University of Chicago Research on Vitamin D

University of Chicago Research suggests High Vitamin D Levels May Protect Against COVID-19, Especially for Black People.

A new research study at the University of Chicago Medicine has found that when it comes to COVID-19, having vitamin D levels above those traditionally considered sufficient may lower the risk of infection, especially for Black people.

The research team is now recruiting participants for two separate clinical trials testing the efficacy of vitamin D supplements for preventing COVID-19.

This research is an expansion of an earlier study showing that a vitamin D deficiency (less than 20 ng/ml) may raise the risk of testing positive for COVID-19. In the current study, those results were further supported, finding that individuals with a vitamin D deficiency had a 7.2% chance of testing positive for the virus. A separate study recently found that more than 80% of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were vitamin D deficient.

“These new results tell us that having vitamin D levels above those normally considered sufficient is associated with decreased risk of testing positive for COVID-19, at least in Black individuals,” said David Meltzer, MD, PhD, Chief of Hospital Medicine at UChicago Medicine and lead author of the study. “This supports arguments for designing clinical trials that can test whether or not vitamin D may be a viable intervention to lower the risk of the disease, especially in persons of color.”

While vitamin D supplements are relatively safe to take, excessive consumption of vitamin D supplements is associated with hypercalcemia, a condition in which calcium builds up in the blood stream and causes nausea, vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. If left unchecked, it can further lead to bone pain and kidney stones.

“Currently, the adult recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D is 600 to 800 international units (IUs) per day,” said Meltzer. “The National Academy of Medicine has said that taking up to 4,000 IUs per day is safe for the vast majority of people, and risk of hypercalcemia increases at levels over 10,000 IUs per day.”

Prompted by the evidence that people with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to test positive for COVID-19 and experience significant symptoms, a team from the University of Chicago and Rush University is conducting two studies to learn whether taking a daily vitamin D supplement can help prevent COVID-19 or decrease the severity of its symptoms.

Cheapest Covid-19 Therapy in the World

(That Big Pharma Doesn't Want)

Q: Why Not?
A: It's too damn cheap. There is no money in it or patents.

Money Theory Take II

This coincides with my own personal anecdotes regarding prostate cancer.   

Cancer Free: I Beat Prostate Cancer; Mish the Guinea Pig

Please consider my October 2012 post Cancer Free: I Beat Prostate Cancer; Mish the Guinea Pig

I had a doctor who was pressuring me to have my prostate removed after a biopsy showed that I had cancer. I instead decided decided to follow promising studies by the University of Wisconsin on a cocktail of drugs.

I listed what I took in 2012 and am mostly still taking. The key ingredient was Resveratrol, but only in conjunction with several other over-the-counter supplements. I made changes to the complete cocktail I am now taking for reasons noted in an addendum. 

Science-Based Medicine 

Science-Based Medicine blasted me in Another Misguided Cancer Testimonial

Well, I don't care. I averted a needless $20,000 operation. 

They claim I am not an expert and unqualified. Yep, I totally agree and I even said so at the time. 

Nothing above constitutes a recommendation. I listed what I took, and what my results were. Consult your doctor before attempting anything similar.

On my first visit to the oncologist, he stated “Until there is data in human beings with prostate cancer, there is no reason to believe that resveratrol has any activity whatsoever in treating or even preventing prostate cancer. Feel free to take it if you wish as it appears to be safe.”

So why aren’t there more studies on these supplements given the articles I cited? The answer is big pharmaceutical companies are not interested in anything they cannot patent.

They would rather find a $20,000 drug that works 5% of the time (that they can patent) rather than something cheap that works 80% of the time that they can’t.

In fact, the big pharmaceutical companies have attempted numerous times to regulate nutritional supplements. If it was up to them, I never would have been able to try what I did.

The Science-Based blast was on January 27, 2015,

Since then, I have had four others email me with similar results. 

Those 4 results don't prove anything either, but at least four more men have their prostates than would otherwise. 

Again, I recommend consulting a doctor because I have to. 

The Kicker

Science-Based Medicine flat out stated "There was no need to do PSA screening tests in the first place."

Ah-Ha! Q&A

Q: So why do we do them?
A: There's money in the tests and tons of it if it results in a needless $20,000 operation.

Mish