9/30/12
#29) LEARNING ABOUT VITAMIN D
Many people who access this web site do so in order to find out about vitamin D. They may have a specific illness that they have heard is connected to vitamin D deficiency, or they may have been told by their doctor that their vitamin D level is low. It takes time to scroll through all these entries, so this is a guide on how to find out about vitamin D in the most efficient way.
Entry #7: Update on Vitamin D – 2010.
This is a very concise summary of some of the major actions of vitamin D. This would be the FIRST thing to read. In fact, if you read only this, you will know quite a bit about vitamin D. In the last year there have been similar articles published in medical journals with documentation of dozens of references.
#15 and #23 : both give details regarding breast cancer.
#17 and #25: osteoporosis and documentation of improvement in bone strength with vitamin D.:
#9, #12, and #21: multiple sclerosis, including the details of a total remission. One of the best web sites on the subject is available at www.VitaminDMSCure.com. Anyone who is interested in MS should the several pages on this this web site.
#14: influenza
#24: rheumatoid arthritis
#19: myasthenia gravis
#28: scleroderma
Entry #2 and #18 give further updates with a list of some vitamin D related conditions.
5/7/12
#28) CASE HISTORY: MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN SCLERODERMA WITH TREATMENT OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
(revised August 26, 2013) (revised November 14, 2013)
Kathy is a lady who was diagnosed with scleroderma in January, 2005 at the age of 45. Her initial illness was very serious; she was in acute renal failure as a result of it, and was on hemodialysis for months. She has been under the care of a rheumatologist and is on multiple medications including prednisone from early on. The first several years, in addition to her acute renal failure, she lost the fingers of her right hand, a characteristic manifestation of scleroderma. She also suffered from severe chronic fatigue.
Scleroderma is a rare disease and I have seen only a small number of patients with the condition during my career. However I know it is thought to be a disease caused by the production of abnormal antibodies. I also knew that studies had been done previously that showed that scleroderma is associated with very low vitamin D levels. This was not a surprise when I learned this, since scleroderma is a connective tissue diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome also shown to be associated with very low vitamin D levels, lower than the general healthy population; and in some cases medical research studies showed an improvement of symptoms with these illnesses with the treatment of vitamin D deficiencies.
I first saw her as a patient in January, 2010. I told her it may be important to get a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. The results showed a level of 15 nanograms (ng.), equivalent to 22.5 nMol., (a unit more commonly used in Great Britain). I started her on 50,000 units of vitamin D2 a week, (an average of 7143 units a day). Vitamin D2 is a prescription drug in the United States. An alternative dose of 5,000 units of Vitamin D3 daily can be used also ( a total of 35,000 units a week). Vitamin D3 is over the counter, and in the United States is extremely inexpensive ($2 a month in a prominent chain pharmacy). In my practice of medicine, I have over 7,000 patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency who are on this dose of vitamin D2 or D3.)
She continued to see her rheumatologist and primary care doctor. I saw her again on May 2, 2012. She told me that within a few months of starting the vitamin D, her years of fatigue improved and then resolved. Her kidney function before the vitamin D showed a creatinine of 1.4 mg.; a recent one was now 1.2 mg. In September, 2013, it improved significantly further to a level of 0.8 mg. Her creatinine is now normal. It has improved 42.8%. (Serum creatinine is a very important measure of kidney function, and renal impairment sometimes occurs with scleroderma). Immediately prior to the vitamin D, her prednisone dose as prescribed by her rheumatologist, was 40 mg. a day. Once the vitamin D was started, because of an improvement in her overall symptoms, her doctor was able to slowly the dose to 5 mg. a day. (40 mg. of Prednisone a day for an extended period of time almost always causes major serious side effects; in comparison 5 mg. is associated with much less severe side effects). Since 2010, Kathy has had follow up levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the level indicates a sufficient level.
On May 11, 2011, I posted: #19, a case history regarding myasthenia gravis (MG) and vitamin D.. and since then it's been updated. http://robertbakermdhealthnewsletter.blogspot.com/2013/06/35-index-case-of-improvement-of.html This is the first case history ever reported of MG being treated and improving with vitamin D. On July 1, 2010, I posed a case history of a complete remission of progressive multiple sclerosis with Vitamin D, a remission that is still complete as of June, 2013.. However in this case, there is a large volume of medical studies that have documented improvement of MS with Vitamin D. Many have been published AFTER my report of 2010, but many were published before.
