Wow. Vitamin D deficiency may cause 40% of respiratory deaths in older people

It’s really quite a scandal.

Sun, photo, Chuttersnap

Missing out on the Sunshine Vitamin?

Historians will marvel that societies that were advanced enough to stream reality-tv-shows at 100 million bits per second, were also so backwards that half the population was deficient in Vitamin D — something that costs 6 cents a dose or comes free from the sun. Nearly 60% of older Germans were deficient, and the ESTHER study puts a fine point on how much that matters. Almost 10,000 people were followed for 15 years  in Germany,  and during that time about half the people who died of respiratory illnesses might not have died if they had enough Vitamin D.

In  this German study 44% did not have adequate Vitamin D and about 1 in 6 people have levels so low they are clinically deficient.

Imagine if someone found a drug that stopped nearly half of all influenza deaths?

Right now, the Northern Hemisphere has higher levels of Vitamin D than most months which is quite likely reducing the death rates.  The message needs to get out about Vitamin D before the next Northern Winter.

 

Vitamin D, Esther Study, Germany, Deficiency, Mortality.

Morethan half the population is deficient.

In terms of respiratory diseases, those whose vitamin D was under the recommended levels were twice as likely to die. And those that were clinicially deficient were three times as likely to die.

This was especially true for women, with the risk of dying as much as eight fold higher.

As I said in April — Vitamin D affects 200 genes and is implicated in many afflictions:

Vitamin D levels also correlate with lower rates of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, dental caries, preeclampsia, autoimmune disease, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Vitamin D influences over 200 genes. It’s so crucial, it was likely the reason northern Europeans evolved whiter skin. The lack of sunlight and the introduction of grains in diets (as opposed to eating liver and whales) meant that Europeans weren’t getting enough D from either food or sun. The selective pressure was so strong that lighter skin rapidly took over all the northern communities. Eskimos didn’t need to go white — they were still getting D from offal and plenty of fish.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.22.20137299v1

The risk ratios are pretty astonishing:

The Abstract

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic goes along with increased mortality from acute respiratory disease, and measures to limit the spread of the infection go along with increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, especially among high risk groups. It has been suggested that vitamin D3 supplementation might help to reduce respiratory disease mortality. Methods. We assessed the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, defined by 25(OH)D blood levels of 30-50 and <30 nmol/L, respectively, and their association with mortality from respiratory diseases during 15 years of follow-up in a cohort of 9,548 adults aged 50-75 years from Saarland, Germany. Results. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were common (44% and 15%, respectively). Compared to sufficient vitamin D status, respiratory disease mortality was 2.1 (95%-CI 1.3-3.2)- and 3.0 (95%-CI 1.8-5.2)-fold increased, respectively. Although significant increases were seen in both women and men, they were much stronger among women, with 8.5 (95% CI 2.4-30.1) and 2.3 (95% CI 1.1-4.4)-fold increase of respiratory disease mortality in case of vitamin D deficiency among women and men, respectively (p-value for interaction =0.041). Overall, 41% (95% CI 20%-58%) of respiratory disease mortality was statistically attributable to vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. Conclusion. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are common and account for a large proportion of respiratory disease mortality in older adults, supporting suggestions that vitamin D3 supplementation might make a major contribution to limit the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women.

Don’t get caught without your vitamin D.

(UPDATE: and if you take D3, best add K2 as well lest that Ca end up in your arteries instead of your bones).

REFERENCE

Brenner, Holleczek, and Schoettker, B. (2020)  Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency and mortality from respiratory diseases in a cohort of older adults: potential for limiting the death toll during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.22.20137299v1

 See also:  Vitamin D deficiency affects so many health conditions.

9.8 out of 10 based on 66 ratings

168 comments to Wow. Vitamin D deficiency may cause 40% of respiratory deaths in older people

  • #

    A multivitamin gummy is just pennies a day and it provides a lot more than just Vitamin D. To put this in perspective, a single cigarette cost 3-4 times more and a cup of coffee can cost many dozens of times more.

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    • #
      Hanrahan

      Multivitamin tabs usually use the 400iu/day recommendation. It is not enough if you don’t get any sun, more like 3,000/day.

      If overweight you will need 5,000 because it is stored in fat and not immediately available.

      If you get sun exposure don’t immediately shower with soap. The D3 is synthesised in the outer layer of the skin and takes time to be absorbed.

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      • #
        GD

        If overweight you will need 5,000 because it is stored in fat and not immediately available

        Oh heck, is that why I don’t get the almost instant kick that I get from a few grams of Vit C and the daily kick I get from a mega dose of Vit B?

        I’ve been taking the Vit D, Vit K2, + zinc combination since the beginning of the lockdowns, but don’t feel any different, whereas the Vit C and B produce results in hours.

        As Vit D is stored in fat, when does it become available for the body?

        Vit C is water-soluble and is excreted daily. Take too much and the result is only too obvious.

        30

        • #
          PeterPetrum

          My wife and I have been on the Keto program for over two years now, so we break down fat to get energy from ketones, rather than using glucose from carbohydrates, with the excess being stored as fat. So, I suppose, the Vit D stored in our fat (and we do take Vit D capsules) will be released into our bloodstreams daily. We don’t want to catch COVID-19 but if we do I think we will both stand a very good chance of surviving it. We are not overweight, and are active and fit, despite our advancing years. Here’s hoping, anyway!

          60

        • #
          sophocles

          Vit C is water soluble and is flushed out through the kidneys — so you know where it goes. At best, any vit C will stick around most of the day, but don’t rely on it.

          Vit D is fat soluble but brain, lungs, liver and kidneys all make what vit-d they need from the what is circulatiing in your blood supply.

          If you supplement, you should also measure — I recommend having a vit-d test every six months. That will tell you ‘where you are.’ My last vit-d test showed I was at 160 nmol/L — right in the centre of the ideal range.
          Now we are in the second half of the first month of the Sickness Season, I am going to have another one.

          Vit-d Deficiency at this time of the year — the Sickness Season — is not healthy. At least Aus fortifies dairy products (milk and yoghurts that I know of) with some vit-d 3. NZ doesn’t. Mention Vitamin D to our Health Department and it throws a hissy fit and runs around shrieking about the dangers of hypervitaminosis D, carefully ignoring how much more dangerous hypovitaminosis D is. (I exaggerate for effect.)

          Hypervitaminoses D doesn’t kill unless you are trying to take a million IU per day. That happened in the early 1940s (c. 20 deaths, IIRC) but it still has the NZ Health Dept gibbering. Those sorts of quantities are definitely not recommended! So don’t do it.

          Make no mistake: it’s hypovitgaminosis D (Deficiency and Extreme Deficiency) which kills, from ARTIs (Acute Respiratory Tract Infections) mostly.

          I did some light digging a couple of weeks ago and discovered that about 51% of New Zealanders are Deficient or worse about this time of the year. That explains the success of the annual Sickness Season. We’ve had no new deaths from this outbreak yet, but about 12 of the deaths attributed to Covid in April probably need not have happened.

          The decision about when the current Alert Level Three (or aka the lockdown you have when it’s not a lockdown) is not until Monday. The population is getting restive — protesters are out in tiny numbers protesting the “lockdown” … they’re just so scary.

          30

      • #

        The recommended daily requirement here is 800iu and what I have are 1000iu. If not for all the smoke drifting in from California, I’d be getting some Sun too.

        52

      • #
        William Astley

        Co2isnotevil,

        I agree with Hanrahan’s comment.

        Multivitamins have 600 UI of Vit. D.

        We are nonchalance about Vit. D because we do not understand what it does in our body and the consequence of Vit D deficiency.

        Did you ever hear that 9 minutes a day of sun is sufficient to getting sufficient Vit. D which is assumed to 26 ng/ml? 26 ng/ml is the level that just stops the development of rickets. Where did that urban legend come from? See below.

        Each of our cells has a copy of our DNA in it.

        Vit. D is required to enable each of our cell types to access its copy of the our DNA to construct chemical module which produce specialized bioactive chemical to protect that type of cells.

        Such as lung cells from getting attacked by viruses. Throat cells from getting attacked by viruses. Nerve cells from getting attacked from viruses.

        Prostate cells from getting cancer. (The chemical produced is not known by the we have found the gene that is activated to produce the specialized chemical that stops inflammation.)

        …. that evolution developed to protect our body, from cancer, from heart attacks, from getting what is called chronic diseases such a type 2 diabetes which causes a host of long-term health issues, such as limb amputation, and blindness.

        As the type 2 diabetes ‘disease’ (deficiencies that are not addressed should not be called a disease. In the engineering world, deaths that are caused by unaddressed deficiency is murder or criminal negligence causing deaths) which is primarily caused by Vit. D deficiency progresses. to expensive and painful dialysis which cause wide spread organ damage and then death.

        The US general population has an average Vit. D blood serum level of 26 ng/ml.

        Increasing the US general population average Vit D level to greater than 40 ng/ml would reduce all cancer incidences, in the US by 65% based on actual data. Very simple. Measure the active form of Vit D in the blood and gather data on patient incidence of cancer.

        Increasing the Vit. D level from 22 ng/ml average (US black as a group are around 22 ng/ml average) to greater than 41 ng/ml reduces type 2 diabetes by 50%. Type 2 diabetes is the most expensive line item cost in the US medical system.

