Vitamin D information

[mom9335]

Hope all of you will visit the Direct-MS website which is NOT tied in or obligated to big Pharm for money.  Check out the info on Vitamin D and also founder, Ashton Embry's column in the MS magaxine, New Pathways, regarding his research on the Marshall Protocol mentioned in a previous post.  Just google Direct-MS.

[mom9335]

Thanks.  Good explanation.  I knew the theory, but not what it was called.  Of course, the medical community often accepts statistics that have been cleverly manipulated.  And, we could get into a whole philosophical discussion about that one!

[monotreme]

A "p" value is a level of statistical significance to help the scientist and the reader of the study determine if the research done proves the hypothesis.  The further away from 1, the more statistically significant.

So a "p=0.05 is more statistically significant than a p=0.10.. A p=0.05 means that there is a five percent chance there is no effect, or a 95 percent chance that the effect measured is real. A p=0.10 means there is a ten percent chance there is no effect, or a 90 percent chance that the effect measured is real.   If you want the medical community to embrace research, you have to have double blind placebo controlled studies to give credence to the results.  And you need a "p" value to prove there is or is not a statistical significance between the groups.

Elaine

[Momzilla]

Great discussion.  I have read a bit about the research that was done in 02.  Very interesting.  Especially since I am very low in D...

I understand Elaine's view regarding dosage.  I believe in moderation in all things.  I have read that a bolus in the beginning and then a taper down is a good idea, too.

Thanks for the link.  Valuable!

Zilla*

[mom9335]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "p" value?

[monotreme]

Although I am a big vitamin D supporter, the biggest problem with so much MS info in alternative medicine and various groups is that there are no double blind placebo controlled  studies.   With Ashton having a PH.D I am sure he is aware of that.

Where are his "p" values????  Nothing he says or any of his other scientists for that matter can be proven to be statistically significant.  There in lies the problem with the general population jumping onto these principles.

Everything is anecdotal.  One group says vitamin D is good, one group says it is not, and the conventional approach is to advocate small doses of vitamin D.

I like Life Extension because they back up their studies with "p" values and show statistical significance.  Ashton has very good intentions and I am sure much of what he says is fine.  But until they have double blind placebo controlled studies showing statistical significance one way or the other, it is just an opinion editorial showing their experience with one diet or vitamin recommendation.

One of the articles on vitamin D and MS even states that double blind placebo controlled studies in the use of vitamin D and MS are lacking.

According to the website, a double blind placebo controlled study is being planned on nutrition and MS.  But I think I am going to stick to 5,000 units of day as a maximum daily dose in our family's case for my husband.

I do appreciate the information from the website and do think Vitamin D is important.  I just can't agree with daily doses over 10,000 units a day.  One of Ashton's articles even says that the blood level can't go over 170.  So anyone on high doses should be monitored by a physician.

Elaine

[essdipity]

I managed to read both of your posts before they were deleted. Extremely interesting. If you could provide just a summary of what this says, then many more people are likely to follow the link.

Thanks,

ess