Group items tagged

Strong correlations have been noted between cardiovascular diseases and low bone density / osteoporosis-connections so strong that the presence of one is considered a likely predictor of the other. This relationship has led to the hypothesis that these conditions share core pathophysiological mechanisms. Recent advances in our understanding of the complimentary roles played by vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 in vascular and bone health provide support for this hypothesis, along with insight into key metabolic dysfunctions underlying cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Part II, The Vitamin K Connection to Cardiovascular Health, reviews the ways in which vitamin K regulates calcium utlization, preventing vascular and soft tissue calcification while complimenting the bone-building actions of vitamin D, and also discusses vitamin K safety and dosage issues, and the necessity of providing vitamin K and vitamin A along with vitamin D to preclude adverse effects associated with hypervitaminosis D.

Calcium, dairy foods, vitamin D, and colorectal cancer risk: the Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study. Mizoue T, Kimura Y, Toyomura K, Nagano J, Kono S, Mibu R, Tanaka M, Kakeji Y, Maehara Y, Okamura T, Ikejiri K, Futami K, Yasunami Y, Maekawa T, Takenaka K, Ichimiya H, Imaizumi N. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Oct;17(10):2800-7. PMID: 18843026

Strong correlations have been noted between cardiovascular diseases and low bone density / osteoporosis-connections so strong that the presence of one type of pathology is considered a likely predictor of the other. This potentially causal relationship has led to the hypothesis that these conditions share core mechanisms. Recent advances in our understanding of the complimentary roles played by vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 in vascular and bone health provide support for this hypothesis, along with insight into key metabolic dysfunctions underlying cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Part I of this review summarizes current research linking vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease, the physiological mechanisms underlying vitamin D's cardiovascular effects, and leading vitamin D researchers' recommendations for significantly higher supplemental doses of the pro-hormone. Part II reviews the vitamin K connection to cardiovascular disease; the ways in which vitamin D and vitamin K pair up to prevent inflammation, vascular calcification and osteoporosis; and the necessity of providing vitamin K along with vitamin D to preclude adverse effects associated with hypervitaminosis D, which include vascular and other soft tissue calcification.

Tufts University Confirms That Vitamin A Protects Against Vitamin D Toxicity by Curbing Excess Production of Vitamin K-Dependent Proteins Tufts University confirmed my hypothesis that vitamin A protects against vitamin D's induction of renal calcification (kidney stones) by normalizing the production of vitamin K-dependent proteins in December, 2008, without citing my hypothesis or telling me they had confirmed it. I am, of course, very grateful that they thought it significant enough to investigate.

Prospective study of predictors of vitamin D status and survival in patients with colorectal cancer K Ng, B M Wolpin, J A Meyerhardt, K Wu, A T Chan, B W Hollis, E L Giovannucci, M J Stampfer, W C Willett and C S Fuchs Br J Cancer 101: 916-923; advance online publication, August 18, 2009; doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605262

Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels and survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Ng K, Meyerhardt JA, Wu K, Feskanich D, Hollis BW, Giovannucci EL, Fuchs CS. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Jun 20;26(18):2984-91. PMID: 18565885 DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2007.15.1027 Conclusion Among patients with colorectal cancer, higher prediagnosis plasma 25(OH)D levels were associated with a significant improvement in overall survival. Further study of the vitamin D pathway and its influence on colorectal carcinogenesis and cancer progression is warranted.

