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Posted by: | Posted on: October 24, 2023

Vitamin D for COVID-19, Diabetes and Heart Health


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/10/23/vitamin-d-for-covid-19-diabetes-heart-health.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     October 23, 2023

vitamin d for covid 19 diabetes heart health

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Vitamin D levels affect the severity of COVID-19 infection and maintaining optimal levels may reduce symptoms and related long-term complications
  • Vitamin D modulates innate immunity by maintaining the integrity of physical barriers, helping to keep infectious agents from entering the body
  • Vitamin D also affects adaptive immunity, increasing human cathelicidin LL-37, antimicrobial peptides that have both antiviral and antiparasitic properties
  • Vitamin D levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease events
  • Supplementing with vitamin D has also been found to prevent diabetes in people with prediabetes, and its beneficial effects on blood glucose and metabolic health are well known

Evidence continues to pile up on vitamin D’s therapeutic potential against COVID-19, as well as its usefulness for chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. I published a review on the importance of vitamin D for COVID-19 prevention and treatment in October 20201 and was widely vilified as a result.

Now, another review has been published highlighting vitamin D’s role in managing COVID-19 infection as well as preventing complications. Not only do vitamin D levels affect the severity of COVID-19 infection, the team wrote in the peer-reviewed journal Cureus, but maintaining optimal levels may reduce symptoms and related long-term problems.2

Vitamin D Modulates Your Immune System, Reduces Inflammation

One way vitamin D fights COVID-19 is via immune-modulating properties. It influences innate immunity by maintaining the integrity of physical barriers, helping to keep infectious agents from entering the body.

It also affects adaptive immunity, increasing human cathelicidin LL-37,3 antimicrobial peptides that have both antiviral and antiparasitic properties, and “act as a primary defense against bacteria and other pathogens in the case of inflammation.”4 Vitamin D also increases secretin of defensin immune proteins, which have antiviral properties. According to the review:5

“As the virus enters the respiratory system, defensins get attached to the influenza virus and accumulated onto the surface of the virus. This reduces the virulence of the virus. Ultimately leading to the destruction of the outer cell membrane thus reducing the viral load.”

Meanwhile, vitamin D blocks a pathway leading to increased vascular permeability in inflammatory conditions, helping to relieve related symptoms. It also suppresses proinflammatory cytokines and reduces the cytokine storm that causes symptoms in many inflammatory conditions.6

Vitamin D Cut COVID Rates by 54%

A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA), the latter of which weighs errors in order to assess if further studies are needed,7 found giving vitamin D to people with COVID-19 cut risk of death from SARS-CoV-2 by 51% and reduced risk of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) by 72%.8

COVID-19 patients supplemented with vitamin D not only had lower rates of ICU admission and fewer mortality events, but they also had lower rates of COVID-19 infection, by 54%.9 Further, the TSA revealed “the protective role of vitamin D and ICU admission showed that, since the pooling of the studies reached a definite sample size, the positive association is conclusive.”10

To put it another way, the results suggest “a definitive association between the protective role of vitamin D and ICU hospitalization.”11 The team shared why it makes perfect sense that vitamin D fights COVID-19, stating:12

“COVID-19 is characterized by high levels of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In this sense, various data have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D, in addition to the importance of vitamin D for bone health, as well as its role in extra-skeletal function.”

Specific examples of how vitamin D may be beneficial in the case of COVID-19 include that it:13

Maintains pulmonary barrier function Determines the production of antimicrobial peptides
Enhances neutrophil activity, which boosts the innate immune response Shifts that adaptive immune response to a more T helper cell-2 type
Reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines Increases the anti-inflammatory response

Vitamin D is also protective against acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a lung condition that’s common in severe COVID-19 cases, which causes low blood oxygen and fluid buildup in the lungs. Along with cytokine release syndrome, ARDS is one of the deadliest complications of COVID-19, and vitamin D inhibits the metabolic pathways that may cause it.14

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Low Vitamin D Increases Infection, Post-COVID Complications

It’s clear that people with higher levels of vitamin D are also less likely to die from COVID-19 — and one study suggested that, theoretically, “a mortality rate close to zero” could be achieved if your vitamin D level reaches 50 ng/ml.15 I’ve long recommended a vitamin D level of 40 to 60 ng/ml for optimal health and disease prevention.

However, higher levels of 60 to 80 ng/ml may be even better, while a level upward of 100 ng/mL appears safe and beneficial for certain conditions, especially cancer. Another study of 489 patients found those with vitamin D deficiency had a 77% increased risk of COVID-19 infection.16 When your body is deficient in vitamin D, it leads to a number of deleterious outcomes, including increased:17

Risk of lung injury Susceptibility to infection
Blood pressure Insulin resistance
Smooth muscle calcification Risk of cardiovascular disease

Vitamin D deficiency may also result in prolonged intracellular inflammation, which drives mitochondrial dysfunction fueling accelerated aging, DNA damage and early cell death. According to the Cureus review:18

“One of vitamin D’s main roles is to control oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and maintain mitochondrial respiratory processes. Vitamin D has important positive impacts on regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and energy metabolism through its focused mitochondrial activity and subduing of ROS [reactive oxygen species] through a variety of pathways.

Having enough of it considerably reduces the risk of developing illnesses where the pathognomonic feature of the development and progression of illness is an inflammatory process … The fibrotic and “cytokine storm” effects of infection can be countered by vitamin D3.”

Further, vitamin D is protective against post-COVID complications that may affect the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine and neuropsychiatric systems, along with the kidneys.19

Vitamin D Linked to Cardiovascular Disease Events, Diabetes

Low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and all-cause mortality.20 A study involving 5,684 participants also found that vitamin D levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease events.21

Further, vitamin D deficiency is linked to vascular dysfunction, arterial stiffness and increased thickness of the heart muscle. Dr. Vijay Natarajan, cardiac surgeon at Bharati Hospital, told Indian Express:22

“Blood pressure regulation is also adversely affected by a deficiency of vitamin D. In people with diabetes, better control of blood sugar levels is facilitated by adequate vitamin D levels. So, one can say that vitamin D deficiency aggravates one or more cardiovascular risk factors … There have been studies to show a link between vitamin D deficiency and obesity … Unchecked, these risk factors can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.”

It’s possible that vitamin D influences heart health by optimizing cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as via improvements in glucose and insulin levels. One study also found vitamin D deficiency leads to a 50% increase in fatal stroke.23

On the other hand, supplementing with vitamin D has also been found to prevent diabetes in people with prediabetes,24 and its beneficial effects on blood glucose and metabolic health are well known. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, vitamin D supplementation led to a reduction in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) in adults with Type 2 diabetes,25 while other research shows it effectively reduces insulin resistance.26

Among people with prediabetes, vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 13%, according to additional research,27 and it’s also possible that vitamin D deficiency is related to the increased risk of cancer often seen in Type 2 diabetes patients. According to research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences:28

“Vitamin D, via alleviation of insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and inflammation, reduces diabetes driven cancer risk factors. Moreover, vitamin D strengthens the DNA repair process, and regulates apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells as well as signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis i.e., tumor growth factor β (TGFβ), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and Wnt-β-Cathenin.

It should also be underlined that many types of cancer cells present alterations in vitamin D metabolism and action as a result of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) and CYP27B1 expression dysregulation.”

Why It’s Best to Get Your Vitamin D From the Sun

I strongly recommend getting your vitamin D from proper sun exposure, if possible, as it provides benefits beyond vitamin D optimization. Higher levels of vitamin D may even serve as a marker for healthy sun exposure, which in turn may be responsible for many of the health benefits, like reduced risk of cancer and increased longevity, attributed to vitamin D.

Regular sun exposure, for instance, enhances production of melatonin — a potent anticancer agent.29 However, if you’re unable to get adequate sun exposure each day, vitamin D supplementation may be necessary. The global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (defined as a level of less than 20 ng/mL) and insufficiency (defined as a level of 20 to less than 30 ng/mL) is 40% to 100%,30 so many people are lacking.

Further, 20 ng/mL has repeatedly been shown to be grossly insufficient for good health and disease prevention, which means the true prevalence of people without optimal levels of vitamin D is even greater.

Among older adults in the U.S., vitamin D deficiency may even affect up to 100% of the population,31 not only because they tend to spend a lot of time indoors but also because they produce less vitamin D in response to sun exposure than a younger person with the same sun exposure.

The only way to determine how much sun exposure is enough and/or how much vitamin D3 you need to take is to measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year. When supplementing, also remember vitamins D and K2, calcium and magnesium all work together and must be properly balanced for optimal health.

Once you’ve confirmed your vitamin D levels via testing, adjust your sun exposure and/or vitamin D3 supplementation accordingly. Then, remember to retest in three to four months to make sure you’ve reached your target level.

The optimal level for health and disease prevention is between 60 ng/mL and 80 ng/mL (150-200 nmol/L), while the cutoff for sufficiency appears to be around 40 ng/mL. In Europe, the measurements you’re looking for are 150 to 200 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L respectively.

Posted in Coronavirus, Heart, Immunity, Sunlight, Vitamins | One Comment »

Posted by: | Posted on: August 27, 2023

Protect Yourself From Disease and Outrageous Medical Costs


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/08/26/medical-costs-debt-trap.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     Fact Checked     August 26, 2023

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • In the U.S., 66.5% of bankruptcies are due to medical bills, which amounts to 530,000 medical bankruptcies each year
  • Staying healthy by taking control of your health is key to avoiding this medical bill debt trap
  • Seek to get one hour of sun exposure daily with minimal clothing; ideally, combine your sun exposure with one hour of daily walking
  • Eliminate seed oils from your diet; they’re high in linoleic acid (LA), which is toxic at high levels and when consumed out of balance with omega-3; eliminating processed foods is key to reducing LA
  • Improve mitochondrial function using niacinamide at a dose of 50 milligrams three times per day, and take a daily aspirin tablet

In the U.S., 66.5% of bankruptcies are due to medical bills, which amounts to 530,000 medical bankruptcies each year.1 Among those who file bankruptcy due to medical expenses, 72% have health insurance,2,3 highlighting the outrageous state of health care in America.

If you end up in the hospital, you know you’re going to receive a bill — but you don’t typically know how much that bill will be. It’s no wonder that two-thirds of adults worry about being able to afford surprise medical bills like these.4,5

In fact, in a survey of public financial worries, being able to afford unexpected medical bills topped the list, followed by concerns about paying for health insurance deductibles and prescription drugs.6 Staying healthy by taking control of your health is key to avoiding this medical bill debt trap.

Big Pharma Manipulates Patents to Drive Up Drug Costs

If U.S. medical costs seem sky-high, it’s not in your imagination. Big Pharma keeps drug costs elevated due to patents, which last 20 years, and sometimes up to 40, preventing competitors from introducing less expensive generics to the market.7 A report from I-Mak analyzed the 12 best-selling drugs in the U.S., finding that their makers file hundreds of patent applications, most of which are granted.8

While U.S. patent law intends patents to provide 10 years of protection, the mass patents allow drug makers to monopolize the market and drive up costs. “These patents are used by drugmakers for the purpose of forestalling generic competition while continuing to increase the price of these drugs,” I-Mak reported.9

On average, among the top 12 drugs studied, there were 125 applications filed and 71 patents granted per drug. Prices also increased 68% since 2012. According to I-Mak, “There are 38 years of attempted patent protection blocking generic competition sought by drugmakers for each of these top grossing drugs — or nearly double the 20-year monopoly intended under U.S. patent law.”10

Hospitals Charge You Up to 18 Times Over Their Cost

It’s not only drug costs that are bankrupting Americans. Hospital stays can also lead to financial ruin — and it’s easy to see why when you realize the price-gouging going on. In “Fleecing Patients,”11 National Nurses United highlighted that the 100 most expensive U.S. hospitals charge patients from $1,129 to $1,808 for every $100 of their costs.12

That is 11.3 to 18 times what their actual costs are. Many companies, like grocery stores, typically operate on margins of 1 to 3% profits,13 or 0.1 to 0.3 times their costs.

“There is no excuse for these scandalous prices. These are not markups for luxury condo views, they are for the most basic necessity of your life: your health,” Jean Ross, RN, president of National Nurses United, said in a news release, adding:14

“Unpayable charges are a calamity for our patients, too many of whom avoid — at great risk to their health — the medical care they need due to the high cost, or they become burdened by devastating debt, hounded by bill collectors or driven into bankruptcy.”

It’s gotten so bad that 30% of adults in one survey said they had to choose between paying for medical bills or necessities like food and housing.15 Hospitals then go after patients who can’t pay. In Maryland alone, one of the only states to publish such data, hospitals have filed more than 145,000 medical debt lawsuits in the last decade, trying to recover $268.7 million.16

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5 Keys to Take Control of Your Health

I’ve long recommended staying out of hospitals as much as possible to protect your health. But doing so will also protect your pocketbook. While you should always seek medical care when you need it — especially in cases of emergency — I am going to list the most powerful lifestyle strategies I know that you can take to radically reduce your likelihood of getting sick and ending up saddled with oppressive medical debt that can lead to bankruptcy.

Assiduously following these recommendations will go a long way to immunizing you against all chronic diseases that are the primary reason most people wind up in the hospital.

1. Get one hour of daily sunshine — Head outdoors for a daily dose of sunshine as often as possible. Ideally, seek to get one hour of sun exposure daily with minimal clothing. If you spend more time in the sun, the rates of many types of cancers would radically decrease and there would be fewer cardiovascular disease deaths.17

One of the primary benefits is that your skin produces vitamin D in response to sun exposure. Vitamin D upregulates your ability to fight infections, as well as chronic inflammation, and produces over 200 antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), one of which is cathelicidin, a naturally occurring broad-spectrum antibiotic.

The cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, or CAMP, is made by immune cells and skin and gut cells, which act as a barrier to infection.18,19 Beyond vitamin D, which may serve as more of a marker for proper sun exposure, getting out in the sun is involved in melatonin production.

Near-infrared rays from the sun penetrate deep into your body and activate cytochrome c oxidase, and also stimulate the production of melatonin inside your mitochondria. Your mitochondria produce ATP, the energy currency of your body. A byproduct of this ATP production is reactive oxidative species (ROS), which are responsible for oxidative stress.

Excessive amounts of ROS will damage the mitochondria, contributing to suboptimal health, inflammation and chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and thrombosis (blood clots). But melatonin essentially mops up ROS that damage your mitochondria. So, by getting plenty of sun exposure during the day, your mitochondria will be bathed in melatonin, thereby reducing oxidative stress.20,21

2. Eliminate seed oils from your diet

Video Link

You might be concerned about getting skin cancer from all the sun exposure in the first recommendation, but it turns out that the primary reason for getting skin cancer is related to the amount of linoleic acid (LA) that is in your skin. It is really hard to get any cancer, including skin cancer, if you have low LA levels.

I would strongly recommend that you view the video above even if you have previously seen it, as it will remind you of the vital importance of this strategy and, more importantly, how to properly implement a low LA diet.

