van der Mei IA, Ponsonby AL, Dwyer T, Blizzard L, Taylor BV, Kilpatrick T, Butzkueven H, McMichael AJ.
Vitamin D levels in people with multiple sclerosis and community controls in Tasmania, Australia.
J Neurol. 2007 May;254(5):581-90. Epub 2007 Apr 11.
The high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency across Australian populations is only partly explained by season and latitude.
van der Mei IA, Ponsonby AL, Engelsen O, Pasco JA, McGrath JJ, Eyles DW, Blizzard L, Dwyer T, Lucas R, Jones G.
Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Aug;115(8):1132-9.
PMID: 17687438
doi: 10.1289/ehp.9937.
Conclusion
Vitamin D insufficiency is common over a wide latitude range in Australia. Season appears to be more important than latitude, but both accounted for less than one-fifth of the variation in serum 25(OH)D levels, highlighting the importance of behavioral factors. Current sun exposure guidelines do not seem to fully prevent vitamin D insufficiency, and consideration should be given to their modification or to pursuing other means to achieve vitamin D adequacy.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Low levels of vitamin D are associated with the loss of cartilage in the knee joint of older individuals, researchers in Australia report
Annual intramuscular injection of a megadose of cholecalciferol for treatment of vitamin D deficiency: efficacy and safety data. Diamond TH, Ho KW, Rohl PG, Meerkin M.
Med J Aust. 2005 Jul 4;183(1):10-2.
PMID: 15992330
Conclusions: Once-yearly intramuscular cholecalciferol injection (600 000 IU) is effective therapy for vitamin D deficiency. While this therapy appears to be safe, the potential for developing hypercalciuria needs to be examined in a large randomised controlled trial.
Investigating the links between muscle strength, sun exposure, dietary vitamin D intake and the vitamin D status of ambulatory older adults in South East Queensland
Borradale, David (2008)
QUT Thesis]
Chatfield SM, Brand C, Ebeling PR, Russell DM. Vitamin D deficiency in general medical inpatients in summer and winter. Intern Med J. 2007 Jun;37(6):377-82. PMID: 17535381 [PubMed - in process]
van der Mei IA, Ponsonby AL, Engelsen O, Pasco JA, McGrath JJ, Eyles DW, Blizzard L, Dwyer T, Lucas R, Jones G.
The High Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency across Australian Populations Is Only Partly Explained by Season and Latitude.
Environ Health
"Posted Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:01pm AEDT
Updated Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:27pm AEDT
Researchers are advising people with MS to take safe levels of vitamin D supplements.
Researchers are advising people with MS to take safe levels of vitamin D supplements. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photo)
* Audio: New research shows Vitamin D may slow the progress of MS (The World Today)
Australian scientists have found that Vitamin D may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Figures showing that people living in Tasmania are seven times more likely to develop MS than Queenslanders had suggested a link between sunlight exposure and the disease. "