Cpnhelp.org

Dear David , I wonder if vitamin D3 is the same as vitamin D which I buy in vitamine shoppe ? Should I look specifically for vitamin D3 ? Thanks a lot.

 When I told my mother about the VitaminD/Sunlight/MS connection, she offered that: In the 1930's and 40's "all the kids had to take Cod Liver Oil; it was the only vitamin we had."

She and I share a perception that the Baby Boomers tended to develop MS more frequently than their parents.

It's hardly even anecdotal; but it's intriguing to me.

 Thank you for sharing the results of your research, all sifted and sorted. It's a lot easier to connect the dots when the fly-specks have already been taken out of the picture.

Ron 

On Stratton protocol for CFS starting 01/06.

Everybody else's inputs are very welcome too :)

 An excellent compilation. Thanks David!

On Wheldon/Stratton protocol for Cpn in CFS/FMS since December 2004.

As regards the official advice that 2000 IU/day can be toxic, it seems worth quoting a short passage from Vieth's review of the safety literature:

Throughout my preparation of this review, I was amazed at the lack of evidence supporting statements about the toxicity of moderate doses of vitamin D. Consistently, literature citations to support them have been either inappropriate or without substance. The statement in the 1989 US nutrition guidelines that 5 times the RDA for vitamin D may be harmful (3) relates back to a 1963 expert committee report (5), which then refers back to the primary reference, a 1938 report in which linear bone growth in infants was suppressed in those given 45–157.7 µg (1800–6300 IU) vitamin D/d (119). The citation is not related to adult nutrition and it does not form a scientific basis for a safe upper limit in adults. The same applies to the statement in the 1987 Council Report for the American Medical Association that "dosages of 10,000 IU/d for several months have resulted in marked disturbances in calcium metabolism...and, in some cases, death." Two references were cited to substantiate this. One was a review article about vitamins in general, which gave no evidence for and cited no other reference to its claim of toxicity at vitamin D doses as low as 250 µg (10000 IU)/d (120). The other paper cited in the report dealt with 10 patients with vitamin D toxicity reported in 1948, for whom the vitamin D dose was actually 3750–15000 µg (150000–600000 IU)/d, and all patients recovered (121). If there is published evidence of toxicity in adults from an intake of 250 µg (10000 IU)/d, and that is verified by the 25(OH)D concentration, I have yet to find it.

 (quoted from R. Vieth, Vitamin D Supplementation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations, and Safety, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 69, No. 5, 842-856, May 1999; http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/69/5/842)

Hello, I am new here.

I still hesitate with Cholecalciferol suplementing. I have Vitamin D from Member´s Mark - 800IU. I have neurological problems - attack, which comes in aprox two moonths periods with headache, visual problems (loss of part visual field), paralysis of arm (left or right) and light paralysis of one side of face. All this attack problems dissapeared after 20-40 minutes. Between of this attack I have still visual problems - visual snow, and problems with contrasts and light sources, floaters. It is typicaly for neuroinfection or demyelization. So - I am from DW protocol because finding of CPN infection. DW recommended me suplementation by Vit. D. But I study Trevor Marshall protocol, he do not recommend Vit. D suplementation for people with intracellular infection on Th1 level. This is my reason of hesitate, please, do you have any experience with this suplementation? Can I start with it?

BTW: sorry for my bad english 

CPN Inf. demyelinization attacks, demyel. of optic nerve, fibromyalgia, vertigo, tinnitus

Ella has MS and starting taking vitamin D3 in the dosage recommended by the Wheldon Protocol in March 2006, and it had an immediate effect on her body temperature and in a couple of weeks there were visible improvements to her skin.   She was having visual problems at the time, which neither improved nor worsened in the short term.   After 8 months on the protocol (mainly the bacteriostatic ABX and supplements) her visual problems are better, not perfect but better.

Michele:  on Wheldon protocol since 1st May 2006 for a variety of long standing ailments including IBS, sinusitis, alopecia, asthma, peripheral neuropathy, also spokesperson for Ella started Wheldon CAP 16th March 2006 for RRMS

 Welcome Hunter,

I am not an expert on the Marshall protocol at all, but the Vit D may be one of many reasons why we here are having such success and that doesn't.  I have done all the prescribed suggestions on this complicated, demanding (way of life, magic potion, drug list - whatever name you give it, it is still a rose) for almost 28 months and I'm sure that by all the usual standards I should be dead or close.  My husband is a very well-educated doctor and cannot give any rational reason why there is such a strong (rote?) belief that those doses of D are "toxic".   