Linoleic acid is the primary fat found in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including vegetable/seed oils. It accounts for about 80% of the fat composition of these oils. Examples of seed oils high in omega-6 include soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, rapeseed (canola), corn and safflower.22

The single best comprehensive rule to follow is to avoid virtually all processed foods. If you simply do that you will be in the ball park and will only need some fine tweaks that are reviewed in the video above.

3. Avoid all processed foods — LA is found in virtually every processed food, including restaurant foods, sauces and salad dressings, so to eliminate it you’ll need to eliminate most processed foods and restaurant foods from your diet — unless you can confirm that the chef only cooks with butter.

Processed convenience foods are linked to an increased risk of developing and dying from cancer,23 and they contribute to premature death.24 Yet, 61% of Americans’ food intake comes in the form of highly processed foods and drinks. The amount is similar in Canada (62%) and the U.K. (63%).25

When you cut processed foods from your diet, not only will you drastically reduce LA but also other toxic additives, such as emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners, which can lead to pathophysiological changes such as impaired glucose tolerance, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.26 Eating processed junk foods is also linked to metabolic syndrome and all-cause mortality,27 along with cognitive decline28 and depression.29

One caveat, because animals are fed grains that are high in linoleic acid,30 it’s also hidden in “healthy” foods like chicken and pork, which makes these meats a major source as well. Olive oil is another health food that can be a hidden source of linoleic acid, as it’s often cut with cheaper seed oils.

4. Walk one hour a day — Daily movement is another critical element of health and longevity. Ideally, walk outdoors, so you can combine No. 1 — sun exposure — with your exercise. Walking is a powerful form of activity for a number of reasons. It’s free and accessible — you can do it virtually anywhere. And it’s gentle enough that most people can engage in it, even if you’re out of shape and haven’t exercised in a while.

Walking even 8,000 steps once or twice a week is associated with significantly lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk.31 People who participate in outdoor walking groups also enjoy significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, body fat, depression scores and body mass index, along with increases in VO2max, a marker of fitness level.32

Any type of walking appears beneficial, but if you want to increase intensity, Nordic walking, which involves walking with fixed-length ski poles, leads to even greater increases in functional capacity — or the ability to carry out activities related to daily living — compared to other forms of exercise, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training (MICT).33

5. Improve mitochondrial function — Your mitochondrial health plays a vital role in longevity and disease prevention. To put it simply, if your mitochondria are not functioning well, nothing else will either. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells, producing about 85% of the energy generated in your body.

There are a number of ways to optimize your mitochondrial function, but one element is niacinamide (aka nicotinamide), a form of niacin (vitamin B3) that plays a vital role in energy metabolism. It’s essential for the mitochondrial electron transport chain to function. Without it, your mitochondria cannot make energy.

Niacinamide is so important because it is a precursor for NAD+, which is involved in the conversion of food to energy, maintaining DNA integrity and ensuring proper cell function. NAD+ is also a primary fuel for PARP, which is an important DNA repair enzyme. NAD+ also fuels the conversion of cortisol to its inactive form, cortisone.

Niacinamide at a dose of 50 milligrams three times per day will provide the fuel for the rate limiting enzyme for NAD+, NAMPT. Niacinamide also has potent antiobesity effects, can help prevent neurodegeneration and heart failure, and reverse leaky gut.

I recommend getting niacinamide in powder form because the lowest available dose in most supplements is 500 mg, and that will decrease NAD+ due to negative feedback on NAMPT, which is the opposite of what you’re looking for.

Niacinamide will only cost you about 25 cents a month if you get it as a powder. Typically, one-sixty-fourth of a teaspoon of niacinamide powder is about 50 mg. There is a company, though, that has just created an inexpensive 50 mg tablet for convenience.

I also recommend taking one aspirin tablet daily. Aspirin plays a role in mitochondria function34 and also has other health benefits. Importantly, it helps increase the oxidation of glucose as fuel for your body while inhibiting the oxidation of fatty acids, specifically linoleic acid.

I know this one seems silly, but it really does work to prevent so many diseases and it is dirt cheap. Aspirin has been (and still is) the target of a massive discrediting campaign by Pharma as it competes with newer, far more expensive blood thinners and pain relievers.

If you are taking it for blood thinning the dose is a baby aspirin (85 mg) per day. If you are using it for disease prevention it would be one regular aspirin. Ideally get a clean version of aspirin. You can find a bottle of 1000 on Amazon that only has corn starch. There is a company though (healthnatura.com) that sells pure USP grade aspirin powder that is about as good as you can get.

If you are sensitive to aspirin, it would be best to use a salicylic acid or willow bark supplement, as this is the active ingredient. Look for a clean, high-quality willow bark supplement.

By taking the five steps above, you can significantly improve your health — inexpensively — and reduce your risk of chronic disease. In turn, you’re less likely to require expensive medical treatments that put both your physical and financial health at risk.

– Sources and References

Posted in Exercise, Mitochondria, Prescription Medication, Processed Food, Sunlight, Vitamins | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: July 25, 2023

How Biden Plans to Block the Sun to Save the Planet


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/07/24/how-biden-plans-to-block-sun-to-save-planet.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     Fact Checked     July 24, 2023

how biden plans to block sun to save planet

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Solar radiation modification (SRM) is a form of geoengineering that aims to cool off the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into space
  • The controversial strategy comes with significant risks, but that didn’t stop The White House from moving forward with a research plan for “solar and other rapid climate interventions”
  • The congressionally mandated research plan is focused on atmospheric-based approaches, such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and marine cloud brightening (MCB)
  • SRM can have unintended consequences, including lower average precipitation, loss of biodiversity and impacts to food production, along with heightening geopolitical tensions
  • There’s also a risk that climate modification technologies could be weaponized against the global population by controlling rainfall and drought

Solar radiation modification (SRM) is a form of geoengineering that aims to cool off the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into space.1 The controversial strategy comes with significant risks, but that didn’t stop the White House from moving forward with a research plan for “solar and other rapid climate interventions.”2

The congressionally mandated research plan is focused on atmospheric-based approaches, such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and marine cloud brightening (MCB), as opposed to space-based approaches, which include mirrors in space, or white roofs and other local-scale measures to increase surface reflectance.3

The research “would help to prepare the United States for possible deployment of SRM by other public and private actors,” the report notes,4 suggesting the government is seriously considering use of this extremely risky technology — if it hasn’t already decided to move forward.

What Is Stratospheric Aerosol Injection?

SAI involves injecting reflective aerosol particles into the stratosphere, where they reflect sunlight away from the Earth.5 Volcanic eruptions are natural versions of SAI, but technological constraints surround man-made SAI, as “dispersing aerosols in sufficiently high altitudes is challenging,” according to a Climate Analytics report.6 The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) explained:7

“In effect, SAI simulates what happens during large volcanic eruptions, when volcanoes emit small particles into the upper atmosphere (called the stratosphere). These particles reflect sunlight and lead to cooling for as long as they remain in the stratosphere, which may be up to a few years after injection.

By injecting sulfate or other aerosol particles into the stratosphere, SAI would mimic the cooling effect of a large volcanic eruption’s effect of lower global temperatures. If ever deployed, SAI would have global impacts, reducing temperatures and altering precipitation patterns across the planet.”

By reflecting more solar radiation back into space, the aerosols lower global temperatures but also have a serious “side effect” — they lower average precipitation. As a result, additional geoengineering techniques — such as thinning out cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere — would be necessary to counteract the decrease in precipitation.8 The White House report also highlighted potential issues with SAI, noting:9

“SAI approaches could worsen soil acidity, with impacts to food production, compared to warming at Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) levels without SAI in some regions due to acidic deposition (e.g., the Pacific Northwest, southern Greenland, the Himalayas, and polar regions).

The impacts of sunlight scattering could have negative effects on crop growth that harm nutrition and negate the benefits of limiting temperature increases using SAI. SRM would not address ocean acidification or its implications for ocean ecosystems.”

Other problems include the potential that SAI could result in increased exposure to particulate matter from the injected aerosols and “changes in radiative forcing,” which could offset any potential health benefits from SAI, such as reduced ozone formation. There’s also concern that SAI could increase wildfires and smoke exposures in some areas, as well as increase health impacts due to waterborne disease in others.10

What Is Marine Cloud Brightening?

MCB involves spraying salt or other chemicals into marine clouds in order to increase their reflectiveness.11 “Ship tracks over the ocean demonstrate the mechanism underpinning MCB,” according to the White House report.12 UCS explained, “MCB would involve spraying sea salt into low-lying marine clouds to enhance their brightness and reflectivity in order to increase regional-scale cooling.”13

Little research into MCB has been conducted, but field trials have already begun in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Using a seawater sprayer attached to a barge, seawater is sprayed into the air, creating sea salt crystals. “These crystals float into the sky to form a fog and bolster the existing clouds’ reflectivity,” according to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.14

The “brightened” clouds may also stay above the reef longer than ordinary clouds, reflecting even more sunlight.15 The problem, however, is that this untested strategy could have unintended consequences.

“Potential negative effects could include influencing local weather patterns, potentially mildly suppressing rainfall over the reef and adjacent land,” the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program explained.16 David Keith, Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics with Harvard University, added that several “key risks” exist for marine cloud brightening, which is why his research team does not focus on it:17

“Even if marine cloud brightening could work, it could affect large scale climate and weather patterns if it were used on a large enough scale, say to achieve a level of “radiative forcing” that would be big enough to offset some of the greatest impacts of climate change.

(This is because marine cloud brightening could only be implemented in limited areas, where the right kinds of clouds exist, which is perhaps only 10 percent of the planet’s surface.) There are several key risks that need to be better understood.”

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Increasing Geopolitical Tensions

Adding to the controversy, the use of SRM carries “significant geopolitical risks,” the White House report noted.18 An example of this occurred in 2023, when a startup team — Make Sunsets — said it had launched weather balloons containing helium and sulfur dioxide (SO2) into Mexican skies in order to alter the stratosphere.19

The company was selling “cooling credits” via its website for $10, in exchange for releasing 1 gram of SO2. The Mexican government fought back, however, announcing plans to “prohibit and, where appropriate, stop experimentation practices with solar geoengineering,” causing the team to suspend its operations.20 However, Make Sunsets is still reportedly planning to conduct further weather modification experiments in the U.S.

But the fact remains, if and when SRM becomes widely used, it will have global effects that transcend borders. Supercomputers have run models to predict how solar radiation management may affect different parts of the Earth, not only in terms of temperature but also rainfall and snowfall. Govindasamy Bala, from the Indian Institute of Science and author of a U.N. climate report, said “the science is there,”21 but it’s far from an exact one.

“I think the next big question is,” Bala told Reuters, “do you want to do it? … That involves uncertainty, moral issues, ethical issues and governance.” As Reuters reported, “That’s because every region would be affected differently. While some regions could gain in an artificially cooler world, others could suffer by, for example, no longer having conditions to grow crops.”22 Paulo Artaxo, environmental physicist at University of Sao Paulo and another report author, added:23

“Basically the message is more or less the same as (the previous report): The science is not mature enough. The side effects of any of the known geoengineering techniques can be very significant … Society has to consider if these side effects are too big to try any strategy.”

Will Biodiversity Suffer?

Among the risks outlined by the White House were those related to biodiversity. Again, it’s impossible to know what ramifications alterations to the stratosphere, clouds and sunlight reaching the Earth could have.

“SRM would likely also affect ecosystem functioning like net primary productivity and more integrative aspects of ecosystems like biodiversity, for example, because SRM may increase the proportion of diffuse rather than direct incoming solar radiation,” the White House noted,24 adding:25

“Implementing SRM is expected to limit the risks to biodiversity associated with higher temperatures but is also expected to affect the characteristics of solar radiation and potentially cloud cover (associated with changing precipitation patterns) without impacting higher CO2 levels.

These changes could have significant effects on vegetation and ecosystem health broadly, leading to unknown impacts to biodiversity, particularly when combined with other anthropogenic stressors (deforestation, urbanization, chemical use, etc.).”

What’s more, if geoengineering were started and then abruptly stopped, it would “significantly increase the threats to biodiversity from climate change,” according to researchers in Nature Ecology & Evolution.26

This means geoengineering could cause significant damage. In a news release from Springer Nature, it’s explained that, once started geoengineering is too dangerous to stop — but given the politicized nature of the technology, such rapid starts and stops are likely:27

“Abrupt termination causes changes in local climates that are 2-4 times more rapid than those caused by climate change itself … in many cases, rapid geoengineering threatens ecosystems by forcing species to move in one direction to maintain similar temperature conditions and a different direction for similar precipitation conditions.

Biodiversity-rich areas, such as tropical oceans and the Amazon basin, are particularly likely to be affected negatively. These results indicate that geoengineering, and, in particular, its rapid termination, could cause irreversible loss of biodiversity.”

Could Geoengineering Backfire, Lead to Agricultural Control?

There are other concerns about geoengineering’s nefarious side, particularly since Bill Gates remains heavily invested in climate modification technologies that not only will destabilize the Earth’s climate systems more, but also can be weaponized against the global population by controlling rainfall and drought. In a previous interview I conducted with Vandana Shiva, Ph.D., she explained:28

“The company that collects patents on gene-edited organisms, both in health and agriculture, is Editas, founded by a main financial investor for the Gates Foundation. Gates is also a big investor in Editas.

So, here’s a company called Editas to edit the world as if it is a Word program. The two scientists who got the Nobel Prize this year have both been funded in their research by Gates. My mind went back to how Rockefeller financed the research, got the Nobel Prize, and then made the money.

So, you finance the research. Then you finance the public institutions, whether they be national or international. You invest and force them down the path where they can only use what is your patented intellectual property. And, as he has said in an interview, his smartest investment was vaccines, because it is a 1-to-20 return. Put $1 in and make $20. How many billions of dollars have been put in? You can imagine how many trillions will be made.

At the end of it, where does food come from? It comes from seed. He wants to control it. It comes from land. He’s controlling that. He’s became the biggest farmland owner [in the U.S.]. But you need weather [control]. You need a stable climate.

So, what could be a weapon of control of agriculture? Weather modification. He calls it geoengineering. This is engineering of the climate. Again, making it look like he’s going to solve global warming by creating global cooling.”

You can follow the rapid expansion of geoengineering research and experimentation via an interactive online geoengineering map created by ETC Group and the Heinrich Boell Foundation. More than 1,700 such projects have already been identified.29

– Sources and References

Posted in Climate, Sunlight | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: May 31, 2023

Worried about skin cancer? Harness the power of food for sun protection

Reproduced from original article:
https://www.naturalhealth365.com/worried-about-skin-cancer-harness-the-power-of-food-for-sun-protection.html

by:  | May 29, 2023

protect-your-skin(NaturalHealth365)  Can you imagine a life devoid of joyous moments under the warm embrace of the sun?  Unfortunately, there are many who have succumbed to an unwarranted fear of sun exposure, robbing themselves of the simple pleasures it brings.  Despite the countless well-documented benefits of sunlight for human health, we have been inundated with messages warning us of its supposed malevolence.  Of course, it is essential to note that while sunlight offers numerous benefits, overexposure should be avoided to protect against potential harm.

