In some DHA, or DHA+EPA supplements one can find additions with for lipase-enhanced digestion which support absorption of n-3 FA. Therefore any supplements with > 1g/d DHA+EPA (or purely DHA) should influence our health.

Dr. Davis,

Very happy to learn this distinction between forms of the fats. Are triglyceride and phospholipid two different forms or are they the same? Do you happen to know anything about the Swanson brand which has an EcoMarine trademark?

Thank you,

Susie

Dr Davis, what about Nordic Naturals DHA Xtra Strawberry softgels?

I've been totally grain-free and dairy-free for over a yr.  My total chol is 177, HDL is 83, LDL is 88, Triglycerides are 30 and risk factor 2.7, but a 64-slice heart scan done in May 08 showed plaque to two coronary arteries.  I had a stroke in my 40's and lost the sight of one eye.  My dad died of a stroke at age 35.  My grandfather died at 68 of a heart attack.  I'm 70+.  On my insulin sensitivity score ranging from 0-100, I scored 1.  Dr Douglas Brown, Brookfield said, "I've never seen such a low score for insulin sensitivity or triglycerides.  My BP fluctuates wildly.  Some days I don't require any Lisinopril and other days I require 20+ mg.  He thinks I should have a heart cath, but with such great labs, I highly doubt that Medicare would approve.  I wish I knew what to do about the BP.  I do go to Pulmonary Rehab classes for bronchiectasis, but I'm chronically fatigued.  We've had both radon and mold remediation done at our home and a Naturopathic dr told me I have an extreme amt of lead toxicity.  I need advice.

I have your book and your CD's.  Listening to the CD's is what made my husband decide to go off grains, other than a little rice occasionally.  He dropped 20lbs fairly quickly.

I get very itchy skin when taking more that 2 capsules of Nordic naturals. Any reason for this? Advice?

Though the sixservings blog invites readers to "Join the Discussion" and add a comment, they have yet to publish any comments, including mine made two days ago,

Continuing my role as tepid devil's advocate...

"Wheat gliadin has been associated with ..."  -- "associated with" or "linked with" is the prototypical claim made when hard scientific evidence is lacking.  "Correlation is not causation" applies to all, not just to the other side of a debate.

"...died at their product’s hands."  "Product's hands" is an unfortunate metaphor.  Here I'm acting as English composition scold, not nutritional critic.

In my view the threat of legal liability serves no constructive purpose.  To hold the work of Norman Borlag (*), who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the development of high-yield wheat -- which arguably has saved millions from starvation -- as culpable is not credible, even if the health claims in Wheat Belly are true.

(*) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_borlag

Dr. Davis,
I need your clarification on a few things. I have been following your advice for a couple of years to better understand and control my cholesterol without medication: no wheat or grains,taking vit D, fish oil, correct blood tests, checking post-prandial glucose, etc. Things are going well.  

Recently watched "Forks over Knives" and reading Dr. Esselstyn's book on heart disease management with surprise and confusion. He recommends the bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, whole grain wheat bread and pasta, absolutely no oil, meat, eggs, dairy and then back to Dr. Ornish and the low fat mantras of the past.

What is your take on it? I'm trying to make sense of it all!

Thanks.  Jan

Nor have they published mine It's still in "moderation" LOL

Keep it up, Dr. Davis

I took your permission to publish your Open Letter to the Grain Foods Foundation on my guestdietblog. I thought it was well-written, although I agree with Mr. Brecher's assessment that the claim of legal liability (I agree that they really *are* culpable, but still...) is less than helpful.

On a related topic, I do not believe that eliminating wheat is the Holy Grail of weight loss. While necessary, it is *not* sufficient. I eliminated wheat (and all other grains) from my diet in 1999. I fairly quickly lost 100 lbs and greatly improved my health. Unfortunately, I needed to lose 150 lbs, and that last 50 lbs has stubbornly clung to my frame despite several "tweaks" to my low-carb diet over the last dozen years.

Modern wheat's  " juju" (a CathyN-ism) is it's  "antigenic profile".

Great open letter! As the Grain Foods Foundation targeted Dr. Davis' well documented book, and published demonstrable falsehoods regarding the references and sources, I feel this open letter is accurate and, if anything, subdued in its tone.

To be clear, Dr. Davis did not threaten legal action; he pointed out that the promotion of wheat as "healthy", combined with ignoring the scientific evidence against modern wheat positions the Foundation solidly in the same position as the tobacco companies. They do have legal liability, especially as they are engaging in the same type of public denials with incomplete information (read that: lies).  We may see, in our lifetimes, the same government assisting the wheat growers turn and sue them, just as the tobacco industry has experienced..

A medical doctor can combine his scientific training to evaluate claims and evidence with practical, real world experience with thousands of patients that no researcher can match. "Wheat Belly" shows both Dr. Davis' clinical experience and the depth of his research on the topic.

To Howard:
Does Dr. Davis say that eliminating wheat is the Holy Grail of weight loss, or are those your words? For what it's worth, no I don't think it is, but it's a very important facet of weight loss. If you're otherwise not controlling your carb intake, eating enough healthy fats, not exercising, not getting enough sleep, etc., those "last 50 pounds" may never come off.

Joe

Dr Davis:
"Wheat gliadin has been associated with cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, gluten encephalopathy (dementia), behavioral outbursts in children with ADHD and autism, and paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations in people with schizophrenia, severe and incapacitating effects for people suffering from these conditions.
.....
I propose that you and your organization, as well as the wheat industry and its supporters, are at risk for legal liability on a scale not seen since the tobacco industry was brought to task to pay for the countless millions who died at their product's hands."


I have multiple autoimmune diseases, a result of gluten intolerance. My mother became schizophrenic when she was 35, and I was 10. It wrecked our family for the rest of my parents' lives.

And we are only starting on cancer.

You can't even imagine how I feel about wheat.

Jan Jones?

Dr. Esselstyn's book relies heavily on his own non-controlled study. Esselstyn applied his brand of vegan diet to a number of his heart disease patient. Esselstyn claims that his diet arrested their deterioration, and attributes the results to veganism.

The problem? Dr. Esselstyn also told participants to stop eating baked goods, flour and vegetable oils. Also, Dr Esselstyn treated these participants with pharmaceutical drugs.

There's a significant difference between the protein in oats and the protein in wheat. I wouldn't eat either grain. If you must eat one, eat oats.

Eliminated grains--> lost 100 pounds

Seems pretty successful to me. There's a huge health risk difference  between carrying 50 extra and carrying 100 extra. I lost 118 and resolved my Metabolic Syndrome. Yes, I could lose another 40 to be NOT overweight anymore, but 118 made a huge difference.

Many formerly obese people have affected BMR (lower than non-obese would be at same height/weight/etc). We've damaged our bodies. Perhaps to get to normal weights, we have to be even more vigilant, exercise harder/smarter, tweak macronutrients. Of course, it's more important to keep OFF the lost ones than fight even the last pile of fat hanging on. If ditching grains made that much of a difference, I see it as vindicating their elimination.
But the fat fight goes on, regardless, as for some of us, it's just never gonna be easy....

Good morning doctor, I keep a daily page from Spain, gustría me know if your books are translated into Spanish. If not please do so, some people are interested in reading.

Hi, Marta--

Not yet. However, I will announce here and elsewhere when international editions are released.

Thanks for asking!

118 pounds?! Wow. That's fabulous, Princess!

If you could post your full details here, I will post your story as a wheat-free Success Story . . . a BIG success story.

Yes, Bob, I agree 100%. This thing being sold to us called "wheat" is so bad in so many ways. And we're told to eat more of it.

This will go down as the biggest dietary blunder ever made in the history of humans on earth. But therein lies the silver lining: Elimination of wheat is also the single most powerful health strategy I have ever witnessed.

Imagine what life would be like if we didn't come to recognize this! Makes me shudder.

Thanks, Frank.

Yes, indeed. I have not hired any attorneys. But I do believe we have an incredible wrong committed on an international scale with liability for deaths and illness in tens of millions.

Obviously, the whistle blowing will NOT come from within the system. Nobody in the USDA, FDA, or Surgeon General's office is sounding this alarm. They all agree, in fact: Eat more healthy whole grains. Reminds me of the old cigarette commercial: "More doctors recommend Chesterfields than any other cigarette!"

Excellent, Might!

Thanks, Howard.

I wouldn't pooh-pooh 100 pounds of weight loss eliminating wheat. That's an incredible result! People pay a lot of money and suffer deprivation and hunger to achieve a lot less.

Your experience highlights that the diet for weight loss should be 1) wheat-free, then 2) limited carbohydrate. But there are other issues that many people have to address. Thyroid dysfunction, for instance is rampant and can put a damper on weight loss. And don't accept the conventional "rules" for diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction; they are flat wrong and will impair both weight loss and increase risk for heart disease. (There are several thyroid discussions on this Heart Scan Blog, by the way.)

Thanks, Anthony. Between the blog comments, my open letter that I emailed to their representative, Ashley Reynolds, and all the comments I and others have posted on their Facebook page, I think we got their attention. We'll have to see what happens.

While I admire Dr. Esselstyn's motivations, having devoted his later career to the cause of preventing and reversing heart disease (changing course from his training as an ear-nose-and-throat surgeon), I believe he is wrong.

I did the diet he advocated 20 years ago: eliminated all meat and oils, extremely-low fat, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and lots of "healthy whole grains." I promptly gained 30 lbs, my HDL dropped to 27 mg/dl, my triglycerides shot up to 350 mg/dl, and I became a diabetic. This was while I was jogging 5 miles a day. (Ironically, I was living in Cleveland and Esselstyn was a neighbor.)

The vegetarian, low-fat approach Esselstyn advocates does indeed yield improvement, however, compared to a standard American diet, especially if the person is an apo E4 genetic type, which creates some fat sensitivity.

