February 2, 2018
Jacqui-Since having cancer in 2003 I take various supplements, as long as there is scientific evidence to indicate potential benefit. In 2003 I also changed my diet radically to include lots of vegetables and fruit, less red meat, no salt, little or no sugar, and so on. Cancer patients will be familiar with the strategy. In 2003 I was also diagnosed with asthma, thyroid cysts, and was very prone to colds and flu. By 2006, I was getting very bad colds and chest infections every winter, and for two consecutive winters, found myself with pneumonia after heavy colds. This necessitated as much as 6 weeks off work on one occasion. Vitamin D came to my attention in 2006 so I started with small amounts, 2000 iu a day. As new research was published, this was increased to 4000 iu, 6000 iu, in 2009 to 8,000 iu, and in 2010, to 10,000 iu. In the winter of 2009 on 8,000iu daily, I had colds but not so severely and without pneumonia. In the winter of 2010/2011, I have not had any cold at all, and no lung infections! In fact, I have just got over a very light cold infection, the first since mid 2010, with no difficulty, and no asthma triggered off. Working 40 miles away, commuting in winter was pretty hellish – no sunshine, getting to work in the dark and getting home in the dark. SAD was a fact of life in the months from November to February despite lunchtime walks outside. Benefits on the higher level of 10,000 iu daily are: no colds of any significance and no lung infections, SAD completely gone, mood very good, bones (just had a DXA scan to test for osteoporosis) show no signs of problems and are mineralised to 115% of that expected for age. Persistant nagging pain at site of original surgery has gone. Brain is in better condition than before. I have also been able to cut back on my steroid asthma medication. The thyroid cysts went in 2003 after 3 months taking kelp tablets, which I continue. I also take magnesium, but not calcium. In the cold wet UK vitamin D deficiency is a major public health issue. It is very difficult to understand why doctors don’t recognise this, and why there seems to be resistance to setting up clinical trials of vitamin D in conjunction with standard cancer treatment. After all, the science has been around for decades now. Rickets is coming back – that old Victorian disease of poverty and malnutrition. People with dark skins are at particular risk. And knowing (now) that vitamin D plays such a huge role in development of the lungs, it makes me wonder whether Sudden Infant Death Syndrome may be caused by a D3 deficiency in the mother which she is unaware of.