Researchers from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute are set to conduct a world-first trial into the link between prenatal vitamin D levels and schizophrenia prevalence.

Funded by the NHMRC and led by QBI’s Dr Darryl Eyles, a team of four researchers will study blood spots taken from newborn babies who have gone on to develop schizophrenia in early adulthood.

“Undeniably, low maternal vitamin D affects the way the brain develops,” Dr Eyles said.

“Over the past four years we’ve been able to show that low vitamin D intake in animals during pregnancy results in offspring with brain abnormalities similar to those seen in patients with schizophrenia.”

The next step of the research process involves testing the hypothesis on human samples.

By analysing the blood spots of newborns the team will have a good indication of the baby’s vitamin D status at the time of birth.

This type of study is possible thanks to a biobank located at the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen where the Danish authorities have not only stored newborn blood spots since 1981, but kept ongoing medical records which accompany each sample.

“This is a true test of the hypothesis,” Dr Eyles said.

“The Danes are only able to give us 1.6 microlitres of plasma so we’ve had to come up with a method of determining the vitamin D levels in that tiny amount of blood.

“In collaboration with Alun Jones at the Institute of Molecular Bioscience, we’ve developed a way to easily measure low levels of vitamin D using mass spectrometry.”

It is expected that the team will begin analyzing 2000 Danish blood spots (1000 cases and 1000 matched controls) in September.

“If we establish the link in this huge patient cohort, we will be able to show that having low maternal vitamin D does not necessarily mean a child is going to develop schizophrenia but, if a child has a particularly vulnerable genome, the low maternal vitamin D may be the environmental trigger,” Dr Eyles said.

“It’s the combination of gene and environment which triggers the disease.”

Schizophrenia affects approximately one percent of the world’s population and is characterised by disruptions in language, thought, perception, social activity, and volition.

UQ has conducted research in this area since 2001 when Professor John McGrath, also of the QBI, suggested a lack of sunlight exposure on pregnant women could account for the higher incidence of schizophrenia during winter months and in colder climates.

Source: UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute

Since starting this blog I’ve become aware of this big controversy….Sunscreen!

Wow! I had no idea that mainstream “chemical-based” sunscreens could be so harmful to your health. Seems silly that I hadn’t looked into it sooner. I’ve coated my body with this popular brand stuff for many years! (I’m screwed)

Many believe that the chemicals in sunscreen are free radical generators (causing cancer) and gender-bending estrogenic chemicals (leading to serious problems in sexual development and adult sexual function).

Common sunscreen ingredients are suspected or known carcinogens and/or hormone disrupters, including diethanolamine, triethanolamine (DEA, TEA), padimate-o, octyl dimethyl PABA, benzophenone, oxybenzone, homosalate, octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), salicylates, and parabens.

Personally, I’ve switched to blue lizard zinc oxcide and Titanium Dioxide sunscreens out of Australia (yes, some of their products actually turn you blue in the sun). These mineral-based suncreens provide complete UVB/UVA protection, have anti-inflammatory properties, and are considered a safe sunscreen ingredient. This type of sunscreen also reflects/blocks the UV radiation! Sure, I may have a bit of a white or blue tone to my skin this summer due to this fine new zinc concoction I’m slathering on, but I’m fine with it. As long as my wife still loves me and my kids are making fun of me it’s all good.

You can easily google this topic to learn more about it, but here are a few places to start:
CDC: Americans Carry Body Burden of Toxic Sunscreen Chemical
Skinbiology.com

The good Stuff:

Now, go have some fun in the sun!

So there’s this new EPA sun safety program in Washington State. When you read the article, it’s clear that there’s still a lot of confusion surrounding the topic of safe sun exposure and vitamin D.

Although I completely agree that people need to BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO GET A SUNBURN, the outreach specialist for this program says “he echoes scientists who say that about 10 minutes of sun a day on your arms and legs in the summer will give you plenty of vitamin D.” This is just baloney. At our clinic in the middle of summer most people are testing abnormally low with regard to vitamin D. Mind you, these are folks who are getting plenty of time outside in the mid-day summer sun. What’s a possible explanation for this phenomena? We stand by our belief that we just don’t get the UVB rays that we need at our latitude to generate adequet vitamin D levels, but we do get ample damaging UVA rays - hence the high incidence of melanoma.