        600,000 people die in the US from cancer. So, say a reduction in that death rate would save the cost to treat 300,000 people a year for cancer and the pain and suffering for those people.

        https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27049526/

        Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations ≥40 ng/ml Are Associated with >65% Lower Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Randomized Trial and Prospective Cohort Study

        Incidence rate of type 2 diabetes is >50% lower in GrassrootsHealth cohort with median serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D of 41 ng/ml than in NHANES cohort with median of 22 ng/ml

        2 diabetes by more than 50% and reduce the incidence of common cancers by 60%.

        https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076015300091?via%3Dihub

        Incidence rate of type 2 diabetes is >50% lower in Grassroots Health cohort with median serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D of 41 ng/ml than in NHANES cohort with median of 22 ng/ml

        https://www.grassrootshealth.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/McDonnell-2018-breast-cancer-GRH.pdf

        Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations 40 ng/ml Are Associated with >65% Lower Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Randomized Trial and Prospective Cohort Study

        This is an interesting study below, that was published in 2018. What about dark skin people? 26 ng/ml? Optimum is above 60 ng/ml. Why did the ‘researcher’ not read the peer reviewed papers published years before that I quoted above.

        Meeting Vitamin D Requirements in White Caucasians at UK Latitudes: Providing a Choice

        Why did the authors of this Vit D study set the Vit D level so low? Why not use Vit D supplements? What is the problem with taking a pill to correct a deficiency?

        Come on. This is not science… this is a fake study that was produced to enable the UK to not recommend Vit D supplements for the entire population.

        https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29673142/

        Meeting Vitamin D Requirements in White Caucasians at UK Latitudes: Providing a Choice

        Results show that, in specified conditions, white Caucasians across the UK need nine minutes of daily sunlight at lunchtime from March to September for 25(OH)D levels to remain & age; 25 nmol/L throughout the winter.

        This assumes forearms and lower legs are exposed June-August, while in the remaining, cooler months only hands and face need be exposed. Exposing only the hands and face throughout the summer does not meet requirements

        30

        • #
          Hanrahan

          25 nmol/L throughout the winter.

          Should that be ng/ml or mmol/l.

          Using the latter measurement 60 is the low end of good and 100 the high end.

          Note: I am not a researcher, just a reader.

          00

          • #
            sophocles

            Hanrahan:
            There are two standards in effect for measuring serum concentrations (how much of something you have in your blood).
            It helps if you know the units and what they mean. Then it becomes a mere case of getting used to them.
            They are:
            nanograms per millilitre ( ng/ml – usual North American measurement)
            nanomoles per litre ( nmol/L – usual UK / NZ and others measurement)

            They are easily converted between: nmol/L = ng/ml x 2.5
            ng/ml = nmol/L divided by 2.5

            The so-called normal value = 50ng/ml or = 125nmol/L
            This is what someone who worked outside all day would have had as a normal vitamin d blood level.

            Find out what standard your country of residence uses and stay with it. But don’t forget the conversion to and from the other standard and try and get used to what they are.

            Ideal range: 125 – 200 nmol/L or 50 – 80 ng/ml

            Insufficient: < 75nmol/L or < 30ng/ml

            Deficient: < 50 nmol/L or < 20 ng/ml

            Seriously Deficient: < 25 nmol/L or < 10ng/ml

            … a handy reference & conversion table.

            Hope this helps.

            20

          • #
            William Astley

            Hanrahan,

            The ‘researchers’ use two different Vit. D units to confuse the public. Can you guys see the scam?

            Deficiency is not a Vit. D level that is less than 20 ng/mL, less than 50 nmol/L

            Deficient is a Vit D level that is less than 60 ng/mL, less than 150 nmol/L

            The Optimum Vit D level to reduce cancer by 80% is a blood serum level that is greater than 60 ng/ml, greater 150 nmol/L

            Vit. D enables our cells to access the DNA to build chemical modules on our cells to protect us from virus attacks. The percentage of our cells that get the chemical modules is directly correlated with the activated Vit D in our blood serum.

            That explains why regardless of sex or age, those people have Vit. D levels less than 20 ng/ml have a 19 times chance of dying from covid than those who have a Vit D level greater than 30 ng/ml.

            82% of the US blacks, 68% of the US Hispanics, and 42% of the US general population have Vit D levels less than 20 ng/ml which is very deficient.

            Obese and diabetic people also have Vit D levels that are less than 20 ng/ml.

            It would take 4000 UI/day of Vit D to raise the US population’s Vit D level above 30 ng/ml.

            https://emerginnova.com/patterns-of-covid19-mortality-and-vitamin-d-an-indonesian-study/

            Patterns of COVID-19 Mortality and Vitamin D: An Indonesian Study

            Vitamin D Insufficient Patients 12.55 times more likely to die, blood serum 25(OH)D level from 21 to 29 ng/ml

            Vitamin D Deficient Patients 19.12 times more likely to die, Vitamin D blood serum level less than 20 ng/ml

            Vitamin D ‘normal’ for this study is 25(0H)D above 30 ng/ml.

            For Vitamin D status, cases were classified based on their serum 25(OH)D levels:

            (1) normal – serum 25(OH)D of greater than 30 ng/ml,

            (2) insufficient – serum 25(OH)D from 21 to 29 ng/ml, and

            (3) deficient – serum 25(OH)D of less than 20 ng/ml.

            This table provides the a list 0 to 100 ng/ml which is 0 to 250 nmol/L

            ng/ml nmol/L
            100 250
            90 225
            80 200
            70 175
            60 150
            50 125
            40 100
            30 75
            20 50
            10 25
            0 0

            Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults.
            https://tahomaclinic.com/Private/Articles4/WellMan/Forrest%202011%20-%20Prevalence%20and%20correlates%20of%20vitamin%20D%20deficiency%20in%20US%20adults.pdf

            10

        • #

          William Astley
          Great information there. Thanks.

          00

          • #
            William Astley

            You are welcome. It is astonishing that the US population average Vit. D is 26 ng/ml. Optimum is above 60 ng/ml.

            This is a link to a great lecture from the lead Vit. D researcher in the world, Bruce Hollis. In the lecture Hollis provides a summary of the Vit D research, in addition to explaining how Vit. D is believed to prevent and stop the progression of prostate cancer.

            In the prostate cancer study half of the study group received Vit. D supplements of 4000 UI/day. These men were all going to have their prostates removed so the removed prostate were cut and examined. There was shrinkage of the prostate tumor in those who received the 4000 UI/day and chemical changes.

            Through DNA analysis of the prostate cells, in those who received the VIt D supplements of 4000 UI/day, it was found the gene GDF‐15 had been activated.

            The gene GDF-15 is known to enable our cells to produce an anti-inflammatory chemical which stop inflammation. Inflammation is the primary way cancer cells trick the body to produce blood vessels to provide blood to the tumor. Inflammation also cause a host of internal diseases such as heart ‘disease’.

            Our prostate cells require Vit. D to access the gene GDF-15.

            The genes the Vit D gives our cells access to are the blue prints which enable our celsl to build chemical modules. In this case the prostate cells when there is sufficient Vit. built a chemical module/factory that produces the bioactive anti-flammatory chemical right in our prostate gland. It is the perfect system, to protect our body against cancer, diabetes, viruses and so on, except it requires a Vit D level of greater than 60 ng/ml to provide the majority of our prostate cells with the anti-inflammatory chemical. When Vit D levels are low only a portion of the prostate cells get the chemical modules necessary to produce the anti-inflammatory chemical.

            We know that because the woman’s study found that continued to be a reduction in breast cancer incidence as Vit D levels were raised and the optimum point has a Vit. D level of greater than 60 ng/ml or equivalently in EU units, greater than 150 nmol/mL…

            ..Which reduced the incidence of breast cancer by 80%.

            Finally, Missing link between vitamin D prostate cancer

            https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141022164052.htm

            https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pros.22911

            The US FDA treated Vit. D supplements exactly like a new cancer drug to slow down the Vit. D research.

            As Hollis, notes in the lecture, there has been absolutely zero side effects for Vitamin D supplements up to 10,000 UI/day, document.

            Hollis along with a group of Vit. D researchers have recommended that the US population take 5000 UI/day.

            Hollis is on a US board that reviews all documented cases of side effects of taking excess Vitamin D.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrU1yrmNIqc

            Results of a Prostate Cancer/Vitamin D Trial: Effectiveness Safety Recommendations

            Bruce H Hollis

            10

        • #

          William,

          The recommended daily amount is not one value, but is a range from 400-800iu.

          https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-vitamin-d-to-take

          The packaging on your multi-vitamin must assume 400 and provide 600, while mine assumes 800 and provides 1000. It’s a marketing ploy to make 150% of 400 seems like more than 120% of 800.

          00

          • #
            sophocles

            The recommended daily amount is not one value, but is a range from 400-800iu.

            … so low it’s useless. Aim for 10,000 IU per day — there’s no need to go over that because your immune system will take on Covid viruses like an Abrams takes on T80s.

            You won’t need a ‘flu shot, either.

            00

      • #
        William Astley

        Co2isnotevil,

        I agree with Hanrahan’s comment.

        Multivitamins have 600 UI of Vit. D.

        We are nonchalance about Vit. D because we do not understand what it does in our body and the consequence of Vit D deficiency.

        Did you ever hear that 9 minutes a day of sun is sufficient to getting sufficient Vit. D which is assumed to 26 ng/ml? 26 ng/ml is the level that just stops the development of rickets. Where did that urban legend come from? See below.

        Each of our cells has a copy of our DNA in it.

        Vit. D is required to enable each of our cell types to access its copy of the our DNA to construct chemical module which produce specialized bioactive chemical to protect that type of cells.

        Such as lung cells from getting attacked by viruses. Throat cells from getting attacked by viruses. Nerve cells from getting attacked from viruses.

