[iko (OP)]

http://www.mmaonline.net/Publications/MNMed2005/November/Images/sun.gif

Circannual vitamin d serum levels and disease activity
 in rheumatoid arthritis: Northern versus Southern Europe.

Cutolo M, Otsa K, Laas K, Yprus M, Lehtme R, Secchi ME, Sulli A, Paolino S, Seriolo B.
Division of Rheumatology - Dept Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.

BACKGROUND:
Greater intake of vitamin D has been associated with a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and low serum vitamin D together with higher prevalence of RA seem common among North European people when compared to Southern Europe.
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in female RA patients from North (Estonia) and South (Italy) Europe and to correlate them with the disease activity score (DAS28) during winter and summer.
METHODS:
Fifty-four RA Italian patients (IP) and 64 RA Estonian patients (EP) were evaluated for serum 25(OH)D levels in winter and summer time, as well as for DAS28 score. Normal female controls (C) were 35 (IC) and 30 (EC) age-matched subjects, respectively. 25(OH)D concentrations were measured by a competitive radioimmunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed by "r" Pearson correlation, "t" Student with Bonferroni correction and by repeated ANOVA measures (summer and winter) with two factors (country and clinical status).
RESULTS:
25(OH)D levels were found significantly higher in IP versus EP (p = 0.0116) both in winter and in summer time. Differences were observed also in controls. The variations (increase) of 25(OH)D levels between winter and summer were found significant (p = 0.0005) in both IP and EP. Differences were observed also in controls. No significant differences were found concerning 25(OH)D levels between RA patients and their controls in either country. Interestingly, a significant negative correlation between 25(OH)D and DAS28, was found in summer only in IP (r =-0.57, p < 0.0001) and in winter in EP (r =-0.40, p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
Significantly lower 25(OH)D serum levels were observed in RA patients from North versus South Europe with a circannual rhythm in winter and summer time.
In addition, 25(OH)D values showed a significant correlation (negative) with RA clinical status (DAS28) in both North and South European RA patients, suggesting possible effects of vitamin D among other factors on disease activity.

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006 Nov-Dec;24(6):702-4.

[iko (OP)]

A little help for your nerves...

http://www-dateline.ucdavis.edu/010700/depression.jpg

Associations between cod liver oil use
and symptoms of depression: The Hordaland Health Study.

Raeder MB, Steen VM, Vollset SE, Bjelland I.
Dr. Einar Martens' Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Helse Bergen HF, N-5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine and Bergen Mental Health Research Center, University of Bergen, Norway.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials suggest that omega-3 fatty acids improve the outcome of depression. This study aimed to evaluate the association between intake of cod liver oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and high levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety in the general population. METHODS: We used data from the "The Hordaland Health Study '97-'99" (HUSK), a population based cross-sectional health survey from Norway including 21,835 subjects aged 40-49 and 70-74 years. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured by The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We used logistic regression to study associations.
RESULTS: Among the participants, 8.9% used cod liver oil daily. A total of 3.6% had high levels of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of such depressive symptoms among the subjects who used cod liver oil daily was 2.5%, as compared to 3.8% in the rest of the population. The users of cod liver oil were significantly less likely to have depressive symptoms than non-users after adjusting for multiple possible confounding factors (odds ratio=0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 0.97). These factors included age, gender, smoking habits, coffee consumption, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and education. In addition, we found that the prevalence of high levels of depressive symptoms decreased with increasing duration (0-12 months) of cod liver oil use (multivariate adjusted test for trend, P=0.04). We were only able to study this latter association in a subset of the population aged 40-46 years.
LIMITATIONS: Data are cross sectional.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that regular use of cod liver oil is negatively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms in the general population.

J Affect Disord. 2006 Dec 18; [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17184843&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

[iko (OP)]

Reading an 'ancient' paper
from Zoey (thanks!)... I found
one of the best cod-citations:

"Cod liver oil is in the forefront of children's remedies.

For long it has been struggling against the scepticism of exact science"

Rosenstern:  Berl. klin. Wchuschr. 47;822, 1910.
 

from:  "The history of cod liver oil as a remedy"
          Ruth A. Guy  M.D.
          Dept. of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine
          Am. J. of diseases of children    26; 112-116, 1923.

[iko (OP)]

Historical notes from the same
'ancient' paper (Zoey's copy):



...The introduction of cod liver oil into France, which came a few years later than in Germany, is described by Trousseau (10):

   
   The manner in which M. Bretonneau, of Tours, was induced to give the oil in this disease deserves notice.
He had treated the rachitic child of a rich Dutch merchant with preparations of iodine and other means, for some time, without success.
He was then told by the father that the elder children had previously suffered under the same malady, and had been cured by the cod liver oil, which, in Holland, was a popular remedy.
 Bretonneau gave the same substance to his young patient, and was much struck with the very rapid and successful result which followed.
He commenced making researches with it on other patients, and it was only then that he learnt for the first time what had been written by the German authors on this subject.
He has since given it extensively in rachitis, with the happiest results.
This fact was communicated to the Societe de Medicine de Paris, in 1837, by M. Roche.