Points take, Steve. But I disagree.

When you read the scientific literature on gliadin, there is no question that it is causative. But let me clarify: It does not cause schizophrenia or ADHD; it just makes it much worse in a vulnerable mind.

And, just because the evil health effects of the high-yield semi-dwarf variant that led to Borlaug's Nobel Peace Prize were not recognized in 1970, that does not release anyone from culpability. It was wrong--pure and simple. DDT was hailed as a great breakthrough in pesticides, sprayed widely and indiscriminately in neighborhoods, forests, and directly on humans. It was then banned (due, in part, to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring) when its terrible health effects became widely recognized.

That makes about 9 of us at last count, Kurt. Their silence and censorship, however, speaks volumes!

Prior to the beginning of August, I was unemployed (for about 6 months), and the only healthcare I had access to was the VA Medical Center. Since my blood pressure goes up every time I have to sit through Dr. Ghory's lecture on how I should eat less fat and red meat, she insists that I should be taking blood pressure meds (last time I was there, it was 150/95, I have been keeping a log of bp for the last month, and it averages 130/75 without meds). She insists my thyroid is normal, and that I should just "eat a healthy low-fat diet." Nevermind that my fasting glucose is 95, and my tryglicerides are very low, she also wants me on statins for my "high" cholesterol (don't remember exactly what it was, but I think it was around 150, with 90 of that being HDL).

I now have health insurance (and a good income). It appears that in order to get any real medical help, I'm going to have to go outside of the VA "medical" system (unfortunately, thanks to obamacare, all healthcare will resemble the VA system before long). How would I go about locating a local private practicing doctor who has a clue about nutrition?

I put this on the six servings blog today:
"Fat, sick, obese America deserves the truth....is the current whole wheat product....the same grain people have been eating for centuries OR...was it re-engineered in the 1980's. Please let us know....America deserves the truth."

This is a copy of a post I placed on Fathead and Jimmy Moore's blogs today. I am curious about the apo E4 mentioned above and wonder if this at place in this dilemma?

After my long diatribe about my family and how we have all been
rescued from fates worse than death by low-carb diets, I have to admit
that there is one family member for whom low-carb does not seem to have
worked. I have mentioned before that my sister is not able to control
her blood sugar or lose weight in spite of careful low-carb dieting for
nearly 12 years. She is so desperate that she went to see Dr. Mary
Vernon, in spite of reading negative reviews about Dr. Vernon’s practice
and both Tom Naughton and Jimmy Moore enthusiastically endorsed that
plan. It has been about 6 weeks since she went to Lawrence, KS (not an
inconsiderable investment of time and money). She commented on my
Facebook posting of Gary Taubes latest blog with “Why doesn’t all of this
work for me?” I replied “What does Dr. Vernon say?” I am pasting in
Jane’s reply because I think it is important that everyone in the
low-carb community know about this. I also am desperately seeking an
answer to why my beautiful sister can’t find the relief of her health
problems that everyone else in my family has found through the low-carb
lifestyle. She is the only one of my generation to be officially
diagnosed as “Type II” and she spent years on low-fat, low-calorie,
high-carb diets (including the 3 months on Weight Watchers + walking 5
miles a day when she gained 10 pounds and received her official
diagnosis). Well, here is a direct quote:

Jane wrote: “Well basically nothing. She (Mary Vernon) is very hard to get ahold of
(never answers the phone or e-mails) and I’m not sure that she believes
me that I am following the diet and it just isn’t working for me. I had
all those expensive tests and I have heard nothing from her about the
results. I have only heard once from her nurse and she said that maybe
they would put me on Januvia which I already take and listed on the form
they had me fill out when I went there. I am not happy with the
situation at all.”
I am interested in your take on this and any input/ideas I can receive from the blogosphere. We are really desperate.

Dr. Davis,

Is the grain used in French bread, i.e., of the sort gotten, e.g., in Paris, somehow "different" from the genetically re-engineered variants here in the US? I notice that when we go to France, especially in Paris, I'm struck with it that the only FAT people I seem to notice are foreigners, i.e., US, Germans, Scandinavians, and the now and again, Asian.  Parisiennes, however, virtually invariably look great, and not only the 20, 30, 40 somethings. So is there something about the grain they consume that exempts them from "Wheat Belly?"

Genome of wheat  was estimated in 2002 to be +/- 16.5 gigabase and thus +/- 5 times the human genome.

These free full text papers may help doubters improve their understanding.
Evidence for gliadin antibodies as causative agents in schizophrenia.
http://precedings.nature.com/documents/5351/version/1/files/npre20105351-1.pdf

Presence of celiac disease epitopes in modern and old hexaploid wheat varieties: wheat breeding may have contributed to increased prevalence of celiac disease
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2963738/?tool=pubmed

Yes I looked into this a while ago.
There are a lot more "HOBBY" farmers in France so there are more smaller holdings where people tend to farm more traditionally and stick with the traditional heirloom varieties that they know grow well on their land.
http://notulaebotanicae.ro/nbha/article/viewFile/4731/4560
Diversity of Seven Glutenin and Secalin Loci within Triticale Cultivars Grown in France
I think they are more interested in breadmaking qualities than in pesticide resistance.

Hi Anthony,
Any idea why 10 years ago these European children aged 7 - 9  weight profiles are so different ?
France (data 2000):
boys overweight = 14% & obese = 3.9%
girls overweight = 14.7% & obese = 3.6%
Portugal data (2001- 2002):
boys overweight = 19.1 % & obese = 10.3%
girls overweight = 21.1% & obese = 12.3 %

Hey, Doc,
In your book, you recommend avoiding vegetable oils like canola completely.  Yet you recommend eating certain foods that have mayonnaise.  Do you know of any mayonnaise brands without those nasty oils in them?

I have to admit, Ari, that I purchase mayonnaise so infrequently that I don't have the names on the tip of my tongue. However, unless you are a mayonnaise aficionado, the small exposures to linoleic acid-rich oils or canola likely have little impact on health. Soybean oil is another frequent oil; not perfect, but not bad. Even if GMO, there are not going to be proteins that make it to the end-product.

Hi, Ted--

You're discovering exactly what I did: There is already an incredibly diverse literature documenting the adverse effects of wheat consumption. The rest of the world has been falsely lulled by the "whole grains are better than white processed flour" logic.

Wow, Might!

I can always count on you to tell me something I didn't know!

Hi, Anthony--

See Ted's helpful comments below.

I can only speculate that, in addition to some of the heirloom forms of wheat being consumed (e.g., einkorn from Provence and Languedoc), the higher fat intake of the French may blunt the wheat effect. There may be more to this "French paradox," such as more socially-friendly eating, as opposed to the eat-and-run style of American eating.

You know, I switched from regular mayonnaise, made with soybean oil, to one made with expeller  pressed canola oil after reading Michael Eades' recommendation in ' "Protein Power Life Plan".  I guess it's the lesser of two evils but I wonder if it's worth it?

Hi, Peggy--

I really depends on what you mean by "not responding." On the surface, it sounds like she is not apo E4, but apo E2, which causes postprandial (after-eating) abnormalities and creates incredible carb intolerance, such that half an apple triggers excessive responses. Alternatively, she might have suffered pancreatic damage in some form, wheat or otherwise, that now limits her own capacity to generate the expected changes in diet.

A lipoprotein panel that includes an apoprotein E and HbA1c would provide insight.

Hi, Linda--

I feel them blushing and stammering already!

Hi, Howard--

Sadly, I believe there are so few nutritionally-savvy physicians that it can be a real tough search. Word of mouth still, even in 2011, remains the best tool, though with obvious limitations.

Thanks, Dr. Davis. My sister was diagnosed as Type II in the fall of 1999 and has been following some form of a low-carb diet since 2000. Before that, she followed various versions of low-calorie, low-fat diets and I am sure that she did suffer metabolic damage, as so many of us have. I am simply passing on what she reports, but she says it is not so much post-prandial blood sugar readings that are high and of concern, but fasting blood sugars. She also has experienced readings over 200 whenever she has a cold or infection of any type, Her first morning readings can be quite high and are chronically around 150. She finds the readings drop through out the day and says it doesn't matter what she eats - nothing raises or lowers the numbers. Her HbA1C is usually around 6-7 because of her high morning readings. Since she still retains a good deal of abdominal fat (she is the proverbial apple type), I would assume she is still producing insulin. As I mentioned, the family history of insulin-resistance is pretty dramatic and she seems to have inherited an extreme degree of IR which was probably intensified by her years of low-fat eating.
I have a sense of what she has been eating for the past 12 years, and it is a reasonably restricted diet in terms of carbohydrates. She saw Dr. Vernon with the hopes of tweaking her diet to see if she could get the fasting readings lower, and she was basically given an Atkins induction diet. She has followed it for 6 weeks with no weight loss and no change in fasting blood sugar.  I have asked that she send me copies of her food diary (she has sent them to Dr. Vernon) and perhaps that would shed some light on this dilemma. However, there seems to be more this than just diet. Hormones? Stress?
I hope you will continue to correspond with us on this and see if there is an answer.

I make my own mayo with extra light olive oil (Eades recipe).

When I stpped eating wheat my small LDL went down 15% but my total particle number went up by more than that.  I can't tell if this is a good trade-off or a bad one.

Dr. Davis, I am a Plastic surgeon in Chicago, and I have read your book. As a doctor, I understand your line of reasoning and the science, and teh short of it is, Ithink you have written and excellent, informative, and important book. This one could be a game-changer, as I see it.