If you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors and looking for natural methods to safeguard yourself against the risks of skin cancer, there is good news: you can actively bolster your sun protection by incorporating certain foods into your diet, offering a holistic approach that aligns with your preference for natural methods.  In addition to relying solely on sunscreen without toxic chemicals, these dietary choices can further enhance your defense against harmful sun exposure.

Protect your skin from the inside out with these SIMPLE dietary choices

Most people are unaware that foods rich in certain nutrients can help reduce their risk of skin cancer.  Consuming the right foods will help safeguard your sensitive skin against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, essentially protecting your body from the inside out.  Extensive research has shed light on the protective role of antioxidants, including vitamins and various nutrients, in the battle against free radicals and their harmful effects, which can contribute to the development of skin cancer.

In light of recent developments, an increasing number of dermatologists are now recommending their patients incorporate nutrient-rich foods into their diet as a means of fortifying their skin health. Not only do these foods provide a natural source of essential antioxidants, but they also offer a synergistic blend of nutrients that work together to maximize their effectiveness.

1. Curcumin

The plant pigment known as curcumin that makes turmeric yellow in hue is revered for its ability to destroy those life-threatening melanoma skin cancer cells.  Curcumin also combats the formation and spread of cancer by functioning as a powerful antioxidant that prevents the formation of aflatoxin and nitrosamine processes that hike the risk of cancer.

Indulging in turmeric adds a delightful burst of flavor to cauliflower, rice, potatoes, carrots, and various other vegetables, making it a delicious and healthful addition to your meals.

2. Berries

Berries, known for their rich content of ellagic acid, offer a flavorful and nutritious way to naturally boost your sun protection, making them a delicious addition to your diet.  Ellagic acid, derived from ellagitannin, is a compound found in various red fruits.

Among these fruits, raspberries have been identified as particularly potent in the fight against skin cancer, making them an excellent addition to your sun protection regimen.

3. Nuts

Pecans and walnuts also contain ellagitannin, which detoxifies harmful liver enzymes and stops carcinogens from clinging to DNA.  This acid also causes cancer cells to destruct, eliminating the free radicals that cause skin cancer.

4. Mushrooms

Mushrooms, a natural source of beta-glucans, contain compounds that have been shown in studies to actively combat the development of melanoma.  These beta-glucans have the remarkable ability to attract immune cells to the cancerous area, aiding in the destruction of malignant cells and potentially serving as a valuable defense against melanoma.

5. Weave in carotenoids for added sun protection

Carotenoids, the pigments that make vegetables and fruits yellow, red, and orange in hue, shield the skin against damage from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.  Examples of veggies and fruits with carotenoids include tomatoes, cantaloupe, carrots, spinach, and kale.

6. Vitamin E

By incorporating a combination of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables along with foods containing vitamin E into your diet, you can effectively counteract and mitigate the effects of the sun’s ultraviolet light on your skin.  This powerful combination works synergistically to provide enhanced protection and nourishment, helping to maintain the health and vitality of your skin even in the face of sun exposure.

7. Selenium

Harnessing the power of selenium-rich foods such as halibut, Brazil nuts, cod, and mushrooms can significantly enhance the body’s antioxidant defense system, offering an additional layer of protection against the damaging effects of sun exposure.  By incorporating these selenium-packed foods into your diet, you can fortify your body’s natural defense mechanisms, bolstering its ability to counteract the harmful effects of the sun’s rays.

8. Beware of aflatoxin

The presence of chlorophyll in plants and plant-based foods has been found to effectively reduce the risk of aflatoxin contamination.  Aflatoxins are harmful substances that can damage DNA, consequently elevating the risk of developing skin cancer.

Notably, peanuts are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination.  By consuming a diet rich in chlorophyll-containing foods, you can help minimize your exposure to aflatoxins.

9. Reduce your alcohol intake

Regular alcohol intake has been linked to an increased risk of malignant melanoma, potentially attributed to the conversion of alcohol into acetaldehyde within the body.  This process can result in DNA damage, raising the likelihood of developing skin cancer.

10. Sidestep nitrate-laden meat

Nitrates, present in soil, water, and air, are commonly used as additives in cured meat products for their visual appeal.  However, mounting evidence suggests a concerning association between nitrates and the development of cancer.

By making conscious choices in our diet and lifestyle, such as incorporating sun-protective foods, being mindful of alcohol consumption, and reducing the intake of nitrates in cured meats, we can take proactive steps to enhance our skin health and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Remember, small changes can have a significant impact on our well-being, so let’s prioritize our skin’s protection and overall health.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
Healwithfood.org
Skincancer.org

Posted in Cancer, Food, Skin, Sunlight, Toxins | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: May 3, 2023

Vitamin D Can Prevent and Treat Diabetes

Reproduced from original OMNS article (OrthoMolecular News Service):
http://orthomolecular.org/

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Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, May 2, 2023

by Max Langen

OMNS (May 2, 2023) More than 460 million people, almost 6% of the world’s population, are suffering from type 2 diabetes, the most common form. Over 1 million deaths per year can be attributed to this condition, which makes it a leading cause of death. And the number of new cases is constantly increasing worldwide. By 2030, more than 7% will be suffering from type 2 diabetes. [1]

Besides the high number of fatalities caused by diabetes in “normal”, non-pandemic years, it is also one of the most important risk factors for severe or fatal courses of Covid-19. A new meta-analysis shows that diabetes is responsible for 17% of deaths from Covid-19. Diabetes is a strong risk factor for fatal courses of infectious diseases. To date, there are more than 7.5 million official Covid-deaths. Based on the results of the new meta-analysis, approx. 1.3 million of these deaths could have been avoided if no one in the world suffered from diabetes. [2]

Diabetes has various causes and risk factors, including an unhealthy pro-inflammatory diet, lack of physical activity, overweight/obesity, several micronutrient deficiencies, and mitochondrial dysfunction. [3] Diabetes can be greatly reduced and even reversed using a low-carbohydrate diet, a ketogenic diet, or intermittent fasting. [4-6] However, this article will focus on the role of vitamin D.

Type 2 diabetes

Recent evidence shows that a sufficient supply of vitamin D can protect from the most common forms of diabetes: type 2, type 1 and gestational diabetes. Meta-analyses of observational studies have shown that a low vitamin D level is an independent risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. [7] Individuals with a vitamin D level >25 ng/ml had a 43% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with a severely deficient level below 14 ng/ml. [8] Similarly, another study with people who had normal glucose levels or prediabetes showed that those with a level above 28 ng/ml had a 42% lower odds of developing or progressing to type 2 diabetes compared to those with a level below 18 ng/ml. [9]

However, the optimal range is well above 30 ng/ml. In a trial with women who were suffering from insulin resistance (which is the preliminary stage of type 2 diabetes) and had a deficiency of vitamin D, daily supplementation of 4000 IU for several months improved insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity more than a placebo. Importantly, insulin resistance was most strongly improved at or above 32 ng/ml. They found that the optimal level for the reduction of insulin resistance and thus for the prevention of type 2 diabetes was between 32 and 48 ng/ml. [10] In line with this finding, a study conducted by the health organization Grassrootshealth showed that a level of 41 ng/ml is associated with a 60% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with a level of 22 ng/ml. [11]

Several recent meta-analyses of RCTs (randomized controlled trials) showed that the association between a higher vitamin D level and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes is causal and dose-dependent. In patients with prediabetes, supplementation of vitamin D significantly reduced the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes. [12,13] Supplementation to a higher vitamin D level (≥ 50 ng/ml vs. ≤ 30 ng/ml) reduced the risk for diabetes by a larger amount (76%). [14] The higher the level achieved, the more beneficial effect, up to ~60 ng/ml. This effect was more strongly pronounced in non-obese patients.

Since people with more weight or body fat need more vitamin D to reach a healthy level, it is likely that obese people did not receive the amount of vitamin D they required and therefore did not experience the same strong risk reduction as the non-obese people. Patients with prediabetes who received vitamin D also had a ~50% greater chance of reversing to a normal pre-diabetic state. The optimal vitamin D dose depends on many factors including the body weight and magnesium status. Vitamin D levels higher than 150 ng/ml can contribute to toxicity but are rare.

Direct mid-day summer sunlight on the skin can make adequate vitamin D with enough skin exposure. However sunlight does not cause vitamin D toxicity because at high vitamin D levels the body stops making it. Exposure to sunlight when the sun is less than 45 degrees above the horizon, or to sunlight through a glass window, though it can cause tanning, does not produce vitamin D (UVB light is required). Most of us don’t get enough vitamin D from our limited exposure to sunlight, especially in the winter. And although dermatologists warn that sun exposure can cause skin cancer, recent evidence suggests that moderate sun exposure (that produces vitamin D) may be protective against cancer.

Since 75% of the global adult population has an insufficient vitamin D level ( < 30 ng/ml ), [15] most are at increased risk of developing diabetes. Therefore it is not surprising that diabetes is on the rise worldwide. The vitamin D insufficiency situation is severely disease-promoting.

On the other hand, if all people had a very sunny level of vitamin D (40-60 ng/ml) probably most cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented, which would also help to prevent many of the yearly 1 million deaths from diabetes. Further, as described above, more than a million deaths from Covid-19 are attributable to diabetes. Thus, a widespread correction of the worldwide vitamin D deficiency would have resulted in fewer deaths from infectious diseases like Covid-19.

Many doctors and researchers tried years ago to inform the public and governments about the “vitamin D deficiency pandemic”. [16-18] Unfortunately, there was hardly any interest in solving this tragedy. The reason is clearly described in an article by William Grant. [19] If your doctor tells you that a vitamin D level between 20 and 30 ng/ml is a “sufficient level”, refer to that article and explain that such levels are severely insufficient and strongly increase the risk of developing disease conditions such as infections and diabetes.

Besides lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, vitamin D also helps to reverse the disease. In patients with type 2 diabetes and low vitamin D levels, supplementation with vitamin D significantly lowered blood glucose levels (fasting glucose level and long-term blood glucose value HbA1c) and improved insulin resistance. [20]

Type 2 diabetes is reversible with anti-diabetes drugs along with a protocol consisting of a temporal, slight caloric restriction, change to a healthy plant based diet, exercise and weight loss. After 12 months on such a protocol, approx. 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes achieved remission to a non-diabetic state and no longer required antidiabetic drugs. [21] Had the diabetic patients received ideal amounts of vitamin D as an addition to this program, the remission rate after 1 year would likely have been much higher.

Vitamin D also helps prevent and treat several of the complications that may arise from diabetes. For example, diabetics have twice the risk of developing depression compared with non-diabetics [22], and recent RCTs have shown that vitamin D effectively reduces depressive symptoms and may help prevent the development of major depressive disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes. [23,24] Diabetics also have increased cancer risks [25] and vitamin D has anti-cancer effects, with meta-analyses of RCTs showing that supplementation of vitamin D significantly reduces cancer mortality. [26]

About half of diabetics develop peripheral neuropathy, which is a form of nerve damage (due to increased glucose and decreased circulation) that affects limbs like legs, feet and arms and causes very uncomfortable and painful symptoms. [27] A deficiency of vitamin D seems to increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy. Supplementation with vitamin D in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy resulted in significantly reduced pain scores (up to 50% lower pain score after several months of continuous intake). [28]

Diabetic foot ulcers (a combination of neuropathy and ischemia) are one of the most devastating consequences of diabetes. Every year, millions of diabetics develop foot ulcers and up to 33% of all diabetics worldwide will suffer from a foot ulcer during their lifetime. Such ulcers often require amputation of lower limbs. Also, diabetics who develop foot ulcers have a 5-year mortality rate 2.5 times higher than those who did not develop such ulcers. [29]

A low vitamin D level is associated with a strongly increased risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers, suggesting that a sufficient level would reduce the incidence of this complication. [30] Also, vitamin D supplementation significantly hastened the healing process of diabetic foot ulcers. [31] Recent studies have confirmed that along with vitamin D, a sufficient supply of both magnesium and zinc is equally important to cure such ulcers. [32,33]

Cofactors of vitamin D also have an important role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Deficiencies of magnesium and vitamin K2 are very common among the public with almost half of the US population having an inadequate intake of magnesium [34] and up to 97% of older people suffering from an insufficiency of vitamin K2. [35] Type 2 diabetes is associated with low magnesium levels, [36] and a high dietary intake of magnesium was associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. [37] Also, magnesium supplementation helps treat prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, and significantly reduced glucose parameters and improved insulin sensitivity in such patients. [37] Type 2 diabetics have significantly lower vitamin K2 levels than healthy controls, [38] and supplementation of K2 significantly reduced glucose levels (fasting glucose and HbA1c) in patients with diabetes. [39]

The incidence of type 2 diabetes would likely be drastically reduced if all people could get adequate amounts vitamin D and its most important cofactors like magnesium and vitamin K2.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, and recent evidence from the VITAL study shows that long term supplementation with vitamin D significantly reduces the risk of developing autoimmune diseases. [40,41] Regarding the specific diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, a sufficient level of vitamin D compared to the lowest levels reduces the risk of type 1 diabetes by approximately 60%. A level of ~45 ng/ml was associated with the lowest risk (72% lower) of type 1 diabetes. [42] A sunny level above 40 ng/ml seems to optimize protection against autoimmune conditions. Note again that world-wide, most adults have an insufficient level below 30 ng/ml — and it appears that most are unaware of this important information.

Other meta-analyses showed that supplementation of vitamin D during infancy is associated with ~30% lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes later in life, [43,44] suggesting that vitamin D helps the immune system to develop better.

The risk of developing type 1 diabetes can be reduced with a sufficient level of vitamin D. But even if the disease is already established, vitamin D should be considered as a treatment. RCTs show that vitamin D supplementation may attenuate the “natural history of the disease”, by improving fasting and stimulated C-peptide levels, allowing a lower required insulin dose. This indicates that the performance of the pancreas has improved due to vitamin D. [45]

Importantly, since type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, it may be strongly improved or (depending on the stage) even brought into remission by the coimbra-protocol. The coimbra-protocol has shown to be a remarkably effective treatment for many forms of autoimmune conditions. Its central component is very high dose vitamin D. People who are interested in the coimbra-protocol should work together with a therapist or doctor who is trained in the protocol. Search for coimbra-doctors. The daily doses are much higher than what is typically recommended by vitamin D researchers and may lead to negative effects if they are not constantly adjusted based on several lab parameters. In order to make the treatment work and to prevent harm from high levels of vitamin D, the dose needs to be adjusted based on individual needs and testing results, the diet needs to be adapted (low calcium, etc.), and frequent blood examinations are required to make sure that no safety issues occur. However, contrary to some of the typical negative anti-vitamin D articles in the mainstream press, the experience of many coimbra-therapists around the world with thousands of strongly improved patients and published data of many individuals shows that the coimbra protocol is reliably safe if the patients are adequately supervised by trained coimbra-therapists/ physicians. [46] Those who use this protocol for the treatment of an autoimmune disease are likely to experience strong clinical improvements or even remission.