  10.   Trousseau:   Clinical Medicine,  Philadelphia  2: 734, 1882.

from:  "The history of cod liver oil as a remedy"
          Ruth A. Guy  M.D.
          Dept. of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine
          Am. J. of diseases of children    26; 112-116, 1923.

[iko (OP)]

Cut and Paste from "Childhood Leukemia" topic (Physiol.& Medicine)

How did the cod deficiency affect the evolution of the culture?
Zoey

Good question, I'd like to know history better than I actually do.
To simplify your difficult question I would start like this:
Cod liver oil is certainly very good stuff for the undernurished, but its components can be found in other nutrients.
Vitamin A for sure, omega-3 in some seed-plant (different type, similar effects).
And vitamin D...here we are: vitamin D can be assembled by the skin itself through sunlight exposure.
That is tricky, so northern countries have a problem and somebody in certain areas found the solution for rickets and osteomalacia using cod.
As with other cofactors, some people eventually need more to counteract their congenital (invisible) metabolic defects, others do just fine with a minimal dose here and there.
We have probably been selected over generations to be 'cod' independent.
Difficult to find, it works after weeks, so the cause/effect link is easily missed.
It is definitely dedicated to our sick children.
To help their growth, brains and strenghten their immune system.
A bit of help from the ocean where we all came from.
Am I corny enough?

ikod

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/images/evo/hydrothermal-vent.jpg

[iko (OP)]

For skeptical people searching for 'gold standard' treatments
here is reported a precious annotation by Dr. Cannell from the

http://www.vitamindcouncil.com

Vitamin D Newsletter

This is a periodic newsletter from the Vitamin D Council, a non-profit trying to end the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency.  If you don't want to get the newsletter, please hit reply and let us know.  We don't copyright this newsletter.
Please reproduce it and post it on Internet sites.
Remember, we are a non-profit and rely on donations to publish our newsletter and maintain our website.  Our pathetic finances are open to public inspections.  Send your tax-deductible contributions to:
The Vitamin D Council
9100 San Gregorio Road
Atascadero, CA 93422

Supplement
 
Some of you didn't get the last newsletter.  Here's a link.

http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/newsletter/2007-mar.shtml

Why is athletic performance medically important?  If you think for a minute, you'd realize that athletic performance is the same as physical performance.  What happens when physical performance is impaired?  People fall and break their hips, resulting in death, disability, or nursing home admission.  Many people don't realize how fatal falls can be in the elderly.  In 2003, the CDC reported 13,700 persons over 65 in the USA died from their falls, and 1.8 million ended up in emergency rooms for treatment of nonfatal injuries from falls.  Falls cause the majority of hip fractures, which - if they don't result in death - often result in admission to a nursing home.  That's 13,700 deaths, hundreds of thousands of surgeries, countless nursing home admissions, and tens of billions in health care costs every year from impaired athletic performance.  That's why it matters.
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fatalities and injuries from falls among older adults--United States, 1993-2003 and 2001-2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2006 Nov 17;55(45):1221-4. Link:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17108890&query_hl=9&itool=pubmed_DocSum
 
The scientific evidence that vitamin D reduces falls in the elderly is quite strong.  Some physicians say they must wait for randomized, placebo controlled, interventional trials, saying they need such "gold standard" evidence before they will act to prevent falls.  Here are four such "gold standard" studies:
 
Bischoff HA, et al. Effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on falls: a randomized controlled trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2003 Feb;18(2):343-51.
Dhesi JK, et al.  Vitamin D supplementation improves neuromuscular function in older people who fall. Age Ageing. 2004 Nov;33(6):589-95.
Flicker L, et al.   Should older people in residential care receive vitamin D to prevent falls? Results of a randomized trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Nov;53(11):1881-8.
Harwood RH, et al.  A randomised, controlled comparison of different calcium and vitamin D supplementation regimens in elderly women after hip fracture: The Nottingham Neck of Femur (NONOF) Study. Age Ageing. 2004 Jan;33(1):45-51.

Some say they require a meta-analysis of such "gold standard" studies, from a top-flight university, published in a respected journal, proving vitamin D reduces falls.  Here's a meta-analysis from Harvard, published is the Journal of the American Medical Association, showing vitamin D reduces falls:

Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dawson-Hughes B, Willett WC, Staehelin HB, Bazemore MG, Zee RY, Wong JB. Effect of Vitamin D on falls: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004 Apr 28;291(16):1999-2006.
 
Will these "gold standard" studies prompt physicians to act?  Will older patients finally get a vitamin D blood level and appropriate treatment of their vitamin D deficiency?  No, most will not.  I wish physicians acted on scientific studies but they do not, no matter how many people are dying.  Vitamin D scientists conducting such trials are in for a rude surprise.
No matter how good their studies, no matter how well designed or meticulously conducted, no matter how good the journal, practicing physicians will continue to ignore such studies.  Practicing physicians do what they learned in medical school, do what their colleagues do, and do what the drug company salespersons say.  Very few keep abreast of medical research, unless a drug company representative puts that research under their nose.