But the more important point, I wanted to make is that I have 2 kids with juvenile diabetes, and we have no family history. I want to know why. and  Ihave always wanted to know why. And what's worse, is that I feel, working as a doctor, that there are many vicious cycles and toxic partnerships in medicine that sell you food on one hand that causes ill health and sells us cures on the other.
I have come to the conclusion that the road to hell really is paved with good intentions, and frankly, I would prefer someone who I know is trying to take advantage of me than one who is trying to help me. Fighting world hunger is noble, but its also a rhetorical point as well. Who wants people to starve? Likewise, it is a moral sentiment, which in this case did not rationally consider its possible unintended consequences by asking the question: Is this high-yield wheat good for people?
Unfortunately, you see this pattern play out a lot: A moral sentiment gets popular and eventually gets ruled and polluted by profit motive.
And what irks me is when a person uses the argument that correlation doesn't prove causation for rhetorical purposes. Correlation is good observation, which is crucial to good science. You have to make good observations so you can create good hypothesis that can ultimately be tested. You can't also run a double-blind study on everything. And if you do, it doesn't mean that its results are accurate or that it was well designed. Cause is an important thing to determine--this is true--but to say you have not made good observations and reasonable arguments and hypotheses that warrant further investigation because you don't have a bunch of double blind studies, or the like is the definitition of--no pun intended--a straw man argument.

OT
Dr Davis...........................
As a glaucoma patient, I am always searching for possible solutions. Am now taking 5000 UI a day of Vit D and I am starting to notice minor changes. Do you agree with this post on FB?

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=136737770479

Thank you so much

I posted this today (9-6-11) @ six servings blog:
Attention six serving blog:
A lot of people that are being helped by the "Wheat Belly" book's position wonder why you don't leave our posts on or reply to them . I posted this yesterday and it's gone, Also I never received a response?

Posted 9/5/11 :
“Fat, sick, obese America deserves the truth….is the current whole wheat product….the same grain people have been eating for centuries OR…was it re-engineered in the 1980′s. Please let us know….America deserves the truth.”
Where are all the comments posted?

If you haven't already, add the bloodsuger101 blog to your reading.
http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/
Best wishes for your family

Thanks, Linda!

I don't envy them, getting barraged with all these comments!

Hi, Linda--

Sorry, but you're way out of my areas of confidence. I sure HOPE it's true, however.

I will say that, between vitamin D and elimination of wheat, these combined strategies tackle more abnormal conditions than I ever imagined.

Thank you, Dr. Ostric. I like changing the game!

Dr. Ostric--

I would compare the release of high-yield, semi-dwarf wheat into the human food supply to releasing an untested drug into the pharmaceutical armamentarium for widespread prescription. It might work, but chances are it will not. It might, in fact, have plenty of unintended ill-effects.

I believe this is what has happened. Among its potential effects: an increase in the incidence in type I diabetes in children.

Hi, Peter--

Disappointing results. Have you assessed apo E status? This can modify an individual's response to diet,

Excellent!

Oh, boy, Peggy. A bit too complicated to handle in a blog response.

It could indeed be that her pancreatic function has been exhausted and there is no return from diabetes at this point. Another alternative: hypothyroidism, as this is prevalent and powerful. I assume that she has already corrected vitamin D, which is crucial; we aim for a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level of 60-70 ng/ml.

I have been reading here for a year, and my health has improved as I've tried to implement your suggestions. The topic of glycation is new to me. Have you read the research that shows that Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine,  may help prevent glycation? The fat-soluble thiamine is more effective. I ran across references to this supplement while looking up neuropathy online. It might have a role especially for diabetics.
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2011/07/18/vitamin-reverses-nerve-pain/  (see especially comments from Dr. Charles.) I would be very interested to hear what Dr. Davis, Mito and others of you think about this.
for example:
"The effect of magnesium on peripheral neuropathy pain could be related to the effect of benfotiamine (fat soluble derivative of thiamine). Both magnesium and thiamine (in the form of thiamine pyrophosphate) are cofactors of a very important enzyme, Transketolase.
The Transketolase enzyme helps to regulate some key functions of small blood vessels. When the small blood vessels are dysfunctional there is less blood flow to nerves and tissues. This can be one basis for pain (decreased perfusion of blood) in peripheral neuropathies. It can also contribute to severe muscle cramps and to restless legs syndrome in my opinion.
What happens in small blood vessels (capillaries and venules) can be literally and figuratively out of sight to most all physicians. Benfotiamine treatment of peripheral neuropathy has been in the medical literature since 1994+. There is very little recognition by the medical community, even in Germany where benfotiamine was synthesized of its efficacy in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy and other conditions."

Hi Dr. Davis,

I'm convinced that lectin proteins like wheat gluten are responsible for virtually all autoimmune diseases ......either via direct reaction, or via cytokine inflammation. I'm also convinced that these proteins are primary causes of cancer.

I've been reading how one of cancer's main metabolic pathways has cells importing free glutamine from the extracellular matrix. In an insulin resistant environment glutamine subverts the citric acid cycle, making it create mutated tissue instead of energy. Normally glutamine is held in the extracellular matrix by tissue transglutaminase (tTg). Glutamine becomes free when the immune system removes  tTg. This happens in people with wheat-caused autoimmunity.

Wheat is a prime cause of insulin resistance and of free glutamine. I'm convinced. Wheat causes cancer. There are important chemicals missing from this explanation, like mTOR, tyrosine, PKM2 and mRNA.

Just to be clear, back in 1999, I did eliminate wheat from my diet. But I also eliminated every other grain, along with anything containing added sugar. It wasn't until sometime around 2005 that I figured out that I needed to eliminate anything containing soy, along with vegetable oils. The wheat elimination resulted in the most immediate and remarkable results, as I wrote in a post entitled "A Story About Gluten" on my blog (guestdietblog.com), but the journey to my optimum health is not complete.

I am putting out "feelers" for a family practice physician with a clue, but so far, have come up empty. Your observation on the lack of whisteblowers in the industry, along with old cigarette commercials reminds me of an experience in my own childhood. Around the ripe old age of 6, I became dimly aware of the connection between my multiple allergies and my father's cigarette smoking. Our family doctor completely dismissed that connection, and told me I was allergic to "house dust," then took another drag on his cigarette (yes, in his office, in the presence of a young child). I endured another 10 years of completely useless allergy shots before getting up the gumption to tell the doctor where he could stick it next.

HI Might-o'chondri-AL. I'm very interested in getting my hands on the paper where you got that information. Do you think you could provide me the reference?
Thank you
Pedro

Dear Dr. Davis,

I and very interested in reading your book, but I'm still waiting for it to arrive from Amazon. Since I haven't read it yeat, I don't know if you have included in your book data from the DART Trial published in Lancet a long time ago.

We have recently pointed out that data in a review paper (and before our paper, Dr. Staffan Lindeberg had included it in his Food and Western Disease book and I believe Stephan Guyenet had also included it in his blog a few years ago), but unfortunately this data is forgotten by many nutrition researchers, who use epidemiology (which can't show cause and effect) and trials with soft end points to support whole grains.

The DART study was one of the very few human controlled dietary intervention trials with hard end-points, and it found a tendency towards increased cardiovascular mortality in the group advised to eat more fiber, the majority of which was derived from cereal grains [1]. Of relevance, this non-significant effect became statistically significant, after adjustment for possible confounding factors (such as medication and health state) [2].
There's also the Women's health Initiative trial.

Whenever someone throws epidemiology or trials with soft end points regarding whole grains and CVD, I would simply show the data from the DART study and the Women's health Initiative trial, because RCTs with hard end points are the best we have to draw significant conclusions and these seem to go against the grain, although I would like to see more RCTs where wheat or gluten grains in general is the only variable manipulated.

Pedro Bastos

I forgot the references regarding the DART study:

1.  Fish and the heart. Lancet. 1989 Dec 16;2(8677):1450-2

2.  Ness AR, Hughes J, Elwood PC, Whitley E, Smith GD, Burr ML. The long-term effect of dietary advice in men with coronary disease: follow-up of the Diet and Reinfarction trial (DART). Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jun;56(6):512-8

On a final note, I too believe that wheat (and perhaps also other gluten grains) are the main problem with grains and the reason why the DART study found that increasing fiber from whole grains had a negative cardiovascular outcome. In western countries, increasing whole grains normally means increasing whole gluten grains. IN many countries in Asia, the main grain is rice and not wheat and that could be another explanation for the better health profile of Asians compared to westerns.

We are trying to conduct a pilot study with a gluten, alcohol, dairy, trans and isolated sugar free diet, high in fish, vegetables and low fructose fruits in RA patients here in Portugal and we will allow them to eat rice and tubers (to be able to do this properly we have to compromise).

Purely hearsay anecdotal story from my dad. Last year, at the age of 65, He cut all grains and sugars from his formerly bread/pasta dominated diet and dropped 25 lbs in just 3-4 months. His sinus problems cleared up, many of which were apparently due to grain sensitivity. I had mentioned anti-grain literature (Rob Wolff et al.) to him, so can't help but take a bit of credit. Of course my Pops must have struggled mightily to ditch some things that had dominated his diet.  I will follow up with him on his blood work and see if he even needs to keep taking the statins he was on.

Hi Bob. Interesting connections.
Do you think you could provide me with some references, as they would be very useful for my work.
Thank you!

Hi, Court--

Anecdotal, yes, but very consistent with what I've witnessed over and over and over again.

Hi, Pedro--

Wow! That particular interpretation of the bothersome DART outcome had never occurred to me!

Please keep me informed on how/when/where of your study. I'd be very interested in your investigators and outcomes.

Hi, Howard--

Incredible. And to think that was only around 40-50 years ago. I still remember ashtrays in the hallways of the hospital for the doctors to put their ashes!

I'm with you, Bob. I've had that same suspicion that wheat is an extravagant cause of cancer.

Unfortunately, if you just compare white flour to whole wheat, whole wheat comes out shining. But NO wheat, I think we'd both predict, would come out as an important and miserably underappreciated risk for cancers of all sorts from mouth to anus.