Gestational diabetes mellitus

In line with other forms of diabetes, the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing and affects millions of pregnant women worldwide. In the USA, up to 10% of pregnant women develop the condition. [47] It is one of the most common complications during pregnancy, and increases the risk of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes like preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, or respiratory distress syndrome in the infant or requiring admission to the neonatal ICU. [48] Also, women who develop gestational diabetes (GDM) have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the following years.

A deficiency of vitamin D seems to be an important cause. Women with a low level of 25(OH)D had a significantly higher risk of GDM than those with a sufficient level. [49] A meta-analysis of RCTs proved that supplementation of vitamin D during pregnancy improves blood glucose levels and reduces the risk of developing gestational diabetes by 58%. [50] Of note, a daily dose of > 2000 IU is required for the prevention of diabetes during pregnancy. [51] Many cases of GDM may be preventable with a sufficient supply of vitamin D.

In addition, vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women with GDM can massively reduce the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. In fact, in women with GDM, supplementation of vitamin D decreased the risk of premature delivery by 63%. Similarly, the risk of the neonates requiring hospitalization after birth was reduced by 62% due to vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy. [52] This means vitamin D not only prevents GDM, but in women who have developed the condition it can also protect the unborn from harm caused by the disease and decrease the risk of negative fetal and neonatal health outcomes.

And importantly – independent from gestational diabetes- supplementation of sufficient amounts of vitamin D during pregnancy can also save many lives. A new meta-analysis of RCTs has shown that vitamin D supplementation in adequate doses during pregnancy reduced the risk of intrauterine or neonatal death by more than 30%, [53] which may allow thousands of unborn or neonates to survive if pregnant women achieved and maintained sufficient tissue levels of vitamin D.

Conclusion

The level of vitamin D and its cofactors magnesium and vitamin K2 are widely deficient in individuals throughout the world. These deficiencies attenuate the function of the body’s immune system and contribute to widespread disease and death that could be prevented with adequate supplements. In many cases, type 2 diabetes can be prevented and reversed with a protocol of essential nutrients that includes vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin K2, and mild dietary restriction in a low-sugar diet with colorful raw and cooked vegetables. Many people including medical professionals are unaware of the problem and its solution. Please spread the word!

References:

1. Khan MAB, Hashim MJ, King JK, et al. (2020) Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes – Global Burden of Disease and Forecasted Trends. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 10:107-111. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32175717

2. Li R, Shen M, Yang Q, et al. (2023) Global Diabetes Prevalence in COVID-19 Patients and Contribution to COVID-19- Related Severity and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 46:890-897. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36826982

3. Rovira-Llopis S, Bañuls C, Diaz-Morales N, et al. (2017) Mitochondrial dynamics in type 2 diabetes: Pathophysiological implications. Redox Biol. 11:637-645. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28131082

4. Volek JS, Phinney SD, Krauss RM, et al. (2021) Alternative Dietary Patterns for Americans: Low-Carbohydrate Diets. Nutrients. 13:3299. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34684300

5. Khalfallah M, Elnagar B, Soliman SS, et al. (2023) The Value of Intermittent Fasting and Low Carbohydrate Diet in Prediabetic Patients for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases. Arq Bras Cardiol. 120(4):e20220606. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37042857

6. Sethi S, Ford JM. (2022) The Role of Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy on the Brain in Serious Mental Illness: A Review. J Psychiatr Brain Sci. 7(5):e220009. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36483840

7. Lucato P, Solmi M, Maggi S, et al. (2017) Low vitamin D levels increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas 100:8-15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28539181

8. Mitri J, Muraru MD, Pittas AG. (2011) Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. Eur J Clin Nutr. 65:1005-1015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21731035

9. Deleskog, A., Hilding, A., Brismar, K. et al. (2012) Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level predicts progression to type 2 diabetes in individuals with prediabetes but not with normal glucose tolerance. Diabetologia 55:1668-1678. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22426800

10. von Hurst PR, Stonehouse W, Coad J. (2010) Vitamin D supplementation reduces insulin resistance in South Asian women living in New Zealand who are insulin resistant and vitamin D deficient – a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 103:549-555. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19781131

11. McDonnell SL, Baggerly LL, French CB, et al. (2016) Incidence rate of type 2 diabetes is >50% lower in GrassrootsHealth cohort with median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D of 41 ng/ml than in NHANES cohort with median of 22 ng/ml. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 155(Pt B):239-244. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26151742

12. Zhang Y, Tan H, Tang J, et al. (2020) Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients With Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Diabetes Care 43:1650-1658. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33534730

13. Barbarawi M, Zayed Y, Barbarawi O, et al. (2020) Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on the Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 105:dgaa335. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32491181

14. Pittas AG, Kawahara T, Jorde R, et al. (2023) Vitamin D and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in People With Prediabetes : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data From 3 Randomized Clinical Trials. Ann Intern Med. 176:355-363. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36745886

15. Reddy P, Edwards LR. (2019) Magnesium Supplementation in Vitamin D Deficiency. Am J Ther. 26:e124-e132. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28471760

16. grassrootshealth.net (2015) Scientists’ Call to D*action – The Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic. https://www.grassrootshealth.net/project/our-scientists
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17. Holick MF, Chen TC. (2008) Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr. 87:1080S-1086S. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18400738

18. Holick MF. (2017) The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: Approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 18:153-165. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28516265

19. Grant WB (2018) Vitamin D acceptance delayed by Big Pharma following the Disinformation Playbook. Orthomolecular Medicine News Service. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v14n22.shtml

20. Farahmand MA, Daneshzad E, Fung TT, et al. (2023) What is the impact of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in people with type-2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails. BMC Endocr Disord. 23:15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36647067

21. Lean ME, Leslie WS, Barnes AC, et al. (2018) Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT): an open-label, cluster-randomised trial. Lancet. 391:541-551. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29221645

22. Anderson RJ, Freedland KE, Clouse RE, Lustman PJ. (2001) The prevalence of comorbid depression in adults with diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 24:1069-1078. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11375373

23. Putranto R, Harimurti K, Setiati S, et al. (2022) The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Symptoms of Depression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Acta Med Indones. 54:574-584. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36624711

24. Omidian M, Mahmoudi M, Abshirini M, et al. (2019) Effects of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 13:2375-2380. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31405646

25. Wojciechowska J, Krajewski W, Bolanowski M, et al. (2016) Diabetes and Cancer: a Review of Current Knowledge. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 124:263-275. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27219686

26. Keum N, Lee DH, Greenwood DC, et al. (2019) Vitamin D supplementation and total cancer incidence and mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Oncol. 30:733-743. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30796437

27. NIDDK, Peripheral Neuropathy. https://niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/nerve-damage-diabetic-neuropathies/peripheral-neuropathy

28. Putz Z, Tordai D, Hajdú N, et al. (2022) Vitamin D in the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy. Clin Ther. 44:813-823. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35428527

29. Edmonds M, Manu C, Vas P. (2021) The current burden of diabetic foot disease. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 17:88-93. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33680841

30. Dai J, Jiang C, Chen H, Chai Y. (2019) Vitamin D and diabetic foot ulcer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes. 9:8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30858355

31. Kinesya E, Santoso D, Gde Arya N, et al. (2023) Vitamin D as adjuvant therapy for diabetic foot ulcers: Systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 54:137-143. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36963855

32. Razzaghi R, Pidar F, Momen-Heravi M, et al. (2018) Magnesium Supplementation and the Effects on Wound Healing and Metabolic Status in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Biol Trace Elem Res. 181:207-215. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28540570

33. Momen-Heravi M, Barahimi E, Razzaghi R, et al. (2017) The effects of zinc supplementation on wound healing and metabolic status in patients with diabetic foot ulcer: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Wound Repair Regen. 25:512-520. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28395131

34. Gröber U, Schmidt J, Kisters K. (2015) Magnesium in Prevention and Therapy. Nutrients. 7:8199-8226. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26404370

35. Langen, M (2023) Nutritional Risk Factors in Suicide: How Vitamin D Can Help. Orthomolecular Medicine News Service. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v19n18.shtml

36. Fang X, Han H, Li M, et al. (2016) Dose-Response Relationship between Dietary Magnesium Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Nutrients. 8:739. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27869762

37. Veronese N, Dominguez LJ, Pizzol D, et al. (2021) Oral Magnesium Supplementation for Treating Glucose Metabolism Parameters in People with or at Risk of Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 13:4074. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34836329

38. Helmy MY, Elsaid NH, Gwad MMA. (2022) The Association of Vitamin K2 Level with the Glycaemic Status in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Case-Control Study. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 26:87-92. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35662764

39. Rahimi Sakak F, Moslehi N, Niroomand M, Mirmiran P. (2021) Glycemic control improvement in individuals with type 2 diabetes with vitamin K2 supplementation: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 60:2495-2506. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33159574

40. Hahn J, Cook NR, Alexander EK, et al. (2022) Vitamin D and marine omega 3 fatty acid supplementation and incident autoimmune disease: VITAL randomized controlled trial. BMJ. 376:e066452. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35082139

41. McCullough PJ, McCullough WP, Lehrer D, et al (2021) Oral and Topical Vitamin D, Sunshine, and UVB Phototherapy Safely Control Psoriasis in Patients with Normal Pretreatment Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations: A Literature Review and Discussion of Health Implications. Nutrients 13:1511. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33947070

42. Hou Y, Song A, Jin Y, et al. (2021) A dose-response meta-analysis between serum concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Nutr. 75:1010-1023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33235321

43. Zipitis CS, Akobeng AK. (2008) Vitamin D supplementation in early childhood and risk of type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dis Child. 93:512-517. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18339654

44. Dong JY, Zhang WG, Chen JJ, et al. (2013) Vitamin D intake and risk of type 1 diabetes: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Nutrients. 5:3551-3562. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24036529

45. Gregoriou E, Mamais I, Tzanetakou I, Lavranos G, et al. (2017) The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes Patients: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Rev Diabet Stud. 14:260-268. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29145536

46. Amon U, Yaguboglu R, Ennis M, Holick MF, Amon J. (2022) Safety Data in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases during Treatment with High Doses of Vitamin D3 According to the “Coimbra Protocol”. Nutrients. 14:1575. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35458137

47. Lende M, Rijhsinghani A. (2020) Gestational Diabetes: Overview with Emphasis on Medical Management. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 17:9573. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33371325

48. Ye W, Luo C, Huang J, et al. (2022) Gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse pregnancy outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 377:e067946. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35613728

49. Zhao R, Zhou L, Wang S, Xiong G, Hao L. (2022) Association between maternal vitamin D levels and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Food Funct. 13:14-37. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34859252

50. Yin W, Jin D, Yao M, Yu W, Zhu P. (2019) [Effect of vitamin D supplementation on gestational diabetes mellitus:a Meta-analysis]. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 48:811-821. Chinese. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31601326

51. Irwinda R, Hiksas R, Lokeswara AW, Wibowo N. (2022) Vitamin D supplementation higher than 2000 IU/day compared to lower dose on maternal-fetal outcome: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Womens Health (Lond). 18:17455057221111066. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35796578

52. Wu C, Song Y, Wang X. (2023) Vitamin D Supplementation for the Outcomes of Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Neonates: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. Int J Clin Pract. 2023:1907222. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36713951

53. Liu Y, Ding C, Xu R, et al. (2022) Effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on offspring health at birth: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails. Clin Nutr. 41:1532-1540. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35667269

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Posted by: | Posted on: April 17, 2023

COVID Doctor Who Left Hospital Job Has a Vision for Health Care


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/04/16/covid-doctor-lost-job-new-vision-health-care.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     Fact Checked     April 16, 2023

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Before the COVID pandemic, Dr. Paul Marik became well-known for his development of a highly effective sepsis protocol using intravenous vitamin C, which resulted in a dramatic reduction in mortality rates
  • In 2020, he cofounded the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) and subsequently published one of the most comprehensive and effective protocols for treating COVID-19, called MATH+
  • While COVID mortality in Marik’s ICU was half that of his peers, the hospital banned the protocol from being used
  • Marik sued to get MATH+ reinstated, at which point he was put through a sham peer review. The hospital levied fabricated charges against him and his hospital privileges were immediately suspended
  • After Marik’s long tenure with numerous accolades, the hospital reported him to the National Practitioner Data Bank, which makes it near-impossible to get a medical license again in any state. This effectively ended his clinical career. However, Marik is taking a new route. Having discovered the falsehoods that conventional medicine has been built upon, he’s now researching and developing health protocols using lifestyle modification, diet and repurposed drugs

Before the COVID pandemic, Dr. Paul Marik became well-known for his development of a highly effective sepsis protocol using intravenous vitamin C, which resulted in a dramatic reduction in mortality rates. Then, in 2020, he cofounded the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) and subsequently published one of the most comprehensive and effective protocols for treating COVID-19.

Despite a stellar career up to that point, the sin of insisting on early treatment for COVID-19, and sharing that information with the public, resulted in him being vilified, discredited and ultimately forced to resign. I’m a veteran of this too, so much so that the first two times I attempted to interview Marik, he turned down the invitation, in part because of how I was being portrayed by the media.

“I was still digesting what was happening and I was unsure,” Marik says. “I didn’t realize how important you are in telling the truth and standing up for the truth. I was a little bit protective. We have subsequently met and, obviously, you’re one of my heroes because you stand up for the truth and you’ve known about the dishonesty, the deceit, the deception for much longer than I have.

I had swallowed the Kool-Aid. I was a tenured professor of medicine. I was the only one tenured in my department, in fact. I believed the medical literature, I believed the narrative. I believed what I taught, and you can understand how disturbing it is to one’s very core when you discover that what you’ve been teaching and promoting is based on lies, falsehood and deception.”

Indeed, it’s a hard pill to swallow for anyone, and I applaud Marik for having the courage and moral fortitude to follow the real evidence and not back down from the truth once it dawned on him. Some can’t handle it and simply stick their head in the sand and pretend they don’t know what they know.

COVID Revealed What the Medical System Is All About

As noted by Marik, COVID changed not only the world but medicine as well. Before COVID, intensive care specialists were relatively insulated against the evils of Big Pharma and they had therapeutic freedom. Their job was to save the patient using whatever means available, and they did so.

That changed when COVID came around. Suddenly, doctors were told to send patients home, without treatment, until or unless they were unable to breathe, at which point they were to put them on mechanical ventilation and follow a strict drug protocol. Together, these treatments proved deadly for most patients.

Marik was among those who refused to accept this and set out to develop treatment protocols, one for use in-hospital and another for early outpatient treatment.

“We had a really successful protocol for treating COVID in the hospital,” he says. “That’s how we really started the MATH+ protocol. We knew it was effective. My results were better than any of my colleagues’. But the hospital decided to basically outlaw what I was doing.

