eileen

Vitamin D in big demand: Local stores running out of supply

Frank Dobrovnik
Local News - Thursday, June 14, 2007 Updated @ 10:58:23 AM

Psst, need some vitamin D?

Consumers craving the so-called "sunshine drug" may have to find some clandestine sources after shelves across Sault Ste. Marie have been laid bare in the week since a United States study linked vitamin D to reduced risk for colorectal, breast and prostate cancer.

"We were done two days ago. We tried ordering more, but our wholesaler in Toronto has it on back order as well," said Manuel Dos Reis, pharmacist and proprietor of The Medicine Shoppe on Great Northern Road earlier this week.

Shoppers Drug Mart on Second Line West had too gone through its stock by Saturday, a day after results from the four-year study were publicized. Researchers at Creighton University in Nebraska said of 1,024 women over 55 who completed the trial, those randomly assigned to take calcium and vitamin D and who had higher levels of both in their blood were 77 per cent less likely to develop cancer after the first year compared to those taking placebos or calcium alone.

"We've ordered tons extra," said pharmacist Emilia Perna, estimating she speaks to eight to 10 people a day about vitamin D.

Vitamin D's benefits to bone health have long been known, but only in the last year or so has evidence grown linking it to cancer prevention.

The findings coincide with new recommendations from the Canadian Cancer Society study Friday. The society says Canadian adults should consider taking a vitamin D supplement of 1,000 international units daily during fall and winter. Furthermore, adults at risk of having lower vitamin D levels — seniors, those with darker skin, don't go outside often or wear clothing covering most of their skin — should consider maintaining the recommended intake level year-round.

Four-hundred IUs had been the recommended daily intake to maintain bone health. Dos Reis says 1,000 IUs are "probably more than you need" for bones, but concedes to the latest studies and says the increased levels "can't hurt" users.

Although D is among four fat-soluble vitamins that stay much longer in the body than, for example, vitamin B, which is urinated out within hours, he said it would be "very difficult" to overdose.

The benefits far outweigh any marginal risk, he said.

That's doubly true in the winter months where in these latitudes days are short and the angle of the sun minimizes any natural light. "It's very important you get enough vitamin D, especially for women, older women even more. It helps you make the most of your calcium intake, especially in the wintertime, when you don't produce as much on your own because we don't get enough sunlight."

A straw poll of area health food stores finds they're still in stock. Doloras Biron of the Garden of Eden has noticed an uptick in sales, but says that's been the case since naturopaths started recommending 1,000 IUs a couple of years ago.

Her busiest season is yet to come. "Even before mid-winter hits, our store of vitamin D is used up."

So what if there's none to be had? The cancer society says people can safely go out for 15 minutes or so to allow the body to produce it naturally.

"Probably the best alternative is to get some sun, even if it's only for five minutes," Perna said. "That doesn't mean you should go out for two hours and start cooking (yourself)."
— With files from Canadian Press

http://www.saultstar.com/webapp/site...if=News%20Live

vettes

Very good