People with low vitamin D levels face an increased risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke. The danger is particularly acute among those with high blood pressure.

Researchers examined more than 1700 people over a period of 5 years, taking periodic blood samples to gauge vitamin D levels. Those with low levels had a 60 percent higher risk of suffering from a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, heart failure or stroke.

The risk was doubled among in people with both high blood pressure and vitamin D deficiency.

Abunda Life D3

Best Vitamin D on the Planet Vitamin D3

NEW! Just-Published Study Shows Powerful Benefits of Vitamin D
06/14/2007


Vitamin D is well-known for its role in promoting bone health. Without it, your body wouldn't be able to properly utilize calcium, which is, in turn, essential for maintaining healthy bones. But a new study has shown that vitamin D also has great potential for protecting your body's cells. A superior form of vitamin D, known as vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol), which is not used in the typical multi-vitamin, was used in this remarkable study.

Some dynamite studies were just published in the medical literature. There was a study out of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska from the Osteoporosis Research Center, published in the June 2007 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition1. A group of 1,179 healthy post-menopausal women over age 55 participated in a four-year double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Women were randomly assigned to receive 1,400 mg to 1,500 mg of calcium alone, supplemental calcium plus 1,000 IU of vitamin D or placebo.

Within the calcium group, there was a 47% reduction in overall cancer compared to placebo. In the calcium and vitamin D group, there was a 60% reduction in overall cancer compared to placebo. When they further evaluated the study and took out individuals who developed cancer within the first year (suggesting the condition was already there before the study began), there was an incredible 77% reduction in overall cancer compared to placebo.

It should be noted that the form of vitamin D used was D3 (as cholecalciferol) which is much more powerful compared to vitamin D2, used in many inferior supplements and multi-vitamins. Dr. Michael Holick, from Boston University Medical Center, indicated that the study showed that enough vitamin D markedly reduced the risk of developing the most serious forms of cancer. He supported raising the recommended amount of this vitamin to 1,000 units daily for most people.

This is more strong evidence the DV/RDA levels of vitamin D are grossly inadequate at only 400 IU per day. Based on current evidence and studies it appears the safe upper level of intake for vitamin D is 4,000 IU to perhaps even as high as 10,000 IU per day, with 700 to 2,000 IU being the current recommended optimal level.

Another study was published in the June 2007 edition of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention2. It was a prospective cohort study evaluating green tea consumption and risk of developing colon cancer in women. Almost 70,000 Chinese women between ages of 40 and 70 were followed for approximately six years. It was found that women who consume green tea regularly had a reduced risk of colon cancer by 37% compared to those who drank tea on an irregular basis. In certain cases the risk reduction was as high as 57%. Authors of the study suggested that regular consumption of green tea may reduce risk of colon cancer in women.

It appears that the magic of green tea lies in the polyphenols, especially a compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Not only does EGCG provide positive benefit in regard to cancer, it appears to have beneficial effects in terms of increasing metabolism, improving heart health and possibly even benefiting against cognitive loss.

On the negative side, I'd like to point my finger at the drug/pharmaceutical world of which I am a part, being a practicing physician. There was just an article recently published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine regarding a drug called Avandia, which is widely prescribed for diabetes mellitus3. The article indicated that this drug appears to significantly increase risk of myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes. You should know that many drugs prescribed for diabetes have a black box warning in the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) indicating an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, yet doctors continue to prescribe them knowing that the majority of their diabetic patients will die from heart disease or stroke. Drugs, as a general rule, even aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, ulcer/reflux drugs, are potentially dangerous with over 100,000 deaths being reported in the U.S. each year and many more people hospitalized with proper use of medication.

On a positive note for promoting healthy blood sugar there was another study published in the June 2007 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looking at the nutrient cinnamon4. Fourteen healthy subjects participated. Post- prandial (which means 'after eating') glucose response was measured along with gastric emptying time. Subjects were given 300 grams of rice pudding or 300 grams of rice pudding along with six grams of cinnamon. It was found that the addition of the six grams of cinnamon reduced post-prandial blood sugar and delayed gastric emptying.

Finally, there was a study published last month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition regarding dietary choline5. This nutrient is critically important for proper cellular membrane function, neurotransmission and other things. The objective of this study was to evaluate the necessary dietary requirements for choline in healthy men and women. A total of 57 adults (26 men, 16 pre-menopausal and 15 post-menopausal women) were fed a diet on average of 550 mg of choline a day for ten days followed by less than 50 mg of choline a day, with or without folic acid for another 42 days.

It was found that when deprived of dietary choline, 77% of men and 80% of post-menopausal women developed fatty liver or muscle damage. 44% of pre-menopausal women developed similar problems as well. Interestingly, six of the men actually showed some signs of developing liver muscle problems while consuming 550 mg of choline per day. It was noted that 19% of subjects were found to need as much as 825 mg of choline a day in order to avoid damage.

It should be noted that choline typically is found in eggs, beef liver, chicken liver and wheat germ but the average intake by most Americans is below the optimal levels discussed here. According to a Harvard study of 1,960 people published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in June of 2006, the average choline intake is only around 300 mg per day with some as low as the low 200 mg range6. This same study also indicated those with highest level of choline intake had reduced homocysteine levels. As discussed in prior newsletters homocysteine is very bad, and keeping low levels is essential to promoting healthy cardiovascular function and brain health.

It is shocking to see a deficiency of one nutrient can cause such major and immediate cellular and organ damage. I strongly recommend adding choline supplementation to your supplement regimen.



1. Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1586-91. 2. Yang G, Shu XO, Li H, Chow WH, Ji BT, Zhang X, Gao YT, Zheng W. Prospective cohort study of green tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk in women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007 Jun;16(6):1219-23. 3. Psaty BM, Furberg CD. The Record on Rosiglitazone and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jun 5; [Epub ahead of print] 4. Hlebowicz J, Darwiche G, Bjorgell O, Almer LO. Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1552-6. 5. Fischer LM, daCosta KA, Kwock L, Stewart PW, Lu TS, Stabler SP, Allen RH, Zeisel SH. Sex and menopausal status influence human dietary requirements for the nutrient choline. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 May;85(5):1275-85. 6. Cho E, Zeisel SH, Jacques P, Selhub J, Dougherty L, Colditz GA, Willett WC. Dietary choline and betaine assessed by food-frequency questionnaire in relation to plasma total homocysteine concentration in the Framingham Offspring Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Apr;83(4):905-11.


Bone-Building Vitamin D Also Good for Your Heart

June 22, 2007 - Just highlighted last week for its role in protecting health at a cellular level, vitamin D is in the news again, this time for its ability to support cardiovascular health. A large study, involving nearly 15,000 men and women, has indicated that vitamin D may play an important part in healthy heart function. Vitamin D, once considered essential only in regard to bone metabolism, is now recognized as essential for a number of bodily functions.

It's amazing how a nutrient can be rediscovered. For many years, literally decades, vitamin D was considered essential only in regard to bone metabolism. However, in recent years, vitamin D has seemingly been rediscovered as an essential nutrient for a host of bodily functions. In last week's newsletter, I discussed some of the additional benefits of vitamin D. Well, the good news keeps coming.

In the June 2007 Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers from Drew University in Los Angeles analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 1988 to 19941. In particular, they evaluated blood levels of vitamin D and risk of poor heart health in approximately 15,000 men and women. W hen they compared groups of individuals with higher versus lower blood levels of vitamin D, it was found that those with lowest levels of vitamin D were more likely to suffer with poor cardiovascular and heart health. It was concluded that vitamin D levels are associated with important cardiovascular health risk factors in U.S. adults.

Dr. Norris, lead author of the article, noted that there is emerging evidence that suggests higher levels of vitamin D may be helpful to reduce risk of poor cardiovascular health. He noted that although present dose recommendations range from 800 IU to 1,200 IU daily, he felt that 2,000 IU is more likely to achieve adequate blood levels of vitamin D for optimal cardiovascular health. He added, "It appears to be good safety at doses of 2,000 IU to 3,000 IU per day." Other scientists have stated vitamin D appears to be safe up to 10,000 IU per day. Some have also suggested taking vitamin K along with vitamin D.

There was a recent study concerning health care costs in the U.S.2. It was reported that one out of every eight U.S. federal health care dollars is spent on people with elevated blood sugar. The study was based on federal spending data from 2005, noting that the U.S. government spent almost $80 billion just on people with elevated blood sugar. Lana Vukovljak, CEO of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, indicated that over the next 30 years, elevated blood sugar is expected to claim the lives of 62 million Americans.

In the June 2007 European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers from Japan studied effects of green tea extract in regard to individuals with borderline elevated blood sugar3. For the first two months, half the group was given a green tea extract product containing 544 mg of polyphenols (456 mg of catechins) while the other half was just observed. There was then a crossover between the two groups after two months. It was found that those taking green tea extract had a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels. Hemoglobin A1c provides a useful monitor of blood sugar control and damage to healthy cells over a period of several weeks. In the study, however, interestingly, there was no change in fasting blood sugar level. Clearly, green tea's antioxidant benefits are protecting cells' healthy proteins from elevated blood sugar.

There were a few other interesting studies I'd like to point out. In the June 2007 American Journal of Epidemiology, 1,640 healthy men and women 65 years and older were followed for approximately 10 years4. At the beginning of the study, information on their diets was collected. It was found that those consuming the most flavonoids showed a significantly better cognitive performance at the beginning of the study. Additionally, those in the top half of flavonoid consumption showed more favorable progress in cognitive functioning every time. A uthors indicated that "additional studies are needed to further investigate the relation between flavonoid intake and cognitive evolution including other antioxidant molecules." It should be noted that there are many powerful flavonoids, such as red wine, green tea, Pycnogenol, quercetin, citrus and many others.

There was an extremely interesting study just published in the prestigious Annals of Internal Medicine in June 20075. It involved 389 post menopausal women with osteopenia (thinning of bones) diagnosed by bone mineral density. Half of the group was given 54 mg a day of genistein whereas the other half received placebo. The study went on for two years. At the end of the study, it was found that women given genistein had a significant improvement in bone density compared to women given the placebo.

The data is clearly mounting that the recommended 400 IU of vitamin D just doesn't cut it any more. Vitamin D appears to have a myriad of benefits, including potentially promoting healthy cellular function, cardiovascular health, improving balance, neurological health, immunity and more. Unfortunately, most multi-vitamins contain only 400 IU of vitamin D. Look for a good multi-vitamin containing 700 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D based on the current studies. It must be in the D3 form. M ost cheap, allegedly complete "A to Z" multi's sold at grocery and discount stores contain only 400 IU and the poor-quality, non-D3 form.

WHAT MAKES OUR PRODUCT DIFFERENT?

Abunda Life Laboratories's Vitamin D3 contains a highly assimilative proprietary formulation of 4,000 IU's, D3 (Cholecalciferol), 1000% DV per tablet, plus each tablet is supplemented with 500mg, Calcium, 50% DV. All our capsules/tablets are made from vegetable sources.