Hi, DC--

We will be planning to cover this issue extensively in future. Thanks for asking!

Most cases of LADA diabetes get mis-diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Some of these diagnoses get corrected. Most don't.

LADA diabetes is the adult equivalent of type 1 juvenile diabetes. Typically it progresses over two to ten years. This slow progression helps mask the disease from diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, constant insulin release and elevated blood sugar. LADA diabetes is an autoimmune attack against the pancreas.

Low carb dieting, especially curbing wheat and fructose consumption, can curb the progression of both diabetes types. In this limbo LADA sufferers can show symptoms of type 2. This is where I'm at.

Dear Dr. Davis,
I almost died of undiagnosed coeliac disease, after a lifetime's following medically-prescribed, high-carbohydrate, wholegrain, low-calorie diets. By the time I was diagnosed I was 100lb overweight (despite my long periods of disciplined near-starvation), unable to breathe, unable to walk unassisted, unable to keep my balance owing to ataxia, barely able to see through my double-vision, unable to feel any of my limbs owing to nerve damage, doubly-incontinent,  agoraphobic, claustrophobic, depressed, anxious, and paranoid. (I used to be a live broadcaster, sought after for my humour and quick-wittedness.)  I was fatigued to a degree I never thought possible. I once stared at my computer for an entire day, unable to remember how to open a document, having previously taught computing to university standards. I  couldn't even hold my baby. I missed his entire babyhood and toddlerhood, having desperately wanted him. I didn't even have the strength to lift a newborn. I began to  suffer regular episodes of shock, all requiring the attendance of doctors, none of whom recognised the shaking, cold-sweating and collapsing as being related to the wholewheat sandwich I was usually eating when it happened. My organs began to be affected, one by one. I underwent surgeries in an attempt to control abdominal pain. I developed gallstones; the agony's only being relieved when one grew so large it lodged in Hartmann's (sp?)  pouch. According to my surgeon, one ovary and one kidney had effectively rotted. Investigations had to stop when I was found to have suffered massive internal injuries from an unexplained, peritonitis-like acute illness.  I was sewn up, and told that nothing could be done. The internet saved my life. I Googled my symptoms, and soon suspected autoimmune problems. A biopsy confirmed my suspicions. In the wake of my diagnosis, my two sons were able to be diagnosed with wheat and gluten intolerances, too. (My elder son was twenty three and autistic. He was depressed, vomiting after his breakfasts (cereal), had a giant beer gut (despite never having tasted alcohol), and the swollen ankles of a seventy year old drunk. My younger son, then nine, was so unfocused that I was being called in to school to explain his daydreaming and falling asleep in class. His fatigue was nearly misinterpreted as child neglect on my part - this for a child who asked to go to bed so early that he sometimes could not keep awake for his evening meal at 5pm. He had so little strength that his arms could not support his own tiny bodyweight, so he was never able to do gym or games, which was stigmatising.) Both my boys have vastly improved health now. The day after removing grains and gluten from my own diet I was able to see properly, and could get out of bed by myself. It has been a slow recovery, and I now know it will not be complete. I have been left disabled. But compared to the nightmare I lived before, my low-carb life is fabulous. I am proof that you are right. Wheat and other cereals are deadly to many, and, I believe, damaging to all. Biology is biology, and science is science. Why do other doctors, the food industry, and governments pay no attention to it?  My own experience was dramatic. Others are probably dying slowly, and by degrees. Doctors don't do gluten testing when they sign death certificates. Perhaps if they were allowed to, we would see what role grains are really playing in the lives, and deaths, of long- suffering people. I view them as poison, not nutrition. My own reactions to wholegrain ranged from kidney damage to fertility problems, via a skin coated in open, running sores - not forgetting the arthritis. What is it doing to others? Please let me know if I can ever stand beside you as proof of your arguments. In denying that toast and tortilla wraps almost killed me, that is also to deny the evidence in my medical notes, my ultrasound scans, and my xrays. And, for anyone still unconvinced, perhaps I could demonstrate my persisting inability to walk a straight line when I am tired,  my failure to get through a whole day without soiling myself, and - for a finale - give a tour of the horrific, cruel scars carved into my body in the name of grains? Sending warm wishes.

Sorry, I meant coeliac testing, not gluten testing.

PS I've lost 30lb already this year, without dieting, or perhaps I should say without counting a single calorie.

Yes, indeed: Not dieting, but removing this perverse product of genetics research called modern "wheat"!

Thank you, Ali, for having the strength to relive and retell your long struggles.

You are a reminder of the gravity of these issues. This is not about some diarrhea and cramps; this can be about incapacitating, life-ruining diseases that doctors often fail to recognize.

I would like to post your story in my Success Stories area. I will indeed need articulate people with powerful stories to bring to the broader media. Please let me know if you are interested.

I think you're barking up the wrong tree with this letter.  Or wheatstalk, rather   Mullen is a huge advertising agency. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullen_Advertising http://mullen]  As you can see from their client list, The Grain Foundation is like pretty small potatoes.  

Ms. Reynolds is the Mullen account executive and a registered dietician.  I assume  you've seen this? http://www.bakingbusiness.com/News/News%20Home/Business/2011/9/Foundation%20sets%20strategy%20to%20deal%20with%20Wheat%20Belly.aspx

Better to target The Grain Foundation's higher-ups.  http://www.gowiththegrain.org/about/  This is like so many industry PR-based groups purporting to bring "information based on sound science".  But private exchanges are of limited value, this will be public and it won't have anything to do with sound science or rational debate.  Just look at the member companies.  They still remember the distinct pain the industry suffered during the short-lived low-carb "fad".

They are going to bring out the big guns, it's just a matter of time.  Their goal will be to turn you into, well, toast   The upside is that they are worried enough that your book is on their radar.The downside is that they are worried enough that your book in on their radar.  But as they say, bad publicity is still publicity.  

Your strongest argument to the book-buying public isn't even justifying the science or counting studies cited, you can simply say "Be your own one-rat science experiment and try it for yourself for a month, then make up your own mind."  Savings will pay for the book and then some.

Good luck!

P.S. On Mullen's client list: the ADA (American Diabetes Association).

Hello Dr. Davis,
I will email you my full name and address for your own records, and so that we can arrange this offline.  You probably guessed that I posted without my full name only so that I could retain a modicum of privacy - after all, I am talking about my bodily functions on the internet! Because of the length of the post, I omitted other symptoms and illnesses that you may feel important to include in any story.  For example, according to my gastroenterologist, the severe latex allergy I developed, twelve years before being diagnosed with wheat and gluten intolerances, was attributable to coeliac disease's beginning its final rampage. It was a clue my GP, and even my consultant immunologist, missed at the time. Even putting aside all the functional bowel problems I still have, and the fibromyalgia that dictates I live my life in the one, precious hour a day I have energy, the anaphylaxis is "the biggie". I had to change my career to avoid running into rubber in the environment. I've been hospitalised for anaphylactic shock. I've survived some terrifying near-misses (always in hospitals or doctors' surgeries), and live a very restricted life because of it. I carry an adrenaline shot, and must be accompanied  everywhere new that I go: All from coeliac disease... all from bread...  all from grains.

Glad I might be of some help.

Ali

HI, Michia--

This reminds me of the movie, Michael Clayton: Layers of intrigue, bad people in high places plotting evil doings.

I'm putting my ear to all packages to listen for any ticking!

Thank you Dr. Davis. I read here every day, and I'm learning as much as I can.

With Dr. Davis's indulgence.....
Recently Dr. Davis blogged, saying that low dose naltrexone (LDN) causes wheat eaters to lose
weight. This weight loss happens because LDN blocks nerve endorphin receptors.

http://www.trackyourplaque.com/blog/2010/11/why-do-morphine-blocking-drugs-make-you-lose-weight.html

Wheat protein is a cornucopia of exogenous opioids which mimic endorphins. These exorphins
plug into cells and organ transduction nerves all over the body ......including pancreas islet cells.
Using LDN to block interaction between wheat and nerves restores control of metabolism.

A curious side effect of LDN is that it severely curtails the growth and spread of cancer.
http://fourfoldhealing.com/2010/06/10/a-holistic-approach-to-cancer/

Massive population study shows increased correlation between wheat and cancer
http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/07/07/the-china-study-fact-or-fallac/

Large scale study shows up to 5-fold increased cancer incidence among type 2 diabetics:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100521102629.htm

Beta endorphin in the human pancreas:
http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/49/4/649.abstract

Wheat causes insulin release:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7637543

Wheat causes insulin resistance:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=4510292&ordinalpos=7&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Cachexia is the underlying disease of cancer:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6145877

Cells become cancerous by fermenting sugar:
http://www.thecancerblog.org/blogs/permalinks/11-2009/warburg-effect-against-cancer.html

mTOR scouts for free glutamine:
http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674(08)01519-5

Afinitor chemotherapy works by inhibiting mTOR.
http://alberghi-portofino.info/page/49/

Glutaminolysis in tumor transformation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutaminolysis

tTg protects against cancer
http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/4/1/33

Wheat induces autoimmune attack against tTg.  It goes back so far that it's hard to nail down.
Anti-tTg antibodies, both IgA and IgG, are part of every celiac test panel.

Dr Davis,
Recently you blogged, saying that low dose naltrexone (LDN) causes wheat eaters to lose weight. This weight loss happens because LDN blocks nerve endorphin receptors.

http://www.trackyourplaque.com/blog/2010/11/why-do-morphine-blocking-drugs-make-you-lose-weight.html

Wheat protein is a cornucopia of exogenous opioids which mimic endorphins. These exorphins plug into cells and organ transduction nerves all over the body ......including pancreas islet cells. Using LDN to block interaction between wheat opioids and nerves restores control of metabolism.

