Dr. Berg’s Healthy Keto and Intermittent Fasting Podcast

VITAMIN D IS WORTHLESS

Jul 15, 2024

05:57

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A discussion on the VITAL study that deemed vitamin D supplementation useless in preventing cancer and cardiovascular events, with flaws in the study design highlighted. Despite this, other research suggests promising benefits of vitamin D on autoimmune disease, cancer incidence, and overall health.

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Quick takeaways

Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce cancer or cardiovascular risk in the VITAL study.

Higher doses of vitamin D could potentially prevent asthma and reduce autoimmune disease and cancer rates.

Deep dives

Vitamin D Supplementation Findings

Research from the vital study with 26,000 participants concluded that vitamin D supplementation was ineffective in reducing cancer risk, major cardiovascular events, stroke, or cardiovascular death. The study, following drug trial protocols, lacked baseline vitamin D testing, making the results inconclusive. Additionally, all participants, even in the placebo group, were allowed up to 800 IUs of vitamin D3 daily, potentially skewing the outcomes.

Discussion on the Effectiveness of Vitamin D Supplementation

6min

Today, I’m going to share some important information about vitamin D. The VITAL study, which involved 26,000 people, concluded that vitamin D supplementation is essentially worthless. The study found that vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the risk of cancer, major cardiovascular events, stroke, or cardiovascular death.

In this study, they used the same trial protocols used in drug trials. One group received vitamin D, and the other received a placebo. We naturally have vitamin D in our systems from our diet and the sun, but no baseline vitamin D was determined in this study. Everyone in the study, including the placebo group, was permitted to take up to 800 IU of vitamin D per day.

Furthermore, the VITAL study measured vitamin D in the blood, which is the inactive form. This is the reservoir of vitamin D that supports the skeletal system and calcium regulation, but this was not tested for.

Vitamin D is involved in another system that supports the immune system, prevents cancer, is anti-inflammatory, prevents diabetes, and prevents dementia. The active form of vitamin D found in the cells is not measurable in the blood.

The VITAL study claimed to give the study group a high dose of vitamin D, but they only used 2,000 IU!

Dr. Hollis mentions a Townsend letter that references 6 papers that show the promising benefits of vitamin D:

• Decreases autoimmune disease by 22%

• Decreases the incidence of advanced cancer

• The more vitamin D in your blood, the lower the risk of cancer

• Reduces autism

• Reduces asthma

• Decreases adverse outcomes in pregnancy

Although the VITAL study essentially deemed vitamin D as worthless, there’s plenty of research showing that vitamin D can reduce breast cancer, tooth decay, depression, skin disorders, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and colon cancer.

Research has also shown the surprising benefits of sunlight—the best source of vitamin D. Sun exposure can significantly reduce your risk of breast cancer, decrease blood pressure, and increase serotonin by up to 80%.

DATA:

https://www.townsendletter.com/e-lett...