        Prostate cells from getting cancer. (The chemical produced is not known by the we have found the gene that is activated to produce the specialized chemical that stops inflammation.)

        …. that evolution developed to protect our body, from cancer, from heart attacks, from getting what is called chronic diseases such a type 2 diabetes which causes a host of long-term health issues, such as limb amputation, and blindness.

        As the type 2 diabetes ‘disease’ (deficiencies that are not addressed should not be called a disease. In the engineering world, deaths that are caused by unaddressed deficiency is murder or criminal negligence causing deaths) which is primarily caused by Vit. D deficiency progresses. to expensive and painful dialysis which cause wide spread organ damage and then death.

        The US general population has an average Vit. D blood serum level of 26 ng/ml.

        Increasing the US general population average Vit D level to greater than 40 ng/ml would reduce all cancer incidences, in the US by 65% based on actual data. Very simple. Measure the active form of Vit D in the blood and gather data on patient incidence of cancer.

        Increasing the Vit. D level from 22 ng/ml average (US black as a group are around 22 ng/ml average) to greater than 41 ng/ml reduces type 2 diabetes by 50%. Type 2 diabetes is the most expensive line item cost in the US medical system.

        600,000 people die in the US from cancer. So, say a reduction in that death rate would save the cost to treat 300,000 people a year for cancer and the pain and suffering for those people.

        https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27049526/

        Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations ≥40 ng/ml Are Associated with >65% Lower Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Randomized Trial and Prospective Cohort Study

        Incidence rate of type 2 diabetes is >50% lower in GrassrootsHealth cohort with median serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D of 41 ng/ml than in NHANES cohort with median of 22 ng/ml

        2 diabetes by more than 50% and reduce the incidence of common cancers by 60%.

        https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076015300091?via%3Dihub

        Incidence rate of type 2 diabetes is >50% lower in Grassroots Health cohort with median serum 25–hydroxyvitamin D of 41 ng/ml than in NHANES cohort with median of 22 ng/ml

        https://www.grassrootshealth.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/McDonnell-2018-breast-cancer-GRH.pdf

        Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations 40 ng/ml Are Associated with >65% Lower Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Randomized Trial and Prospective Cohort Study

        This is an interesting study below, that was published in 2018. What about dark skin people? 26 ng/ml? Optimum is above 60 ng/ml. Why did the ‘researcher’ not read the peer reviewed papers published years before that I quoted above?

        Meeting Vitamin D Requirements in White Caucasians at UK Latitudes: Providing a Choice

        Why did the authors of this Vit D study set the Vit D level so low? Why not use Vit D supplements? What is the problem with taking a pill to correct a deficiency?

        Come on. This is not science… this is a fake study that was produced to enable the UK to not recommend Vit D supplements for the entire population.

        https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29673142/

        Meeting Vitamin D Requirements in White Caucasians at UK Latitudes: Providing a Choice

        Results show that, in specified conditions, white Caucasians across the UK need nine minutes of daily sunlight at lunchtime from March to September for 25(OH)D levels to remain & age; 25 nmol/L throughout the winter.

        This assumes forearms and lower legs are exposed June-August, while in the remaining, cooler months only hands and face need be exposed. Exposing only the hands and face throughout the summer does not meet requirements

        10

      • #
        mwhite

        Vitamin D3 is made inside living skin cells UVB radiation.

        You CAN shower after sunbathing, you will not was it off.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP81YMvs4yI

        “The D-Lightful Vitamin D for Health by Michael F. Holick”

        Dr Holick is world expert in everything Vitamin D.

        30

  • #
    Peter Fitzroy

    Is Vitamin D deficit a lifestyle problem?
    Should the treatment be a lifestyle change?
    After all, those ancients with white skin did not have access to the pill form of Vitamin D

    36

    • #
      Plain Jane

      No, those ancients did not have a vitamin D pill, but they died young of rickets, got selected heavily for white skin, became malnourished as they got older from rotten teeth, died of pneumonia often, etc etc and often had a life that was often shorter than most people today. My dad remembers many kids with rickets in Newcastle NSW in the 30’s and 40’s. “Health Holiday Farms” were a thing in the ’60s and ’70s where people hung around together with no clothes on for the health benefits, that most people thought was whacky at the time, but they were probably right.

      260

      • #
        Slithers

        Rickets is a calcium deficiency disorder which is a Vitamin D influenced condition.
        Quite a lot of food stuffs give a supply of Vitamin D, while only a few types of food give Vitamin D3!
        Respiratory disorders respond to Vitamin D3 while Vitamin D wont help much’
        That said the Vitamin D group are vital to general health.

        90

    • #
      Plain Jane

      Thanks to the government “slip,slop, slap” campaign that has been going a few decades, rickets I have heard is becoming a thing again with kids in our modern society. Another item that I have noted that has added to my view that if the government gives advice, generally the opposite is more likely to be proved to be true in the long run.

      280

      • #
        sophocles

        … bullseye, PJ.

        An Australian doctor accused most of your dermatologists of having Vit-d levels barely above the level of osteomalacia. I nearly fell off my chair laughing.

        (Osteomalacia is adult rickets.)

        Yet your government does have the sense to have dairy products — milk and yoghurt — fortified with vit-d 3.
        My country’s health department has hissy fits if anyone mentions doing it in NZ yet they signed the agreement with Australia. Our Health Departments — Aus and NZ — are supposed to be in step here, but Aus is the only one in step. So Peter doesn’t have to worry: his government ensures he gets enough to keep him alive by `mandating’ its addition to his milk.

        20

    • #
      Slithers

      Vitamin D3, K2 and Zinc, are the way to go.
      Do not confuse Vitamin D with D3 they are the same but not the same.
      If you get your Vitamin D levels checked the result should give you the relevant levels of the different types of Vitamin D!
      I take D3 and K2 supplements have done for years, I never catch cold, have not had the flu this century.

      140

  • #
    TedL

    This is an interesting analysis that dovetails nicely with a recent post on Dr. Malcolm Kendrick’s blog. Kendrick is a Scottish GP. The post uses epidemiological information to suggest that the incidence and severity of Covid19 is related to “herd” levels of Vitamin D. It suggests that Vitamin D is the reason that the initial outbreak of the coronavirus was so much more serious in New York than in New Zealand. https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2020/07/09/here-is-a-coronavirus-puzzle-for-you-to-ponder-a-guest-article/

    90

    • #
      Hanrahan

      Very informative.

      00

    • #
      sophocles

      TedL:

      the initial outbreak of The Bug in Australia/New Zealand was in March — the end of the summer/early autumn — when the vitamin D levels were at their highest. It was the Sickness Season (late to end of winter and still dark) in the Northern Hemisphere when the Northern nation’s vitamin D levels were at their lowest.
      Remember: the two hemispheres are six months out of step.

      10

  • #

    Thank you for this post Jo. I know you have mentioned it before and I have done nothing but you’ve given me another prod and being in the so called vulnerable category, i will give it priority.
    Interestingly, just about everything about our life styles is working against getting plenty of sunshine. Living in high-rise apartments with no lawns to mow, working from home, shopping online and now extended lockdowns etc. so your post is timely.
    Thanks again.

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    • #
      TedM

      And possibly the “There is no such thing as a healthy tan” fallacy/obsession?

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    • #
      John F. Hultquist

      Pete,
      This doesn’t cost much, ask a doctor, and get on with it!

      When Panic2020 started and the idea of Vitamin D deficiency became a subject I interacted with our clinic and consulted with our Physician Assistant. A vit D test is not routine (I’m in the left coast State of Washington) so I’ve no record on this.
      However, I cover up when outside, normally this includes a “bucket hat” and gloves. Thus, little to no sun exposure. So I expected I would need a supplement.
      I started taking a 2000 I.U. pill and a multi-thingy pill, with 400 units, and among other stuff, Zink. The medical team thought this was okay, but suggested getting tested before going higher. I respect her advice, so that’s how it stands. I may ask for the test when our annual visit comes-round.
      I have been getting the annual flu shot for many years.

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    • #
      sophocles

      Aussie Pete: You will find all the information you could need at https://vitamindwiki.com. Enjoy your reading.

      John: you might not even need the flu shot if you raise your intake of vit-d to 8000 – 10000 IU. pd
      Sunshine exposure around the middle of the day creates vit – d (if you aren’t too far north) and nitrogen oxides, which are very good for the cardiac system.

      10

      • #
        sophocles

        Being tested twice a year is VG idea.

        10

      • #
        Hanrahan

        Good that you mention nitric oxides from sun exposure. I have read one person’s opinion that it is as beneficial as the D3.

        10

      • #
        John F. Hultquist

        I’m at 47°N Lat., and I do not like direct sun at all.

        About Vit D: How much is too much.
        If you take too much, it can cause your blood to retain calcium and lead to a health condition known as hypercalcemia — or excessive levels of calcium in your blood, which can lead to frequent urination.
        My bold.
        I expect to get tested in the near future.

        10

        • #
          sophocles

          John:
          How much is too much? Possibly about 50,000 IU per day would be a top limit, and 1,000,000 IU per day quickly proved fatal (1942).

          I use 8000 IU D 3 per day at present and feel good. I also use vit-K2 to keep the calcium in it’s place. DRD (Daily Recommended Dose) for K2 = 90mcg/day for adult females and 120mcg/day for adult males. Take D3 and K2 several hours apart because D 3 inhibits the body’s take up of K2 to c. 60% if taken together. (that’s micrograms )

          20

          • #
            Environment Skeptic

            K2 is not often mentioned so even perhaps K1 is a clue as to why K2 is not often mentioned…all i can say as a K2 devotee, is that K2 does seem to negligate the Co2 and so it is as though there is more O2 when K2 is taken (in my case took a couple of weeks to notice) . K2 is interesting, particularly Natto is supposed to contain more k2 than any other food…loaded with bacillus subtilis,…also…K2 and bacillus subtilis is associated with the first antibiotic “Bacitracin – Wikipedia”… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacitracin Wow!

