Vitamin D's wild days: Who to test, what to take?

August 18, 2008 By LAURAN NEERGAARD , AP Medical Writer

(AP) -- Don't be surprised if your doctor orders a vitamin D test during your next physical. Blood tests to check levels of the so-called sunshine vitamin are on the rise as doctors and patients react to headline-grabbing research that suggests having too little may not only hurt your bones - it might increase your risk of certain cancers or heart disease.



Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .

Similar stories from PHYSorg:


How much vitamin D do I need?

created Mar 26, 2009 | popularity 3.6 / 5 (8) | comments 1

New study links vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease and death

created Nov 16, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 3

Low vitamin D levels explains most ESRD risk in African-Americans

created Oct 29, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Vitamin D, a key milk nutrient, linked to better muscle power

created Feb 04, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Vitamin B12 may protect the brain in old age

created Sep 08, 2008 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (16) | comments 0


print this article email this article download pdf blog this article bookmark this article     Stumble it Digg this share on Facebook retweet share on Reddit add to delicious
Rate this story - 4.2 /5 (9 votes)

Rank Filter

Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first

  • deatopmg - Aug 19, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    the OVERWHELMING evidence on overdosing on vitamin D3 is that huge quantities (>>20,000 IU) must be taken for a l o n g time and it is VERY rare. (vitamin D2, the prescription, and un-natural, form of vitamin D, however, is a different story.)

    The risk/benefit ratio is so tiny that it is hardly worth worrying about unless;
    1) you want to create a news story or
    2) you want to spread confusion, a classic technique of the industrial medical system, esp. big pharma.

    When a significant portion of the general population begins to maintain it's D3 blood level at about 50 ng/ml, (estimated optimum, today) the income of the industrial medical cartel is going to drop precipitously due to significantly reduced cancer, heart disease, et al rates. So, watch out for the up-coming shenanigans from these predators in their attempts maintain their bottom line.

    Read; http://www.vitami...cil.org/
    or do your own extensive literature search and draw your own conclusions. [Just beware that there are a lot of related compounds called vitamin D that behave, in the body, in undesirable ways. Some of the trials on some these compounds were clearly designed to spread confusion.] D3 (cholecalciferol) is the compound of interest.

August 18, 2008 all stories

Comments: 1

4.2 /5 (9 votes)
  • Stumble this up

  • Digg this

  • share this

  • hide
  • Related Stories




  • hide
  • Relevant PhysicsForums posts

Other News

Swine flu vaccine effective despite mutations: experts

Medicine & Health / Diseases

created 7 hours ago | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Swine flu vaccines are still effective despite reported cases of mutations in the A(H1N1) virus, health experts in Europe and North America said Saturday.


Study raises concerns about outdoor second-hand smoke

Medicine & Health / Health

created Nov 18, 2009 | popularity 2 / 5 (4) | comments 21

Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new University of Georgia study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that these outdoor smoking ...


smoking, cigarette

Vaccine being developed to help smokers quit

Medicine & Health / Medications

created Nov 20, 2009 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (9) | comments 10

(PhysOrg.com) -- Glaxo-SmithKline has joined forces with Nabi Pharmaceuticals to produce a vaccine to help smokers give up their addiction permanently.


GOP: Health test recommendations could affect care (AP)

GOP: Health test recommendations could affect care

Medicine & Health / Health

created 17 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- Republicans are seizing on this week's recommendations for fewer Pap smears and mammograms to fuel concern about government-rationed medical care - and to try to chip away support by women for President ...


Pilot study relates phthalate exposure to less-masculine play by boys

Medicine & Health / Research

created Nov 16, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (9) | comments 9

A study of 145 preschool children reports, for the first time, that when the concentrations of two common phthalates in mothers' prenatal urine are elevated their sons are less likely to play with male-typical toys and games, ...