Well, D has done it again. Despite repeated attempts by the mainstream to downplay the importance of this vital vitamin, a new study has once again confirmed just how critical getting enough vitamin D is to our health.
Those who practice conventional medicine admit vitamin D helps with calcium absorption and building bone. But new animal research might finally force them to also admit the vitamin plays a crucial role in aging, fighting off many of the diseases that plague us as we grow older.
Vitamin D deficiency linked to disease
Vitamin D deficiency has already been linked to a troubling list of diseases and illnesses including obesity, heart disease, depression, breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer. And studies show lots of us are deficient in D, especially older folks.1
Integrative medicine doctors already insist we need to pay attention to our vitamin D status, and that we should seriously consider taking a supplement if our levels are running low. And now it appears that researchers at the Buck Institute may be inclined to agree with them.
The new study shows that vitamin D targets genes that are known to have an influence on aging, and that the vitamin has a direct impact on the diseases we’re at risk for as we get older. You see, as we age proteins in our body begin to become misshapen. This eventually influences how well they function and can, over time, lead to illness and disease.
Research confirms vitamin could fight aging
Vitamin D slowed down this “misfolding” in literally hundreds of these proteins. And, incredibly, this extended the median lifespan of the worms used in the experiment by 33 percent!2
The researchers say that the study, published in the journal Cell Reports, supports their theory that vitamin D could, ultimately, prolong life.
While we can easily measure vitamin D’s impact on bones, the truth is most of our cells have vitamin D receptors, which is a clear sign that the vitamin’s influence extends FAR beyond just our skeletons. Yet the Institute of Medicine insists on basing its vitamin D recommendations only on bone health, recommending 600 IU daily for people up to age 70, and 800 IU for older folks.
On the other hand, forward thinking physicians, such as Healthier Talk contributor Dr. Allan Spreen, typically recommend 2,000 IUs of D3 daily, taken with a meal that contains fat to maximize its absorption. And we also suggest you ask your doctor about checking your vitamin D levels to find out what dosage is right for you.
Reference:
1. “Vitamin D Promotes Protein Homeostasis and Longevity via the Stress Response Pathway Genes skn-1,ire-1, and xbp-1,” Cell Reports 17, October 25, 2016, 1227–1237
2. “Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults,” Nutr Res. 2011 Jan;31(1):48-54
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