            00

  • #
    David Maddison

    For decades the medical profession has been saying that dietary supplements are useless unless you are malnourished but that is not really true. Many people on an adequate diet can have deficiencies, and in any case vit D, which is really a hormone, is mostly not of dietary origin. Many people susceptible to C-19 are also deficient in zinc which confers some anti-viral protection and they should also take zinc.

    There is ample evidence suggesting that zinc depletion, also prevalent in high–income nations, compromises immune functions. Notably, major risk groups for COVID–19, the elderly, men more than women, obese individuals and patients with diabetes are all at risk of zinc deficiency. Moreover, various widely used antihypertensive drugs and statin therapy have been reported to negatively influence zinc status. As zinc depletion impairs antiviral immunity, it is hypothesised to increase susceptibility for COVID–19.

    https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2020/06/11/bmjnph-2020-000095

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    • #
      Hanrahan

      I recommend lazing around the pool [sunlight = D3], drinking gin [relaxant] and tonic [quinine] BBQing steak [zinc].

      320

      • #
        GD

        Mate, you’ve nailed the Covid-19 preventative. Pity I don’t have a pool anymore, although being locked-down in Daniel Andrew’s gulag, with the weather so cold, a pool-side barbecue is out of the question.

        I will though take you up on the gin [relaxant] and tonic [quinine].

        50

        • #
          Annie

          ‘It’s raining ‘CatsnDogs’ outside atm. We are pretty well water-logged; surface water that can’t drain any more and it’s cold (4C as at an hour ago). Pink Gin has gone down well but I don’t fancy splashing around outside atm in Victoriastan. Will do a few vegs shortly, to enjoy with our slow-roasted shoulder of lamb. Acquired D3 and Zn in supplement form!

          50

    • #
      Yonniestone

      Around three months ago I started doing the Carnivore Diet first for weight loss and second for the upcoming winter vit D deficiency, so far I’ve lost 15kg and only had one mild flu a month ago that lasted 3 days, this is all with no supplements and breaking some rules with coffee and occasional wine.

      There has been no lack of energy or feeling again hungry soon after eating, you also find yourself drinking more water which 2 litres a day is recommended, next week I’m doing the stricter version with supplements and exercise to see the results.

      70

      • #
        GD

        That’s great, Yonniestone. I did a low-carb diet a few years ago. It worked a charm. I ate only meat, fish, and dairy, along with low-carb veggies like capsicum, onions, and mushrooms. And a copious amount of wine.

        I lost twenty kilos.

        Since then I’ve put it all back on. It started with party pies at social gatherings, then I included chips in my regular grocery order.

        I’m now trying to turn it around, but with the lockdown and the cold winter, it’s hard to forgo the fried chips and comfort food.

        50

        • #
          Yonniestone

          GD sounds like you did a Keto diet which is close to a Carnivore one, this is a good site Carnivorestyle to get reacquainted with a high protein diet, consider also that you can trade your “comfort foods” with plenty of bacon, eggs, pork etc that will keep you fuller for longer, you know it works so just take the plunge and have a go, I know you can do it.

          40

          • #
            PeterPetrum

            Yes, Yonnie, as I have said above, my wife and I went Keto about two years ago. I lost about 8 Kilos and am now steady on about 70 Kilos. I never feel hungry, as I never get an insulin spike, as we have no sugar and few pure carbs in our diet. I have a mile of energy and, as a bonus, the Vit D we are taking is being released into our blood stream as the fat is broken down into energy giving ketones. Win, win!

            20

    • #
      Annie

      Thankyou for that link David M. Very interesting!

      50

    • #

      David M and Jo,
      Yes about Zn deficiency but there is a limit to the amount of sullplements. I just found the following on the net when looking at interactions.
      “Immunosuppressant medications — Since zinc may make the immune system stronger, it should not be taken with corticosteroids (such a prednisone), cyclosporine, or other medications intended to suppress the immune system.”
      I take prednisone for polymyalgia (something like arthritis). A couple of months ago I found a bottle of Zn supplement tablets which I used to take along with magnesium tabs. I took one tablet for a few days then my polymyalgia flaired up (numbness, cramps, pain in joints). I stopped the zinc and things went back to normal after a few days.
      I suggest what ever you take do it with a good medical doctor who prescribes blood tests for inflammations,white-red bloodcell content, deficiencies etc to look at health. My GP does not like pharmaceutical drugs and I am in the process of winding down the prednisone to hopefully zero dose. He is also not adverse to organic alternative supplements which I once took for low iron when the ordinary supplements did not work. The human body is very complex.

      40

      • #
        Ljh

        In an inflammatory state cytokines occupy the cells corticosteroid receptors, suppressing response to endogenous ccs’s. The highly success MATH+ protocol for sepsis uses high dose vitC and thiamine to free up the receptors to allow relatively low strength hydrocortisone to be effective rather than blasting the body with superstrength dexamethazone. I wonder if milder inflammatory conditions like polymyalgia would respond similarly. The problem with longterm corticosteroid treatment is that suppresses the body ‘s ability to respond to stress and so should bet tapered carefully. Definitely worth trying.

        10

  • #
    David Maddison

    Forced lockdowns also cause people to become even more Vit D deficient.

    161

    • #
      JS

      I hope this causes Jo to join the dots and rethink her covid doom mongering.

      77

      • #

        Think JS. People can take Vitamin D capsules.

        82

      • #

        JS. Have you joined some wrong dots? I know i did. Mistakenly thought climate skeptics might be more skeptical of dreams like herd immunity being a cure all. It is fairly obvious that as the seasonal UV in the Southern hemisphere went down that countries like Peru and Chile have risen to the top of the charts when sorted by total cases per million. Sweden is down at number 27 at the link below as i type. Less cases per million there than South Africa, Bolivia and Brazil yet the virus got into some of these places later. Australia and New Zealand both had a resurgence while the solar UV was low. Now that the northern hemisphere summer solstice maximum has long past the virus daily death count has begun to grow again in countries that already had a huge death toll like Spain, Italy and Belgium. If this does not make it obvious that the seasonal change has made at least some of the change that “Herd immunity” has been given the credit for then seeing that vitamin D levels are something that can prevent some otherwise foreseeable doom is perhaps a dot too far.

        61

        • #
        • #
          Bulldust

          Remember that 30-40% (if I recall correctly) of people are likely resistent to CCP virus before being exposed, because of earlier encounters with similar corona viruses. A test was done of blood samples taken between 2015 and 2018, i.e. pre-CCP virus, and they showed T cells which would recognise the new virus. That may put us half way to herd immunity before the first infection.

          70

        • #
          JS

          The death toll is not growing in Europe. “Cases” are growing because everyone is testing more.
          Peru had and still has the harshest lockdown in the world. Doesn’t seem to have done it much good. Perhaps some preventatives like a bit of sunshine or failing that some vit d capsules, along with HCQ treatments for the most vulnerable would have been a better course of action.
          For a disease that 99.9% of people survive, and of those most don’t even realise they’ve had it unless they’ve had a dodgy test so they can be added to the daily scare tally of cases, I don’t think herd immunity is a dream, I think it’s the only logical way forward. We can’t hide forever, afraid of our own shadows.
          Far more people are going to die (already have died according to a US report on heart attacks I saw yesterday) because of lockdowns and the ensuing economic collapses.

          61

          • #

            JS
            “The death toll is not growing in Europe.” Yes it is. An exponential increase with a long period doubling can appear very slow and small at first.
            7 day moving average France Aug 21 = 14 up from 10 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Spain Aug 21 = 32 up from 2 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Belgium Aug 21 = 8 up from 4 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Romania Aug 21 = 42 up from 16 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Poland Aug 21 = 11 up from 8 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Germany Aug 21 = 6 up from 4 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Turkey Aug 21 = 21 up from 16 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Greece Aug 21 = 2 up from 1 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Luxembourg Aug 21 = 1 up from 0 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Croatia Aug 21 = 1 up from 0 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Hungary Aug 21 = 1 up from 0 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Lithuania Aug 21 = 1 up from 0 on July 31.
            7 day moving average Netherlands Aug 21 = 4 up from 1 on July 31.
            Obvious from the other data that Portugal, Italy, Switzerland many small others are soon to follow with few exceptions. Sweden will take longer because of the slow way the data is handled there.
            https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

            21

        • #
          EternalOptimist

          Sliggy, herd immunity is not a cure all.
          it’s a cure most.

          if you go overboard and start implementing hard borders, and hard lockdowns, you will end up isolating till all infectious diseases are eliminated, not just covid 19.
          The reason I say this is that for a couple of days this week, England has had zero covid deaths. More people are dying from flu and ball point pen injuries.
          Yet the lockdowns continue.
          If you go overboard for covid, why not flu ? (which is killing more and is transmitted in a similar way)

          20

          • #

            Thanks EternalOptimist for a question that does have more than one answer but lets start with the mythical alternative. For herd immunity to work according to what i guess is the theory you adhere to it needs to be above a % threshold of population. Please correct me if that is not what you are thinking.
            If you read the following text in Jo’s post “Right now, the Northern Hemisphere has higher levels of Vitamin D than most months which is quite likely reducing the death rates.” or This comment from William Astley (Click here) or My comment (Click here), then you may see one of the many reasons why that percentage will not remain constant.
            Looking just at vitamin D levels you would expect an annual change in the immunity or at least the mildness / severity of the infection. Delayed from that an annual change in infection rate and delayed from that an annual change in death rate. Now if 2020 proceeds like 1918 and covid 19 behaves like that normal flu did then the main wave has not started yet and won’t for at least another month in the northern hemisphere. Those places that do not address vitamin D deficiencies in time might find that the herd immumunity levels collapse away to have achieved nothing but seed sowing for the main crop. A result more like an ideal explosive fuel air mix or critical mass.