A curious side effect of LDN is that it severely curtails the growth and spread of cancer.
http://fourfoldhealing.com/2010/06/10/a-holistic-approach-to-cancer/

A massive population study shows increased correlation between wheat and cancer
http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/07/07/the-china-study-fact-or-fallac/

A arge scale study shows up to 5-fold increased cancer incidence among type 2 diabetics:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100521102629.htm

Beta endorphin in the human pancreas:
http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/49/4/649.abstract

Wheat causes insulin release:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7637543

Wheat causes insulin resistance:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=4510292&ordinalpos=7&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Cachexia is the underlying disease of cancer:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6145877

Cells become cancerous by fermenting sugar:
http://www.thecancerblog.org/blogs/permalinks/11-2009/warburg-effect-against-cancer.html

mTOR scouts for free glutamine:
http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674(08)01519-5

Afinitor chemotherapy works by inhibiting mTOR.
http://alberghi-portofino.info/page/49/

Glutaminolysis in tumor transformation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutaminolysis

tTg protects against cancer
http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/4/1/33

Wheat inducement of autoimmune attack against tTg goes back so far that it's hard to nail down. Anti-tTg antibodies, both IgA and IgG, are part of every celiac test panel.

I am 78 year old who has been on the Ornish reversal diet for 21 years, thinking that if it could reverse heart disease that it must be good for the long-term.  Boy from what I have learned in the last 3 months since my son put me on to limiting carbs shows just how wrong I was.  In the meantime, in the last 10 years I have developed a partially blocked artery, the rhymbus intermedius (which I may have misspelled).  (I have had two catheterizations, in 2000 and 2009, after suspicious stress tests. In neither case did the catheterization confirm the doctor's suspicion.  No blockage at all in 2000.)  I may not have been following the latest version of the diet, since I understand that Ornish said stay away from at least some wheat.  I was eating rolls and bread in great quantity.  Now two points:  Despite my diet, I was not overweight.  I am 72.5 inches tall and weighed about 158.  Nor do I have yet developed Type II diabetes, though my fasting glucose is around 100.  (In the 1960's I was diagnosed as a borderline diabetic and underwent numerous glucose tolerance testing, but after starting distance running my fasting glucose has always been OK.  I have no idea yet how high the glucose spike goes now or went before I starting limiting carbs.  My more normal weight may be because I have always been a heavy exerciser, once running up to 40 miles a week.  Now I get aerobic exercise virtually every day and lift weights three days a week.  I walk over 4 miles 4 days a week over hilly streets and use an aerobic machine at the gym for 20 to 30 minutes at a pretty high level, despite being on atenolol to control supra ventricular tachycardia (spelling?) and blood pressure.  My HR gets into the mid 120's.  Before the SVT, I routinely achieved a HR of 150.  Now since I started controlling carbs and eating meat for the first time since 1990 I have lost almost 10 pounds in about 6 weeks and I haven't felt hungry.  Of course, I stopped eating a big bowl of popcorn or a bowl of shredded wheat and grape nuts covered with raisins as an evening "snack".  Before, I really needed four high-carb meals a day to keep my weight up to 158 or so.   I have pretty much eliminated wheat, but fresh sweet corn on the cob is still in season, though I have cut back on that also.  No more oatmeal covered with shredded wheat grape nuts and raisins for breakfast either.  Obviously I must have cut my calories significantly.  Now I guess I am going to have to start counting calories and maybe add a much more calorie rich snack in the evening.  Any comments?

Hi, Sam--

It sounds like someone needs to help you conduct a metabolic analysis on your current status. It's really quite easy.

It should include measures like HbA1c, glucose, and lipoproteins. Also, strongly consider apo E. You will then know what the ideal balance of carbs/protein/fat is.

Hi, Bob-

Sherlock Holmes would have a field day with wheat, wouldn't he? Fingerprint, footprints, motive, opportunity . . . wheat sure looks guilty to me!

I thought you sounded awfully smart!

Thanks, DC.

I see my PCP October 3.  I don't think I reported that in February my cardiologist put me on simvastatin. After noticing pains in both calves and an inability to lift as much in the gym as before, I stopped simvastatin about July 15.  I told my cardiologist on August and he wasn't happy.  He obviously believes in statins and referred me to the Heart Protection Study (Lancet, 2002?), which I found unconvincing.  Because of the statin I have had two recent blood tests, but they did not include HbA1c (see below) or apo E.  The statin brought my total cholesterol from 187 to 133 and my Trig. from 130 to 83.  My fasting glucose was 94 mg/dl.  It was 102 on 08/11/2010 and 115 on 01/19/2010 which seems borderline high. Other values from the test about 3 weeks before I stopped the statin:  HDL 40 mg/dl (about as high as I have ever measured since the Ornish diet); LDL 131 to 76.2 mg/dl:ALT 23 U/L: AST 28 U/L; CK 62 U/L; Hemoglobin A1C 5.6% IIs this the same as HbAic?)    The previous numbers are from 02/09/2011 except for glucose.  From what I've read, total Cholesterol below 160 is associated with increased canser risk and also that the elderly love longer with higher cholesterol.  In any case I won't risk a statin also damaging my heart, which being a muslce also must be vunerable.  I also want to know what my small dense LDL is and I would like also to be able to monitor my glucose to see what I can eat without huge spikes in blood glucose.  I suspect I may have been spiking well above 150 and that over the years could have lead to my partial blockage.  I sent my PCP a letter with documention to tell him that I stopped simvastatin and that I have changed my diet to low carbohydrate, though I'm not quite there yet.  I referenced Ravnskov's book, but since have erad Su's and have ordered Wheat Belly which I shall have read before I see him.  I'll have them all with me in case he is interested.  I suspect he is pretty conventional not into low carb.  I am counting on him to at least cooperate with my experiment and prescribe the necessary blood tests.  I consulted with a Highmark dietician and it became clear that I know more about modern diet science than she did.  We are dominated here in Pittsburgh by big medical UPMC and Highmark.  I have read Dr. Ufe Ravnskov's and Dr. Su's books and now think that medical-diet science is just as corrupt as climate-change science, which I have been studying for 5 years.  After being a high-carb Ornish-diet guy for 21 years, I have now changed to at least restricted carb.  I just need to get my wife to read the books and other references to make things easier.  As I said above, I have to eat more meat to keep my weight around 150.  Today I enjoyed my first Big Mac (without the bun) for lunch in a long time! Thanks for your response.

Yup, Sam: You will find that YOU know more about nutrition than your doctors and dietitians . . . combined!

You are well on the right track. Your HbA1c of 5.6% tells all: You have been overexposed to carbohydrates that have led to high triglycerides, reduced HDL, and small LDL lurking beneath the surface.

Don't forget your vitamin D!

At least he has that right.  My PCP when I first transferred to him from my previous PCP (who was drinking erratic, and may now be out of practice, but otherwise a very knowledbable guy) he tested for D and I and my wife now take 2,000 units a day of D3.  What should HbA1c be?  5.6% is right in the middle of the "acceptable" range on the test report.

Thanks

I don't see how those people on the 6 servings website sleep at night in the face of such overwhelming evidence. And all they have is "appeal to authority" arguments.

I guess they sleep as well as the tobacco industry.

They want to ignore all the issues associated with wheat consumption by saying that there are nutrients in it? Wow. That's an intelligent rebuttal. lol.

Good for you for standing your ground here against the Grain Food Foundation.

Well played Doc.

-JK

Thanks, JK.

Yes, I found their arguments fairly silly. I've had better debates with 5-year olds.

Yes, indeed, Dave. They are scrambling to carry out damage control from attacks coming from several directions. Then, all of a sudden, this cinderblock hits them on the side of the head called "Wheat Belly."

I almost--almost--feel sorry for them.

How much of the wheat now eaten is GMO?  The hybrid "dwarf" high yielder - hybrid or GMO, both???

Hi, Anita--

Surprisingly, none. But let me qualify.

Genetic modification refers to the insertion or deletion of a gene or genes. Wheat has not been genetically-modified. But here's where the geneticsts start to play games. Wheat has been the recipient of "traditional breeding methods" that includes extensive hybridization (with other wheat strains and non-wheat grasses), back crossing to bring out specific genetic traits, chemical mutagenesis (using toxic chemicals to induce mutations), gamma irradiation, and high-dose x-ray. Ironically, these "traditional breeding methods" are WORSE than genetic-modification, but have been going on for 50 years and are still being used--but not questioned or scrutinized.

Dr. Davis,

Do you recommend eating other types of grains besides wheat? Like oats, quinoa, brown rice, etc? I am a vegan so I get a lot of my protein from things like quinoa in addition to beans and soy. I am also a medical student so I was very interested when I ran across your book. I have noticed that gluten-free foods have recently become very popular and I was wondering why all of these people suddenly realized that they had celiac disease. One other question, is it the gluten protein that is causing all of this trouble or other components of wheat? Thank you.

Taylor

Hi, Taylor--

A common point of confusion: It is NOT about celiac disease or gluten intolerance. It is about a variety of reactions to this corrupt and genetically-manipulated thing called wheat.

I would refer you to my Wheat Belly Blog, as well as the book, Wheat Belly, for further discussion.

Sometimes I think having celiac disease is one of the best things in my life; I have no more joint pain and enough energy to do sprint triathlons (started at age 42) and now CrossFit (at age 46).  Sadly, I wonder how much of this grain focussed diet contributed to my mother's dementia.

Hello Dr Davis,

Interesting post about hard and soft plaque.  I recently had a discussion with my GP regarding my serious increase in scan score (Jan 2006 = 235, Nov 2007 = 419).  

After the first scan we started aggressively going after my LDL, HDL and Trig.. 196,59,221

And have them down to 103, 65, 92 - we still have a way to go to 60/60/60 -

So the increase is a suprise, but my doctor said that the increase could in part be cause some of the soft plaque had been converted to hard plaque and the scan would show that conversion.