That's why I wrote about athletic performance.  If you think about it for a minute, you'll realize that falling is a failure of athletic performance.  Anything that improves athletic performance will reduce deaths from falls.

As far as athletic performance in younger people goes, I certainly got some interesting letters.  One guy from Tennessee agreed to list his phone number in case the press wanted to call or come by and watch him do chin-ups.

Dear Dr. Cannell:
 
I've been reading your newsletter for about a year and started taking 5,000 units a day this last fall.  I live in Minnesota and play a lot of basketball.  I play outside during the summer and inside in the winter.  I usually notice a winter slump, my friends have talked about it too.  You feel tired, like not being able to jump, like your muscles are dead.  This winter was different, I felt great all winter.  I didn't realize it might be the vitamin D.  I know what he means when he said the ball was "sweeter."  it feels that way now. 
 
Greg
Plymouth, Minnesota
 
Dr. Cannell:
 
I play tennis inside during the winter.  About January, I have always felt different; I couldn't get a jump on the ball or see it as well.  Since I've been on 2,000 mg of vitamin D, I've been getting to the ball much faster.  Now I feel like I do in the summer.  I didn't realize it could be the vitamin D, until your latest newsletter.  Thanks.  I don't know if I should tell my friends because then they'll are start taking vitamin D and I won't be able to beat them?
 
Maria
Portland, Oregon
 
Dear Maria:
 
I hope that 2,000 units not 2,000 mg.  2,000 mg would be 80 million units or 80,000 of the 1,000 IU tablets.  2,000 IU (.05 mg) per day is enough if you are a small woman and get some sunlight in the sunnier months.  Tell your friends, it might save their lives and that's a better feeling than beating them in tennis.
 
Dear Dr. Cannell:
 
I'm a weight lifter and most lifters know that you can lift more in the summer than the winter.  I never knew why until I saw all those old German and Russian studies.  No wonder the Germans and Russians used to do so well in the Olympics.  I started on vitamin D yesterday.  I found it in Costco for almost nothing.
 
Tom
Redding, California

Dear Dr. Cannell:
 
My name is Ed Jones and I have been nuts about doing chin ups for many years.  Three years ago when I really got interested in the Vitamin D story in regard to health, I found that I was very low in D, (12ng/ml)  I started supplementing and started to raise my level however it came slowly.  In April of 2005 I decided to try to break a record on chin ups and in front of several media people, I did 285 chin ups.  I quit doing chin ups after this because it was so difficult however I continued to work at achieving 50ng/ml on my blood work.  This January I finally got my D over 40ng/ml and started doing chin ups again.  I quickly found that chin ups now were easier than ever!  Last week, March 8, 2007, I completed 300 chin ups and it was almost easy!  I could not believe it.  I am training now to do 500 chin ups in the next three months and the only change in my supplements, diet, etc is increasing my D level.  I completely agree with the relationship of Vitamin D to strength and stamina.
 
Ed Jones
Chattanooga, Tennessee
423-892-4085

http://www.greenigsociety.org/jpg/JoseAndBaby.jpg

The Green Iguana Society

Lighting: Iguanas must have a source of UVA and UVB light! UVA stimulates natural behaviors by providing a component of natural sunlight. UVB is important to iguanas for another reason. Without it, their bodies cannot manufacture vitamin D3 or properly metabolize calcium. Iguanas that are deprived of proper UV lighting suffer from a disease called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) which is unfortunately very common in captive iguanas. MBD causes weak bones, jaw and bone deformities and early death.

The absolute best source of UV light is the sun. Allowing your iguana to bask in the sun on a regular basis will provide it with large amounts of natural UV light. The general rule of thumb is - the more real sun your iguana has access to, the better. One thing to be aware of is that glass and plastic filter out the UV components of sunlight. It is for this reason that you cannot just set your iguana in front of a closed window in the sun. The window glass filters out most of the UV light, so your iguana will not benefit from such sunbathing in terms of vitamin D3 production (although he might enjoy this (in)activity immensely).

An additional source of UV light is special fluorescent UV bulbs available in pet stores that sell reptile supplies. Some people feel that if daily doses of real, unfiltered sunlight can be obtained on most days, then the use of artificial UV light bulbs in the iguana's enclosure is not necessary. However, The Green Iguana Society strongly recommends the use of artificial UV in addition to as much basking time in the sun as possible, to ensure that your iguana gets adequate amounts of UV. The effectiveness of real sunlight to stimulate iguanas to produce vitamin D3 varies with the time of year and latitude of your location. Therefore, the additional use of artificial UV lights acts as a safety net - especially in cool, cloudy and/or northern climates. See the Heating, Lighting and Humidity section for specific information on the proper use of UV bulbs in your iguana's enclosure.

from:  http://www.greenigsociety.org/habitatbasics.htm     

 
...What about captive humans?   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[iko (OP)]

From Iceland, where most of the
wise cod liver oil people live....



Laufey Steingrímsdóttir, Ph.D.

Cod Liver OIl - How much is too much?