Genetic and non-genetic correlates of vitamins K and D.\nShea MK, Benjamin EJ, Dupuis J, Massaro JM, Jacques PF, D'Agostino RB Sr, Ordovas JM, O'Donnell CJ, Dawson-Hughes B, Vasan RS, Booth SL.\nEur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Nov 21. [Epub ahead of print]\nPMID: 18030310 \ndoi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn\n\n

Vitamin D toxicity redefined: vitamin K and the molecular mechanism. Masterjohn C. Med Hypotheses. 2007;68(5):1026-34. Epub 2006 Dec 4. PMID: 17145139 doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2006.09.051

Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in free-living adults >=64 y of age. Cashman KD, Wallace JM, Horigan G, Hill TR, Barnes MS, Lucey AJ, Bonham MP, Taylor N, Duffy EM, Seamans K, Muldowney S, Fitzgerald AP, Flynn A, Strain JJ, Kiely M. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 May;89(5):1366-74. Epub 2009 Mar 18. PMID: 19297462 doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.27334 Conclusion: To ensure that the vitamin D requirement is met by the vast majority (>97.5%) of adults aged ≥64 y during winter, between 7.9 and 42.8 µg vitamin D/d is required, depending on summer sun exposure and the threshold of adequacy of 25(OH)D. .

Vitamin D intake is low and hypovitaminosis D common in healthy 9- to 15-year-old Finnish girls. Lehtonen-Veromaa M, Möttönen T, Irjala K, Kärkkäinen M, Lamberg-Allardt C, Hakola P, Viikari J. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999 Sep;53(9):746-51. PMID: 10509773 CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D is fairly common in growing Finnish girls in the wintertime, and three months of vitamin D supplementation with 10 microg/d was insufficient in preventing hypovitaminosis D. The daily dietary vitamin D intake was insufficient (< 5 microg/d) in the majority of participants, while the calcium intake was usually sufficient.

Commonly recommended daily intake of vitamin D is not sufficient if sunlight exposure is limited. Glerup H, Mikkelsen K, Poulsen L, Hass E, Overbeck S, Thomsen J, Charles P, Eriksen EF. J Intern Med. 2000 Feb;247(2):260-8. PMID: 10692090 Conclusions. Severe vitamin D deficiency is prevalent amongst sunlight-deprived individuals living in Denmark. In veiled Arab women, vitamin D deficiency is the result of a combination of limitations in sunlight exposure and a low oral intake of vitamin D. The oral intake of vitamin D amongst veiled ethnic Danish Moslems was, however, very high, at 13.53 µg (approximately 600 IU), but they were still vitamin D-deficient. Our results suggest that the daily oral intake of vitamin D in sunlight-deprived individuals should exceed 600 IU; most probably it should be 1000 IU day-1 to secure a normal level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This finding is in contrast with the commonly used RDA (recommended daily allowance) for adults in Europe: 200 IU day-1.

Vitamin D deficiency and risk of cardiovascular disease. Wang TJ, Pencina MJ, Booth SL, Jacques PF, Ingelsson E, Lanier K, Benjamin EJ, D'Agostino RB, Wolf M, Vasan RS. Circulation. 2008 Jan 29;117(4):503-11. Epub 2008 Jan 7. PMID: 18180395 doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.706127 Conclusions- Vitamin D deficiency is associated with incident cardiovascular disease. Further clinical and experimental studies may be warranted to determine whether correction of vitamin D deficiency could contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Heliotherapy improves vitamin D balance and atopic dermatitis. Vähävihu K, Ylianttila L, Salmelin R, Lamberg-Allardt C, Viljakainen H, Tuohimaa P, Reunala T, Snellman E. Br J Dermatol. 2008 Jun;158(6):1323-8. Epub 2008 Mar 20. PMID: 18363748 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08518.x CONCLUSIONS: A 2-week course of HT significantly improved vitamin D balance by increasing serum calcidiol concentration, and caused a marked healing of AD. These parallel positive responses should be taken into account when the benefits of HT are considered..

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of vegetarians, partial vegetarians, and nonvegetarians: the Adventist Health Study-2. Chan J, Jaceldo-Siegl K, Fraser GE. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 May;89(5):1686S-1692S. Epub 2009 Apr 1. PMID: 19339396 Conclusions: s25(OH)D concentrations were not associated with vegetarian status. Other factors, such as vitamin D supplementation, degree of skin pigmentation, and amount and intensity of sun exposure have greater influence on s25(OH)D than does diet.