            00

        • #
          Ljh

          Southern Hemisphere populations were made doubly vulnerable by the early lockdown preventing people from enjoying late summer and winter sunshine. South African authorities imposed the double idiocy of lallowing exercise from6-9am only which they called “easing”. My valley gets sum after 9.30 in. Winter! They should have been chasing peoutside at noon and opened all the parks and beaches and allowed sitting!

          20

      • #
        Eddie

        Whatever you’re on JS. Can I have some of it?

        11

  • #
    PeterS

    There is much evidence about this and other effective, simple and basic approaches to tackle the current virus yet the governments and so called health experts are turning a blind eye to them and instead are focused on pushing onto the public a vaccine ASAP. I smell a rat.

    230

    • #
      TedM

      I see incredible arrogance at the top of the medical tree. A bit like the top of the climate tree. A superb ability to believe that numerous studies that are contrary to their preconceived position, do not actually exist. Numerous people can die or suffer life changing consequences, but that doesn’t seem to worry them one iota.

      300

      • #
        OriginalSteve

        The old saying medicine advances one funeral at a time seems to hold true.

        Its a bit like you cant criticize the current corona management process…..too much egg on face to reverse it. But its now heavily political but no one will admit it.

        170

        • #

          The rat you smell is big broad and systemic.

          Student doctors have a huge burden of information to learn, and an ocean of medical papers are published each year. As far as I can tell Docs don’t appear to get a lot of nutritional biochemistry in Med School, and get little support after graduation. There are risks in treating patients outside the “norm” and they system is fertilized with Pharmaceuticals from end to end.

          The public sector of universities should be researching unpatentable cheap solutions like Vitamin D, Ivermectin, HCQ, Melatonin, etc etc etc etc.

          But the public sector — at least in Australia — no longer exists. We have now just a private-public oligopoly that is neither public nor private. It is the worst of both worlds.

          231

          • #
            PeterS

            Our doctors and scientists have been telling us for years that butter was no good for our health and that we should use margarine. Now we know they were wrong and in fact margarine is bad and butter if fine, in moderation. When they get something as simple as that totally wrong, what hope is there they would get something more complicated right? I’d say near zero at best.

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          • #
            sophocles

            and ‘the Rat’ is called Gates …

            Alternative treatments will be ignored until the WHO/Gates sanctioned vaccine is ready to go.
            Then we are lined up and given our RFID tag … It won’t matter if the vaccine doesn’t work for long.

            See Lee Merritt’s soliloquy on You Tube: SARS-CoV2 and the Rise of Medical Technocracy.
            Verrry interesting.

            11

  • #
    JohnM

    Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem with female refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan etc who now live in Scandinavia.

    80

    • #

      I assume in the men too. I don’t know, but suspect the high RR for women could be partly due to them starting with a lower risk than men and suffering a bigger change in risk.

      There are 220,000 people in Sweden who were born in Africa (especially Somalia) and they probably have the highest risk of all.

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      • #
        PeterPetrum

        The thing that might affect refugee women more than men, Jo, is that many of the women are covered from head to toe while the men cavort around in shorts and T-Shirts!

        101

        • #
          sophocles

          You’ve got it PP. Dress. Wholly enveloping clothing so not much skin is exposed to the sun. It’s hard to make vit-d when the sun is missing …

          00

    • #
      Hanrahan

      How could it be otherwise dressed as they are?

      Two other possible factors are vegetarianism [quite likely low on D3 and Zn] and high statin use, thinking US and UK here. I have never heard either mentioned, good or bad.

      10

      • #
        sophocles

        D 3 is made from cholesterol + UVB on the skin. High cholesterol levels tend to accompany high vit d levels (or vice versa.) So it’s not vegetarianism per se, but more likely lack of exposure of skin to sun around midday.
        It’s more likely to be cultural.

        00

  • #
    Zigmaster

    What justification do governments who are experiencing high levels of Covid deaths have for not allowing or indeed recommending simple safe solutions such as hydroxychloroquin,ivermectin or Vitamin D. What have they got to lose?
    It doesn’t make sense unless the governments are using these opportunities to strengthen their political position, eg Northern Territory and Queensland elections,,opposition are happy to create mayhem eg the Democrats in the US or finally governments are conspiring with Big Pharma to cash in on the creation of new expensive drugs or vaccinations.
    When one looks at who makes decisions to approve these treatments there is a symbiotic relationship between Big Pharma and these bureaucrats, their survival relies on each other.
    The only conclusion I can make for the refusal to allow these cheap solutions is that there is at some level corrupt behaviour.
    I actually think when a review of this Covid pandemic is undertaken that this will be the biggest scandal of the whole episode.

    340

    • #
      Plain Jane

      Well said Zigmaster, you have put it quite mildly. I think if the powers that be dont change radically, who is going to be allowed to do a review that matters? There are quite a lot of people now that see just how corrupt things are, and I am surprised just how blatant the worldwide supression of treatment for covid and viruses is. But I think we, the people, have as much power and influence over these affairs as the bloke that stood in front of the tank in Tienanmin square. I cannot fathom why in Australia the officials have banned chloroquine. It is not like we are having an election to get Donald Trump out. Why our medical establishment has got Orange Man Bad syndrome is hardly believable. I was really horrified, and confirmed in my corruption belief, when I found both USA and Australia had taken famotidine off the market just BEFORE the pandemic got loose, for similar dodgy reasons as they have now taken chlorquine off the market. “They” are trying to kill us. “They’ dont care what our opinions are.

      270

      • #
        OriginalSteve

        Why ban HCQ?

        This is the high level global game:

        The Establishment are globalists.

        Key point == Vaccines function as a society behaviour control grid.
        E.g. No vaccine, no school etc for your kid ir money from govt.

        Globalists want a vaccine only solution.

        Its all about maintaining a control grid over society.

        Until people realize what the game is, you cant see it. Now you know what it is, tell others.

        220

        • #

          Say, Original Steve,
          my thoughts exactly,
          ref Agenda 21 agenda,
          a view down the
          rabbit hole –
          ‘Keep the
          populace
          alarmed ‘n
          clamouring,’
          and hence
          under con-
          trol.

          50

        • #
          sophocles

          It seems to be all about getting an RFID tag into your body.

          See comment at #7.1.1.1.2 It’s got to come from an approved (by WHO/Gates) vaccine.

          11

    • #
      Serp

      Our governments’ paralysis in adapting to new information is easily enough explained by their supine acceptance of WHO advice notwithstanding it’s still under control of the Chinese shill Tedros whose duplicity is a matter of record dating back to January.

      Here in Victoria we’ve over three weeks remaining of solitary confinement at the behest of our dismal premier, a creature too vain to accept ADF support as that might suggest he’s not in charge. His core political principle appears to be that there’s nothing he cannot brazen out; this is not a person likely to be “recommending simple safe solutions”.

      I’m going to have to stop saying “something worse could have happened” when told of any given catastrophe as I’m yet to be convinced that our cackhanded governments are able to get us out of this current predicament.

      160

    • #
      Robber

      Doctors and nurses to trial hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19 at Melbourne hospital. Healthcare workers at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne will be taking part in a clinical trial to investigate whether controversial drug hydroxychloroquine can protect doctors and nurses while they treat COVID-19 positive patients.

      60

      • #
        Analitik

        What a crock – no mention of zinc and loads of warnings about the side effects of HCQ from the Therapeutic Goods Adminisration:

        the drug poses “well-known” risks to patients and should not be taken outside of clinical trials

        However, these medicines pose well-known serious risks to patients including cardiac toxicity (potentially leading to sudden heart attacks), irreversible eye damage and severe depletion of blood sugar (potentially leading to coma),

        80

    • #
      PeterS

      I was told about Ivermectin by a friend a few days when he read an article about Professor Thomas Borody. What was the reaction by the so called medical experts? ““Oh no, not Ivermectin”. If it is ever proven beyond any doubt that Ivermectin does saves lives then I look forward to those who disapproved of it to be charged with crimes against humanity.

      60

  • #
    Lockdown Loner

    The multi-decadal government fear programs to turn its citizens against the sun, then locking people inside when they need sunlight to effectively defend from a respiratory virus pandemic, is all just coincidence of course. Like the origination of the virus being from a supranational-governmental research facility, its initial propagation being due to border control inaction, the cause of the second wave being quarantine incompetence, and the deaths being largely due to incompetent policing of aged care standards. It’s all just a coincidence that government is central to all these things that are destroying the economy, destroying people’s capacity to earn a living through self-determination, and destroying an individual’s right to effect sovereign control over themselves or the things they put into their body. It’s just a coincidence that the cause of these problems are the governments and politicians who are at pains to sell themselves as your caring, benevolent Leaders. After all, how could it be anything else but a coincidence. That would be impossible, right?

    120

    • #
      shannon

      Also..has anyone related the banning of the plastic bag SAGA, to the …now SHAMING of non compliance wearing of “The Mask”.??
      All…set down to make $$$$$$ for ..someone !!