I was using safe FDA approved drugs which have been shown to be effective for COVID, and the hospital I worked at, the Sentara Healthcare system, publicly made a statement that the pharmacy would no longer dispense the medications I had used …

Basically, all I was left with was remdesivir. As we know, the use of remdesivir was halted for Ebola because it was shown to be a toxic drug that killed people. We know that Gilead and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and [Dr. Anthony ] Fauci committed scientific fraud in the conduction of the remdesivir study …

They committed out-and-out scientific fraud. We know, according to publicly available World Health Organization data, that remdesivir increases the risk of a patient developing renal failure 20-fold. We know it increases your risk of dying.

You can understand the situation that I was in. I was the director of the ICU. I had run the ICU for 15 years, and now I was told I can’t use safe and effective drugs to treat my patients. Rather, I must use a toxic drug for which the hospital gets an additional bonus.

That was a big awakening for me and it speaks to the depth, the breadth of corruption. Basically, the health care system is not patient-geared or health care-geared or geared to enlighten patients, improve their health, improve their lifespan, make them happy, improve their general health.

The system is designed to make money. Simple as that. Make money for Big Pharma. Make money for the hospitals and the system and therefore empower the NIH. That’s a brief overview of this journey that I’ve traveled. They have persecuted me professionally and personally. Their goal was to take me down and destroy my career.

They were somewhat successful in ending my clinical career, but I’m not going to give up. I will never give up because you have to fight for truth and honesty. I think now I have a much bigger role because I and you and many of us have revealed the deceit of the system, and we need to empower patients and health care providers to do what our Hippocratic duty is: To help patients. That’s what we’re here to do.”

The MATH+ Protocol

The initial MATH+ protocol the FLCCC developed in early 2020 got its name from:

  • Intravenous Methylprednisolone
  • Intravenous Ascorbic acid
  • Thiamine (B1)
  • Full dose low molecular weight Heparin
  • Plus optional treatments zinc, vitamin D and melatonin

Since then, the protocol has been revised several times as more data became available. Additional protocols have also been developed, including one for long-COVID and COVID jab injuries. You can find them all on the FLCCC’s website.

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Duty to the Patient Led to Sepsis Treatment Discovery

As explained by Marik, the MATH+ protocol grew out of his HAT protocol for sepsis, developed four years earlier.

“HAT stands for hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid and thiamine. How did this start? I’m a bedside clinician and as [Sir William] Osler said, ‘You learn medicine at the bedside.’ Why? Because that’s where the patient is … That’s where some of the most important discoveries are made, at the bedside. [In] January 2016, I had a patient who had overwhelming sepsis. I think she was in her 50s.

She had biliary sepsis. She arrived in the ICU. She became intubated. She was in renal failure. She was on multiple doses of vasopressors. As a doctor, I knew she was going to die … and when you’re at the bedside, you have a duty to the patient. The doctor always thinks, ‘What can I do to help this patient? Is there a rabbit I can pull out of the hat to help her?’

It just so happened I had read some work on vitamin C by Dr. [Alpha] Fowler and I was really impressed by his work. He had done a preliminary study looking at vitamin C in sepsis and I thought, ‘You know what? Why don’t I try it?’ It’s available in the hospital. It’s FDA approved. I called my pharmacist; we had vitamin C. I told them what I wanted to do. I explained to the family what we were going do. I decided to use vitamin C.

I was unclear about what dose to use. I looked at Dr. Fowler’s study and in his paper, he used two different doses, 50 milligrams per kilogram per day and 200 … We started off on 100 mg per kg per day, which came out to 1.5 grams every six hours …

I was always very impressed with hydrocortisone for sepsis. More recently, like a week ago, we now have a paper proving the lifesaving benefit of hydrocortisone in pneumonia. So, this wasn’t something I sucked out of the air.

Then I added thiamine because of its multiple beneficial effects. At first I thought it would help protect against oxalosis with vitamin C, but that wasn’t true. But thiamine actually has important effects in intermediary metabolism, mitochondrial function, energy, metabolism, and patients with sepsis are often both vitamin C deficient and thymine deficient.

That was the initial rationale for this. I thought, ‘Well, what do we have to lose?’ I was convinced the next morning when I came to work, she would not be with us. I can tell you, I was completely dumbfounded and stunned. The next morning, she was sitting up in bed, she was off vasopressor agents. She got extubated. Her kidney function had improved, and she left the ICU three days later.

I was stunned. Our nurses were stunned. The residents were stunned. They’d never seen such a thing. This is a woman who we knew was going to die and she walked out of the hospital. When you see something like this, you say, ‘Wow, maybe that was just a fluke.’ But I did it again and again and again, and exactly the same thing happened.

We started this as a protocol in our ICU and this was endorsed by our nurses because they could see the dramatic effect. The nurses tell the truth. They’re the ones at the bedside … although the hospital tried to silence them.”

Marik’s Sepsis Protocol Proven to Save Lives

At one point, Marik considered doing a randomized study to test his sepsis protocol, but his nurses dissuaded him. They deemed it unethical to withhold a treatment that clearly had superior effectiveness from people in the placebo or conventional treatment group. In the end, he published a prospective observational study in which he compared his treatment to retrospective data.

“We used the same selection criteria and we showed a significant reduction in mortality from about 40% in the ICU to 8%,” he says. “At the beginning, I was a hero at the hospital. They thought this was the most wonderful thing. They supported me.

They endorsed me and the dean supported me. But with time, as the media and [other] forces started playing out, I became less and less and less popular, to the point when it came to COVID, I was a pariah and they wanted to destroy me.

At that time, in the early or late 2017, 2018, sepsis was … one of the indicators of the quality of hospital care, and CMS [the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] had quality indicators. Hospital sepsis mortality was a big deal …

The CEO of the hospital at that time was a very nice man. He provided me with the [hospital mortality] data. This was independent data from a data analytics company, which showed that since I had introduced the protocol … the hospital mortality from sepsis fell from 20% to 8%.”

How Does Vitamin C Combat Sepsis?

As for how vitamin C works in sepsis,1 Marik points out that vitamin C is more of a stress hormone than a vitamin. All animals, with the exception of humans and guinea pigs, make vitamin C when stressed. It’s made predominantly by the liver and kidneys.

So, it’s very important for or during stress. It’s also a powerful antioxidant, and it’s required as a cofactor for the synthesis of many enzymes and proteins. It also plays an important role in your immune system, as it’s involved in white blood cell function and the production of interferon.

Unfortunately, humans do not make endogenous vitamin C like other animals. So, when we are under stress or experience acute illness or infection, we need vitamin C, and oftentimes more than we get from our diet. As explained by Marik:

“When patients are septic, they have exceedingly low vitamin C levels. Animal models show that when you replace the vitamin C, it improves the outcome. This is not rocket science.

Vitamin C is essential as a stress hormone. It’s an essential antioxidant. And sepsis is a potent prooxidant. It’s important for the immune system. It’s important for the synthesis of catecholamines. It’s essential for tissue repair. It just makes sense that it would be beneficial in sepsis.”

The Timing of Vitamin C Administration Matters

The timing of the vitamin C administration for sepsis appears to be crucial, however. In his paper, Marik stated that patients were treated within 24 hours. However, they were really treated within six hours of ICU admission, and this is probably why some attempts at replication have failed.

For example, in one, vitamin C was administered within a 10-hour window. Others waited days before giving it. In one of the largest studies, which sought to invalidate Marik’s data, they didn’t give the first dose until 18 hours or more had passed.

“In this large randomized study which so-called ‘disproved’ our paper, the time to initiation of therapy was exceedingly long. Most patients were more than 24 hours … And, the investigators had previously viciously attacked me. In fact, at an open meeting they implied that I was a snake oil doctor …

As you know, this is a war on repurposed drugs, and they will do whatever they can. When you look at the data, it seems that if [vitamin C] is given early, it works. I did somewhat of a dose-finding study with our initial patients, just based on the variation according to what the pharmacy did, and it seemed like 1.5 grams, if given early, makes a difference … If it’s given after six to 10 or 12 hours, I think you need a higher dose …

Dr. Pierre Kory has done work in his ICU and he found exactly the same thing, that when there’s a delay in the initiation of vitamin C, the mortality benefit disappears. The question is, if you give it later, can you use a higher dose? That’s what we now are suggesting — that if you miss that window of opportunity, you probably need to use a higher dose …

There was a randomized study done in Taiwan, but they couldn’t get it published because the results were so striking. They gave [vitamin C] within two hours and the mortality reduction was completely off the charts. So, I think there’s a relationship between time and dose … But what the optimal dose is, I’m not sure … We need better dose-finding studies …”

One of the reasons Marik is still cautious about giving high doses of IV vitamin C for sepsis is because at high doses, it can act as a prooxidant. This is particularly true when there are free metals and free iron, and with sepsis you do get release of ferritin.

Marik Falsely Accused of Data Fabrication

As mentioned, in 2020, the MATH+ protocol became an extension of the HAT therapy for sepsis. At that time, the NIH, the CDC and WHO all claimed there was no treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID, which, as Marik notes, “is completely absurd.”

“How can a doctor not treat a patient? We came up with the MATH+ protocol … We demonstrated a reduction in mortality.2 I had data from my own hospital showing the reduction in mortality. The first assault against me came when Kory, Dr. Jose Iglesias and I wrote a review paper on MATH+. We just reviewed the rational for MATH+. In it, I quoted the hospital mortality, just one line, which was 8.6% at that time.

The hospital mortality worldwide at that point was 20% and we’ve subsequently published data in a peer-reviewed journal showing the average hospital mortality for COVID was 20%.

Where did I get the data? The chief medical officer of the hospital personally gave me the data, the hospital mortality, at Norfolk General. This was Dr. Michael Hooper. [But] Sentara Healthcare system and Hooper basically complained to the medical school [saying] I had fabricated the data.

There was a big inquiry. In the end, the medical school agreed with me … Anyway, what happened is the hospital put pressure on the journal, the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, and forced them to retract our paper because of ‘scientific fraud and misconduct.’

The journal followed what they said. Clearly there were other extraneous forces acting with the hospital, but they retracted our paper … That was really the first major attack on me personally, and on the MATH+ protocol and against what we were doing … It was immoral because what we had in the paper was the truth. I think this emphasizes the power that the hospital systems have, and these other forces.”

As mentioned earlier, even though the MATH+ protocol was saving lives, the hospital essentially banned its use, leaving only toxic remdesivir. “The first week I went to work after this ban, I had seven patients with COVID and all seven died because I was basically put in a position that I wasn’t able to treat my patients,” he says.

Sham Peer Reviews and Kangaroo Courts

At the recommendation of his legal counsel, Marik sued the hospital in an effort to get the MATH+ protocol reinstated. The same day they went to court, Marik received a letter accusing him of a host of outrageous crimes.

“What hospitals do to get rid of doctors who are inconvenient to them, or who want to tell the truth, is they basically falsify a number of accusations,” Marik explains.

“They accused me of seven most outrageous things, including that I was forcing nurses to give patients medications to which they were allergic. Can you imagine something as outrageous as that? I think you would have to be completely moronic to actually think that a doctor could ever do such a thing.

They claimed I was forcing nurses to put the medications down the NG [nasogastric] tube. These were outrageous accusations and there was no documentation. There were no names or patient records or anything to support these claims, and based on these outrageous claims, they suspended my hospital privileges immediately.

I was found guilty. There was no due process. I wasn’t allowed legal representation. They basically stopped me practicing medicine based on these false accusations.

At that time, I didn’t know what was going on but I recognized subsequently, it’s a process called ‘sham peer review,’3 where hospitals invent accusations against doctors, and the system is such that because you don’t have due process, you’re assumed to be guilty.

You can lose your license and your privileges, and they get away with it. I then went to a hearing, which was indeed a kangaroo court with about 25 hostile people, and I wasn’t allowed legal representation. They knew the previous charges were completely bogus. They did what sham peer review does. They changed the focus.

They didn’t focus on the previous terrible crimes that I had committed. Now they basically said that I was a horrible individual. I was promoting an atmosphere of retaliation, distrust. I had angered people. I had annoyed people. I was just an awful human being, which was somewhat surprising to me because I’d never had a patient complaint in my entire clinical career, ever.

I’d never had a complaint from a medical student. I’d never had a complaint from a resident. I had never had a complaint from a nurse. All my evaluations were glowing. Suddenly I was this awful, horrendous human being that was creating distrust in the hospital. They went out of the way to not reinstate my privileges.

They reported me to the National Practitioner Data Bank. When you get reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, your name is there forever, and it makes it almost impossible to get a license again in any state. The hospital essentially ended my career based on fraud, falsification of data, deceit, dishonesty and unethical behavior.

And here I had data to prove that in my ICU, under my care, the mortality was at least half that of my colleagues. That was irrelevant. They had to get rid of me because I was challenging the system. Essentially, I was forced to resign because they have enormous power and influence … That essentially ended my career.”

Anonymous Career Undoer Strikes Again

In addition to all of that, after Marik’s resignation in March 2022, a letter was sent to the CHEST journal, which had published his sepsis study in 2017, questioning the scientific validity of that paper and accusing him of data fabrication, yet again. The journal insisted he take the allegation seriously.

“I responded to the journal very professionally. I actually still had my data. I provided the data, I provided the IRB approval [from the] Institutional Review Board. The protocol was approved both by my medical school as well as the health care system. I provided all the data.

In September 2022, I received a letter from them, which said, ‘After a thorough review of the statistical methods and facts of the case, no further action will be taken in response to these allegations.’ CHEST cleared me of these allegations. However, it goes on. ‘However, during the course of our investigation, we received a new allegation.’

There were now new allegations regarding the methodology in our paper, which they said would violate the journal’s ethical policies, if true.

Basically, what they said is, review of the institution’s records yielded a discrepancy in a number of patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria … [they were] basically saying that I had cherry-picked the patients. I had manipulated the data. There’s only one place that this accusation could have come from, only one source.

CHEST did not reveal the source of the allegation, but you put two and two together and there’s absolutely no question of doubt where this allegation came from. This allegation came from Sentara Healthcare system, because they could in some fashion put together the data. There’s no question that the chief medical officer, Dr. Michael Hooper, and Sentara had again wanted to discredit me.

This is the third time now they’re going after me. Again, this went on from September 2022. I was absolutely convinced that much like the Journal of Internal Care Medicine, the editor would not show scientific integrity and would have our paper retracted.

However, I was really surprised that a few days ago, April 3, I actually received a letter from CHEST in which they basically said they found insufficient evidence to confirm all of these allegations.4 Essentially we were vindicated. What they did want us to do was to make two small changes to the methods section. The conclusions stayed the same …

These were really inconsequential changes. In a way they validated our study. They vindicated me. They vindicated the protocol. I was really pleased that CHEST actually drew a line in the sand and said, ‘You know what? We’re going to look at the data. We’re going to stand for the truth.’ Although CHEST had dragged their heels and weren’t that responsive, I’m really appreciative to CHEST and the editor for standing up for the truth …

As you know, if you challenge the narrative and show that your treatment is actually efficacious, safer, and cheaper than that being promoted by the CDC, the NIH, the federal government, you are an enemy of the state and they were going to do whatever they could to take me down.”