Does hard plaque register more than soft?

Thanks for what you  are doing.

Hi, Dave--

I'm glad your doctor is working with you on gaining better control over your plaque growth.

However, there is no such thing as soft plaque converting to hard plaque to increase calcium scores.

Think of it this way: Calcium is a surrogate measure of TOTAL plaque, both soft and hard. In the majority of settings, there is little advantage to characterizing soft vs. hard.

To seize better control, don't neglect: 1) hidden lipoprotein patterns, 2) vitamin D. Also see  our report "10 steps to take if your heart scan score increases more than 10% per year" at http://trackyourplaque.com/library/fl_02-006tensteps-2.asp.

Good luck!

Dr Davis,

Thanks for the response.

  I wonder if you are seeing any trends that indicate a "flywheel" or momentum in the creation of plaque.  I notice you have some patients that take two years or more to stop the growth.  

Starting point Jan 06 - score=236
Quit smoking - Jan 06
Vitamin D - taking 1200
Lost 20 #'s (5'11)=195
Exercise 40min 4x
Fish Oil = 1600 DHA+EHA
Crestor = 10mg
baby aspirin
Basic good diet - no processed foods
Oatmeal and blueberries/raisins everyday.

This month = score=419

After last scan
just added Zetia
Just quit all wheat products
Considering quiting redwine - I tend to have 3-4 glasses versus the recommended 2
Doctor is still saying no to L-arginine (not enough studies)
Considering Niaspan

Any comments?

Thanks again - Dave K

P.S. One more question... maybe this should be a separate post.  Do we know the exact connection between smoking and plaque?  Does it lower LDL size, lower HDL - iritate the lining of the vessels? Is it just elevated blood pressure?  What did my thirty years of smoking do to my heart (versus lungs)?

Hi, Dave--

I'm afraid there's too much to cover in this Blog. You will need lipoprotein testing and almost certainly require more than a baby-dose of vitamin D to gain better control over plaque growth. This rate of growth, however, is very concerning.  

I would invite you to look at the hundreds of pages of discussion on the www.trackyourplaque.com website devote to just this question.

Thanks Again Dr Davis,

I have poured over your website and I'm still reading.  I plan to make your list of turn around "stars".

BTW - here is the comment from my GP - sounds exactly like the cardiologist you mentioned in the original post.

"Remember that although your coronary calcium score has gone up, this does not mean that you are at greater risk than you were a year ago.  Remember that the most dangerous plaque is the not-yet calcified soft plaque, which will not show up on an EBT.  It is only the safe, calcified plaque that can be measured with the EBT.   For your score to go up like it did, while your lipids came down so much, what had to happen was that lots of dangerous unstable plaque was converted to stable, calcified plaque.    There are no accepted guidelines for interpreting changes in calcium scores over time, because the scores tend to go up as treatment converts dangerous plaque to safer plaque.    We do know that aggressively lowering LDL reduces both unstable and stable plaque, and we know that risk can be further lowered by adjuvant therapy such as I listed above. "

Sigh . . .

It's amazing what a simple reading of the literature by your doctor would reveal to him/her.

In near future, I will be posting some blogs that summarize crucial studies in the heart scan literature in an effort to provide better weapons in your fight.

Dr Davis,

Thanks again for all you are doing and I look forward to whatever you can post.  I plan to challenge some of my GPs positions.  Your data certainly is of enormous value.

Dave K

P.S. I going to 2000 vit "D" tomorrow.

Also - have you thought about a "track-your-plaque" certification.  Something to indicate that our Drs are at least up to speed on the latest in *preventative* proceedures...?  I would switch.....

Hi, Dave--

Yes, excellent thought.

It is something we'd like to aim for, but over the long term, since right now there are too few to make a difference. One by one, they are declaring themselves and separating from the "pack."

Stay tuned for more on this issue. In the meantime, I continue to try and inform my colleagues about what is right, what is wrong, what is preferable for patient safety and yields truly empowering information, and try to impress on them that the practice of cardiology is not just about enriching their retirement accounts.

This time last year I started taking 4,000 ius of D3 per day. Four months later I had a 25(OH)D test and the result was 154 ng/ml. I had to stop taking the D immediately as my alkaline phosphatase levels had got too high.

Two months later with no D3 and no sun my 25(OH)D had dropped to more normal levels and I resumed taking the D3 last August but this time at 2,000 ius per day. I continue to take 2,000 ius per day. I don't get any sun. My last measurement of 25(OH)D was 62 ng/ml. My HDL is 93 and my triglycerides 53. Maybe I'm unusual ? My endocrinologist was very surprised I must say.

Anne

I take 3000 IU's daily and my D level is 52.  I'm also 2 months pregnant.  Is it safe for my pregnancy to continue taking higher levels of Vitamin D and should I up my dosage?  Baby books of course recommend a very low dose citing potential overdose at higher levels. I haven't asked my OB yet.

Dr. Davis,
Good to know the right dosage for Vitamin D. But if mere addition of it results in all the things you listed, how do you explain the high incidence of CVD in a country like India where the sun shines 12 months a year.

Thank you Dr. Davis for all the articles on Vitamin D, as well as all the other useful information you provide!  We truly appreciate it.

Happy New Year!

I primary care physician raised his eye brows when I told him I was supplementing with 8IU of Vitamin D. (Carlson Vitamin D gelcaps)

I just received my the results of my blood test. My vitamin D level is 25NG/ML - I hate to see what my levels would be like with zero supplementation.

Joe E O

Anonymous,
Don't forget --exposure to sunlight doesn't guarantee vitamin D activation in the body. This is dependent on several factors, including things like age and darkness of the skin. The darker the skin, the less vitamin D will be made in the body. If those in India are not supplementing with vitamin D, chances are good that they aren't making enough from whatever UVB exposure they have.

Just my two cents.

David

I take 8000IU of D3. So far my head has not exploded nor have I turned in to a newt.

Why this amount? I am over 40, I am still a little over weight (down over 40 lbs), and I have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

I began supplementing last Winter at 2000IU. I stopped when Summer hit because I actually got some sun. Due to taking the supplements, I could go outside without bursting in to flames for the first time since I was a kid!!!

Elise said:
I take 3000 IU's daily and my D level is 52. I'm also 2 months pregnant. Is it safe for my pregnancy to continue taking higher levels of Vitamin D and should I up my dosage? Baby books of course recommend a very low dose citing potential overdose at higher levels. I haven't asked my OB yet.

The baby books are probably very wrong.  A new study in Clinical Endocrinology reports that...women with 25(OH)D <37.5 nmol/L were almost 4 times as likely to have a cesarean than women with 25(OH)D ≥37.5 nmol/L (AOR 3.84; 95% CI 1.71 to 8.62).
Full link:
http://tr.im/2rnz

I also read somewhere that if you breastfeed, your milk will not contain any D3 until your blood levels are above 50 (ie, if you don't supplement enough, your body conserves all D3 for itself, sharing none with your infant.)

(Unfortunately, I don't have the link to that study.)

In the first post Anne says that she is able to keep her vitamin D level at 62 with 2000 IU's. I got my level to 42 in the summer, but this fell to 24ng/ml during the winter even though I was using 2000 IU's. I am now supplementing with 5000 IU and will test again soon. My oral supplementation of D needs to be higher in the winter than in the summer.

Elise ~ congratulations on your pregnancy. There are recent articles showing a possible link between low vitamin D and higher C-section rates and higher risk of pre-eclampsia.

Elise- Pregnant women need Vitamin D and your level should be greater than 60 ng/mL.

Having an optimal Vitamin D level could help prevent preeclampsia. Plus, your baby NEEDS Vitamin D for normal development and has no way of getting it except through you.

Google "Vitamin D philadelphia pregnancy study" and see about the research done re: Vit D and pregnancy.

My Primary care doc recommends 6,000 IU/daily for pregnant patients. He draws Vit D and calcium blood levels every 3 months.

Your OB will likely not recommend much- OBs live in the dinosaur ages. It's by far the slowest specialty to adapt to medical news.

Google Vitamin D and pregnancy and read up- you'll find that it's perfectly safe (and in fact, will help your infant immensely) to stay on optimal doses of D.

My sister took 10,000 IU daily during pregnancy, so did a RN at our office.  

Best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy

I just had a very interesting experience, but keep in mind: this is purely anecdotal.

I've been taking 6k IU per day for a few months and I'll soon get tested to see what my level is. However, week before last was the holiday party week and I was at parties like 5 days in a row, LOTS of drink (scotch, mostly), staying up late, getting up early, etc.

Predictably, I came down with a cold. On that first day, with that odd scratchy feeling in the back of my throat, I did 18k units of D. Next morning, no symptoms, to the point I though I might be mistaken about a cold coming on. Next morning, bang, the nose starts running, sneezes, but very mild -- like 25% of a cold. 18K units again, and within hours, no more symptoms. Next morning, same thing with the runny nose, so I did another 18K units and within a few hours all symptoms were gone, it's now almost a week later and they have not returned.

I almost can't wait to catch another cold just to see if I can duplicate.

BTW, I stumbled on some amazing epidemiological info on D, and did a series of posts on it yesterday:

http://www.freetheanimal.com/root/2008/12/epidemic-influenza-and-vitamin-d.html

http://www.freetheanimal.com/root/2008/12/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-type-1-diabetes.html

http://www.freetheanimal.com/root/2008/12/melanoma-sun-and-its-synthetic-defeat-sunscreen.html

http://www.freetheanimal.com/root/2008/12/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-all-cancer.html

Very interesting indeed, Richard. I had a similar experience recently.

