Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Vitamin D, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, sun exposure

Vitamin D has been much in the news lately, thanks to a battle between dermatologists over whether sun exposure is an unmitigated evil or is beneficial in small amounts. The dermatology industry’s position is that all sun exposure is harmful, since it damages DNA and causes skin cancer, and should therefore be avoided completely. But a heretical professor of dermatology at the Boston University School of Medicine, Michael Holick, has challenged this concept by suggesting that a small amount of exposure to sunlight is important for preventing Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D, which the body requires for various purposes, is made in the skin in reponse to UV light. Holick has been drummed out of his professorship for his audacity, and orthodox dermatologists are on their soapboxes trying to ‘undo the damage’ to public health that Holick’s public statements and his book have supposedly done.

Link to news stories:

Soaking Up the Sunshine For a Little Vitamin D

The Myths and Realities of Vitamin D and Sun Exposure

Boston University Advocate of Sunlight Draws Ire

By the way, I don’t mean to imply that UV light on the skin doesn’t do damage — it always does, in any amount. But it is probably also true that many people who don’t get any UV light, and who also don’t take supplementary vitamin D, acquire a vitamin D deficiency and suffer some health consequences: weak bones, for example.

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Of much more interest than the above is a report from the Harvard School of Public Health about vitamin D supplementation lowering the risk of getting multiple sclerosis (MS). The evidence comes from two long-term studies involving almost 200,000 nurses. A statistical analysis of dietary habits and health showed that vitamin D intake (from supplements, not from food) correlated with a lower incidence of MS.

Link to news story:

Vitamin D may cut MS, arthritis risks

Link to research report:

Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis.

A recent study of another inflammatory nerve disease, in mice, suggests that vitamin D might reduce disease activity in such diseases. Vitamin D3 is the specific form of the vitamin that was studied.

Link to research report:

Multiple sclerosis and vitamin D: an update.

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Another piece of news about vitamin D is that a study has shown that vitamin D supplements reduce the risk of falls by the elderly. Of course, it has been known for a long time that vitamin D is needed for bone strength. The new wrinkle in this story is that the vitamin has been linked to the frequency of falls — perhaps because weak bones cause falls, or perhaps because vitamin D improves nerve function and balancing ability.

Link to news story:

Vitamin D use cuts risk of falls in elderly

Link to the research report:

Effect of Vitamin D on falls: a meta-analysis.

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LifeLink carries two vitamin-D-containing supplements:

• Bone Maximizer™ II, containing 480 i.u. of vitamin D-3.
• Platform — a multi-vitamin and mineral formula