Higher blood Vitamin D levels may be related to a lower risk of depression

April 15, 2015 Higher blood Vitamin D levels may be related to a lower risk of depression  At a Glance A new study in a large population of Finnish adults shows that higher serum vitamin D levels are related to a reduced risk of depressive disorders, especially in those with poorer health to begin with.  Read more about this research below.  Previous research has suggested that vitamin D may be helpful in protecting against depression, but the evidence is still somewhat inconclusive. In a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers investigated the potential relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders. The study population consisted of a representative sample of Finnish adults between the ages of 30 and 79 years of age that participated in the Health 2000 survey. Of the 5,371 individuals in the study group, 354 were diagnosed with depressive disorders and 222 individuals were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.  Serum Vitamin D concentrations were determined from frozen samples taken previously. A total of 4 indicators of depression and a single indicator of anxiety were studied as variables.  Individuals with a higher serum Vitamin D concentration showed a reduced risk of depression. After adjustments for socioeconomic, lifestyle, and metabolic factors, individuals in the highest 25% of vitamin D levels had a 35% lower risk for depression when compared to individuals with vitamin D levels in the lowest 25%. Higher Vitamin D levels had the greatest impact against depression in younger men with unhealthy lifestyles, who were divorced, or who suffered from metabolic syndrome. Based on statistical analysis, it was noted that raising the vitamin D levels above 50 nmol/L (20 ng/ml) could have avoided about 19% of the depression cases in the study. Vitamin D serum levels did not correlate significantly with anxiety disorders.   The results of this study support the theory that higher serum vitamin D concentrations may be protective against depressive disorders, especially in individuals with poor socio-economic status, diet and lifestyle choices, and metabolic health. Tuija Jääskeläinen et al.. Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are related to a reduced risk of depression. British Journal of Nutrition, available on CJO2015. doi:10.1017/S0007114515000689.

Inadequate vitamin D levels are related to cognitive decline in the elderly

November 26, 2014 From the Weekly Essentials of Health by Usana Health Sciences

Inadequate vitamin D levels are related to cognitive decline in the elderly 

 At a Glance
A new study has confirmed previous research indicating a possible association between low vitamin D blood levels and an increased risk of cognitive decline in the elderly.   

Read more about this research below.

 

In addition to its role in bone health, vitamin D also plays a role in mental health by protecting the brain in several ways: reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension (diseases that affect the brain), providing antioxidant mechanisms, regulating calcium levels, supporting the immune system, enhancing nerve conduction, and by its role in detoxification. Many previous studies have concluded that inadequate vitamin D blood levels may be linked to a higher risk of cognitive impairment.  

A recent study published in the journal Neurologytested the hypothesis that low vitamin D blood levels are associated with risk of cognitive decline.  

The Italian population-based study included 1,927 elderly subjects. Serum vitamin D levels were measured at baseline, and cognitive function was measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). A MMSE score lower than 24 indicated cognitive dysfunction. Over a period of a 4.4 year follow-up, a decline of 3 or more points on the MMSE was considered clinically significant.  

Compared to subjects with sufficient vitamin D levels (>30 ng/ml or 75 nmol/L), the subjects with vitamin D deficiency (

The results of this study confirm an independent association between vitamin D levels and mental decline in elderly adults. Although there is considerable variation from person to person, and testing prior to supplementation is generally recommended, most people need to take between 1,000 and 5,000 IU/day of vitamin D3 to achieve levels adequate to protect against cognitive decline.

Elena D. Toffanello et al. Vitamin D deficiency predicts cognitive decline in older men and women. Neurology. 2014 Nov 5. pii: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001080. [Epub ahead of print]

Resources & Illnesses Associated with Iodine Deficiency

Please note that the diseases I mention in the video only scratch the surface! In the interest of not losing you attention I kept it short.
 It's a long list that includes:
GERD
low testosterone
migraines
uterine fibroids,
fibromylagia
lower back pain
allergies and sinus problems
 asthma
prostate issues
fibrocystic breasts
Paget's disease
brain fog
mental retardation
still births
dark thoughts, depression, anxiety
hair loss
lesions
cherry angiomas
candida
genital herpes
stunted growth

This book has knocked my socks off and I plan on reading it at least ten times before moving on to predecessor books such as: Iodine: Why You Need It Why You Can't Live Without It by Dr. David Brownstein. 
TIPS Resources on the web include Breast Cancer Choices  and Iodine Research

Vitamin D Are You Getting Enough? The Myth of Summer in the Big City

Vitamin D is the "sunshine vitamin" Are you getting enough?

Vitamin D is really a hormone that assists your immune systems optimal functioning.Manufactured by your body when the sun hits your skin cancers, depression, influenza, absorption of the trace minerals magnesium and calcium for strong bones, the formation of healthy babies, the lowering of hypertension in black Americans and the increased speed of recovery post workout are just some of the many benefits proven by science. Although getting enough sunshine may have fallen in the realm of lifestyle in the past, currently 70% of the US population is deficient including infants. It seems important with the summer months coming on to note that summer does not guarantee you will be getting enough D. Why? This has to do with lifestyle and for most who are chained to an office job that means spending 8 hours and upward daily indoors and away from the sunshine. If you live in a big city like New York, sunshine is something you appreciate looking at from inside your office. Though fortunate to be in a city that gets more sun than many on the globe, spending time in the sun remains a fantasy for most. The average workers day in the Big Apple looks like this;

Your D as in Deficient Day

1. Get up in the dark before sunrise to get ready for work.
2. Walk to subway or train for ten minutes before you enter the dark subway for an hour commute.