Near-Infrared Sauna Therapy for Long COVID

The FLCCC  MATH+ protocol now also includes near-infrared sauna therapy, which I think is a phenomenal addition, as near-infrared activates the production of melatonin in the mitochondria. This is precisely where melatonin is needed most, because most of the oxidative stress is created in the electron transport chain during the production of ATP. Marik comments:

“At the beginning I was a little bit skeptical, but the reality is there’s an enormous body of science to support this. I think if something is valid, it will be out there. If you actually do a MEDLINE search in the National Library of Medicine, you’ll find over 6,000 publications on photobiomodulation. It’s truly astonishing. Really what it is, is harnessing the power of the sun.

I know you go for a walk in the sun every day. Absolutely, there’s enormous data on the curative powers of the sun. In fact, in 1918 during the influenza pandemic in Boston, they took patients who were in the hospital outside in the sun. They called this ‘open air therapy’ and they showed the mortality decreased from 40% to about 13%.

There’s data now going back over 100 years attesting to the power of the sun. Most of the sunshine is near-infrared and near-infrared has enormous health benefits … It’s anti-inflammatory, it energizes the mitochondria, improves your metabolic dysfunction. It’s really important.

The problem is people who live in an igloo or near the North Pole, that’s not conducive to going outdoors. But you can purchase infrared lamps, one in particular that mimics sunshine, and you can expose yourself to near-infrared every day indoors.

That’s what I do. It’s part of my protocol. When I sit working or watching TV, I expose myself to near-infrared … You really want to replicate the way that we’ve evolved.

Sunshine during the day. Eating sparingly during the day. Eating saturated fat, and then at night, you sit around a campfire. Campfire makes red light, which is infrared, and it doesn’t switch off melatonin … It’s really about getting back to basics and I think you are one of the leaders in this lifestyle change.”

Finding Truth Brought a Silver Lining: Better Health

As noted by Marik, what happened with COVID has shone a bright light on corruption, deceit and dishonesty in the medical system that had been there for decades. It just wasn’t obvious to most people.

Once Marik began looking at protocols to treat COVID, he discovered that much of what’s taught in medical school and published in medical journals is false. The fraud is perpetrated by Big Pharma, and it’s to the detriment of our health.

“Diabetes and metabolic dysfunction is part of that,” he says. “If you believe the narrative, Type 2 diabetes is a progressive metabolic disease that’ll result in cardiac complications. You’re going to lose your legs. You’re going to have kidney disease, and the only treatment is expensive pharma drugs. That is completely false. It’s a lie.

This becomes important because it’s projected that by the end of this decade, half of the world’s population are going to be obese and over 20% to 25% will have Type 2 diabetes. The implications are enormous. The bottom line is Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease due to bad lifestyle and really bad eating habits.

We eat all the time. We snack all the time. This is part of the food industry’s goal. Processed food, starch, becomes an addiction. Most of us are glucose addicted and it’s, in fact, more addictive than cocaine. It creates this vicious cycle of insulin resistance.

If you’re insulin resistant, it prevents leptin and the other hormones acting on your brain, so you’re continually hungry. If you are continually hungry, you eat more, which causes more insulin resistance. It causes this vicious cycle of overeating carbohydrates …

What I did was, I started intermittent fasting … I started eating real food, not processed food. I’ve significantly reduced my intake of carbohydrates. By changing my diet and lifestyle … I’m off my diabetes medicine. My fasting glucose is down to 100 where it used to be 150 or 160. My hemoglobin A1C, probably the best marker of diabetes went from 7.1 to 5.6 …

Through this journey, I have changed my lifestyle. I’ve changed the way I eat and hopefully we can help other people. I also discovered there is an ancient Chinese herb called berberine — it’s been used for 3,000 years — which is probably the most effective diabetic medication there is. It’s very effective and this has been demonstrated in really good, well-designed trials.

The reason most people don’t know about it is you can’t patent berberine, so no one can make money from selling berberine.

Therefore, there’s no financial incentive in promoting it. It’s cheap. It’s over the counter, you can get on the internet. The combination of changing my diet, changing what I eat, taking berberine, I’ve basically cured my diabetes and there are many people that have followed this path.

Again, it attests to the deceit and dishonesty of the medical system. They benefit from people being chronically ill, from chronically taking medications because that’s what generates their income. Actually, for the health care system, I’ve saved enormous money because you spend less money on food and no money on medication, and I’m not going to develop, hopefully, all these diabetic complications.”

More Information

Again, you can find all the different treatment protocols on the FLCCC website, including:

  • Prevention protocols for COVID, influenza and RSV
  • Early COVID treatment protocols for adults and children
  • Acute treatment protocols for RSV and influenza as well as a hospital treatment protocol for COVID-19
  • Recover protocols for long COVID
  • Post-COVID jab protocol

They now even have a treatment protocol for insulin resistance. Marik is also working on a new cancer treatment protocol using a metabolic approach and repurposed drugs. “Much like diabetes, patients with cancer can empower themselves,” he says, adding:

“I’ll tell you about a remarkable peer-reviewed randomized controlled study — exactly what the ivory tower people want — that looked at three simple interventions to reduce the risk of cancer. Three. Vitamin B, omega-3 fatty acids and exercise — and not smoking. They showed that these simple interventions reduce your risk of cancer by 50%. Isn’t that important?

There are some other things I would add to the protocol. Melatonin is very important in preventing cancer. There’s really good data that people who have low melatonin levels have much higher risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer …

So, there are simple things people can do to empower themselves to both reduce their risk of getting cancer and if they have cancer, they can work with their oncologist in an integrative adjunctive way, which will allow a reduction in the doses of toxic chemotherapeutic drugs. I think this is a really exciting area of endeavor …

[Dr. Thomas Seyfried’s] book was the impetus of me going down this path. His book is brilliant. He is a true scientist. I’m absolutely astonished by the depth and breadth of his research. Once you read his book, it’s perfectly clear that this is a metabolic disease and it can be controlled by metabolic intervention.

I think he is a pioneer, and for me, he’s changed my direction. This is not based on hearsay or snake oil medicine. This is based on really high-level scientific investigation. His work gave me the springboard and the encouragement to follow this path.”

Posted in Cancer, Coronavirus, Corruption, Diabetes, Diet, Flu, Insulin, Omega-3, RSV, Sepsis, Sunlight, Supplements, Vaccinations, Vitamins | One Comment »

Posted by: | Posted on: April 15, 2023

Cancer-causing or cancer-protective? What they don’t tell you about sunlight exposure

Reproduced from original article:
https://www.naturalhealth365.com/cancer-causing-or-cancer-protective-what-they-dont-tell-you-about-sunlight-exposure.html

by:  | April 12, 2023

sunlight-exposure(NaturalHealth365)  Common knowledge tells us that heavy sunlight is harmful to human health and causes worrisome issues like wrinkles, sunspots, and skin cancer (with estimates showing that more than 5.4 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin carcinomas are diagnosed each year in the United States, affecting roughly 3.3 million people).  Accordingly, in theory, we must avoid too much sun exposure (especially at midday), and we should cover ourselves in layers and sunscreen – never mind that many conventional sunscreens contain cancer-causing chemicals!

But, what if we learned that sunlight has been shown to have a protective effect against cancer?  What if there are benefits of sunlight that we might be missing out on because we’ve been too worried about getting too much?

Shedding a new light on the sun?  INCREASING sunlight exposure may actually reduce risk of certain types of cancer by up to 50%

While it’s true that avoiding excess sun exposure may help us avoid skin cancer, it turns out that not getting enough has negative repercussions and may actually increase our risk of other types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers.

How is this so?  As current research suggests, allowing our skin to be exposed to sunlight is the best way for our body to produce vitamin D.  This vitamin acts as a crucial hormone in the body and is involved in hundreds of key physiological processes that we need to survive and thrive – including immune function.  It follows that low levels of vitamin D have been consistently associated with issues ranging from metabolic syndrome to cardiovascular disease to mood disorders … and the link between vitamin D and cancer has long been known, too.

According to a narrative review paper published last year in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients, research from the late 1930s involving U.S. Navy found that sailors with high sun exposure had 8 times the typical rate of skin cancer but only 40% of the expected rate of internal cancers.  And in the 1970s, American researchers picked up on an important geographic trend – rates of colon cancer were higher in northeastern states where there’s less sun in the winter (and what winter sun is available isn’t able to help us produce as much vitamin D because of its angle in the sky).

As subject matter expert Michael Holick wrote in his 2008 paper in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, data suggest that “there is a 30 to 50% reduction in risk for developing colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer by either increasing vitamin D intake to least 1,000 IU [per day] of vitamin D or increasing sun exposure to raise blood levels of [Vitamin D] >30 ng/ml.”  The leading theory is that vitamin D helps key cancer-protective processes in the body, including the inhibition of tumor cell growth and spread.

By the way, ever wondered what is considered vitamin D deficiency?  While many in the scientific community consider blood levels of less than 12 ng/mL as deficient, other experts put the number higher, anywhere from 20 to 29 ng/mL.  If you’re curious, consider requesting a comprehensive blood test from a trusted healthcare provider, such as a functional medicine doctor or simply purchase a vitamin D test kit, yourself.

Cancer controversy or not, here are some other well-known benefits of sun exposure

The main takeaway here is that we don’t need to be afraid of the sun – just be savvy with the sun!  Here are some known benefits of moderate sunlight exposure:

  • Improved sleep – in fact, going outside to see the early morning sun can help normalize your body’s circadian rhythm (your “internal clock”) … meaning that if you want to fall asleep easier at night, you need to actually start with habit changes in the morning!
  • Improved mood
  • Improved bone health (likely by way of vitamin D production)
  • The potential for additional protective benefits (also by way of vitamin D production) against other common chronic diseases, including hypertension, type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis (like certain cancers, many of these conditions are also found in higher incidences among populations living in more northern geographical latitudes)

So, how much is the “right” amount of sun exposure?

Keep in mind this depends on several factors, such as where you are located geographically and the color of your skin, given that these factors can affect how much vitamin D your body will be able to make in response to sunlight.  But a general recommendation is about 10 to 20 minutes in the midday sun during spring and summer (or 25 to 40 minutes for people with darker skin) and upwards of two hours during the winter in northern climates (hence the importance of vitamin D supplementation for many people).

Let as much of your skin enjoy the sunlight: back, trunk, arms, and legs.  And when it is time to put sunscreen on, be sure to choose one you trust that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals or simply cover your body with comfortable clothing.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
Cancer.org
Harvard.edu
Sciencedirect.com
GoodRx.com

 

Posted in Cancer, Sunlight, Supplements, Vitamins | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: March 3, 2023

Would Vitamin D Have Saved Half of COVID Deaths?


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/02/28/vitamin-d-covid-deaths.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     Fact Checked     February 28, 2023

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Vitamin D supplementation cut risk of death from COVID-19 by 51% and reduced risk of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) by 72%
  • The results were deemed “conclusive” and suggest “a definitive association between the protective role of vitamin D and ICU hospitalization” from COVID-19
  • Vitamin D may protect against COVID-19 by maintaining pulmonary barrier function, boosting the innate immune response and reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines
  • In another study, none of the patients with severe COVID-19 who received high-dose vitamin D died; instead, 100% of the group improved
  • Regulatory agencies around the world are largely industry-funded, which is likely why they aren’t recommending vitamin D — a “dirt cheap” intervention — for COVID-19

I launched an information campaign to raise awareness about the use of vitamin D for COVID-19 back in June 2020. My own vitamin D review was published October 31, 2020, in the high-impact, peer-reviewed journal Nutrients.1

At the time, 14 observational studies suggested vitamin D levels are inversely linked with the incidence or severity of COVID-19, and my paper concluded, “The evidence seems strong enough that people and physicians can use or recommend vitamin D supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19.”2

I was widely vilified and discredited in the media for bringing attention to vitamin D’s potential for COVID-19. The New York Times, in their July 2021 front-page hit piece,3 even dubbed me, “The most Influential spreader of coronavirus misinformation online,” in an attempt to minimize my efforts. The reporter claimed she could not verify my published study on vitamin D, even though I sent her a link to it, and it’s easy to find online.

Now, however, as is usually the case, the truth is being set free. An increasing number of studies are confirming what I said in 2020 — that vitamin D is a potent and highly effective intervention for COVID-19.

New Studies on Vitamin D and COVID-19

Giving vitamin D to people with COVID-19 cut risk of death from SARS-CoV-2 by 51% and reduced risk of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) by 72%.4 This was the finding of a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA), which weighs errors in order to assess if further studies are needed5 — or the results are so solid they’re unlikely to be affected by other studies.

The TSA revealed “the protective role of vitamin D and ICU admission showed that, since the pooling of the studies reached a definite sample size, the positive association is conclusive.”6 To put it another way, the results suggest “a definitive association between the protective role of vitamin D and ICU hospitalization.”7

Words like “conclusive” and “definitive” aren’t typically used lightly in scientific research. So, this finding is indeed impressive — although not altogether surprising, since a wealth of other data also shows vitamin D’s protective effect against COVID-19.

What does raise eyebrows, however, is why the study, which has major implications for public health, isn’t being talked about — and vitamin D isn’t being widely recommended for COVID-19.

Vitamin D Offers Serious Protection Against COVID-19

In the video above, John Campbell, a retired nurse and teacher based in England, details the study, which was published in the journal Pharmaceuticals.8 He believes regulatory authorities are acting unethically by not recommending vitamin D for COVID-19. Not only did COVID-19 patients supplemented with vitamin D have lower rates of ICU admission and fewer mortality events, but they also had lower rates of COVID-19 infection, by 54%.9

In other words, vitamin D provided significant protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Meanwhile, throughout the pandemic, “high-risk interventions were carried out. Very, very safe interventions, like vitamin D, zinc — basically ignored. It really is a scandal. A total scandal. Absolute disgrace,” Campbell says.10 The study laid out a number of reasons why it makes perfect sense that vitamin D fights COVID-19, stating:11

“COVID-19 is characterized by high levels of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In this sense, various data have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D, in addition to the importance of vitamin D for bone health, as well as its role in extra-skeletal function.”