So is this case report of scleroderma more similar to a new finding in the case of MG, or just a demonstration of a previously discovered connection, as in the case of MS? To find out, I had to search the internet.
Vitamin D levels in scleroderma have been found to be remarkably low. There is direct correlation between the severity of the disease and levels of vitamin D. Especially important is that lung manifestations of scleroderma are more common and severe the lower the level. Fibrosis (scar tissue) which can be widespread in advanced scleroderma has been show to be inversely related to vitamin D concentration. The abnormal deposition of calcium deposits in the tissues (called metastatic calcification), found in the most severe cases of scleroderma, is related to high parathyroid levels and very low vitamin D levels om patients without scleroderma, and a study that looked at parathyroid levels found in fact that parathyroid levels in scleroderma was very high. As far as case reports, there are some, but not the “perfect” prospective double blind study.
There are various theories about some of the causes of scleroderma, not having anything to do with vitamin D. But the theory based on substantial evidence with medical studies is that vitamin D prevents the production of abnormal antibodies caused by a wide variety of illnesses,
Most people reading this do not know anyone with scleroderma because fortunately it is a rare disease. But everyone knows someone with an autoimmune disease. Help them out, send this link to them.
Kathy is a lady who was diagnosed with scleroderma in January, 2005 at the age of 45. Her initial illness was very serious; she was in acute renal failure as a result of it, and was on hemodialysis for months. She has been under the care of a rheumatologist and is on multiple medications including prednisone from early on. The first several years, in addition to her acute renal failure, she lost the fingers of her right hand, a characteristic manifestation of scleroderma. She also suffered from severe chronic fatigue.
Scleroderma is a rare disease and I have seen only a small number of patients with the condition during my career. However I know it is thought to be a disease caused by the production of abnormal antibodies. I also knew that studies had been done previously that showed that scleroderma is associated with very low vitamin D levels. This was not a surprise when I learned this, since scleroderma is a connective tissue diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome also shown to be associated with very low vitamin D levels, lower than the general healthy population; and in some cases medical research studies showed an improvement of symptoms with these illnesses with the treatment of vitamin D deficiencies.
I first saw her as a patient in January, 2010. I told her it may be important to get a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. The results showed a level of 15 nanograms (ng.), equivalent to 22.5 nMol., (a unit more commonly used in Great Britain). I started her on 50,000 units of vitamin D2 a week, (an average of 7143 units a day). Vitamin D2 is a prescription drug in the United States. An alternative dose of 5,000 units of Vitamin D3 daily can be used also ( a total of 35,000 units a week). Vitamin D3 is over the counter, and in the United States is extremely inexpensive ($2 a month in a prominent chain pharmacy). In my practice of medicine, I have over 7,000 patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency who are on this dose of vitamin D2 or D3.)
She continued to see her rheumatologist and primary care doctor. I saw her again on May 2, 2012. She told me that within a few months of starting the vitamin D, her years of fatigue improved and then resolved. Her kidney function before the vitamin D showed a creatinine of 1.4 mg.; a recent one was now 1.2 mg. In September, 2013, it improved significantly further to a level of 0.8 mg. Her creatinine is now normal. It has improved 42.8%. (Serum creatinine is a very important measure of kidney function, and renal impairment sometimes occurs with scleroderma). Immediately prior to the vitamin D, her prednisone dose as prescribed by her rheumatologist, was 40 mg. a day. Once the vitamin D was started, because of an improvement in her overall symptoms, her doctor was able to slowly the dose to 5 mg. a day. (40 mg. of Prednisone a day for an extended period of time almost always causes major serious side effects; in comparison 5 mg. is associated with much less severe side effects). Since 2010, Kathy has had follow up levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the level indicates a sufficient level.
On May 11, 2011, I posted: #19, a case history regarding myasthenia gravis (MG) and vitamin D.. and since then it's been updated. http://robertbakermdhealthnewsletter.blogspot.com/2013/06/35-index-case-of-improvement-of.html This is the first case history ever reported of MG being treated and improving with vitamin D. On July 1, 2010, I posed a case history of a complete remission of progressive multiple sclerosis with Vitamin D, a remission that is still complete as of June, 2013.. However in this case, there is a large volume of medical studies that have documented improvement of MS with Vitamin D. Many have been published AFTER my report of 2010, but many were published before.
So is this case report of scleroderma more similar to a new finding in the case of MG, or just a demonstration of a previously discovered connection, as in the case of MS? To find out, I had to search the internet.
