Psoriasis Poses Greater Risk For Developing Heart Disease,
ScienceDaily (Nov. 14, 2006) — People with the skin disorder psoriasis are at increased risk for developing heart disease, according to Mayo Clinic researchers presenting new study data at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting on Nov. 14. Although psoriasis is traditionally viewed as a skin disorder, recent research has led experts to categorize this disease as a systemic inflammatory or immune-mediated disorder. In these disorders, the immune cells attack healthy tissues and organs.
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Earlier research has shown that people with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are at increased risk for heart disease. To study whether a similar risk exists for people with psoriasis, Mayo researchers followed a group of 622 adults with psoriasis and a control group of 622 people, matched for age and gender, who did not have the disease. Researchers examined medical records for subjects in both groups, starting from age 18 until death, and noted the occurrence of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and heart failure in both groups.
Significant Findings Mayo researchers found that the people diagnosed with psoriasis experienced heart attacks more than twice as often as people of the same gender and age in the control group. Those with psoriasis also appeared about 1.42 times more likely to develop heart failure; subjects with psoriasis also appeared about 1.42 times more likely to develop heart failure, but these results were not statistically significant.
"The fact that people with psoriasis exhibit this increased risk for heart disease offers additional proof that psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease rather than just a skin disorder," says Sherine Gabriel, M.D., Mayo Clinic epidemiologist and the study's lead researcher.
Mayo researchers hope that these preliminary results may yield additional clues about the mechanisms that contribute to cardiovascular disease.
"We're now seeing increased risk for heart disease associated with a broad range of systemic diseases, all of which share a high level of inflammation and immune system dysfunction," says Dr. Gabriel. "This knowledge could provide us with a better understanding of the connections between these conditions and their underlying causes."
The Mayo research findings also emphasize the need for psoriasis patients to monitor their cardiovascular health at an earlier age and to take measures to lessen their risks for heart attack, heart failure and other cardiovascular problems.
Future research will focus on explaining the potential drivers of this risk by studying the role of cardiovascular risk factors (such as smoking), medications, and biological factors (such as genetics). Facts about psoriasis
Psoriasis is marked by patches of thick, red skin covered with silvery scales that occur primarily on the elbows, knees, legs, lower back and scalp. Although not life threatening, the disease can be painful, affect a person's ability to function, and cause psychological and emotional distress. Facts about heart attack and heart failure
Heart attack is an injury to the heart muscle caused by a loss of blood supply. It usually occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a coronary artery -- a blood vessel that feeds blood to a part of the heart muscle. Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, usually occurs when coronary artery disease or high blood pressure cause the heart muscle to become too weak or too stiff to pump efficiently.
The Mayo Clinic research team also included Hilal Maradit Kremers, M.D., Marian McEvoy, M.D., and Cynthia Crowson. This work was supported in part by grants from Amgen Inc. and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
And as a bonus health boost, Vitamin “D” is good for many more things than a stronger immune system
BREAKING RESEARCH SHOWS VITAMIN D LINKED TO HDL CHOLESTEROL
Shaklee Corporation Research Suggests an Important Role of Vitamin D for Supporting Cardiovascular Health
Research supported by Shaklee Corporation, the number one natural nutrition company in the U.S., shows that a lower blood vitamin D level is associated with metabolic syndrome and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
The study results were presented at the National Lipid Association Annual Scientific Sessions in Miami, Florida and suggest an important role of vitamin D nutrition for maintaining cardiovascular health.
“I am so proud to be associated with a company whose heritage has always been about improving people’s health and well-being. It’s very exciting that Shaklee has helped to bring this important research to the world, say Independent Shaklee Distributors, Sam and Bunny Sewell “The findings may have significant public health implications related to new understanding about benefits related to vitamin D supplementation,” adds Bunny.
In this study, intake of vitamin D from dietary supplements was strongly linked with vitamin D levels in the blood. The greater the intake of vitamin D from dietary supplements, the higher the amount of vitamin D found in the blood. More importantly, as vitamin D intakes increased, HDL cholesterol (or “good cholesterol”) levels increased as well. Future research is needed to determine if vitamin D from dietary supplements can lower risk levels for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
“Our next study, which is already underway, is intended to confirm causality by showing that vitamin D supplementation improves cardiovascular risk factors,” says Dr. Jamie McManus M.D., Chairman of Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education, Shaklee Corporation.
Kevin C. Maki, PhD, the study’s Principal Investigator and the Chief Science Officer of Provident Clinical Research, Glen Ellyn, IL, says, “Results from population studies suggest that a low serum vitamin D concentration is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, but this is the first study to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D status and cardiovascular risk factors in a group that includes a large number of vitamin D supplement users.” He continues, “Additional research is warranted to assess whether increasing vitamin D intake will improve the metabolic cardiovascular risk factor profile.”
Please contact us for free nutritional counseling or for more information, contact Sam or Bunny at The Natural Advocate bunnysam@bestselfusa.com
Future Rheumatology
Inflammatory disease and sunlight: the vitamin D–poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase connection
Environmental factors have long been suspected to affect the pathogenesis and incidence of inflammatory diseases. Epidemiological research has demonstrated that sunlight, or rather ultraviolet radiation exposure, is one such environmental factor that can affect inflammatory diseases. Increased exposure levels of ultraviolet radiation have been shown to decrease the incidence of autoimmune diseases – including rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and colitis. The immunomodulatory effects of ultraviolet radiation are mimicked by administration of vitamin D, suggesting that photosynthesized vitamin D is the mediator involved in the biological effects of sunlight. Vitamin D has a variety of roles in the body, including regulation of the immune system predominantly affecting Th1 immunity, increasing T-cell apoptosis, reducing immune-cell infiltration, decreasing cytokine/chemokine production and suppressing proinflammatory transcription-factor activation and protein expression. Our group has provided evidence suggesting that vitamin D directly inhibits the activity of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a multifunctional nuclear enzyme that also has a central role in regulating inflammation. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition also affects Th1 immunity in similar ways to vitamin D regulating transcription-factor activation, decreasing immune-cell infiltration and suppressing proinflammatory protein expression. Hence, inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase by vitamin D may represent a novel mechanism for sunlight-mediated immunomodulation.
