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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TeeJay on December 17, 2004, at 22:32:51
I've been taking 800iu of vit d for a few days now as a bit of an experiment.
Anyway I was doing some more reading tonight and found this interesting piece which is the most comprehensive article i've read on vit d and its possible uses in the mentally ill.
One paragraph speaks of using artificial lamps to increase the bodys vit D......I can only presume this is the therapeutic action of the light boxes some use for SAD.
http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/vitamin_D_and_mental_illness.htm
Teejay
Posted by tealady on December 18, 2004, at 4:14:55
In reply to Vit D and light boxes etc............, posted by TeeJay on December 17, 2004, at 22:32:51
> I've been taking 800iu of vit d for a few days now as a bit of an experiment.
>
> Anyway I was doing some more reading tonight and found this interesting piece which is the most comprehensive article i've read on vit d and its possible uses in the mentally ill.
>
> One paragraph speaks of using artificial lamps to increase the bodys vit D......I can only presume this is the therapeutic action of the light boxes some use for SAD.That's always been my assumption as well
>
> http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/vitamin_D_and_mental_illness.hagree with the gist of the article, but some of it does just not make sense to me
like
"Furthermore, there has never been a reported case of vitamin D intoxication due to excessive sun-exposure such as lifeguards, sun-worshippers, etc. The reason is that once the skin makes enough vitamin D, the sun destroys the excess.
"
Like umm how does the SUN destroy the excess??? :)I mentioned somewhere b4 to JLx ..usually we get sunburnt after a few seconds to a few minutes of this noon sun...and that kinda reminds us after a while to get outta the sun, and also reminds us for quite a few days following too...it stings.
So we really don't repeat the dose daily!But the sun itself doesn't "destroy any excess?"..or am I missing something?..I suspect sunburn maybe part of our bodies inbuilt overdose protection mechanism..
I had a kid that as a baby would blister badly in less than a minute in the sun..he was white thoughAnyway I agree most people in temperature climates, especially in winter need more VitD..just I think there should be some caution as to dose in the long term taking of meds.
Fish liver oil has other things in it which help balance the VitD.
I've known adults who have consumed 1 tablespoon of cod liver oil daily thru winter months with no ill effects, and they reckon it prevents colds and flu etc.here's Mercola's view
http://www.mercola.com/forms/pureda.htm
He agrees most should be taking VitD in higher dose. His articles seem to not be consistent on a recommended dose though.If one wants to take a LOT of VitD though, I guess you don't want it all in fish liver oil form as the you would OD..on the VitA.
I personally have a few concerns with large doses of vitD over a long period..not that VitD in inself is toxic. ..
VitD would, I assume , lower PTH levels , may change calcium and phosphate balance..but I assume we are designed to cope within reasonable limits of VitD. This is one reason I am cautious about high intake of VitD over long periods of time.
With other hormones there are different pathways followed and different outcomes depending on whether they are taken in by the skin, or swallowed.
As we can get VitD from our food (as in eggs, fish) as well as from sunlight I assume our bodies may possibly run best with both kinds of intake.
I have not heard of any difference though between the effects of vitD taken in either form...but OTH we don't know it all as yet.
So that's my second reason for caution with swallowing really high doses of VitD in the long term.And lastly, I've heard personally of reports from individuals who suspect they may have got negative effects from high doses of VitD.
These were effects on the brain..mania?, muddled thinking/reasoning..and even possibly (outside chance but still cautious on) contributing to a suicide this year. (not on this forum)I remember I used to get a headache if I was too long in the sun myself.
So for me I guess I believe one can OD on VitD..but we usually have our own inbuilt mechanisms (sunburn) to prevent this..or difficulty in getting too much from food sources alone. So for me the question is, in the long term, what is safe?One thing about light boxes, they're safe :-)
Jan (OK, I'm a worry guts)
>
> Teejay
>
>
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 18, 2004, at 9:35:18
In reply to Vit D and light boxes etc............, posted by TeeJay on December 17, 2004, at 22:32:51
> I've been taking 800iu of vit d for a few days now as a bit of an experiment.
>
> Anyway I was doing some more reading tonight and found this interesting piece which is the most comprehensive article i've read on vit d and its possible uses in the mentally ill.
>
> One paragraph speaks of using artificial lamps to increase the bodys vit D......I can only presume this is the therapeutic action of the light boxes some use for SAD.
>
> http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com/vitamin_D_and_mental_illness.htm
>
> TeejayThe wavelength of light required to produce vitamin D in the skin is sometimes called UV-B. SAD light boxes are specially filtered to block all UV-B. It is tempting to attribute the influence of phototherapy to vitamin D formation, but it cannot be so.
A simple rule of thumb with respect to artificial light sources and vitamin D production is that only lights which can cause dermal burns can produce vitamin D. So, the sort of lights that are used in those tanning shops produce vitamin D (and may be responsible for the sense some have that having a tan makes them feel better).
A more recent study than is included in your referenced report (an excellent review, as you say) demonstrates the supplemental intake on the order of 4000 IU vitamin D is most likely to optimize the 25-OHD activity, and related serum parameters.
I want to emphasize that the current RDA and similar dietary intake recommendations are intended solely to reduce the likelihood of rickets and osteopenia to 95% risk. This is not an optimal intake recommendation.
Lar
Posted by tealady on December 18, 2004, at 18:45:43
In reply to Re: Vit D and light boxes etc............ » TeeJay, posted by Larry Hoover on December 18, 2004, at 9:35:18
>The wavelength of light required to produce vitamin D in the skin is sometimes called UV-B. SAD light boxes are specially filtered to block all UV-B. It is tempting to attribute the influence of phototherapy to vitamin D formation, but it cannot be so.
>Thanks Lar. That fits with the sunburn as a limiter theory.
Guess the light box works maybe as something to do with melatonin?
I guess from imprisonment, hiding etc , people can live totally deprived of sunlight...never heard idea of any effects though.
Jan
Posted by cache-monkey on January 2, 2005, at 1:19:22
In reply to Re: Vit D and light boxes etc............ » Larry Hoover, posted by tealady on December 18, 2004, at 18:45:43
" Guess the light box works maybe as something to do with melatonin?"
I think the idea of light therapy is that it results in suppression of melatonin. It also increases the synthesis of serotonin, according to what I've read. I'm not sure if this is because less tryptophan (the precursor of both serotonin and melatonin) is used for melotonin production, allowing more to be used to make serotonin, or whether it's a seperate action altogether.
HTH,
cache-monkey
Posted by tealady on January 3, 2005, at 7:01:30
In reply to Re: Vit D and light boxes etc............ » tealady, posted by cache-monkey on January 2, 2005, at 1:19:22
This is the end of the thread.
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