Rica PPMS  EDSS 6.7 at beginning - now 2.  Began CAP Sept, 2004 with Rifampin 150 mg 2xd, Doxy 100 mg 2xd, added regular pulses Jan 2005. Jan 2006 switched to Doxy, Azith,  cont. flagyl  total 35 pulses NC USA

Hunter, Marshall developed his regime because he had sarcoid, of which he apparently cure himself.  If you read David's piece above, there is something toward the end as to why sarcoid is slightly different:

[Note: Caution in sarcoid. Disordered calcium metabolism is a frequent occurrence in sarcoid, a non-caseating granulomatous condition. Hypercalcaemia may be found in 20% of patients with sarcoid, while hypercalciuria may be even more common, and is of major clinical importance. [reviewed by Adams JS, et al., Metabolism of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 by cultured pulmonary alveolar macrophages in sarcoidosis. J Clin Invest. 1983 Nov; 72(5): 1856-60.] Sarcoid granulomas abound in macrophages; the sarcoid macrophage has been found to to synthesize 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. The excess circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D produced extrarenally causes increased intestinal absorption of calcium, enhanced bone resorption, and resultant hypercalciuria with or without hypercalcaemia.]

With MS I have taken 4000iu of D3 per day for over the last three years, without the least sign of toxicity.  Even now that I have finished full-time medication, it is one of the three supplements which I still make sure I take at full dose every day.  So unless you actually have sarcoid, and from reading the list of your symptoms, it doesn't sound as though you do, I would say you are worrying unnecessarily......Sarah 

An Itinerary in Light and Shadow.Wheldon regime since August 2003, for very aggressive SPMS.  Intermittent therapy after one year. 2006 still take this, now two weeks every three months.  EDSS was about 7, now 2. United Kingdom.

Vit D - My dosage for RRMS.  I take 4000iu daily in winter and 2000iu in summer and have done so for a long time without any toxic effect.  Note - I do a lot of sunbathing from April to October (not in Oxford !).  Summer supplementation can be lower if you are a sun worshipper, like me.  When I was checking out a safe Vit D dosage, I read a paper which measured Vit D of people working outside in India.  They had very high levels of circulating Vit D with no toxic effects.  I am confident to advise that 4000iu daily is not toxic for most people and should be taken by everyone with MS. (I cannot find the paper and unless there there many people worried about Vit D toxicity I will not spend time searching for it) ...... Mark

PS There can be skin problems with Doxy and UV light (ie a slow start to any sunbathing is advised).

Mark Walker - Oxford, England.
RRMS since 91, Dx 97. CFS from Jan03.  DW Patient-Feb06, started emp CAP(DW) in Mar06, with Copaxone. Pharma Consultant (worked til Jan 03).

Several important studies published during 2004
highlight the importance of vitamin D, especially
for the elderly.

In one, vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk
of falls in the elderly by more than 20 percent
(JAMA 2004 Apr 28;291(16):1999-2006);

another found that low serum vitamin D concentrations
were associated with higher incidence of periodontal
disease in individuals over 50 years of age
(Am J Clin Nutr 2004 Jul;80(1):108-113);

another found that good vitamin D status is associated
with improved muscle strength in both active and inactive
ambulatory persons over 60 years of age.

In women over 60, vitamin D protects against colon
cancer (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2004
Sep;13(9):1502-8).

Vitamin D protects against breast cancer in women
of all ages.

One study found that women with the lowest vitamin D
intake were four times more likely to develop breast
abnormalities than women with the highest intake
(Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2004 Sep;13(9):1466-72).

Researchers are finding that serum levels of vitamin D
should be at least greater than 20 ng/ml, with maximum
improvement at 50 ng/ml.

Dr. Reinhold Veith, a prominent vitamin D researcher in
Canada, recently found that vitamin D improves depressive
symptoms (Nutr J 2004 Jul 19;3(1)8).

He compared doses of 600 IU and 4,000 IU and found
that taking 4,000 units per day helped depressive symptoms
the most, resulting in all subjects achieving levels greater than
40 ng/ml. One way that vitamin D works is by increasing
serotonin levels in the brain.

http://www.westonaprice.org/causticcommentary/cc2004wi.html

 Diana

Vlad, I've only just seen your post: I'm sorry. The D3 form is advised; it should say on the bottle; it does on ours. I've taken to taking it this winter; it is said to give you a sunny disposition.

Diana, a very useful post.

D W - [Myalgia and hypertension (typically 155/95.) Began (2003) taking doxycycline and macrolide and later adding metronidazole. I

Lovely work DW!
And we can add this link for the Marshall protocol comparisons. IF YOU ARE CONFUSED ON THE MP ISSUES PLEASE DO READ THIS! http://stuff.mit.edu/people/london/universe.htm

This excellant informative review and assessment of the marshall protocol is a must read for anyone thinking it is a contender for their health care plan.
marie

On CAP since Sept '05 for MS, RA, Asthma, sciatica. EDSS at start 5.5. Currently on: Doxy 200, Azith 3x week, Tini 2x month, all supplements.
"Color out side the lines!"