So, two big tips for today:

1. Check your vitamin D levels and treat low vitamin D levels adequetly.

2. Always avoid getting a sunburn!

Later,
Darcy

Here’s a case report that appeared as “Lesson of the Week” in the British Medical Journal.

A 53 year old woman of Pakistani origin who had been treated for breast cancer went to her doctors regularly over the next two years with severe widespread muscuIo skeletal pain. When it was misdiagnosed as metastatic bone disease, she was put on the usual drugs for that condition. Her pains worsened, but prior to going on a planned combination chemotherapy treatment, she went for a six-week summer trip to visit her family in Pakistan. On her return to the U.K., her symptoms had completely resolved. Chemotherapy was delayed, and a whole body CT scan showed no evidence of metastasis. Symptoms showed up again after another British winter. Eventually, her severe vitamin D deficiency was recognized and treated appropriately.

You can read more details about this important lesson here.

Source: redorbit

Just loved writing this headline

Testing for vitamin D deficiency skyrockets

Testing for vitamin D levels, once uncommon, has skyrocketed as medical studies raise awareness about vitamin D deficiencies, according to three of the USA’s largest medical diagnostic labs. Physicians agree that they’re increasingly using the blood test to find out whether their patients are low on the vital vitamin.

So I just finished reading the July Newsletter from the Vitamin D Council. If you’re not reading it each month you should!

In the latest edition Dr Cannell has written a very informative and to the point Frequently Asked Questions page that you should all point people to when they pepper you with Vitamin D questions.

It was nice to hear him mention that the lab we use for our vitamin D testing is utilizing the testing procedure that has the most accuracy!

He also mentions a very cool vitamin D Call To Action statement issued by Grassroots Health and signed by leading vitamin D doctors and researchers. Along with that is a series of lectures around the country by Grassroots Health. The talks are called Vitamin D Prevents Cancer and Other Diseases–Is It TRUE? You can see the Cities and schedule here (so far nothing in Washington State)

Dr Cannell also pointed out this interesting tidbit:

CHICAGO, June 17, 2008 —-The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest physician organization, voted today at its Annual Meeting to adopt the following new public health policy: The current Reference Intake Values for Vitamin D were established by the Food and Nutrition Board in 1997. Current research suggests that the Upper Limits for adults is likely overly conservative. Today the AMA called on the FDA to re-examine the current Daily Reference Intake Value for Vitamin D in light of new scientific findings. “The health benefits of Vitamin D are plentiful, such as strong bones and a reduced risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease,” said AMA Board Member Steven Stack, M.D. “It’s time to take a good look at the current daily recommended level of Vitamin D and ensure that Americans know the appropriate levels so they can reap the full health benefits.”

The AMA’s statement is timely in light of another study published a few days later that showed those with the lowest vitamin D levels are twice as likely to die as those with the highest levels.

Anyway, that’s it for now!

Most of us get tired of the gray and rainy weather we’re subject to for so much of the year here in the Pacific Northwest, but did you know it could make you fat?

Scientists are finding that people who are overweight have lower levels of vitamin D, which is created when skin is exposed to sunlight.

The study found that low levels of the vitamin in blood interfered with the function of a hormone called leptin, which tells the brain when the stomach is full.

Read more why lack of vitamin D makes you fat

This may just help explain my mouth full of childhood cavities…how about YOU?

Vitamin D during pregnancy may impact baby’s teeth

I thought that this headline was pretty exciting:

Mad Rush At Labs For Vitamin D Tests

That headline corroborates what we see locally. The lab that we use for our D testing has just installed their own machine to do their vitamin D testing in-house. (they use to send them to another lab) Our rep for the lab also told me that they’re planning on adding a second machine within the next month or so. I think that each machine is something like $100 K.

This also means that we’ll be getting the results faster now. It use to take about 5 business days, now they’ll be done in about 24 hours. All of this is really great to hear! The need for more vitamin D testing machines means that doctors are hearing the news and getting the message that it’s important to check their patients vitamin D levels.

That’s all for now,
Darcy

If that headline doesn’t get your attention I’m guessing nothing will……

New research shows that having low vitamin D levels leads to an increase risk of death.