Specific examples of how vitamin D may be beneficial in the case of COVID-19 show that it:12

Maintains pulmonary barrier function Determines the production of antimicrobial peptides
Enhances neutrophil activity, which boosts the innate immune response Shifts that adaptive immune response to a more T helper cell-2 type
Reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines Increases the anti-inflammatory response

Taken together, the researchers again stated that an “indisputable association between vitamin D supplementation and the protective effect on ICU admission can be considered definitive evidence.”13

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High-Dose Vitamin D Saves Many COVID Patients

Another study investigated the effect of the drug tocilizumab and other factors, including high-dose vitamin D, in people with severe COVID-19.14 Perhaps most revealing was Table 3,15 which showed the effects of co-management agents including vitamin D, anticoagulants, steroids and antivirals. Among the seven patients who received high-dose vitamin D, none died. Instead, 100% of the group improved. According to the study:16

“100% of the patients with a low vitamin D status (less than 20 ng/mL) receiving high doses of vitamin D (50,000 IU every other day for two weeks or one intramuscular shot of 300,000 IU) showed clinical improvement compared to those receiving the usual treatment doses (10,000 IU daily or less) or those who did not receive it.”

In response, science journalist Simon Goddek, Ph.D., tweeted, “What happens if you administer high doses of Vitamin D to severe COVID-19 patients? They simply won’t die, as this study shows.”17

Vitamin D Lowers COVID-19 Infection and Death

Yet another study — this one published in Scientific Reports18 — shows the association between vitamin D, a “safe, widely available and affordable treatment,”19 and COVID-19 protection cannot be ignored.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Chicago and the Department of Veterans Health Affairs conducted a large-scale pharmacoepidemiologic study of the association between vitamin D3 and D2 supplementation and the probability of COVID-19 infection and mortality.20

“Vitamin D deficiency has long been associated with reduced immune function that can lead to viral infection. Several studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency … increases the risk of infection with COVID-19,” they wrote.21

The study involved a large population of veterans, including 220,265 patients supplemented with vitamin D3 before and during the pandemic, and 407,860 untreated patients.22 Those taking vitamin D3 had a 20% lower risk. Death from COVID-19 was also lower among those taking vitamin D — 33% lower among those taking vitamin D3.23

“These associated reductions in risk are substantial and justify more significant exploration and confirmation using RCTs [randomized controlled trials],” the researchers explained. “This is particularly important given the high rates of vitamin D deficiency in the U.S. population and COVID-19.”24

About half the U.S. population has insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D, and rates of vitamin D deficiency are even higher in people with darker skin, those living in higher latitudes in the winter, nursing home residents and people with reduced sun exposure. Among groups with low levels of vitamin D, rates of COVID-19 are higher.25

“In response to these findings, physicians might consider regularly prescribing vitamin D3 to patients with deficient levels to protect them against COVID-19 infection and related mortality. The 50,000 IU dosage may be especially beneficial,” according to the study.26

Why Isn’t Vitamin D Recommended for COVID?

The fact that vitamin D helps combat COVID-19 was widely censored and deemed “misinformation” during the pandemic. And despite the “conclusive” evidence, the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states, “Do not offer a vitamin D supplement to people solely to prevent COVID‑19, except as part of a clinical trial.” It added:27

“Based on direct evidence from the NICE evidence review and indirect evidence from the SACN [Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition] rapid review of vitamin D in acute respiratory tract infection (which did not include COVID‑19 as an outcome), the panel agreed that there was not enough evidence to recommend vitamin D supplements solely for preventing COVID‑19.”

Yet, vitamin D is typically nontoxic, representing a low-risk option that could have significant positive public health outcomes. When the researchers of the Scientific Reports study extrapolated their vitamin D findings to the entire U.S. population in 2020, they found supplementation with vitamin D3 would have prevented 4 million COVID-19 cases and 116,000 deaths.28 Campbell asks:29

“Now, why is this not being used despite the definitive evidence … why is it not being advised? Why is it not being shouted from the hilltops? … Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Authority in the United Kingdom is 86% industry-funded. Of course, they have no vested interest.

This is the national body that represents medicine … throughout all of the United Kingdom, and it’s 86% industry-funded. Coincidentally, vitamin D, which is basically free — it’s dirt cheap — and is essentially completely safe is not recommended. Other interventions, which are associated with high levels of risk are recommended … When is this going to be addressed? This is outrageous.”

This conflict of interest isn’t unique to the U.K., however. Significant portions of regulatory agencies’ budgets around the world come from the pharmaceutical industry that these agencies are supposed to regulate. For instance:30

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration — 96% of budget derived from industry Europe’s EMA — 89%
U.K.’s MHRA —6% Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency — 85%
U.S. FDA — 65% Health Canada — 50.5%

Vitamin D Even Improves Pancreatic Cancer

Another little-talked-about benefit of vitamin D relates to pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer with a five-year survival rate of just 7.2%.31 Researchers published the case of an 83-year-old woman with pancreatic cancer “who errantly took supratherapeutic doses of vitamin D 50,000 U daily, achieving a serum 25(OH)D level of more than 150 ng/mL, with no appreciable side effects.”

Eight months after diagnosis — and consistent daily intake of high-dose vitamin D — scans revealed “no evidence of disease progression.” Further, the researchers noted, “Currently she describes as feeling quite well with no difficulty accomplishing her activities of daily living.” They called for further research to investigate:32

“One cannot conclude that her vitamin D dose was in any way related to this outcome. There is only one CT scan before the initiation of vitamin D, and there is no way to know what her pace of disease would have been in the absence of vitamin D supplementation. In addition, she was taking several other supplements such as shitake mushrooms, although inconsistently and for a shorter duration, which were also intended to treat her malignancy.

Nonetheless, given the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer and the limited treatment options for patients, this case should stimulate further investigation. The daily dose of 50,000 U of vitamin D3 was well tolerated in our patient for over 10 months at the time of writing. Consideration should be given to a clinical trial that evaluates a similar dose.”

I’ve long recommended a vitamin D level of 40 to 60 ng/ml for optimal health and disease prevention. However, higher levels of 60 to 80 ng/ml may be even better, while a level upward of 100 ng/mL appears safe and beneficial for certain conditions, especially cancer.33

Ideally, Get Your Vitamin D From the Sun

Optimizing your vitamin D levels isn’t only about preventing COVID-19; it supports health in multiple ways. It’s been shown that people genetically predisposed to vitamin D deficiency were 25% more likely to die from any cause compared to those with different genetics conducive to healthy vitamin D levels.34

To optimize your levels, regular sun exposure is the best option, as not only will it naturally raise your vitamin D levels to healthy levels, but it will provide numerous other benefits, such as enhanced production of melatonin — a potent anticancer agent.35 However, if you’re unable to get adequate sun exposure each day, supplementation may be necessary.

The only way to determine how much sun exposure is enough and/or how much vitamin D3 you need to take is to measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year. When supplementing, also remember vitamins D and K2, calcium and magnesium all work together and must be properly balanced for optimal health.

Once you’ve confirmed your vitamin D levels via testing, adjust your sun exposure and/or vitamin D3 supplementation accordingly. Then, remember to retest in three to four months to make sure you’ve reached your target level.

Posted in Cancer, Censorship, Coronavirus, Corruption, Infection, Mortality, Pancreas, Sunlight, Supplements, Vaccinations, Vitamins | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: January 8, 2023

Sudden Death: The No. 1 Cause of Death for Under 65s in 2021 and 2022


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/01/06/sudden-death-after-covid-shots.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     Fact Checked     January 06, 2023

sudden death after covid shots

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Mounting evidence shows the COVID shots are destroying people’s immune systems and are triggering turbo-charged cancers
  • A survey by Steve Kirsch found sudden death is the No. 1 cause of death among those under the age of 65 who got the COVID jab
  • Myocarditis as a cause of death is now registering across all age ranges but only for the vaccinated. Cardiac-related deaths are also significantly elevated among younger people (under 65) who got the jab compared to their unjabbed peers
  • Recent research shows repeated jabs trigger a switch in the types of antibodies your body produces and lower your ability to clear viruses. By switching from spike-specific neutralizing IgG antibodies to IgG4 antibodies, your body switches from tumor suppression mode into tumor progression mode
  • In addition to the potential for cancer cells to run amok, IgG4 dominance may also have severe autoimmune implications, as the COVID jab spike protein share similarities with human proteins

Evidence showing the COVID shots are a public health disaster keeps mounting. In late December 2022, Steve Kirsch1 and Jessica Rose,2 Ph.D., both published Substack articles detailing some of the latest evidence showing the shots are destroying people’s immune systems and have triggered an avalanche of turbo-charged cancers.

Kirsch’s article3 features results from a recent survey he conducted. It included four questions: age, whether the deceased was jabbed or not, year of death and cause of death. While the number of responses is low, major insights can still be gleaned by looking at the trends.

First, we have the baseline data from 2020, which show cancer was the No. 1 killer of Americans younger than 65, followed by hospital treatment for COVID. Turbo-charged cancers accounted for one-ninth of the cancer reports, and there were no reports of death from myocarditis.

Among seniors over the age of 65, preexisting conditions were the top cause of death in 2020. Cancer was second, COVID infection third and cardiac events fourth. There were no turbo-charged cancer deaths, nor any myocarditis deaths. Kirsch then gets into the differences between the vaxxed and the unvaxxed in 2021 and 2022.

What the Unvaxxed Died of in 2021 and 2022

In 2021 and 2022, the primary cause of death for people 65 and younger was hospital treatment for COVID. Incidences of sudden death, pulmonary embolism and turbo-charged cancers were all low, and there were no unknown causes of death, nor any myocarditis deaths.

Click to enlarge

The same went for people older than 65. Hospital treatment for COVID was the No. 1 killer. Heart attacks, turbo-charged cancer and sudden death were all low, and there were no deaths from myocarditis.

Click to enlarge

What the COVID-Jabbed Died of in 2021 and 2022

Among the COVID-jabbed aged 65 and younger, sudden death was the No. 1 cause of death in 2021 and 2022. The second was cardiac-related death and cancer was third. Importantly, the incidence of turbo-charged cancer among the jabbed was significant in this group, and myocarditis killed more than COVID-19.

Click to enlarge

Among those older than 65, cancer was the No. 1 cause of death, and the turbo-charged cancer rate is “huge compared to those without the vaccine.” Sudden death was also significantly elevated.

Click to enlarge

Stark Difference in Cancer Deaths Between Jabbed and Unjabbed

Kirsch summarizes the three most stunning differences between the jabbed and unjabbed:4

1. “Sudden death rates are off the charts for the vaccinated cf. unvaccinated for those <65 … It’s the #1 cause of death for this age group …

2. Myocarditis as a cause of death is registering now for both age ranges but only for the vaccinated …

3. Cardiac issues as a cause of death in vaccinated young people (<65) are significantly elevated vs. their unvaxxed peers.”

How COVID Jabs Raise Risk of Infections and Cancer

Exploding cancer rates is precisely what you would expect from a drug that impairs and destroys your immune system, which is what the COVID jabs do. The scientific paper “Innate Immune Suppression by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccinations”5 describes how the COVID shots suppress your innate immune system by inhibiting the type-1 interferon pathway, which is the first-stage response to all viral infections.

The reason type-1 interferon is suppressed is because it responds to viral RNA, and there’s no viral RNA in the COVID shot. The RNA is modified to look like human RNA, so the interferon pathway doesn’t get triggered. As a result, the COVID jab makes you more susceptible to infections.

One mechanism by which the jab causes cancer has to do with the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein obliterates 90% of the DNA repair mechanism in lymphocytes,6 a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infections and chronic diseases such as cancer. That’s bad enough, yet that’s just one mechanism of many.

How the Jab Lowers Your Viral Clearance Capacity

Recent research7,8 also shows that repeated jabs trigger a switch in the types of antibodies your body produces and lower your ability to clear viruses. Jessica Rose reviews these findings in her Substack article:9

“A paper was published in Science Immunology on December 22, 2022 entitled: ‘Class switch towards non-inflammatory, spike-specific IgG4 antibodies after repeated SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination’10 …

[It] explains in wonderful detail how a class of antibody that commands a non-inflammatory response (more like tolerizing) is prominent in people who have been repeatedly injected with the modified mRNA COVID-19 injectable products.

Translation: Instead of the intended pool of spike-specific neutralizing IgG antibodies being dominant in multiply-injected people, a pool of antibodies associated with spike-specific tolerance are dominant in multiply-injected people.

Besides the tolerizing capacity, they also showed that the phagocytic enabling capacities were much reduced overall. These activities lead to clearance of viral pathogens. Reduce them → reduction in viral clearance capacity …

To be clear, this wasn’t a ‘maybe the antibody profile was a little different’ … This was a ‘whoa there’s a 48,075% increase in spike-specific antibodies between the 2nd and 3rd injections …

IgG4 antibodies among all spike-specific IgG antibodies rose on average from 0.04% shortly after the second vaccination to 19.27% after the third … [I]mportantly, that is not a typical consequence of repeat antigen exposure from either natural infections and vaccination.”

Spike Overexposure Also Opens the Door for Cancer

As noted by Substack author Brian Mowrey:11

“This is a totally bonkers thing for an anti-spike-protein B cell to decide to do, and reflects B cell over-exposure to spike, which reflects super-excess production of spike by the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA code …

It is not normal to make IgG4 when repeat encounter with a virus is spaced out over a lifetime, but injection-prompted antigen exposure promotes this response, and mRNA vaccines accelerate this effect …

There is no reason to predict that this would be ‘good’ in an antiviral response … ‘Wearing out’ the immune response in this way is believed to contribute to the development of tolerance against tumors.”

So, to summarize the effects in layman’s terms, the switch from spike-specific neutralizing IgG antibodies to IgG4 antibodies switches your body from tumor suppression mode into tumor progression mode, as cancerous cells now can evade your immune system. You become “tumor tolerant” as your immune system is no longer scavenging for and eliminating cancer cells. Mowrey also points out that:12

“Once a B cell has switched to IgG4, it cannot switch to any other IgG subclass, as the genes for all those other base designs have been discarded. All future clones of this B cell will code for IgG4 receptor/antibody for the antigen in question.”

What Other Health Effects May Result?

For clarification, IgG4 is a subclass of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody type that responds to repeated and/or long-term exposure to an antigen. The mRNA shot evaluated here was that of Pfizer, and it was compared against Janssen’s viral vector-based shot. Moderna’s shot was not included. Notably, these results were not found among people who got Janssen’s shot, only Pfizer’s Comirnaty jab.

Comirnaty … induces a shift away from a viral clearing to a tolerance-inducing antibody class, and this is not the status quo for traditional vaccines or natural infections. The main problem here is … we have no idea of the effects of this ‘effect.’ ~ Jessica Rose, Ph.D.

As noted by Rose:13

“… the bottom line here is that the Comirnaty product … induces a shift away from a viral clearing to a tolerance-inducing antibody class, and this is not the status quo for traditional vaccines or natural infections. The main problem here is … we have no idea of the effects of this ‘effect.'”

That said, we can look at what happens in people with IgG4-related disease, and start formulating hypotheses from there. As explained by Rose, a hallmark of IgG4-related disease is fibrosis, i.e., tissue scarring, which can lead to organ dysfunction, organ failure and even death if left untreated.

Rose is now researching the possible links between this antibody switching and the stringy white deposits found in COVID-jabbed people who died. Might it be a new form of connective tissue disease?

