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Vitamin D & Pregnancy
In a 2021 double-blind randomized trial which enrolled pregnant women in Northern Ireland, the primary outcome was the effect of vitamin D supplementation on levels of both maternal and umbilical 25-hydroxyvitamin D ([25(OH)D]), as well as the secondary goal of evaluating any impact of obesity. Two hundred and forty women (166 completed the study) were…
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BMI & the Vitamin D Response
Results of a cohort study were recently published in JAMA Network, with the potential to profoundly affect our understanding of vitamin D supplementation. Despite extensive epidemiological data implicating low vitamin D status as a risk factor for many chronic diseases, controlled trials of supplementation have not always been as encouraging. This trial may help to…
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Genetics & Vitamin D Status
An intriguing study found different effects on pregnant mice’s liver metabolism as a result of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) depending on genetic background. Maternal VDD has serious implications for both fetal and maternal health, including fetal growth and skeletal health, as well as increased risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia for the mother. However, the…
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Magnesium & Vitamin D Activation
A compelling article in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association highlighted the important role of magnesium in vitamin D activation and function.
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Vitamin D & the Inflammatory Response
Research has shown that a healthy inflammatory response is an essential part of the body’s healing process. Yet ongoing inflammation can actually contribute to a wide range of common conditions. Genetic research has now identified low vitamin D levels with high levels of inflammation. This means that low vitamin D could become a key biomarker…
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Vitamin D, Omegas, & Autoimmune
Results from a large trial of older adults in the U.S. were recently published in BMJ, detailing the outcome of a 5-year study evaluating the use of supplemental vitamin D and/or omega-3 fatty acids and the development of autoimmune disease. Part of the large-scale vitamin D and omega-3 trial (VITAL), it was randomized, double-blinded and…
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Statins & Vitamin D
In a recent meta-analysis of 9 cohort studies that included a total of nearly 3,000 participants, the relationship between 25-OH vitamin D (25-OHD) plasma levels and statin-associated myopathy was examined, as well as the effect of vitamin D supplementation on statin intolerance. Given that 10-25% of statin users report muscle-associated symptoms, and that over 60%…
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Analyzing Vitamin D2 vs D3
When comparing ergocalciferol (D2) to cholecalciferol (D3), most studies typically report on differences related to serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D, with a focus on which form is more efficient or has a more enduring effect. Results from a recently published clinical trial sharpen our understanding of the divergent effects of these two forms of…
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Vitamin D & Bone Health During Pregnancy
Another dataset from the ongoing MAVIDOS trial (Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study) was recently published, this one examining bone turnover during pregnancy, how it relates to postpartum indices of bone health, and the effect of vitamin D supplementation. Previous results from this trial, which enrolled over 1100 women in early pregnancy living in the UK,…
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Study Shows Vitamin D Absorption is Optimized with Magnesium
In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, lead author Qi Dai, MD, PhD, Ingram, Professor of Cancer Research, analyzes the relationship between vitamin D and magnesium levels. While previous studies have linked low magnesium with low vitamin D levels, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that magnesium…