Calcium and vitamin d supplementation decreases incidence of stress fractures in female navy recruits. Lappe J, Cullen D, Haynatzki G, Recker R, Ahlf R, Thompson K. J Bone Miner Res. 2008 May;23(5):741-9. PMID: 18433305 doi: 10.1359/jbmr.080102 Conclusions: Generalizing the findings to the population of 14,416 women who entered basic training at the Great Lakes during the 24 mo of recruitment, calcium and vitamin D supplementation for the entire cohort would have prevented 187 persons from fracturing. Such a decrease in SFx would be associated with a significant decrease in morbidity and financial costs.

Association of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with elevated parathyroid hormone concentrations and low cortical bone density in early pubertal and prepubertal Finnish girls. Cheng S, Tylavsky F, Kröger H, Kärkkäinen M, Lyytikäinen A, Koistinen A, Mahonen A, Alen M, Halleen J, Väänänen K, Lamberg-Allardt C. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3):485-92. Erratum in: Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jan;83(1):174. PMID: 12936933 CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D-deficient girls have low cortical BMD and high iPTH concentrations, which are consistent with secondary hyperparathyroidism. A low vitamin D concentration accompanied by high bone resorption (TRAP 5b) may limit the accretion of bone mass in young girls.

The relevance of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms for cancer: a review of the literature. Köstner K, Denzer N, Müller CS, Klein R, Tilgen W, Reichrath J. Anticancer Res. 2009 Sep;29(9):3511-36. Review. PMID: 19667145 CONCLUSION: Significant associations with VDR polymorphisms have been reported in cancer of the breast (Fok1, Bsm1, Taq1, Apa1, poly (A)), prostate (Fok1, Bsm1, Taq1, poly (A)), skin (Fok1, Bsm1, A-1210), colorectum (Fok1, Bsm1), ovary (Fok1, Apa1) and bladder (Fok1), and in renal cell carcinoma (Taq1, Apa1). However, conflicting data have been reported for most malignancies. After careful evaluation of the actual literature, it can be summarized that data indicating an association of VDR polymorphisms and cancer risk are strongest for breast cancer (Bsm1, Fok1), prostate cancer (Fok1) and malignant melanoma (MM) (Fok1). Data indicating an association of VDR polymorphisms and cancer prognosis are strongest for prostate cancer (Fok1), breast cancer (Bsm1, Taq1), MM (Bsm1) and renal cell carcinoma (Taq1).

Measurement of vitamin D levels in inflammatory bowel disease patients reveals a subset of Crohn's disease patients with elevated 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and low bone mineral density. Abreu MT, Kantorovich V, Vasiliauskas EA, Gruntmanis U, Matuk R, Daigle K, Chen S, Zehnder D, Lin YC, Yang H, Hewison M, Adams JS. Gut. 2004 Aug;53(8):1129-36. PMID: 15247180 doi: 10.1136/gut.2003.036657. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that elevated 1,25(OH)2D is more common in CD than previously appreciated and is independently associated with low bone mineral density. The source of the active vitamin D may be the inflamed intestine. Treatment of the underlying inflammation may improve metabolic bone disease in this subgroup of patients.

Association of low intake of milk and vitamin D during pregnancy with decreased birth weight. Mannion CA, Gray-Donald K, Koski KG. CMAJ. 2006 Apr 25;174(9):1273-7. PMID: 16636326 doi:10.1503/cmaj.1041388. Interpretation: Milk and vitamin D intakes during pregnancy are each associated with infant birth weight, independently of other risk factors.

Vitamin D supplementation enhances the beneficial effects of weight loss on cardiovascular disease risk markers. Zittermann A, Frisch S, Berthold HK, Götting C, Kuhn J, Kleesiek K, Stehle P, Koertke H, Koerfer R. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 May;89(5):1321-7. Epub 2009 Mar 25. PMID: 19321573