3. Emerge from subway and get 2 minutes of sunshine at the coffee vendor on the street before you head up to work. You are wearing long sleeves or bundled up so there's no chance of getting any sun though maybe on your face.

4. Work in closed office (where there may or may not be windows) under fluorescent lights all day. Sit in front of computer screen.

5. After work off you go to a dark bar or restaurant to relax over drinks with friends or head back home for an hour or longer commute. When you get home it's dark. And that ladies and gentleman was you exposure to the sunshine on a daily basis for most of the year.

Be Deliberate and Supplement

With the scare tactics used to keep the majority out of the sun while slathering sunblock that prevents your body from producing this hormone naturally it's no wonder we are as a population suffering from a lack of D. A moderate amount of sunshine to the tune of 30 minutes daily is good for you. Supplementation all year round for those who are not making a concerted effort to get outside or cannot get outside due to lifestyle constraints on a daily basis is recommended. According to new ground breaking studies by Usana Health Sciences 2000 IU per day are preferable to the old 400 IU per day previously considered adequate. Hear Dr. Brian Dixon and Tyler Barker, Phd of TOSH weigh in on some new findings about Vitamin D here

Dr. Ladd McNamara On Mother Baby Health Why Prenatal Vitamins

Babycare PreNatal Vitamins Now Available from USANA

It's spring time and all over the city life is in bloom. Mother's Day is one week away and lately I have been getting asked from several woman around me what I would recommend in terms of supplementation during pregnancy and what we have to offer for children. I am glad you asked! Here are some notes I compiled weeks ago from a webinar  conducted by  OBGYN Dr. Ladd McNamara. The attendance of his webinar was through the roof with 750 people registered making it quite clear that this information is needed.  People are starting to make the connection between the health of the mother to the child's long term health and intergenerational health. The phrase " I got if from my mother's side" took on a deeper meaning here with his deconstruction of conditions with a strategy of knowledge to manage them before they occur. Dr. McNamara is repeating this webinar on this topic this Wednesday May 8th at 6PM PST/9PM EST It's free but you must register here

The link between Mother & Baby Diabetes Bifidia Asthma Post Partum Depression

The nutritional needs of a pregnant women increases dramatically since all vital nutrients will be directed to the unborn fetus first. Ideally you want to be on optimal supplementation a minimum of three months before becoming pregnant. Here are some of the points made by Dr. McNamara on why nutrients are important before, during and post pregnancy.
Folic Acid - 500 miligrams twice daily to avoid spinobifida in the baby. This is an unfortunate condition where the spinal cord of the child does not close.
Vitamin D - 4000 IU's daily for you and baby help prevent infantile asthma or wheezing and help the mother keep her immune system strong and the blues away post partum.
Vitamin E - Helps with the absorption of iron and is important for healthy brain development in your baby.
Iron - Blood volume in women increases by 50% during pregnancy. Not all anemias are caused by iron deficiencies however you want to make sure you are getting what you need.
Iodine - 150 milligrams is not considered enough. Inadequate levels of iodine have been linked to miscarriages and hypertension.
Vitamin A in the form of beta carotene  is the equavilent of eating 1 carrot daily. This form of beta carotene is non toxic and is not associated with birth defects. A deficiency is associated with gestational diabetes with babes born much larger than they should be making delivery difficult puting both the baby and mother at risk. Gestational diabetes is a harbinger of Type 2 Diabetes so by insuring you get optimal amounts of A in the form of beta carotene can help prevent your child and you from developing this condition later.
Pregnant mothers also require more calcium,magnesium, selenium,vanadium and manganese to insure the development of the brain, the bones and a healthy heart in the fetus.
However, dealing with pregnancy and post partum are just as important as depression can occur after delivery. Dr. McNamara has books on this topic through his website

BIOMEGA Jr for kids

Kid's Corner Biomega Jr and USAnimals

So if you are wondering what happens after your baby gets into his toddler years and starts growing like a weed Biomega Jr is and Usanimals are there to support the healthy development of your child. Biomega also tastes good. It comes in a gel stick with a pineapple flavor so there is no fishy taste. It's sweetened with Stevia.
What it Does: Supplies 650 mg of omega-3 fatty acids: 230 mg of DHA and 350 mg of EPA

• Supports healthy cognitive and neural development for kids
• Supports healthy eyes
• Provides 1,000 IU of vitamin D to support healthy bones and teeth

 USANIMALS is the berry flavored pharmaceutical grade chewable suitable for kids aged 2 to 12 years. They come in fun animal shapes and have no artificial dyes. Here's what they offer which can be good as your child enters the picky eater stage. You know they need their nutrients and here is a way they can get it. In addition to this pick up a copy of Dr. Christine Wood's How To Get Kids To Eat Great and Love It. A pediatrician and mother herself she's seen it all and has great ways to make meal time fun instead of a battle.

• Supports healthy immune function with vitamins A, C, E, and zinc*
• Includes vitamins B6, B12, folate, and choline for healthy brain function*
• Includes calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D for strong bones and teeth*
• Includes iron, thiamin, and B12 for energy*