      40

      • #

        Incompetence is everywhere. Be careful about assuming lockdown or masks are part of any plan. They are a desperate last resort measure to undo scandalous damage through poor decisions.

        Daniel Andrews right now would give anything for Vic to be virus free like it would have been if he’d managed the borders properly. It would also be free now if he’d not been so reluctant to bring in restrictions and not wasted time trying the ineffectual “post code” type of lockdown too late.

        The globalists don’t want lockdown either. They want to use their frequent flyer points, to show off at dinner parties, go to the gym, etc etc.

        As for masks, anyone who doesn’t like lockdown should be asking why we didn’t have enough in February, were totally unprepared for a pandemic of any sort, and didn’t encourage them from the start. More masks = shorter lockdowns. Follow the evidence. Masks reduce the spread which means business can get back to work sooner.

        89

        • #
          glen Michel

          Rightly the Australian populace should not forget what Andrews has done. Unfortunately most people fit into the cowered and obedient types that HL Mencken described many years ago. Savoir faire is rare.

          50

          • #
            RickWill

            Dan Andrews is currently topping the Herald Sun AFL tipping contest. Surely that will guarantee his re-election; providing he puts his hand up again of course.

            11

        • #
          Lockdown Loner

          I agree people should be afforded the benefit of any doubt, but when their actions prove to be consistently achieving the same type of outcome or outcomes that relentlessly move circumstances in the same direction, it becomes naive to ignore the coincidences and rationalise away the outcomes. In this case, every “incompetent” outcome of government authorities has been to further the spread of this virus, while striping people of their liberties and independence, and at the same time accreting more power and importance to the political leaders. Dan Andrews is not in lockdown, hasn’t been put out of business, or impacted in anyway deleterious to his wellbeing or the wellbeing of his family. If anything, all the liberties and productive means stripped away from the population has translated into an increase in the importance and privilege of the politicians and their leaders. It’s like the captain of the Titanic smashing into an iceberg, then locking everyone below decks, while pleadIng for everyone to “do the right thing”, even though they can no longer escape their fate and the only ones with access to the lifeboats are the captain and his enforcement crew. One might see incompetence and coincidence to rationalise away the alternative, but the fact remains that the only winners are those enforcing their power over others.

          30

  • #
    joseph

    “I smell a rat.”

    . . . . or two . . . . . maybe . . . . ?

    70

  • #
    David Maddison

    Based on everything I have read huge numbers of lives would be saved from lethal C-19 infection if they took vit D daily, say 3000IU, about 50mg of elemental zinc daily and HCQ for prophylaxis say one pill per week after an initial loading dose, or ivermectin in whatever is the appropriate dose for prophylaxis.

    Here is a short video about the use of ivermectin in a nursing home in Canada.

    https://youtu.be/8XCYzpHBEkI

    Ivermectin has slightly more success at being adopted because it is not associated with Trump Derangement Syndrome like HCQ but it has the same disadvantage as HCQ of being cheap and “off label” and not being purpose designed for the disease with multi billion dollar investments.

    Plus another problem with it is that it’s available right now. It could be used without further economic or social destruction. That doesn’t fit with the game plan of the Left who want to drag this out as long as possible.

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    • #
      David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

      G’day David,
      Thanks for your comment. It saves me from writing along the same lines. I forget how I found this, but it’s an interesting document about vitamin D, including some history which I found fascinating.

      https://media.mercola.com/assets/pdf/ebook/vitamin-d-in-the-prevention-of-covid-19.pdf

      But in this context, figure 17, on page 33 was most useful for me in my search for what to do.
      It’s a table of what intake of vitamin D, in International Units, one needs to reach a given blood level target. (Note that the units used are in ng/ml. The conversion factor is 2.5 nmol/Litre = 1 ng/ml).
      I decided to act before getting a result from a blood test, assumed I was at 25ng/ml – not good enough, but not too bad – and targeted 50. I decided on 6000 IU per day, in two lots of 3000 and have kept that up for a couple of months now.
      A blood test on July 23 had my level at 47.2. I’ve kept my intake at 6000, and will increase that to 10,000 if I think I have been, or will be exposed.
      And I’m taking zinc, with quercetin.
      Cheers
      Dave B

      141

      • #

        Thumbs up from me David and David.

        71

      • #
        Peter C

        Unfortunately I get an error message when I try to follow your link.

        10

        • #
          David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

          G’day Peter C,
          I just tried the link, from the above, and it opened without problem on my iPad.
          Cheers
          Dave B

          10

        • #
          sophocles

          so do I:

          Web Server is returning an unknown error
          There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. As a result, the web page can not be displayed.

          Ray ID: 5c72715ec870fb88
          Your IP address: XXX.YYY.ZZZ.123

          Error reference number: 520
          Cloudflare Location: Auckland

          looks as though I will just have to be patient or come back tomorrow.
          Where abouts are you located PeterC?

          00

    • #
      sophocles

      David Maddison said at #12

      Based on everything I have read huge numbers of lives would be saved from lethal C-19 infection if they took vit D daily, say 3000IU, about 50mg of elemental zinc daily and HCQ for prophylaxis

      You are probably right, David. I can’t get* either HCQ or Ivermectin so I’m taking 8000 IU of D 3 (with K2 and Zinc) to keep my immunity well up. Hopefully it’s armour-plated …

      I regard it as being better to not get the bug at all than to have to fight it.

      * I haven’t tried particularly hard …yet

      10

  • #
    Springdam

    So where are the media in asking the relevant / challenging questions of our so called CMO’s. Missing in action. Here in S. Aust.we have our Premier Marshall now deploying wardens to ” keep people safe” and the unthinkables agree it’s a great idea. Marshall Law?
    My mum, step mum and step dad all live independently in their own homes and all in their mid 90’s and doing well. I trust that will remain so for more years. I look forward to giving my mum in Victoria a hug and a kiss sometime soon. It will be the first time in 67 years, thanks to Ancestry DNA test I was given as a gift.

    110

    • #
      OriginalSteve

      Yeah its a Soviet style Commisar approach…more and more layers of snooping on the community…but its for your safety, Comrade…

      Yeah…they can stick that…

      120

    • #
      PeterPetrum

      Hope you get to see your birth mother very soon, how great that you have found her and how sad that, thanks to Dan, you can’t hug her.

      30

  • #
    Salome

    And zinc, too. I read an article the other day about a young woman who had become ill with the ‘rona and after recovery still had a metallic taste in her mouth. Then the other night on BBC World Service, there was a program about disorders of the taste and smell. One of them concerned a young woman who had a persistent metallic taste in the mouth. The medical commentary was to the effect that zinc supplements often fix this condition. Is there a connection?

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      David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

      G’day Salome,
      I think the answer is “Yes”, but I don’t have a definitive reference. One of the reasons Dr Zelenko always gives zinc is because some population level studies have shown a significant number of people are deficient in it, and giving it, while doing no harm, may be necessary. Sorry, but that’s another example where I don’t have a reference, just a memory.
      Cheers
      Dave B

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    Macspee

    Have there been reports of problems with women who cover completely when outside. We see them at the beach covered in black while their men just wear shorts.
    When I was in primary school (many years ago) we were taken outside once or twice a week to lie in the Sun for 10 minutes stripped to the waist (yes boys and girls).

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      Yonniestone

      The greatest danger to those women is if they get caught without their coverings according to the many rules of their peaceful, liberating doctrine.

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      Salome

      I have read that, in some countries where women cover themselves up completely, women are likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

      70

  • #
    RickWill

    My son, living in the UK, has advice from the NHS to take Vitamin D supplements. I can recall him telling me that they could get the supplements free but I have no detail on that. What I did find was this article on the NHS advice:
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7503469/According-NHS-vitamin-D-supplements-October-Heres-why.html

    Following advice from Public Health England, the NHS recommends everyone over the age of five should consider taking a supplement containing 10 micrograms (μg) of vitamin D.

    This was published in October 2019.

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  • #
    RickWill

    With regard viral immunity, there was some interesting news in Melbourne today with St Vincent hospital beginning a trip of HCQ among their staff:
    https://www.svhm.org.au/newsroom/news/clinical-trial-looks-to-protect-high-risk-healthcare-workers-against-covid-19

    St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is playing a pivotal role in an Australian-led clinical trial to determine whether hydroxychloroquine can protect healthcare workers from contracting COVID-19 while caring for COVID-positive patients.

    The COVID SHIELD Clinical Trial is a collaborative project led by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, in partnership with human data science company IQVIA and various healthcare providers across the country, including SVHM, which is a screening site for the trial and has been heavily involved in the design of the study.

    Associate Professor Mandana Nikpour, one of COVID SHIELD’s lead principal researchers and a consultant rheumatologist at SVHM, says during the pandemic hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers have been infected worldwide, demonstrating the value, need and urgency of this clinical trial that focuses on prevention rather than cure.

    This study is based on prevention of CV19 in a group with high exposure to the risk. It goes against TGA advice on off-label use of the drug but this is being driven by health care providers.

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      Peter C

      It is a tentative step in the right direction. So far I have not found any details of the proposed dosage, nor whether it contains zinc. The trial site does not give any contact information either.

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      • #
        spark

        More info here: https://www.wehi.edu.au/covid-shield-faqs

        “The dose of hydroxychloroquine used in COVID SHIELD for prevention is lower than the doses used in most published clinical trials for treatment.”