11. nóvember 2004

Ever since Dyerberg and Bang published their pioneering research on Greenlanders, fish oils and the possible health effects of omega-3 fatty acids have been a subject of great interest to researchers as well as the general public. We in Iceland have followed these developments with particular interest. Icelanders have a tradition of considerable fish consumption, but more unique is the widespread use of cod liver oil among all age groups in Iceland. The lack of sunshine during the long winter months has made cod liver oil an important, even indispensable source of vitamin D for the population for centuries. However, even with the advent of vitamin preparations, cod liver oil has continued to be popular in Iceland, and still today over half the population takes cod liver oil regularly. The most common dosage is 10 to 15 ml per day, but some, especially older people, take quite a bit more.

Cod liver oil is a particularly rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, but many researchers have been hesitant to recommend its use, because of its high vitamin A and D content. Both of these fat soluble vitamins are known to be toxic if taken in large doses, but the margin for safety is considered even lower for vitamin D than for vitamin A. One tablespoon of cod liver oil contains approximately 37 mg (microgram) of vitamin D, which is well above the recommended intake of 5 to 10 mg a day.

In spite of high vitamin D intake, overt vitamin-D toxicity has never been reported in Iceland. Still, long term consumption of relatively large quantities of cod liver oil might have some adverse effects on the population. For this reason we decided to perform a small study on a group of 19 adult Icelanders who had taken more than one tablespoon of cod liver oil daily for the last 5 years or longer. Seventeen adults of same age and sex distribution who had not taken any vitamin D preparations during the previous year were chosen for control purposes. Serum vitamin D metabolites, 25(OH)D and 1,25(DH)2D were measured in all subjects, as well as serum calcium. All methods have previously been described.

The results were as follows: Consumers of cod liver oil had significantly higher levels of 25(DH) vitamin-D serum than did the control group, or 34,2ng/ml(+- 9,8 S.D.) compared with 18,0ng/ml(+-6,6 S.D.) amongst controls. All values in the cod liver oil group were in the high normal range, the highest value being 59ng/ml. In the control group most values were in the low normal range, but three individuals were below 10ng/ml, with the lowest value measured at 5 ng/ml. No significant difference was found in serum 1,25 (DH) 2vitamin-D or serum calcium between the groups, and all values measured within normal ranges.

This small study could not detect any indication for even small adverse effects of long term consumption of cod liver oil amongst Icelanders. In fact beneficial effects were observed, as three out of seventeen individuals from the control group showed lowered 25(DH)vitamin-D in serum, bordering on deficiency. We find it unlikely that consumption of cod liver oil can reach such levels as to cause toxicity among adults on Western diets, unless other preparations containing large amounts of vitamin D are taken simultaneously. Certainly more research needs to be done on this subject, but here in Iceland at least, we do not find any reason to warn the public against the hazards of cod liver oil, on the contrary, we continue to encourage its use for all age groups.

Laufey Steingrímsdóttir, Ph.D.
University of Iceland


http://www.lysi.is/lysi/is/newsdisplay_en/?cat_id=23099&ew_0_a_id=97163

Icelandic landscape

http://homepage.mac.com/ilyons/iceland/ice-panorama.jpg

[Karen W.]

Nice picture IKO! Quite a view! I have never really seen pictures of Iceland!

[iko (OP)]

Thanks Karen,

You get a larger pic if you click down there, do you know?
It's a free picture for you from an italian friendo! [8D]
LOL x LOL !!!
Do you remember our triple misunderstanding with Neil?  []
By the way, where is our friendo Neilepus?

ikod

[iko (OP)]

Curcumin is not alone as a natural
remedy against dreadful Plasmodia:
from 'cod' a little help for malaria too!

The suggestive potentiating effect of cod liver oil
on the efficacy of artesunate in Plasmodium berghei infected mice

O Awodele, MO Araoye,AI Oreagba, SO Kolawole, A Akintonwa.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.

The effects of cod liver oil on the potency of artesunate was determined using Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Fifty (50) adult albino mice weighing between 15-25g were used for this experiment. There were five groups of ten animals each per group. Groups I to IV were infected with plasmodium berghei and also received 0.9% normal saline (Group I), Artesunate (Group II), Cod liver oil (Group III) and Cod liver oil plus Artesunate (Group IV). Group V was not infected and was not treated. The parasitaemia level was monitored for eight days post inoculation of the parasites into the animals. The group IV animals that received the combination of both Artestunate and Cod liver oil demonstrated a better clearance of malaria parasite than Artesunate montherapy (Group II) with 48.7%, 90.3%, 98.9% and 99.2% suppression of parasiteamia from days 4 to 5, 5 to 6, 6 to 7 and 7 to 8 respectively.
These findings showed that the combination of Artesunate and Cod liver oil is more effective against plasmodium berghei infection than artesunate alone. This combination may thus be considered as a suitable and cost effective Artemisinin Combination Therapy.
 
Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: 74-78

from:   http://www.ajol.info/viewarticle.php?jid=67&id=29728&layout=abstract
 

[iko (OP)]

Similar things were found
just about fifty years ago!

Antiparasitic action of dietary cod liver oil
upon Plasmodium berghei and its reversal by vitamin E.

GODFREY DG.

...article too old to get the abstract from PubMed...


Exp Parasitol. 1957 Nov;6(6):555-65.

