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Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes. Mattila C, Knekt P, Männistö S, Rissanen H, Laaksonen MA, Montonen J, Reunanen A. Diabetes Care. 2007 Oct;30(10):2569-70. Epub 2007 Jul 12. PMID: 17626891 doi: 10.2337/dc07-0292 We found a significant inverse association between serum 25OHD and risk of type 2 diabetes in the simple model. However, the association was attenuated in the multivariate analysis, adjusting for potential risk factors of type 2 diabetes. To our knowledge, this is the first cohort study investigating the association between serum 25OHD and incidence of type 2 diabetes. Our results are in line with those from the Nurses' Health Study (5), where an inverse association was observed for the intake of vitamin D supplements. We could not differentiate whether the results depended on the effect of vitamin D deficiency on β-cell function or on insulin resistance. In summary, the results are in line with the hypothesis that a high serum 25OHD concentration may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Further research is needed to confirm the association and to distinguish between the independent role of vitamin D and the role of healthy dietary and lifestyle patterns in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Vitamin D status and glucose homeostasis in the 1958 British birth cohort: the role of obesity. Hyppönen E, Power C. Diabetes Care. 2006 Oct;29(10):2244-6. PMID: 17003300 doi: 10.2337/dc06-0946 CONCLUSIONS-Body size was a strong determinant for 25(OH)D, with concentrations being suboptimal in most obese participants. Randomized controlled trials [using dosages sufficient to improve 25(OH)D also for the obese] are required to determine whether clinically relevant improvements in glucose metabolism can be obtained by vitamin D supplementation.

Half of the patients with an acute hip fracture suffer from hypovitaminosis D: a prospective study in southeastern Finland. Nurmi I, Kaukonen JP, Lüthje P, Naboulsi H, Tanninen S, Kataja M, Kallio ML, Leppilampi M. Osteoporos Int. 2005 Dec;16(12):2018-24. Epub 2005 Aug 24. PMID: 16133642 Half of the patients with a hip fracture suffered from hypovitaminosis D. The situation was worst in institutional and residential care, although there are personnel for taking care of vitamin D supplementation. In the late summer, one-third and in late winter two-thirds of the patients suffered from hypovitaminosis D. The geographical location of Finland indicates extensive efforts to increase the use of vitamin D supplements among elderly.

Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people suffering foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. They diagnose illnesses, treat injuries, and perform surgery.

Vitamin D and its role in skeletal muscle. Ceglia L. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19770647 SUMMARY: Further studies are needed to fully characterize the underlying mechanisms of vitamin D action in human muscle tissue, to understand how these actions translate into changes in muscle cell morphology and improvements in physical performance, and to define the 25-hydroxyvitamin D level at which to achieve these beneficial effects in muscle.

Vitamin D deficiency and mortality. Zittermann A, Gummert JF, Börgermann J. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19710612

Martineau AR, Wilkinson RJ, Wilkinson KA, Newton SM, Kampmann B, Hall BM, Packe GE, Davidson RN, Eldridge SM, Maunsell ZJ, Rainbow SJ, Berry JL, Griffiths CJ. A single dose of vitamin D enhances immunity to mycobacteria. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007

Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk. Michos ED, Melamed ML. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008 Jan;11(1):7-12. Review. PMID: 18090651

Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk. Michos ED, Melamed ML. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008 Jan;11(1):7-12. Review. PMID: 18090651 doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e3282f2f4dd Summary: Vitamin D deficiency is easy to screen for and easy to treat with supplementation. Further larger observational studies and randomized clinical trials are, however, needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation could have any potential benefit in reducing future cardiovascular disease events and mortality risk.

Vitamin D and skin physiology: a D-lightful story. Holick MF, Chen TC, Lu Z, Sauter E. J Bone Miner Res. 2007 Dec;22 Suppl 2:V28-33. PMID: 18290718 doi: 10.1359/jbmr.07s211 Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and those that do have a very variable vitamin D content. Recently it was observed that wild caught salmon had between 75% and 90% more vitamin D(3) compared with farmed salmon. The associations regarding increased risk of common deadly cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular disease with living at higher latitudes and being prone to vitamin D deficiency should alert all health care professionals about the importance of vitamin D for overall health and well being. Humans have depended on sunlight for their vitamin D requirement. The impact of season, time of day, and latitude on vitamin D synthesis is well documented.(2,3) We now report that altitude also has a dramatic influence on vitamin D3 production and that living at altitudes above 3500 m permits previtamin D3 production at a time when very little is produced at latitudes below 3400 m. It was surprising that, at 27° N in Agra (169 M), little previtamin D3 production was observed. However, there was significant air pollution that caused a haze over the city. It is likely the ozone and other UVB-absorbing pollutants in the air prevented the solar UVB photons from reaching the earth's surface to produce previtamin D3.

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).

An international comparison of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurements. Lips P, Chapuy MC, Dawson-Hughes B, Pols HA, Holick MF. Osteoporos Int. 1999;9(5):394-7. PMID: 10550457 DOI: 10.1007/s001980050162 The results show that 25(OH)D values from different laboratories can not be assumed to be comparable unless a careful cross-calibration has been performed.

Vitamin D is safe when used in physiological doses (those used by Nature). Physiological doses are 3,000-5,000 IU/day, from all sources (sun, diet and supplements). Should hypercalcemia occur with such doses, it is due to vitamin D hypersensitivity syndrome, not vitamin D toxicity. Vitamin D hypersensitivity syndromes include conditions such as primary hyperparathyroidism, occult cancers (especially lymphoma) or granulomatous disease (especially sarcoidosis). In such cases, treatment of vitamin D deficiency should be done under the care of a knowledgeable physician. A serum 25(OH)D, serum 1,25(OH)D, PTH and SMA will lead the clinician in the right direction.

What causes coronary heart disease or coronary atherosclerotic plaque, this thing that we track with heart scans? Well, here are a few little-publicized facts about heart disease that you are unlikely to hear from your When's-the-next-stent? cardiologist or the What is there besides statins? primary care doctor. (Since everybody knows that smoking is a modifiable risk for heart disease that can be readily identified, let's focus on the blood tests that reveal heart disease causes.)

ScienceDaily (Apr. 24, 2009) - New research provides evidence for a link between vitamin D insufficiency and asthma severity. Serum levels of vitamin D in more than 600 Costa Rican children were inversely linked to several indicators of allergy and asthma severity, including hospitalizations for asthma, use of inhaled steroids and total IgE levels, according to a study that will appear in the first issue for May of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.