Vitamin D Dose For Pain Relief
Dr. Cannell, Executive Director of The Vitamin D Council recommends supplementing with Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). D3 is the naturally occurring form of vitamin D and is made in large quantities in skin when sunlight strikes it. Dr. Cannell explains that Calcidiol is the only blood test that should be drawn. Doctors can order calcidiol levels although labs will know calcidiol as 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Take enough vitamin D3 to get 25(OH)D levels above substrate starvation levels, 50 ng/mL or 125 nmol/L. Current recommendationst for adults and children are inadequate to maintain optimal health and certainly to treat chronic pain conditions and illness.
Dr. Cannell suggests people supplement with vitamin D before getting their blood tested, then adjust their dose so their 25(OH)D level is between 50–80 ng/ml during both the summer and the winter. These are conservative dosages explains Dr. Cannell. People who avoid the sun, and nearly all dark-skinned people need to increase their dose if their blood levels are still low, even after two months of the above dosage, particularly during the winter months.
Exact levels are difficult to determine because requirements vary by age, body weight, percent of body fat, latitude, skin coloration, season of the year, use of sun block, individual variation in sun exposure, and how sick someone is.
“If you use suntan parlors once a week,” says Dr. Cannell, “or if you live in Florida and sunbathe once a week, year-round, do nothing.” However, if you receive very little UVB exposure the Council recommends the following dosing levels of D3 (maintenance level):
healthy children under the age of two - 1,000 IU per day*
healthy children over the age of two - 2,000 IU per day*
adults and adolescents - 5,000 IU per day.
*The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 400 mg per day for children.
While the exact relationship between vitamin D and chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia isn't fully understood, most researchers agree that vitamin D deficiency contributes to muscuskeletal pain. Patients and practitioners should consider including vitamin D supplementation in their therapy for patients suffering with chronic pain syndromes.
Sources:
"Vitamin D Inadequacy May Exacerbate Pain," American Academy of Anesthesiologists, Press Release, October 15, 2007.
Tandeter H, Grynbaum M, Zuili I, Shany S, Shvartzman P., "Serum 25-OH vitamin D levels in patients with fibromyalgia." Israeli Medical Association Journal, 2009.
Badsha H, Daher M, Ooi Kong K. Myalgias or non-specific muscle pain in Arab or Indo-Pakistani patients may indicate vitamin D deficiency. Clinical Rheumatology. 2009.
Leavitt, Steward, B. MA, PhD., "Vitamin D: A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: An Evidence Based Review and Clinical Practice Guideline," June 2008, http://Pain-Topics.org/VitaminD.
"Vitamin D for Pain: Update of Research Evidence," Pain Treatment Topics, Accessed: January 10, 2010.
Arvold DS, et al., "Correlation of symptoms with vitamin D deficiency and symptom response to cholecalciferol treatment: a randomized controlled trial," Endocrine Practice, 2009 May-Jun.
Armstrong DJ, Meenagh GK, Bickle I, Lee AS, Curran ES, Finch MB., "Vitamin D deficiency is associated with anxiety and depression in fibromyalgia," Clinical Rheumatology. 2006 Jul 19.
Dangerous new recommendations on D
Daily Dose with William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
Anyone who thinks Americans get enough vitamin D is really in the dark -- and yes, I'm talking to you, Institute of Medicine.
The Institute -- part of the National Academy of Sciences -- claims we don't really need much vitamin D, and that Americans already get the amount they need.
That's it -- toss your supplements, put the sunscreen back on, end of story... right?
Not on your life!
These screwy new recommendations aren't just wrong -- they're potentially deadly. And that's not just my opinion, that's scientific fact.
The recommendations are so baffling that even many in the mainstream were caught off guard by them.
But not me -- I expected this.
After all, this is the same cast of characters behind the laughably low recommendations for every other key nutrient, from folate to vitamin C -- so of course they were bound to get it wrong on D.
The simple fact is, this is an organization that HATES alternative medicine, and especially HATES supplements. They've even urged the feds to regulate vitamins like meds, a position that even the FDA considers too radical -- and you know they're not exactly pals with the supplement industry.
But let's get back to this D report. It's so badly flawed I could write a book on it -- and in fact, I'm working on one -- but for now, I'll just break it down to what I call the Four Great Lies:
They raised the recommended levels of D to 600 IU per person, then claimed most people won't need a supplement to reach it -- despite the fact that few people spend enough time outdoors and fewer still can get that amount of D from food.
They claim nearly everyone between the ages of 1 and 70 should get the exact same amount of D -- despite strong evidence that the amount of D you need varies based on everything from age to size to skin color.
They claim that 10,000 IU of vitamin D is deadly -- despite the fact that anyone who's ever spent 30 minutes at the beach with no sunscreen has generated that much vitamin D on his own. Last I checked, no normal person has keeled over from 30 minutes of sun exposure.
They claim vitamin D is for bone health only, and there's no evidence it can reduce the risk of anything else -- despite repeated studies that show it can fight depression, flu, heart disease, cancer and more.
If there's any good news here, it's that now even most mainstream docs realize that the Institute of Medicine is completely bonkers -- and many are telling their patients to keep taking their D supplements anyway.
Rebellion. I love it!
And maybe -- just maybe -- this will cause those docs to take a closer look at the rest of the Institute's inadequate recommendations, too.
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