It was a few days before Thanksgiving, and I felt myself getting sick. Not with a cold, but with the flu. I got a 102 degree fever and felt awful. I remembered Dr. Cannell and Dr. Mercola talking about "stoss" therapy, so I calculated an "influenza dose" based on my body weight. I took around 150,000 IU once per day for three days. On the morning of the third day, I was completely better and was able to eat Thanksgiving dinner with my family. All in all, I had the flu for TWO DAYS. Amazing. I've never recovered from a severe illness that fast. In the past, I have always been very slow to recover. Incredible stuff.

My experiments last winter and this one with high doses of D at the first sign of a cold have been very similar, though I have been using 8-12,000iU of D3 (Carlson Solar Gems 4000iU x 3 each morning for my husband and I, x 1 for my son).  The past week we were visiting family members some of whom had a cold that was catchy, and so far, we haven't caught the cold.  Of course, they were skeptical of the Vit D boosting the immune system, etc.

Richard,  

your experience where Vitamin D appears to eradicate cold symptons is similar to my experience.

In past winters I always experienced major colds - typically three to five during the months of November through April.  Usually they would last a couple of weeks each.

Late Spring 2008 I learned about the critical importance of vitamin D3.  Now I supplement between 6,000 IU and 8,000 IU per day, and my 25(OH)D level floats in the 60 - 80 ng/ml range.  

This year, sofar, I have had three experiences where I thought I caught a cold with typical symptoms.   In each case the symptoms seemed to get worse during the first day, but completely resolved within 24 hours.  No additional medication or supplementation of anyting, except the regular 6k - 8k IU D3.

With research indicating that vitamin D is critical to a strong immune system, my sense is that the cold virus still attacks, but has no change to survive when the immune system is strong, enabled by means of adequate Vitamin D.

By the way, my four year old son also has no persistent cold symptons this year, no ear infections.  Such relief!

It is great to see that vitamin D does much more than enusring the cold virus cannot survive.  The strong immune system it allows our bodies to build, appears to reduce all kinds of inflammation (CVD link) and cellular problems.

Arnoud

Hi Dr. Davis,

I am having a physical soon, which labs/tests would you recommend that I ask my physician to order?

Thanks in advance.

-Patrik

Regarding the epidemiological aspect of 52, check out the last image on my post the other day about vitamin d and all cancer:

http://www.freetheanimal.com/root/2008/12/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-all-cancer.html

I've had a similar experience to Anonymous.
I'm currently taking 10k a day and I never had the flu in 2008 (and I usually get it without fail once a year minimum).
However there were times close to the 5th day (I take my D as 50k once every 5 days) where I'd feel I was getting something. But by the time I took the next dose I was fine. The flu didn't really get to develop, but the next dose seemed to get rid of it.

Can taking an oil-based vitamin D-3 supplement
in the range of 2,000-5,000 IU per day spike liver enzymes AST and/or ALT ???

"Can taking an oil-based vitamin D-3 supplement in the range of 2,000-5,000 IU per day spike liver enzymes AST and/or ALT ???"

Just ran across this study recently, and thought it might have some application here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17823429

These were specifically people with MS, but it's noteworthy that they mention in passing that liver enzymes were unchanged with D3 doses at 28,000 to 280,000 IU per week.

It seems very unlikely to me that vitamin D at that dose would cause a spike in liver enzymes...

Elise,

I did not realize that I was pregnant until Week 6 of pregnancy.  During Week 4 and Week 5, I took one 50,000 IU dose of a vitamin D prescription. I can't find much info on whether this overdose is likely to cause birth defects.  I stopped taking it after week 5.  Was your baby healthy after taking your 3,000 IU's during pregnancy?  If anyone has any info, I appreciate it because I am so worried about this!

Anonymous said...

    Elise,

    I did not realize that I was pregnant until Week 6 of pregnancy. During Week 4 and Week 5, I took one 50,000 IU dose of a vitamin D prescription. I can't find much info on whether this overdose is likely to cause birth defects. I stopped taking it after week 5. Was your baby healthy after taking your 3,000 IU's during pregnancy? If anyone has any info, I appreciate it because I am so worried about this!

Anonymous: I'm almost 5 months pregnant now and all tests show the baby is healthy, and I'm still taking D at a dose of 4,000 IU per month.  I'm due to get my blood levels tested again but I'm not worried any more after doing some research specifically on pregnancy and vitamin D supplementation.  I wouldn't do the high doses weekly as you were previously doing but I wouldn't discontinue taking the D if I were you (keep your levels in the high normal range and keep testing). I'm 40 with my first baby and became pregnant after trying for a while - only after I had been supplementing D for a few months and it could be what made the difference in conceiving.  A very nice reply from Mike V. from a related post gave me this link: http://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/VitDGenScience/Hollis%20vit%20D%20pregnacy.pdf
Hope that helps and good luck!

Elise,  Thank you so much for the response. I feel better. I also visited a prenatal specialist and they put my mind at east as well.  I am not going to take the 50,000 IU dosage during the remainder of pregnancy.

Well, I had posted a while back that I took 50,000 IU doses of vitamin D early in my pregnancy because I had not yet known that I was pregnant.  I had a miscarriage today.  I'm so sad.

Anonymous,
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Elise

There are good data showing that vitamin D protects against colds and flu. Indeed the Canadians are running studies with vitamin D to determine if it can reduce the indcidence of N1H1, Here is a link a to a recent article that covers these data:
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs026/1102452079631/archive/1102685428884.html
and take a look at www.vitaminD3world.com for some good summaries of the data in general

Everybody should get their Vitamin D level tested, because we are all so different. I was at 40 with 4000 IU of D3 a day. I doubled it to 8000 IU of D3 and, after 6 months, my level is only 52! I read that 10,000 IU per day was the new safe upper limit. I am going up to 10,000 now, but I wonder if it would be safe to take more than that. I really want to get up to the 80ish level. Why settle for 50% less chance of cancer? 90% less sounds much better to me. I wonder why I need so much more D3 than others. I am older and fatter than average; maybe that is the reason.

I am going to start taking 4000 IU a day of Vitamin D3 for my Rosacea.

My doctor wants me to take 10,000 units a day of Vitamin D. But where can I find any in mega doses so I can avoid spending my entire day taking Vitamin D? So far, can't find anything higher than 400 units.

I've been buying 5,000 IU caps at vitacost.com for about $17 for 365.

They're making them stronger these days so it shouldn't be too hard to find.  Probably vitamin shoppe, GNC, etc. carry them as well.

DeBorah Beatty,

More stores are starting to carry higher dose Vit D, but I've noticed the supermarkets and drug stores are lagging behind.  I'm seeing 1000iU and 2000iU doses creeping on to those shelves, but frankly, even with the increasing awareness of the need for more Vit D, the options are still quite limited in these retail establishments (and are too often the tablets, which may be cheaper, but may not absorb as well).  Be sure to ask for the higher doses so the managers who order know people are looking for them.  I also have found the chain supermarkets and drug stores don't necessarily have the best prices or brands.

When shopping at "brick & mortar" stores, I've had the best luck finding better prices and higher dose Vit D3 (2500-5000+iU) at specialty vitamin businesses (such as Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, and independent vitamin shops) and in the vitamin depts of "health food" and "natural food" grocery stores, such as Whole Foods and similar local chains.

Online shopping will provide you with the best options for both price and selection.  There are many good options.   Ted Hutchinson's Vit D3 blog (http://vitamind3.blogspot.com/) often lists good online sources and deals on Vit D3 in the higher doses you want.  

Last year I purchased Bio-Tech 5000iU dose D3 from the Drs Eades Protein Power website (www.proteinpower.com) for a great price ($8 for 100 capsules).  These capsules are a dry-powder in a gel cap (not a hard tablet) and I seem to get just a good a 25(OH)D result as when taking an oil gelcap.  The bottles are small and light-weight, so they don't take up much storage or packaging room.  For the same shipping cost as 1 bottle, I bought 10 or 11 bottles before going to a high shipping price - enough D3 for a year for myself (I take 5000iu daily) and some to send to my MIL and SIL in London.  The Eades' Protein Power site also sells Bio-Tech's D3 in 50,000iU (that's equivalent to the Rx dose) capsules, 12 qty for $18, which is a good way to get a low 25(OH)D up fast.

My 2 year old and I had the same experience with taking larger amounts of Vitamin D and staying well while exposed to sickness. My husband came home with the Swine flu a few months ago. I was 7 weeks pregnant at the time. My Dr. told me to take Tamiflu immediately. I was concerned about taking a Cat C drug while pregnant so, instead I started to take around 10,000 IU of Vitamin D. My daughter took about 5,000 IU (cherry chew-ables). We got the common cold out of it but we never got a fever above 98.8 and that only lasted 1.5 days. My husband was out for days and the two people who, theoretically have the lower immune systems stayed well! I owe it all to taking Vitamin D. We continue to take it daily to prevent getting any flu that comes around, especially since I'm more pregnant and I'm not planning on getting my H1N1 vaccine.

I inquired with a Vitamin D researcher regarding megadoses of Vitamin D (e.g. 50,000) and he informed me those are usually D2 not D3, one's slower acting and the other faster acting.  Be sure you're comparing apples to apples.

After read this post I think that it is good to take high dose of vitamin D?

I live at latitude 38.72 just south of Annapolis, MD. On Nov. 10,2009 my 25(OH)D test revealed my D level at 50 ng/ml. I'm a blonde, light skinned, 58 year old male, weight 137, height 5'7".
Immediately after the test I began to supplement with 10,000 IU D3 per day in addition to the 400 IU in my multivitamin. I took this high-D3 dosage every day through the winter and on March 19,2010 my 25(OH)D test revealed my result as 64 ng/ml. On this date I decreased my D3 to 5,000 IU per day (+ 400 IU from multi) and intend to stay at that dosage until my next test, which I plan to take in mid August. I do not sunbathe and I go swimming maybe once a week. I get an average amount of exposure during the warm months while mowing the lawn and just going outdoors to go to the store or walking my dogs.
I also get 1,000 mg of calcium and 500 mg magnesium per day - my calcium level is 2.45 mmol/L and my total cholesterol is 147 mg/dL. I do not follow any speial diet other than eating everything in moderation and balancing veggies, fruits, grains, meats and seafoods. I do however avoid trans-fats and instead use coconut and palm oils as well as butter and olive oils. I also supplement with a complete EFA and 1200 mg of Lecithin daily.
I hope this helps others make a determination where to start with their high dose D3 supplementation.