In addition to the potential for cancer cells to run amok (as discussed in the section above), IgG4 dominance may also have severe autoimmune implications seeing how the COVID jab spike protein share similarities with human proteins.

“Molecular mimicry has been shown14 in multiple publications to be a potential problem with regard to the spike protein whereby it has been shown to share motifs with human proteins,” Rose writes.15 “What this means is that autoimmunity potential against these human proteins is clear and present.

In the context of this recent publication showing a dominant IgG4 pool, I have to wonder what the implications of this dominant pool are for molecular mimicry. Are these IgG4 antibodies capable of tolerizing in the context of our own protein?”

Resources for Those Injured by the COVID Jab

If you got one or more jabs and suffered an injury, first and foremost, never ever take another COVID booster, another mRNA gene therapy shot or regular vaccine. You need to end the assault on your system.

The same goes for anyone who has taken one or more COVID jabs and had the good fortune of not experiencing debilitating side effects. Your health may still be impacted long-term, so don’t take any more shots.

When it comes to treatment, there are still more questions than answers, and most doctors are clueless about what to do — in part because they never bothered to give early treatment for COVID and therefore don’t understand how different medicines and supplements impact the spike protein.

So far, it seems like many of the treatments that worked against severe COVID-19 infection also help ameliorate adverse effects from the jab. This makes sense, as the toxic, most damaging part of the virus is the spike protein, and that’s what your whole body is producing if you got the jab.

Two doctors who have started tackling the treatment of COVID jab injuries in earnest include Dr. Michelle Perro (DrMichellePerro.com), whom I’ve interviewed on this topic, and Dr. Pierre Kory (DrPierreKory.com).

Both agree that eliminating the spike protein your body is now continuously producing is a primary task. Perro’s preferred remedy for this is hydroxychloroquine, while Kory’s is ivermectin. Both of these drugs bind and thereby facilitate the removal of spike protein.

As a member of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), Kory helped develop the FLCCC’s post-vaccine treatment protocol called I-RECOVER. Since the protocol is continuously updated as more data become available, your best bet is to download the latest version straight from the FLCCC website at covid19criticalcare.com16 (hyperlink to the correct page provided above).

The World Health Council has also published lists of remedies that can help inhibit, neutralize and eliminate spike protein. Inhibitors that prevent spike protein from binding to your cells include Prunella vulgaris, pine needle tea, emodin, neem, dandelion extract and the drug ivermectin.

Spike protein neutralizers, which prevent the spike from damaging cells, include N-acetylcysteine (NAC), glutathione, fennel tea, star anise tea, pine needle tea, St. John’s wort, comfrey tea and vitamin C. A March 2022 review paper17 suggests combating the neurotoxic effects of the spike protein using the flavonoids luteolin and quercetin.

Time-restricted eating (TRE) and/or sauna therapy can also help eliminate toxic proteins by stimulating autophagy. Several additional detox remedies can be found in “World Council for Health Reveals Spike Protein Detox.”

Other Helpful Treatments and Remedies

Other treatments and remedies that may be helpful for COVID jab injuries include:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, especially in cases involving stroke, heart attack, autoimmune diseases and/or neurodegenerative disorders. To learn more, see “Hyperbaric Therapy — A Vastly Underused Treatment Modality.”

• Lower your Omega-6 intake. Linoleic acid is consumed in amounts ten times of ideal in well over 95% of the population and contributes to massive oxidative stress that impairs your immune response. Seed oils and processed foods need to be diligently avoided. You can review my previous post for more information.

• Pharmaceutical grade methylene blue, which improves mitochondrial respiration and aid in mitochondrial repair. It’s actually the parent molecule for hydroxychloroquine. A dose of 15 to 80 milligrams a day could go a long way toward resolving some of the fatigue many suffer post-jab.

It may also be helpful in acute strokes. The primary contraindication is if you have a G6PD deficiency (a hereditary genetic condition), in which case you should not use methylene blue at all. To learn more, see “The Surprising Health Benefits of Methylene Blue.”

• Near-infrared light, as it triggers production of melatonin in your mitochondria18 where you need it most. By mopping up reactive oxygen species, it too helps improve mitochondrial function and repair. Natural sunlight is 54.3% infrared radiation,19 so this treatment is available for free. For more information, see “What You Need to Know About Melatonin.”

• Lumbrokinase and serrapeptidase are both fibrinolytic enzymes taken on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after to help reduce the risk of blood clots.

Posted in Cancer, Cardiovascular, Coronavirus, Corruption, Mortality, Omega-6, Stroke, Sunlight, Supplements, Vaccinations, Virus, Vitamins | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: January 3, 2023

Vitamin D for Uterine Fibroid Reduction


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/01/02/vitamin-d-for-uterine-fibroid-reduction.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     Fact Checked     January 02, 2023

vitamin d for uterine fibroid reduction

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Research reveals that sufficient serum levels of vitamin D were associated with a lower risk of uterine fibroids, which can present with abdominal pain and bloating, excessive menstrual bleeding, anemia, low back pain and painful sex
  • Fibroids may also affect fertility as they distort the shape and function of the uterus, may obstruct the fallopian tubes that prevent pregnancy, restrict the growth of the baby and make vaginal birth impossible
  • Unfortunately, most of the treatments currently available negatively affect fertility, making it nearly impossible for a woman to have children
  • Vitamin D may prove to be a treatment with few side effects that also preserve fertility
  • Your body produces vitamin D and melatonin through sensible sun exposure. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, master hormone, and regulator of inflammation and cell death
  • Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with poor bone health, certain cancers, depression, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. The only way to be certain you need a supplement and how much to take is by getting a blood test

Uterine fibroids are muscular tumors that are found growing in the wall of the uterus. They are nearly always benign, but the symptoms can be difficult to live with. In extremely rare cases, a fibroid can transform into a malignant tumor.

Fibroids are fairly common and occur in up to 70% of white women and more than 80% of black women,1 sometimes without symptoms. Factors that can increase the risk you develop fibroids include obesity, a family history of fibroids, age and ethnic origin.2

Symptoms include excessive or painful bleeding, bleeding between periods, frequent urination, painful sex, low back pain and an inability to completely empty the bladder when the fibroid places pressure over the urethra. Larger fibroids can cause abdominal distension and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.3 Excessive bleeding during your period can also lead to anemia.

Treatment is determined by symptoms indicative of fibroids, the size and location of the fibroids, age and whether the woman wants to become pregnant. Unfortunately, most of the treatments currently available negatively affect fertility, making it nearly impossible for a woman to have children.

These treatments include surgical procedures such as a hysterectomy, endometrial ablation where the lining of the uterus is removed or destroyed, uterine fibroid embolization and radiofrequency ablation. Women can also choose a myomectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove the fibroids without disturbing healthy uterine tissue. How the procedure is performed depends on the size and location of the fibroid.

While a myomectomy has a higher chance of preserving fertility, new fibroids can grow back. In addition to surgical procedures, birth control pills, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and other oral therapies may be used to control heavy uterine bleeding. These also affect fertility so a woman cannot get pregnant. Treatments with few side effects that preserve fertility are a priority.

Vitamin D and Uterine Fibroids

A study4 published in 2022 in Fertility and Sterility examined how vitamin D levels might affect the development and progression of uterine fibroids.

The researchers were seeking a fibroid treatment that would preserve fertility. They studied the association between women with serum vitamin D levels equal to or greater than 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) against those with serum levels lower than 20 ng/mL.5 Participants were enrolled from 2010 to 2012 and followed over 5 years.

The researchers measured vitamin D serum levels, performed standard ultrasounds and updated variants that may have changed since the last evaluation. The patients were African American women between the ages of 23 and 35 years who had no previous history of fibroids.

The researchers enrolled 1,610 women and found 73% were deficient in vitamin D as measured by a level less than 20 ng/mL and only 7% had sufficient levels as defined by vitamin D serum levels greater than or equal to 30 ng/mL.

This level of deficiency is slightly better than has been measured in past studies. A 2011 study6 looked at survey data from 2005 to 2006 and found a prevalence of vitamin D serum measurements lower than 20 ng/mL in 82.1% of Blacks and 69.2% of Hispanics, with an overall rate of deficiency of 41.6%.

The rate of vitamin D testing and supplementation has increased significantly in recent years as research has revealed the importance low vitamin D levels play in disease. Deficiency defined as 20 ng/mL or lower is associated with fractures and bone loss and levels less than 12 ng/mL “dramatically increases the risk of excess mortality, infections, and many other diseases, and should be avoided whenever possible.”7

The researchers in the featured study found that serum levels of vitamin D equal to or greater than 20 ng/mL were associated with an estimated 9.7% reduction in the growth of fibroids when compared to people with vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/mL.

When the researchers looked at the data of individuals with vitamin D levels equal to or greater than 30 ng/mL, it was associated with an approximately 22% reduction in the incidence of fibroids when compared to individuals with levels less than 30 ng/mL. The group with the highest vitamin D serum levels of greater than 30 ng/mL also had a 32% increase in fibroid tissue loss.

The researchers acknowledged that the data was constrained by the small number of individuals in the cohort who had serum blood levels greater than or equal to 30 ng/mL. However, they believe the data “support the hypothesis that high concentrations of vitamin D decrease fibroid development.”8

This was not the first study to analyze the effect of vitamin D on uterine fibroids. A 2014 paper9 noted that vitamin D was known to be the main regulator of calcium homeostasis, has strong antifibrotic functions, was a potent antitumor agent that inhibited fibroid cell growth in vitro and shrunk lesions in preclinical animal studies.

Papers published in 201310 and 201511 also found that vitamin D plays a significant biological role in the development and proliferation of uterine fibroids. Another double-blind prospective clinical trial12 on 69 women with uterine fibroids and vitamin D deficiency found after a 10-week intervention with vitamin D supplementation the size of the uterine fibroid decreased significantly as compared to the placebo group.

Uterine Fibroids Impact Endometrial Function and Fertility

Treatment for uterine fibroids often negatively affects fertility, but so do the fibroids themselves. Fibroids distort the shape and function of the uterus, and they can obstruct the fallopian tubes, which prevents pregnancy. Since they take up space in the uterus, they can also restrict the growth of the baby and may make vaginal delivery impossible.

When a woman has small fibroids, a physician may take a “watch and wait” approach before moving forward with treatments. The most common problems13 a woman with fibroids faces during pregnancy include a breech presentation, labor that fails to progress, preterm delivery and placental abruption when the placenta breaks away from the wall of the uterus, which is an emergency.

Scientists recognize that fibroids actively influence the endometrium, or the lining of the uterus. Evidence suggests there is a relationship between the number of fibroids a woman has and her problems with fertility.14 The molecular pathways in the growth and development of a fibroid can directly affect the function of the endometrium. One of those processes is the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) that contributes to the stiffness and expansion of the tumor.

For some women, fibroids will shrink after menopause. This happens when hormone levels decrease during menopause, which are the same hormones that promote and support fibroid growth.15 Fibroids are fairly common and rarely cause acute complications.

However, when they do cause complications, they can be challenging. Thromboembolism, acute urinary retention and renal failure, acute vaginal or intraperitoneal hemorrhage, intestinal gangrene and mesenteric vein thrombosis are some of the acute complications that can occur when fibroids become large.16

Light as Medicine

As the Northern Hemisphere moves into the winter months, your exposure to sunlight naturally diminishes. For nearly three decades I have been fascinated by the association of sun exposure to health, and in this MedCram video, I believe we learn some of the important facts that have been missing.

Pulmonologist Dr. Roger Seheult explains the ins and outs of how sunlight impacts your health — not only through increasing your vitamin D levels but also through the production of melatonin. It’s roughly two hours long, but well worth it if you have the time and are fascinated by new insights that could radically change your health.

Melatonin is a master hormone,17 a potent antioxidant18 and antioxidant recycler,19 and a master regulator of inflammation and cell death.20 These functions are part of what makes it such an important anticancer molecule.21

Seheult also produced a condensed 25-minute version of the video22 in which he discussed some of the key findings that have led him to conclude that sunlight is a significantly important treatment for COVID-19.

To summarize the key findings, most melatonin your body produces is made inside your mitochondria in response to near-infrared radiation from the sun. Only 5% of melatonin is produced in the pineal gland. Contrary to what you might expect, melatonin supplements do not wind up in the mitochondria where they are needed to blunt the damage from oxidative stress.23

Research has also shown that melatonin is important in COVID treatment as it reduces the incidence of thrombosis and sepsis and lowers mortality.24 Seheult suggests that sun exposure can help combat other respiratory infections, including COVID, and the production of melatonin inside the mitochondria appears to be a key part of how this works.

He reviews the evidence showing that COVID rates across the world correlate to the amount of sun striking the area. Positive case rates also correlate with vitamin D levels in the blood.25 Higher blood levels correlate with lower incidence of COVID and higher rates of survival for inpatients.

In short, vitamin D is more than likely a marker of sun exposure. But the benefits may be due to other factors than vitamin D itself. As noted by Seheult, some studies looking at the effect of giving vitamin D to patients treated for severe COVID found no benefit, even at very high doses.

Optimize Your Vitamin D Supplementation

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with poor bone health, certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, depression, multiple sclerosis and Type 2 diabetes.26 Researchers have also linked low levels with an increased risk of developing uterine fibroids.27

The best way to produce vitamin D and melatonin, and support your overall health is with sensible sun exposure. However, as we’re going into the winter months, you may find you need supplementation to support your vitamin D levels. The only way to be certain you need a supplement and how much to take is to have a blood test.

Once you know your serum level, you can plug it into the Grassroots Health vitamin D calculator.28 This will help you determine how much supplement you may need over the winter months. You can also optimize your vitamin D supplementation by taking vitamin K2 and magnesium.

I’ve previously written about the importance of taking vitamin K2 to avoid complications associated with excessive calcification in your arteries when you’re taking high-dose supplemental vitamin D. According to research by GrassrootsHealth:29

“… combined intake of both supplemental magnesium and vitamin K2 has a greater effect on vitamin D levels than either individually … those taking both supplemental magnesium and vitamin K2 have a higher vitamin D level for any given vitamin D intake amount than those taking either supplemental magnesium or vitamin K2 or neither.”

Magnesium is a necessary component for the activation of vitamin D. Without sufficient amounts, your body cannot properly utilize the vitamin D supplement you’re taking.30 This helps explain why many need higher doses of vitamin D to optimize their levels. As noted by Mohammed Razzaque, professor of pathology at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania:31

“People are taking vitamin D supplements but don’t realize how it gets metabolized. Without magnesium, vitamin D is not really useful. By consuming an optimal amount of magnesium, one may be able to lower the risks of vitamin D deficiency and reduce the dependency on vitamin D supplements.”

According to a 2018 scientific review,32 as many as 50% of Americans taking vitamin D supplements may not get significant benefits as vitamin D simply gets stored in its inactive form because they have insufficient magnesium levels.

– Sources and References

Posted in Sunlight, Vitamins, Women | One Comment »

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