Vitamin D levels in scleroderma have been found to be remarkably low. There is direct correlation between the severity of the disease and levels of vitamin D. Especially important is that lung manifestations of scleroderma are more common and severe the lower the level. Fibrosis (scar tissue) which can be widespread in advanced scleroderma has been show to be inversely related to vitamin D concentration. The abnormal deposition of calcium deposits in the tissues (called metastatic calcification), found in the most severe cases of scleroderma, is related to high parathyroid levels and very low vitamin D levels om patients without scleroderma, and a study that looked at parathyroid levels found in fact that parathyroid levels in scleroderma was very high. As far as case reports, there are some, but not the “perfect” prospective double blind study.
There are various theories about some of the causes of scleroderma, not having anything to do with vitamin D. But the theory based on substantial evidence with medical studies is that vitamin D prevents the production of abnormal antibodies caused by a wide variety of illnesses,
Most people reading this do not know anyone with scleroderma because fortunately it is a rare disease. But everyone knows someone with an autoimmune disease. Help them out, send this link to them.
1/15/12
27) MYASTHENIA GRAVIS ASSOCIATION AND VITAMIN D
The Myasthenia Gravis association has a web site and a discussion blog online. It can easily be accessed by goggle: Myasthenia Gravis Association.
My entry on this Health Letter #19 is titled: Case History: Subjective and Objective Improvement in Myasthenia Gravis following aggressive treatment of Vitamin D insufficiency. It tells the story about Debbie, a woman with myasthenia gravis.
This entry was different than when I wrote about other illnesses, such as osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis, which have a significant amount of medical research supporting their connection with vitamin D. I was unable to find any medical study that investigated myasthenia gravis(MG) and vitamin D. However myasthenia gravis is known to be an autoimmune illness felt to be caused by abnormal antibodies, and there has been much research done on vitamin D having a beneficial effect against such antibodies.
I precipitated a discussion of Vitamin D and myasthenia. Many members of the forum with MG were aware that they had very low levels of vitamin D, and were aware of the problems that can arise with osteoporosis, made worse because prednisone frequently used to treat MG often accelerates osteoporosis. One member in particular felt there was a possibility that an improvement in the MG that coincided with taking significant doses of vitamin D were related. Some members of the forum indicated they were going to get a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level done for the first time.
One member of the forum summarized the discussion on the Myasthenia Gravis Forum:
"I think Dr Baker has been given a good hearing on this Forum and his argument has been well made. Maybe it’s time to let it sink in. And .. I have taken what he says about vitamin D deficiency very seriously. I think there may well be something in it and think it worthy of further investigation. The MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Trust and MS Society have taken on board the possible link with vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune diseases and I think we should too."
Best wishes to the members of the forum who suffer from MG and I hope as a result of the discussion, more people with MG have an experience with vitamin D that is similar to that of Debbie's positive experience.
My entry on this Health Letter #19 is titled: Case History: Subjective and Objective Improvement in Myasthenia Gravis following aggressive treatment of Vitamin D insufficiency. It tells the story about Debbie, a woman with myasthenia gravis.
This entry was different than when I wrote about other illnesses, such as osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis, which have a significant amount of medical research supporting their connection with vitamin D. I was unable to find any medical study that investigated myasthenia gravis(MG) and vitamin D. However myasthenia gravis is known to be an autoimmune illness felt to be caused by abnormal antibodies, and there has been much research done on vitamin D having a beneficial effect against such antibodies.
I precipitated a discussion of Vitamin D and myasthenia. Many members of the forum with MG were aware that they had very low levels of vitamin D, and were aware of the problems that can arise with osteoporosis, made worse because prednisone frequently used to treat MG often accelerates osteoporosis. One member in particular felt there was a possibility that an improvement in the MG that coincided with taking significant doses of vitamin D were related. Some members of the forum indicated they were going to get a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level done for the first time.
One member of the forum summarized the discussion on the Myasthenia Gravis Forum:
"I think Dr Baker has been given a good hearing on this Forum and his argument has been well made. Maybe it’s time to let it sink in. And .. I have taken what he says about vitamin D deficiency very seriously. I think there may well be something in it and think it worthy of further investigation. The MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Trust and MS Society have taken on board the possible link with vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune diseases and I think we should too."
Best wishes to the members of the forum who suffer from MG and I hope as a result of the discussion, more people with MG have an experience with vitamin D that is similar to that of Debbie's positive experience.
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