        “Will zinc be used in the trial?
        Hydroxychloroquine is not being tested with a zinc supplement in the COVID SHIELD trial.
        Current advice is to incorporate zinc supplementation with hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of certain conditions on a case-by-case basis, and most commonly in people who are zinc deficient. 
        Pre-screening will ensure the participants in the COVID SHIELD trial meet certain health criteria which means they will be less likely to be zinc deficient.”

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  • #
    RickWill

    The inquiry into hotel quarantine in Melbourne is being streamed live so can be followed by all. It is a bit like a soap opera with a few WOW moments injected into mostly boring interviews.

    Yesterday we learnt that a Parks Victoria supervisor, who volunteered as a quarantine inspector for the DHHS, was required to attend a 1 hour training course on ‘diversity’. That was the extent of his training. The fellow is ex-navy and now also a volunteer fire fighter. Given that he already works for a government agency I expect he would already have had the ‘diversity’ training. He went on to say that he resigned from the position after a few weeks because he felt he was highly exposed to the COVID risk and it was a danger to him and his family.

    The word ‘debacle’ does not adequately describe the ineptitude that led to the Victorian quarantine train wreck. The picture is emerging that the DHHS suffers from an infection of wokeness among its green leaning ‘leadership’. Much more about appearance than effectiveness. The comments on Captain Cook that got the assistant CHO removed is consistent with what is coming out in the inquiry.

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    Slithers

    So you go to your local supermarket and buy a few bottles of Vitamin D. You drink lots of milk, eat cheese and like butter. To be safe you take twice the recommended dose of your Vitamin D.

    What could possibly go wrong?

    Hardening of the arteries and subsequent heart problems is due to an excess of calcium in your system.
    Vitamin D plays a huge part in the rate at which calcium in your diet is absorbed.

    Look for Vitamin D3!
    There is no such thing as Common Sense

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      Annie

      What about Vit K2? I take that along with 2,000iu of D3. I also take Vit C and Zn.

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    • #
      RexAlan

      My understanding is that you have to take Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2.

      It’s the K2 which makes the Calcium travel to your bones where it should be and not into your arteries.

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    • #
      Hanrahan

      Not exactly. D3 and K2 strengthen bones. A normal diet with greens, a little cheese and milk provides enough C, excess is not good for you as Slithers suggests.

      My lady was getting a dowagers hump so she had a bone density scan which showed osteoporosis. Years later her scans are much better on D3, no added C and sporadic K2.

      I HATE OSTEOPOROSIS my beautiful MIL’s latter years were destroyed and shortened by it.

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    Brenda Spence

    Thank you so much,Jo,for all the research that you do to bring us such very interesting articles like this one.

    The implications of low Vit D levels are huge looking at that list of correlated disorders.

    Our lifestyles nowadays, with big houses, small gardens, too much screen time and slip, slop and hat, would not be helping.

    I’m off to get my levels done.

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    Hasbeen

    For gods sake people, get out in the sun.

    After a recent blood test my doctor asked me how much vitamin D I was taking.

    I am 80, & take no supplements. I do spend an hour minimum a day watering the garden, wearing just a pair of shorts & thongs.

    Perhaps we do need to get back to the simple life

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    tom0mason

    If only President Trump would endorse the use of ergocalciferol -D2, cholecalciferol -D3, alfacalcidol (Vitamin D group), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and zinc in one of his broadcasts/tweets.

    Then the idiot left would be anti-vitamin and hopefully would not take any or go in the sun, allowing them to whither away in their hate filled world.

    Personally I not only take vitamins but also a wide range of offal from all types of animals. Offal is chock full of all kinds of essential vitamins and nutrients. Heart, Liver, kidneys, giblets, oxtail, and more difficult to find these days are brains, tongue, trotters, and tripe.
    Thankfully blood-sausage is still quite easy to find, and helps to makes a great breakfast with good bacon and eggs.

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    Hanrahan

    Vit D3 has a long half life and does not need to be taken daily, at a stretch 100,000 iu/month works but why you would do that beats me. That means sun exposure on the weekends gardening or playing sport is just fine. How much sun is heavily dependent on your lat and the season, of course. In the tropics our UV index does not drop below 6.

    My daughter gets migraines so I put her on 20,000 iu every Friday. She is much improved.

    I hope Jo accepts this as a public service announcement not as an ad but a non-sporting office worker can get enough D3 for 20c/week.

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    • #
      Hanrahan

      Have links been disabled????

      [Not that I’m aware of, check the link and try again.]AD

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      • #
        Hanrahan

        Thanks. I won’t try to post as a link, just an address to cut’n paste.

        A cheap source of D3:

        https://au.iherb.com/search?kw=d3%20vitamin&rank=6

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        • #

          Suggest your daughter also looks out for B12 for migraines. But not the cheap cyanocobalamin. Use adeno, methyl or hydroxy, sublingual or if that doesn’t help, intramuscular. If doing large doses (it’s very hard to absorb orally) add methyl folate, B3 and B6, CoQ10.

          B12 helps make the myelin insulation around nerves (along with a lot of other things). I suspect aura’s are a form of peripheral nerve damage which B12 deficiency is well known to cause, (but obviously, not “peripheral”).

          b12 is the largest molecule that is a vitamin and very hard to absorb from food.

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      greggg

      Vitamin B2 can help migraines. In this study, the proportion of patients who improved by at least 50% was 59% for riboflavin:
      https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9484373/

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    • #
      William Astley

      Your comment is scientifically absolutely incorrect.

      Attacked below, is a lecture from the lead Vit. D in the world, Bruce Hollis. Hollis states in the lecture what I state below.

      Single large doses of Vit. D are medically ineffective (100,000 UI/month or 150,000 UI/month), in correct the population’s Vit. D deficiency. Daily Vit. D supplements are required to get the free Vit. D to stop cancers, to protect our cells against virus attacks and so on.

      A single large dose of Vit. D is medically ineffective in treating Vit. D deficiency, because free Vit. D from a single large Vit. D supplement is only free for the first 24 hours.

      Our cells require free Vit. D to enable them to get the DNA blueprints to build the chemical factories that sit on the surface of the cell and produce bioactive chemical when required by the cell to protect the cell.

      Do you understand this concept?

      Hollis is on a US Vit. D board that reviews every document case of side effects for Vit. D daily supplement use.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrU1yrmNIqc

      Results of a Prostate Cancer/Vitamin D Trial: Effectiveness Safety Recommendations

      Bruce H Hollis

      What is the maximum tolerable level for Vit. D? How conservative is a maximum tolerable daily supplement of 10,000 UI/day? Note Hollis recommends 5000 UI/day.

      In the case of cancer drugs the official method of determining the official daily upper limit for a drug it to take 1/10 of the maximum single dosage at which there are no known side effects. For Vit. D as in Europe a maximum single Vit. D dosage is 150,000 UI. The maximum vit. D daily tolerable level should be 15,000 UI/day rather than 10,000 UI/day. The point is 10,000 UI/day is a conservative upper tolerable level for daily supplements.

      As I noted there is a paper from the lead Vit. D researchers in the world which is evidence based that recommends a daily Vit. D supplement of 5000 UI/day for all US citizens.

      What I have said above is taken from a lecture from Bruce Hollis where provides an overview of all Vit. D research and then explains the research that supports supplements for the entire US population of 5000 UI/day.

      Bruce Hollis is on a the US medical board that reviews any medical side effect from taking daily Vit. D supplements.

      The lowest documented case of a Vit D side effect was at 20,000 UI/day and that was mild calcification.

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  • #
    Greg in NZ

    For those of us sporting numerous scars from various melanoma / skin cancer surgeries, ’tis a delicate balance between too much & too little Vitamin Sunshine. Throwing caution to the wind, I lap up as much as I can, specially at this time of year (winter).

    As an aside, my 1946 Odhams Dictionary states ‘corona’ comes from the Latin ‘crown’, and ‘virus’ from (Latin as well) ‘slime’. Ergo: Crown Slime. Such a fitting descriptor for those self-appointed, self-righteous rulers of peoples, lands, and laws, who would have us hunkering indoors, too afraid to step out into the light… ☀️

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  • #
    Andrew McRae

    100 million bites per second

    Okay, I’ll bite.

    You’re just fishing for more comments with this deliberate spelling error, right?

    As a guide, a “4k” resolution Blu-ray disc has video compressed to about 100 megabits per second, but streaming services such as Netflix compress this to 16 megabits per second to increase accessibility and reliability (at a slight quality loss).
    I’ve never heard of video streaming at 100 million bits per second over the Internet, let alone 100 million bytes per second (8x larger).

    20

    • #
      Serp

      Your “8x larger” is nine times as large innit?

      Sorry but I was that deeply trained in the arithmetic and grammar of integer comparisons that I am always pedantically ignited upon seeing today’s confusion: nobody says “eight times the size” it’s always “eight times larger” which is a solecism at best or a falsehood for advertising purposes as to the numerate it means ninefold.

      It’s in the treatment of “smaller” that true absurdity arises. One time smaller being zero implies two times smaller is negative. Apparently it is just too hard to work with reciprocals so you won’t hear “a thousandth the size”, instead the locution “a thousand times smaller” which has something to do with minus nine hundred and ninety-nine is put in service.

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      • #

        Andrew, I knew I could not afford to get that wrong with an audience of engineers — which is why I checked the spelling at 3am and still got it wrong. Brain was typing correct spelling. Fingers on auto.

        But it does sound quite cute…

        Will fix.

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      • #

        What Serp mentions here and what Joanne then further alludes to highlights what might seem to be an anomaly with Maths. (or more correctly, out misinterpreting of maths)

        You all know how I use Mathematics to make most of my points, so this is an extension of that.

