Heel wat oogaandoeningen waardonder maculaire degeneratie en kararakt zijn leeftijdsgebonden. Wat kun je doen om het verouderingsproces van je ogen af te remmen? Welke oogziekten zijn leeftijdsgebonden en hoe kun je deze best behandelen? Onze ogen, de spiegels van je ziel kan veel mis gaan. Vele oogziekten zijn leeftijdsgebonden.Vitamine D zou oogveroudering kunnen stoppen De laatste jaren wordt er meer en meer onderzoek verricht naar het effect van het verouderingsproces op onze ogen. Onderzoekers van de University College van Londen ontdekten nu dat vitamine D wel eens hét middel kan zijn om het verouderingsproces van je ogen af te remmen of zelfs te voorkomen. Heel wat oog aandoeningen zijn leeftijdsgebonden met maculaire degeneratie op kop.

March 11, 2009 -- Low vitamin D levels greatly increase a teenager's risk of diabetes and heart disease, Johns Hopkins researchers find. It is becoming clear that adults who get too little vitamin D are at higher risk for diabetes and heart disease. Now, it appears vitamin D levels also affect these risks earlier in life, say Johns Hopkins researchers Jared P. Reis, PhD, and colleagues.

Feb. 23, 2009 -- A walk in the sun may be better than popping a vitamin C tablet for boosting your chances of preventing the common cold or flu.\n\nA new study adds to mounting evidence that vitamin C may have been stealing the spotlight all these years from the real cold fighter, vitamin D.

Lu Z, Chen TC, Zhang A, Persons KS, Kohn N, Berkowitz R, Martinello S, Holick MF. An evaluation of the vitamin D3 content in fish: Is the vitamin D content adequate to satisfy the dietary requirement for vitamin D? J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007 Mar;

Vitamin K2 is emerging as an exciting player in the control and possible regression of coronary atherosclerotic plaque. Only about 10% of dietary vitamin K intake is in the K2 form, the other 90% being the more common K1.