[iko (OP)]

Another historical note from the
same 'vintage' paper from Zoey:



When efficacy of cod liver oil began to be widely recognized,
cases of adulteration and fraud contributed to controlling the enthusiasm.
We must keep in mind that vitamin D had not been discovered yet:

 ...
  In each country, the experience was the same:  Cod liver oil was used by the fishing people and peasantry; then accidentally observed by some physician, tried by him, and so made known generally to the profession.  At first, it was used in chronic rheumatism and gout; then, naturally enough, in other bone and joint diseases, notably rickets, and osteomalacia (which was considered closely allied to gout); then finally in other forms of tuberculosis.  It is interesting that its use in tuberculosis should have been by the way of rickets  and gout.
  It is interesting too, that despite the fact that it was so effective in rickets and despite the fact that this efficacy had beeen observed and carefully recorded by reputable and well-known medical writers, it should have fallen into such widespread disuse.  It is well recommended and reported as late as the middle of the nineteenth century; but late in that century and early in this one the textbooks of pharmacology all speak of cod liver oil as being useful in tuberculosis and rickets because, and only because, it is easily digested and easily assimilated fat (Potter, 1902; Stevens, 1903; Penzoldt, 1904; Hare, 1907; Cushny, 1911 and 1915; Sollmann, 1917).  At the same time appear numerous notes as to the detection, in samples then on the market, of adulteration or substitution of other oils, and also clinical reports both of success and of failure in its therapeutic use.   Heubner, Salge, Baginsky, Biedert and Fishl found it of no use in rickets.  Vierordt, Stoltzner and Finkelstein mantained a vigorous defense of it, although they emphasized the importance of combining it with phosphorous.   From 1908 to 1912, Schabad published the much-discussed matabolism experiments, which indicated a specific effect in rickets not produced by other oils.  He pointed out certain pitfalls in relation to latent period and dosage.   In 1910, Rosenstern(12) wrote: "Cod liver oil is in the forefront of children's remedies.  For long it has been struggling against the scepticism of exact science."  He reported cures in cases of early rickets and tetany with cod liver oil alone, and considered the effect specific.  Czerny,(13) in 1912, asserted most positiviely that its only effect was due to easily assimilated fat.  No definite reports of its failure in actual use appeared in the literature in this country or in England.  However, pharmacologists and chemists were convincedthat its action was in no way specific, and certain noted pediatricians, whose influence was widespread, taught that it was of no particular value.  In the 1901 edition of Rotch's(14)"Pediatrics" he says:

  The treatment of rachitis is essentially dietetic and hygienic.  The infants should be kept in the open air as much as possible, and should live in rooms accessible to sunlight.  There does not seem to be any drug which produces specific effect upon the osseous chnages which take place in rachitis.  Phosphorus is considered by some observers to be a valuable adjunct in the general dietetic and hygienic treatment, but, according to our experience at the Children's Hospital, it has not proved to be of any special benefit.

    He makes no mention of cod liver oil.
    Still,(15) in his textbook, in 1912, notes the use of cod liver oil and give the dosage, and adds:

    There seems to be no specific virtue in cod liver oil, any other oil will do equally well, provided it can be taken without disturbing digestion or causing nausea by its taste.  At one time we used, at the Children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street, olive oil and pilchard oil and cotton seed oil, made into as palatable an emulsion as possible, and these seemed to be as useful as cod liver oil, except that they were more apt to cause nausea or digestive disturbance.

    Henoch, 1882;(16) Meiggs and Pepper, 1886;(17) Starr, 1894;(18) Holt, 1896;(19) Kerley, 1907,(21) in their general textbooks, advised the use of cod liver oil, and many physicians were impressed with its obvious benefit in rickets and continued its use.  Recently, well controlled experiments both in the rat and in the human infant have demonstrated beyond criticism the efficacy of cod liver oil in the cure and prevention of rickets, and attention may now be directed to the mechanism which brings about this effect.

from:  "The history of cod liver oil as a remedy"
          Ruth A. Guy  M.D.
          Dept. of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine
          Am. J. of diseases of children    26; 112-116, 1923.

[iko (OP)]

...from 1923 to 2007, a jump into the new century millennium!

CodPics...

Vitamin D3

     

                 


http://www.axxora.com/files/formula/LKT-C0145.gif
http://www.photomed.de/uploads/pics/vitamin_d3_01.jpg
http://www.mmaonline.net/Publications/MNMed2005/November/Images/sun.gif
http://www.teridanielsbooks.com/States/Florida/children,%20beach,%20sand,.jpg

An estimate of cancer mortality rate reductions in Europe and the US
with 1,000 IU of oral vitamin D per day.

Grant WB, Garland CF, Gorham ED.
Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center, San Francisco, CA 94109-2510, USA.