        I know that this may be somewhat off topic, but I want to show you something about Mathematics, and how closely it is related to English, or to more precise, the correct use of English.

        Okay then, lets use two exact things to highlight this.

        The average power generation per day here in Australia is 559.71GWH (GigaWattHours)

        The total generated power for yesterday was 588GWH.

        Those two figures are mathematical certainties, the exact figures.

        Now, enter English.

        The total generated power for yesterday was 5.0544% higher than the average.

        The daily average generated power is 4.8112% lower than the total for yesterday.

        See how the same figures can be interpreted to give two different percentage results, depending on what you use as the starting point.

        Eight times higher. 800% higher ….. well, no.

        Tony.

        (I can see you all now reaching for ‘plastic brains’)

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        • #
          Hanrahan

          In Oz we ADD 10% GST but subtract 11% [approx] to go back to list price.

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        • #
          OriginalSteve

          Speaking of maths…..trying to get into machine learning….

          Talk about pain management….now I know why staticans are either brilliant or appear to be the maths version of meth addled train spotters I’m sure….or anoraks… 🙂

          Anyway, a reboot back into matrices I can handle … but trying to take stats models and make them understandable to a numpty B.Eng like myself, lot harder, mind you I ‘m finding the online courses rip through the material way too quick….a 3 month course really needs to be your main job almost to really “get it”. I hates stats, and it sucks ML is all stats based. Once I get the gist of it, I’ll just let the academics argue over the pointless finer points of such things, I’ll use plug and play models I think….once I can build an intelligent system I’ll know I understand it.

          I went looking for my venerable HP15C….cant find it …. sad to lose it…. it can do matrices easily. Been using a freeware software called Octave,…seems OK.

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    el gordo

    Our biggest trading partner is highly disciplined.

    ‘No new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported Friday across the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Saturday.

    ‘A total of 22 confirmed cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported Friday, the commission said in its daily report.

    ‘One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai and no deaths related to the disease were reported on the Chinese mainland, it added.’

    China Daily

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    OriginalSteve

    Jo, O/T but wow……

    https://www.edizionicantagalli.com/shop/cina-covid-19/

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/renowned-european-scientist-covid-19-was-engineered-in-china-lab-effective-vaccine-unlikely

    “Renowned European scientist: COVID-19 was engineered in China lab, effective vaccine ‘unlikely’

    “Professor Giuseppe Tritto, an internationally known expert in biotechnology and nanotechnology, says that the China Virus definitely wasn’t a freak of nature that happened to cross the species barrier from bat to man.

    “And what he says is that the China Virus definitely wasn’t a freak of nature that happened to cross the species barrier from bat to man. It was genetically engineered in the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s P4 (high-containment) lab in a program supervised by the Chinese military.

    “Prof. Tritto’s book, which at present is available only in Italian, is called Cina COVID 19: La Chimera che ha cambiato il Mondo (China COVID 19: The chimera that changed the world). It was published on August 4 by a major Italian press, Edizioni Cantagalli, which coincidently also published the Italian edition of one of my books, Population Control (Controllo Demografico in Italian) several years ago.

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    Mal

    I take a vitamin D capsule once a week
    Also I intone Ehm whilst focusing my consciousness on my thymus gland.
    This stimilates the production of t cells
    Easy and effective.

    10

  • #
    OriginalSteve

    Um…but the botders are shut to other states ( unemployed ) residents, but potentially highly infectious cash loaded international students are ok? And bybthe plane load…..

    Its appears to be all about the Benjamins, baby….

    https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-international-students-fly-in-covid19-trail-2020-6

    “Under the trial, international students would be flown in via South Australia and the ACT, where they would then undergo a minimum quarantine period of 14 days. It’s understood the quarantine would be paid for by the universities themselves and arranged by state and territory governments.

    “It marks the latest effort by the university sector to prevent a $16 billion hit. Earlier this year some universities offered to pay Chinese students to circumvent Australia’s travel ban by waiting out the quarantine period in third-party countries like Thailand.

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    • #
      Serp

      I thought the killer quote was:

      “Any trial will rigorously test the controlled entry of international students and will include robust quarantine arrangements put in place by state and territory governments.”

      You’d think there’d be an ISO certification that could be bragged about cos we know what “robust quarantine arrangements” means in Victoria.

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      • #
        OriginalSteve

        I have my doubts about such systems…often it appears to be just box ticking by the certifyers ….

        20

  • #
    greggg

    Vitamin A should also be taken when taking vitamin D.
    ‘Tufts University Confirms That Vitamin A Protects Against Vitamin D Toxicity by Curbing Excess Production of Vitamin K-Dependent Proteins’
    https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/blog/2009/04/07/tufts-university-confirms-that-vitamin/

    10

  • #
    greggg

    It all goes around in circles. People who are ill usually spend less time in the sun and that lowers their vitamin D as well as having other negative effects like lower melatonin and less T-cell activity.

    30

  • #
    Lorraine L

    Magnesium is essential for Vitamin D synthesis and most people do not get enough magnesium. If you are going to supplement with Vitamin D you should also take a good quality magnesium supplement.

    30

    • #
      • #
        Lucky

        I hope readers get the hint here, (even those who may disagree with Jo on a point or two).
        This is truly a great site.

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    • #
      Tel

      https://www.metagenics.com.au/Products/Product/CALMT

      That’s got a thumb’s up from me.

      It contains Magnesium bisgylcinate chelate, supposedly easier for the digestive system … at least it avoids the ionic Mg 2+ form which you get with the Magnesium oxide, that’s in most supplements.

      On top of that, there’s a few other electrolytes, some Potassium, and Calcium, a bit of Vitamin C, and a few of the B-group vitamins … plus glutamine as a GABA precursor that assists relaxation … plus a tiny bit of Zinc bisgylcinate chelate. They pad these things out somewhat.

      Get half an hour to one hour in the sun every day … get the Vitamin D synthesis happening. For Australians that should be perfectly fine.

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  • #
    Hanrahan

    At 78 I am healthier than I was at 48 and this is neither an accident nor the good work of my doctors. It is because I did my own research.

    I have known for most of that time that Ancel Keys has condemned millions to an early death through his scientific fraud. But our family GPs still practice medicine as if his teachings were true.

    Dieticians who believed, then taught the upside down food pyramid where carbs formed the base of the pyramid, again killing millions. The different between carbs and sugar are a few minutes in the stomach. There must be millions of overweight GPs telling their overweight patients that they must try harder – less calories in, more out through half starving oneself and running the legs off your unfortunate pooch, but they are doing no better themselves.

    Then there’s the salt fraud, the cholesterol fraud, the “slip, slap, slop” fraud and the margarine [seed oil] fraud. Look on the supermarket shelves, there are gallons of canola oil and a few bottles of coconut oil.

    Why is it 8 months after a virus has turned our world upside down that “science” is looking at protocols we should have known about decades ago such as HCQ and Zn [you can’t tell me HCQ is not effective on other corona viruses] or that D3 can increase immune response. Knowledgeable, thoughtful researchers have been railing against “common wisdom” for decades and almost all say it is because there is no money in good, simple medicine. Sounds right to me.

    /Rant off.

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    David Maddison

    This paper looks at the role of vitamin D and susceptibility to C-19. It is a preprint only and subject to peer review.

    https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-21211/v1

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    Deano

    A bit off topic maybe but – I’m wondering if some of you that were in Perth around the late 70’s/early 80’s remember a fantastic sun block called (pretty sure) Natura Sun? It was in a black plastic bottle and was alcohol based and worked better than any modern so called non-greasy blocks which as as greasy as Vaseline and a bloody nuisance to use. Natura Sun was made in WA and disappeared into your skin within seconds yet gave fantastic protection against the summer sun.

    I’d love to know what happened to it.

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  • #
    AndyHce

    I often see the recommendation for vit K2 but never any dose information.

    Many people who live at latitudes where adequate UVB is available have high 25(OH)D blood levels without ever taking any D supplement. They almost certainly also never take any supplement of K2, yet they live long and healthy lives. This seems to imply that any K2 requirement can be met without any forethought or effort.

    One must conclude that high levels of vit D do not necessarily require any more K2 that diet can provide unless there is a special requirement because of the way the vitamin D is obtained. I’ve never seen any hint of that suggested.

    If there is a relationship between the two, it should be expressible numerically. If no one, anywhere, has any idea what the relative relationship is, how can they reasonably make a recommendation for one to spend money on K2?

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    EternalOptimist

    So far from this (excellent) thread, I have gleaned the following

    1 fat stores vitamin D and releases it in a good, measured way
    2 Sitting outside in the sun, with no top on, i.e. drinking beer, is good
    3 After getting sweaty in the sun , having a shower and rubbing with soap is bad

    Holy moley. I like this regime. i will live forever

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    AndyHce

    My understanding is that body fat retains vitamin D as long as the fat remains. A sudden high fat loss can result in significant overdoses of fat soluble vitamins, and anything else stored in fat cells, being released into the blood stream.

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  • #
    Yonason

    Vitamin D is actually a hormone, and is essential to a lot more aspects of our health than just our immune system.
    https://highintensityhealth.com/stasha-gominak-md-low-vitamin-d-sleep-gut-bacteria-and-methylation/

    See also here
    https://youtu.be/Rq9e1zKZvQw

    and especially here
    https://drgominak.com/

    Apparently the “correct” vitamin D level is between 60-80 ng/ml (150-200 nmol/L)

    Note that most of us are also deficient in B-vitamins due to disrupted gut bacteria. They need to be optimized for the D to work properly.

    10