Dr. Dean Bartholomew told an audience last Wednesday that vitamin D is an essential vitamin for many reasons, and recent studies have shown vitamin D levels have dropped in men and women over the years.

Although the studies do not show why, Bartholomew believes it may have to do with increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and the increased use of sun block.

Vitamin D has 25 metabolites that perform different biologic activities including the regulation of calcium, Bartholomew explained.

Studies have also shown that there is a correlation between lower vitamin D and diseases, Bartholomew explained.

While low vitamin D has not been associated with all cancers, there has been an individual connection of low vitamin D and higher risk of colon cancer and breast cancer, Bartholomew said.

An optional test for vitamin D will be available during the health fair blood draw, Bartholomew told the audience.

Calcium supplements

Bartholomew recommended that women who are pre-menopausal should have an intake of 1200 mg of calcium, while postmenopausal women should have an intake of 1200 to 1500 mg.

Vitamin D without calcium is not a good thing, Bartholomew added, as vitamin D is needed in order for the intestines to absorb the calcium.

Recommended sources of calcium included OsCal and Calcium Citrate. Bartholomew stated that people should take the Calcium Citrate if they are using stomach acid medicine.

Cholesterol treatments

Fish oil, Omega 3 fatty acids are proposed mechanisms to help lower LDL (bad cholesterol) by decreasing inflammation in the blood vessels.

Usual dosage is several grams per day and studies have varied on the benefit, Bartholomew said.

When asked if the fish oil supplement could be taken all at once, he responded, “If you can stand it, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Eating fish five times a week can decrease the risk of a stroke by nine to 31 percent.

Bartholomew went on to explain what these numbers meant using this example.

One hundred people are studied, but only three are at risk of having a stroke; if one person’s risk is decreased, that is a 30 percent decrease in risk.

Bartholomew warned the audience to be aware of how the risks are determined when considering a medication.

Red yeast rice is another form of reducing cholesterol and has been used in China since 900 A.D.

Yeast is the ingredient that triggers a chemical that works the same as a Lovastatin or Mevacor.

Recommended doses are three capsules of 600 mg per day. Bartholomew warned there are uncertainties including regulating the dose, liver toxicity, and muscle problems, but added it also may be a good alternative.

Garlic can reduce total cholesterol, but not sustain the reduction, Bartholomew said. People, in studies, who have taken garlic show lower cholesterol in three months, but in six months it is rising again.

Garlic does help to thin the blood, but there are mixed findings on what effect it has on blood pressure.

Garlic’s recommended dosage is 400 mg, two to three times per day.

CoEnzymeQ10 has shown benefits in ejection infarction exercise tolerance, cardiac output and stroke volume.

There are questionable benefits for angina and hypertension, Bartholomew said, and that side effects include an increase risk of bleeding.

Niacin

Niacin is taken for HDL or good cholesterol, said Bartholomew.

Treatment with Niacin to raise HDL can actually cause regression of plaque in arteries, Bartholomew told the audience.

Niacin, especially if added to a statin, can reduce the risk of a second heart attack by 60 to 80 percent.

Bartholomew recommends Niacin for men if their HDL is greater than 45 and for women if their HDL is greater than 55.

Recommended dosage of Niacin is 1000 mg per day and should be taken at night said Bartholomew.

Mood treatments

St. John’s Wort has been found in European studies to be reasonably effective for mild to moderate depression and is comparable to SSRI antidepressants, and seems to have fewer side effects than Ssri’s. Recommended doses are 300 mg three times per day, said Bartholomew.

5-HTP, which is a precursor to serotonin and mentonin, shows minimal data, but possibly may be effective for depression and OCD.

Anti-Oxidants

While recent studies have shown that vitamin E has no benefits in heart disease, it may slow the progression of dementia and may also slow progression of macular degeneration, Bartholomew said.

Vitamin C and Beta carotene also show no proof in preventing heart disease and Bartholomew advised the audience to beware of taking large amounts of vitamin C as it can cause kidney stones.

When fighting a cold, Zinc when taken in the first 24 hours can shorten the length of a cold.

Researching the internet

Addie Fletcher, a medical librarian, finished off the evening with recommendations on doing web research. Some websites use the most dramatic research to promote their product, and Fletcher said when researching people should find out where the information originated.

Fletcher stated there are reputable websites on the internet that have been reviewed by editorial boards consisting of doctors, not CEOs.

Fletcher stated that when searching websites, .gov and .edu websites are the ones reviewed by editorial boards to ensure the information is accurate and factual, not opinion.

Fletcher stated that old information is almost as good as no information as medicine is changing all the time with new discoveries.

When looking for trusted sites, Fletcher recommended to find out who is responsible for the site, when was it written, and why does the site exist.

Fletcher recommended the following websites, medlineplus.gov and fda.gov, which, according to Fletcher, have up-to-date supplement information.