Solar ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiance and/or vitamin D have been found inversely correlated with incidence, mortality, and/or survival rates for breast, colorectal, ovarian, and prostate cancer and Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Evidence is emerging that more than 17 different types of cancer are likely to be vitamin D-sensitive. A recent meta-analysis concluded that 1,000 IU of oral vitamin D per day is associated with a 50% reduction in colorectal cancer incidence. Using this value, as well as the findings in a multifactorial ecologic study of cancer mortality rates in the US, estimates for reductions in risk of vitamin D-sensitive cancer mortality rates were made for 1,000 IU/day. These estimates, along with annual average serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, were used to estimate the reduction in cancer mortality rates in several Western European and North American countries that would result from intake of 1,000 IU/day of vitamin D. It was estimated that reductions could be 7% for males and 9% for females in the US and 14% for males and 20% for females in Western European countries below 59 degrees. It is proposed that increased fortification of food and increased availability of supplements could help increase vitamin D intake and could augment small increases in production of vitamin D from solar UVB irradiance. Providing 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day for all adult Americans would cost about $1 billion; the expected benefits for cancer would be in the range of $16-25 billion in addition to other health benefits of vitamin D.

Recent Results Cancer Res. 2007;174:225-34.

[iko (OP)]

Just found a recent report from Hungary about UV-B sunlight in seasons:

[Vitamin D forming effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation from sunlight
 in different months in Budapest, Hungary]   [Article in Hungarian]

Bakos J, Miko P.
Fodor Jozsef Orszagos Kozegeszsegugyi Kozpont, Orszagos Frederic Joliot-Curie Sugarbiologiai es Sugaregeszsegugyi Kutato Intezete, Budapest. bakos@hp.osski.hu

INTRODUCTION: The vitamin D3 formation in skin is the most important natural source of vitamin D demands of humans. The key step of the phototransformation of provitamin D into previtamin D from which the vitamin D3 is formed by thermal conversion. According to studies run at the latitudes of Hungary the UV-B radiation in winter time is not satisfactory to ensure the need of the vitamin D, which can result in vitamin D 3 deficiency and increases risk of osteoporosis.
AIMS: The aim of this study was to verify whether in the Hungarian population the UV radiation from the Sun ensures the daily synthesis of 1000 IU vitamin D3, or Vitamin D deficiency could occur in the winter and spring months which are less favourable in terms of UV exposure.
METHODS: The data of UV-B radiation reaching the Earth's surface were used for the evaluation. These data based on regular measurements in Budapest. According to the average of UV-B radiation of each months the "best case scenario" of vitamin D3 production was estimated by using the most optimal conditions of vitamin D synthesis.
RESULTS: It was calculated, that the effective UV irradiance reaching the Earth's surface at noon in Budapest is the highest in July, while the lowest is in December. The difference between these two months is more than 35-fold for July. In the period between November and March more than 200 minutes have to be spent outdoor to ensure the production of satisfactory amount of vitamin D in skin. From one hand it is irrealisticaly long time because it exceeds the duration of maximum irradiation around noon which was the basis of our calculation. From the other hand if only the face and hands are uncovered then the required radiant exposure exceeds the 1 minimal erythemal dose, i.e. the skin should be burnt.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on our calculations it was found, that in Budapest more than 95% of yearly effective UV-B radiation is measurable in the period between March and October. Therefore it can be assumed that the UV-B radiation would not be sufficient in the period between November and February even if its efficacy would not be limited by the closed clothing and less time spent outdoor which are anyway characteristic and necessary in that part of year.

Orv Hetil. 2007 Feb 18;148(7):319-25.

http://incentraleurope.radio.cz/pictures/r/mesta_zahranicni/budapest.jpg
http://manorama.1108.cc/images/06rygyer.jpg

Every year, after the Ratha-yatra in Budapest, Lord Jagganatha visits New Vraja-dham, reaches Vrindavana. Here devotees eagerly welcomes Him and have a half day program. Here are a few pictures about the festival:
Smiling faces, wonderful colours!   http://manorama.1108.cc/?cat=8

[iko (OP)]

"Fishy news" from Norway:
Fish oils EPA & DHA (not Vitamin A & D!)
are better absorbed in the natural way.

Enhanced incorporation of n-3 fatty acids from fish compared with fish oils.

Elvevoll EO, Barstad H, Breimo ES, Brox J, Eilertsen KE, Lund T, Olsen JO, Osterud B.
Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Department of Marine Biotechnology, University of Tromso, Norway. edel.elvevoll@nfh.uit.no

This work was undertaken to study the impact of the source of n-3 FA(Fat Acids) on their incorporation in serum, on blood lipid composition, and on cellular activation. A clinical trial comprising 71 volunteers, divided into five groups, was performed. Three groups were given 400 g smoked salmon (n = 14), cooked salmon (n = 15), or cooked cod (n = 13) per week for 8 wk. A fourth group was given 15 mL/d of cod liver oil (CLO) (n = 15), and a fifth group served as control (n = 14) without supplementation. The serum content of EPA and DHA before and after intervention revealed a higher rise in EPA and DHA in the cooked salmon group (129% rise in EPA and 45% rise in DHA) as compared with CLO (106 and 25%, respectively) despite an intake of EPA and DHA in the CLO group of 3.0 g/d compared with 1.2 g/d in the cooked salmon group. No significant changes were observed in blood lipids, fibrinogen, fibrinolysis, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor (TF) activity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) in whole blood. EPA and DHA were negatively correlated with LPS-induced TNFalpha, IL-8, LTB4, TxB2, and TF in whole blood. In conclusion, fish consumption is more effective in increasing serum EPA and DHA than supplementing the diet with fish oil. Since the n-3 FA are predominantly in TAG in fish as well as CLO, it is suggested that the larger uptake from fish than CLO is due to differences in physiochemical structure of the lipids.