Dr. Davis,
I am 21 years old and have a level of vitamin D of 25. My doctor told me that was very low and put me on 2 pills a week of 50,000 units of supplements and also 5,000 units a day. Is this normal or safe? I just really need a second opinion because I feel like it is a lot.

Thanks, Maddy

I had low D (14).  My doc put me on 50000/mo (D2??).  After 2+ years, little effect.  Found www.vitamindcouncil.org and got educated.  For every 1000iu (D3) intake, you should see a 7-10 ng/ml serum increase.  So I started (again) at 18ng/ml and am taking an extra 5000iu/day.  It is all going as expected.  After 6 months I am up to 38ng/ml.  On the liver enzyme issue, I drink alcohol and have noticed NORMAL enzyme levels now after my D3 intake...even when drinking the night BEFORE my blood test.  Interesting.  Hope this helps somebody.....

Here's my experience regarding testing:

I test my D3 level twice a year, at the end of winter (April) and the end of summer (October) and then adjust the amount of D3 I take depending on the results.

Living in a northern state (WIS) and getting outdoors in shirtsleeves in the summer a lot, I find that I need about 5,000 IU in the winter months and 1,000 IU in the summer months to maintain a level around 70 ng/ml.

So far, I've tested four times over two years and I may adjust both the summer dose and the winter dose just a bit after another year of tests, but I think I'm homing in on the amount I need. Everyone is different and everyone should attempt similar testing, in my opinion. Each test costs about $70 and I pay it myself.

Side note: It's also supposed to help with psoriasis. For 25 years or so, I've had a psoriasis-like itching/redness develop almost monthly in my moustache and hairline that one application of Head & Shoulders would bring under control for about a month. Obviously it's not a serious case of psoriasis. Nevertheless, I started the vit D3 supplementation three years ago and haven't used the Head & Shoulders since.

So is a vitamin d level of 85 ng/mL something to worry about? Should one continue taking 2000 IU a day of vitamin d3?

-Young people (not older people >40 years old, who have lost most of the capacity to activate vitamin D in the skin) who obtain several days to weeks of tropical sun typically have 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood levels of 80-100 ng/ml without adverse effect.

Fall 2009 I had done 25(OH) D-test which revealed my D level at 32 ng/ml (36 y/o Female). My “old school “doctor told me that there is a little that I can do about it since we live in Canada and during Fall/Winter we have almost no exposure to sun. I was not satisfied with answer that there is little that we can do and did some research on line about it.
As of today I am taking about 15,000 IU/day of D3 (3 tiny gel pills – Spring Valley brand @ Wal-Mart $6.00 per 100 pills) and my D level is barely 45 ng/ml.
I am also working with public at Major International Airport, so we are constantly exposed disease (like TB, HEP-C, N1H1 on daily basis). First year working I managed to get Kidney infection, 3x cold, 1x flue and  weeks long cough. Now I am working with gloves and when I am feeling that I may get flu I will double dosage to 30,000 IU/Day + 400 IU Ginseng. In 2010 I was not sick all.
I must say I can see Significant improvement on my skin (suffering from Psoriasis). Also good prevention for breast, colon cancer, hypoglycemia and development of Type 1 Diabetes that is in my family history.
However, since some articles suggesting that high dosage of D3 may assist with weight lost finding difficult locate this bottle (5,000 IU) and be available on shelf, but I can order it on-line from Wal-Mart at any time.

I'm 32 weeks pregnant and when my doctor heard that I am supplementing with vitamin D3, she was very concerned and advised against it. I had my D3 levels checked about a month ago and they were 25 ng/mL, which makes me vitamin D3 deficient. I had been taking 4000 IU of vitamin D3 for about 3 months by then, and decided to take 6000 IU from that day on, because I was concerned that 4000 IU is too low for me and that my baby and that I needed more so that my D3 levels could reach the optimum of 50-80 ng/mL). In the meantime I've read more on the subject because I got a cold and am worried a bit about the flu (didn't want to get vaccinated), so now I'm taking 10000 IU/day. Is that too much?! I don't have anyone else to seek advice from, my doctors have no idea about the new research and would freak out if I told them how much I'm taking. I plan to breastfeed and I want to do what's best for my baby... 4000 IU was obviously not an adequate dose for me since after 3 months of taking it my levels were 25 ng/mL, right? Thank you in advance.

Anonymous,
I took 3000 while pregnant and my level was 52, but I had been taking that level for a while before I became pregnant - not sure how long you've been supplementing.  Anyway, my advice to you would be to find a doctor who is well versed in vitamin d supplementation (call around or search the internet) and is willing to help you monitor your levels, and you could keep your current doctor as well (I'm assuming the one you're referring to is your OB).  Also, get retested now to make sure your levels are really that low, as lab results are sometimes wrong.  I don't know if it was the vitamin d, but after I started taking it I was able to get pregnant, had an uneventful pregnancy and vaginal birth - (no need to be induced).  I've had a couple of colds that were over more quickly than they used to be, but no flu.  My son who is now 1 1/2 takes about 1200 IU's of D - they come in drops that are easy to mix in food.  He's had one short cold that lasted for 24 hours and roseola but no flu and bounced right back. Vitamin D has helped us so much but it doesn't mean you'll never get sick - a lot less and a lot less severe though.  If you're getting leg cramps at night, try pickle juice. Good luck!

Brilliant blog.

More people need to be aware theat suggested doagsages are often well short of the mark.

A recent publication suggestes that doses of 4000-8000 IU are required daily to amintain optimal levels.

check out the study, and video here:
http://www.timeforwellness.org/blog-view/you-need-a-lot-more-vitamin-d-than-you-think-178

"My bet is that it's both."
I second this. See Guess who didn't look after his brain?
Cheers, Nige.

Dr. Grimes is a great man. He took a bit of time out to answer a few of my questions by email.

Thank you for the great site. I have learned much from coming here. I recently purchased some vitamin D3 and krill oil. What would be the proper dose per day?
Thank you.

Dear Dr Davis,

I had no idea that fish contained a lot of vitamin D, I knew they contained some but I didn't think it was a lot - maybe this explains my continuing over high 25(OH)D results  - currently 250 nmol/L (100 ng/dl). I only take 2,000 IU D3 per day but I eat lots of oily fish ! I eat a can of sardines every day and large portions of salmon and seabass several times per week. If this is why my 25(OH)D is so high that would be something important to inform my endocrinologist about.

Anne

Ummm, but vitamin D elevates HDL cholesterol and statins do not elevate HDL. This analogy is confusing for me at this point, isnt it?

It has been great to find this blog, I support time ago Omega3 EPA DHA and Vitamin D3 supplementation and also I am LEF member time ago, in whose magazine I have read great articles by Dr Davis. Congratulations from Europe.

Thinking about that analogy, well statins could active vitamin D receptors with no increase in vitamin D in blood.

For example, resveratrol can activate vitamin D receptors at least in cancer cells and obviously resveratrol does not increase HDL nor vitamin D (of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, february 2003)

Yes, I think that trying to attribute ALL statins' effects to an increase in vitamin D is a stretch. But I believe there's credible evidence to suggest that at least some of the statin effect is due to D.

Personally, I'd rather take vitamin D and use little or not statin.

Great post! This seems to be another example of what can happen when nutrients are taken/studied on their own, instead of in their original context.  I don't discount the credibility of supplements, but so often it seems whole foods are the best.

Had Dr Grimes spent two minutes researching the facts he would have realised his theory is highly implausible. Fish oil contains negligible Vitamin D. You would need to consume a whopping 100g of sardine oil every day to get a mere 332iu of vitamin D. http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fats-and-oils/633/2 (based on USDA data). However eating large quantities of fish would supplement vitamin D levels.

Rural Scots and Inuits would have obtained ample vitamin D (up to 8000iu/day) by spending time outside during Spring-Summer-Autumn. The body stores vitamin D for 3-4 months.

The effects of fish oil and vitamin D are almost certainly separate although some synergistic effect may be present.

One of my university biochemistry lecturers said to me many years ago  'nutritional epidemiology is BS because it doesn't account for genetic differences'.

Inuits don't need high intakes of vitamin D because most of them have the bb allele of the vitamin D receptor. This mutation is also common in other Asian populations This means they use vitamin D extremely efficiently. People with the bb allele have a significantly lower incidence of rickets, osteoporosis and prostate cancer (and presumably depression and heart disease).

Nocturnal mammals have extremely low vitamin D needs due to extremely efficient vitamin D metabolism. Fruit bats have no detectable serum vitamin D.

Hi, Blogblog--

I believe Dr. Grimes is referring only to consumption of fish, not fish oil capsules.

I wasn't aware of the VDR polymorphism in Inuits. Thanks for that insight.

When the Scots moved from coastal fishing villages to industrial cities such as Glasgow, they became seriously deficient in vitamin D, and so the emergence of rickets. This was followed by a variety of other diseases resulting from vitamin D deficiency: tuberculosis, dental decay, coronary heart disease, and even multiple sclerosis and depression (the Glasgow syndrome).

If you would like to know a bit more about Vitamin D, you could look at 3 three recent lectures that I gave in London in the Spring of 2011. They are available on You Tube :

Vitamin D clinical experience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_mCewkvoFc

Vitamin D and cancer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoXZHhKjVvU&feature=related

Vitamin D and pregnancy – inheritance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIo9a56nOwI&feature=related

David Grimes