Lipids. 2006 Dec;41(12):1109-14.

http://www.visitscandinavia.or.jp/Gallery/norway/Norway_Aurora%20Tromso%20town.jpg

[iko (OP)]

http://www.classicistranieri.com/punch/1/6/2/8/16281/16281-h/images/071.png

Golf Enthusiast (urging the merits of the game).
 "—and, besides, it's so good for you."

Unbeliever. "So is cod-liver oil."

http://www.classicistranieri.com/punch/1/6/2/8/16281/16281-h/16281-h.htm   

[iko (OP)]

THE OLD AMERICAN RECIPE

King's American Dispensatory

by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D, 1898.

Oleum Morrhuae (U. S. P.)—Cod-Liver Oil.

Preparation.
—The principal process by which the oil is now prepared is to remove blood and impurities from the carefully sorted livers by repeated washings; then the gall-bladder is removed and the livers, as soon as practicable, are put into iron kettles and subjected to steam heat with constant stirring. The oil separates from the liver tissue, and, after decantation and filtration through a funnel, is drawn off into barrels. In the Newfoundland fisheries, the oil obtained by steam heat is exposed to intense cold until it is partly solidified; the mass is then put into bags and subjected to strong pressure. In this manner the American shore oil is obtained. The residual stearin is sold to soap-makers.

Description.
—Three kinds of cod-liver oil are usually met with in commerce: The white or pale-yellow, which is obtained from fresh and perfectly healthy livers (shore oil). It is the official oil and is described by the U. S. P. as "a pale-yellow, thin, oily liquid, having a peculiar, slightly fishy, but not rancid odor, and a bland, slightly fishy taste. Specific gravity, 0.920 to 0.925 at 15° C. (59° F.). Scarcely soluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in ether, chloroform, or carbon disulphide; also in 2.5 parts of acetic ether"—(U. S. P.). The second form is pale-brown, or brownish-yellow (straits oil); less care is exercised in the selection of the livers and the preparation of the oil. The third kind is dark-brown (banks oil), and is an inferior grade, being derived from putrefied livers; its odor is disagreeable, its taste acrid and bitter; and it has an acid reaction. The best grade is universally preferred in the United States.

Adulterations and Tests.
—Cod-liver oil is subjected to adulterations in several ways. One method is to bleach an inferior, dark oil, it is stated, by exposure to the rays of the sun. The addition of mineral oils can be recognized by saponification which leaves the adulterant unaffected. An oil that has undergone partial putrefaction may be judged by the quantity of free volatile acids in the oil. Such oils also absorb much less iodine than fresh cod-liver oil. Refined seal oil and seed oils are also used as adulterants of cod-liver oil. (For a more detailed consideration of this phase of the subject, see special works on analysis, e.g., A. H. Allen, Commercial Organic Analysis, Vol. II, Part I, 3d ed., 1899, p. 197.) The U. S. P. gives the following tests for the purity of cod-liver oil: "If 1 drop of the oil be dissolved in 20 drops of chloroform, and the solution shaken with 1 drop of sulphuric acid, the solution will acquire a violet-red tint, rapidly changing to rose-red and brownish-yellow. If a glass rod, moistened with sulphuric acid, be drawn through a few drops of the oil, on a porcelain plate, a violet color will be produced. Cod-liver oil should be only very slightly acid to litmus paper previously moistened with alcohol (limit of free fatty acids). When the oil is allowed to stand for some time at 0° C. (32° F.), very little or no solid fat should separate (absence of other fish oils, and of many vegetable oils). If 2 or 3 drops of fuming nitric acid be allowed to flow alongside of 10 or 15 drops of the oil, contained in a watch-glass, a red color will be produced at the point of contact. On stirring the mixture with a glass rod, this color becomes bright rose-red, soon changing to lemon-yellow (distinction from seal oil, which shows at first no change of color, and from other fish oils, which become at first blue, and afterward brown and yellow"—(U. S. P.). The presence of seal oil may also be detected by means of Amagat and Jean's oleo refractometer (see Proc. Amer. Pharm. Assoc., 1898, p. 888).

from:   http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/gadus_oleu.html 

http://www.infonet.st-johns.nf.ca/green/acrayola.jpg

August 1998: The Portuguese tall ship CREOULA returns to St. John's harbour. 
The CREOULA, a Portuguese Navy training vessel, sailed from Lisbon (Lisboa) to St. John's to commemorate Portugal's cod fishery heritage.
The Creoula made 37 voyages to the Grand Banks. The Last was in 1973.
The Creoula could carry about 12,800 quintals of "Green Cod" (about 800 tonnes) together with about 60 tonnes of cod liver oil. PHOTO BY H. PINSENT 1998.

from "Terra Nova Greens":   http://www.infonet.st-johns.nf.ca/green/historicvessels.html

[iko (OP)]

Outdoor activities and diet in childhood and adolescence
 relate to MS risk above the Arctic Circle.

Kampman MT, Wilsgaard T, Mellgren SI.
Dept. of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, P.O. Box 33, 9038, Tromsø, Norway.

BACKGROUND : A relationship between the latitude-related distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) and exposure to sunlight has long been considered. Higher sun exposure during early life has been associated with decreased risk of MS.
OBJECTIVE : Since Norway is an exception to the latitude gradient of MS prevalence, we tested here whether sunlight exposure or vitamin D-related dietary factors in childhood and adolescence are associated with the risk of MS.
METHODS : Retrospective recall questionnaire data from 152 MS patients and 402 population controls born at and living at latitudes 66-71 degrees N were analysed by means of conditional logistic regression analysis accounting for the matching variables age, sex, and place of birth.
RESULTS : Increased outdoor activities during summer in early life were associated with a decreased risk of MS, most pronounced at ages 16-20 years (odds ratio (OR) 0.55, 95% CI 0.39-0.78, p = 0.001, adjusted for intake of fish and cod-liver oil).

A protective effect of supplementation with cod-liver oil was suggested in the subgroup that reported low summer outdoor activities (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.31-1.05, p = 0.072).

Consumption of fish three or more times a week was also associated with reduced risk of MS (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.33-0.93, p = 0.024).
CONCLUSION : Summer outdoor activities in childhood and adolescence are associated with a reduced risk of MS even north of the Arctic Circle. Supplemental cod-liver oil may be protective when sun exposure is less, suggesting that both climate and diet may interact to influence MS risk at a population level.

J Neurol. 2007 Apr;254(4):471-7. Epub 2007 Mar 21.

http://www.v1biz.com.au/totaladventures/pics/picsforpages/kids.jpg

[Karen W.]

"Fishy news" from Norway:
Fish oils EPA & DHA (not Vitamin A & D!)
are better absorbed in the natural way.

Enhanced incorporation of n-3 fatty acids from fish compared with fish oils.

Elvevoll EO, Barstad H, Breimo ES, Brox J, Eilertsen KE, Lund T, Olsen JO, Osterud B.
Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Department of Marine Biotechnology, University of Tromso, Norway. edel.elvevoll@nfh.uit.no

This work was undertaken to study the impact of the source of n-3 FA(Fat Acids) on their incorporation in serum, on blood lipid composition, and on cellular activation. A clinical trial comprising 71 volunteers, divided into five groups, was performed. Three groups were given 400 g smoked salmon (n = 14), cooked salmon (n = 15), or cooked cod (n = 13) per week for 8 wk. A fourth group was given 15 mL/d of cod liver oil (CLO) (n = 15), and a fifth group served as control (n = 14) without supplementation. The serum content of EPA and DHA before and after intervention revealed a higher rise in EPA and DHA in the cooked salmon group (129% rise in EPA and 45% rise in DHA) as compared with CLO (106 and 25%, respectively) despite an intake of EPA and DHA in the CLO group of 3.0 g/d compared with 1.2 g/d in the cooked salmon group. No significant changes were observed in blood lipids, fibrinogen, fibrinolysis, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor (TF) activity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) in whole blood. EPA and DHA were negatively correlated with LPS-induced TNFalpha, IL-8, LTB4, TxB2, and TF in whole blood. In conclusion, fish consumption is more effective in increasing serum EPA and DHA than supplementing the diet with fish oil. Since the n-3 FA are predominantly in TAG in fish as well as CLO, it is suggested that the larger uptake from fish than CLO is due to differences in physiochemical structure of the lipids.

Lipids. 2006 Dec;41(12):1109-14.

http://www.visitscandinavia.or.jp/Gallery/norway/Norway_Aurora%20Tromso%20town.jpg

Is that the northern lights again IKO?? It is so beautiful.. I wish to see those one day!!!

[iko (OP)]

Yes Karen,

those "aurorae borealis" are just
astonishingly beautiful: I never
saw one, of course, but I think
that some perfect pics might even
be better than the original image!

We should go to Scandinavia next September and have a gander...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Aurora_Borelis_22Jan2004.jpg/250px-Aurora_Borelis_22Jan2004.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Polarlicht_2.jpg/250px-Polarlicht_2.jpg

Aurora (astronomy)


An aurora (plural aurorae/auroras) is an electro-static phenomenon, characterised by a bright glow and caused due to the collision of charged particles in the magnetosphere with atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere. An aurora is usually observed in the night sky, particularly in the polar zone. For this latter reason, some scientists call it a "polar aurora" (or "aurora polaris").
In northern latitudes, it is known as the aurora borealis (IPA /ɔˈɹɔɹə bɔɹiˈælɪs/), which is named after the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas. Especially in Europe, it often appears as a reddish glow on the northern horizon, as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis is also called the northern lights since it is only visible in the North sky from the Northern Hemisphere. The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and from March to April. Its southern counterpart, aurora australis, has similar properties. Australis is the Latin word for "of the South".

more From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29