While there are many good points in the book, and it is very up to date, but there are also a great many errors - which were
- Misleading
- Incorrect
- Failures to mention information
- Internally inconsistent
The following details the errors found in first 2 hours of reading.
- Note: T = Top of page, M = Middle of page, B = Bottom of page, X not mentioned on page
Pg 20 – Incorrect: extrapolated Canadian lives saved per year to the US, apparently without noticing that US has more UVB than Canada
Pg 24B – Inconsistent: >50 ng/ml is toxic – yet page 30 said that 60 ng/ml is typical when have lots of time in the sun
Pg 33M – Not mentioned: 50,000 IU – as prescribed in the US is virtually always vitamin D2, not D3
Pg 33M – Not mentioned: 50,000 IU prescription is also twice, or three times a week, not just the once a week mentioned
Pg 46B – Source of the information, IoM, was incorrect: Must avoid excessive Calcium if have >2,000 IU of vitamin D.
Many studies have shown that people should not have > 750 mg of Calcium if >2,000 IU of vitamin D
Pg 73M – Misleading: 600 IU of vitamin D needed to detect effect on falls. Fails to mention that 2,000 – 4,000 IU provides excellent benefits
Pg 74M – Not mentioned: There are many other forms of Calcium which are much more tolerated and bio-available.
Pg 85B – Misleading: Studies have shown a 5X increase of getting TB is low on vitamin D
Pg 87M – Not mentioned: Many studies have shown great reduction in flu etc, with vitamin D
Pg 90M – Incorrect: Many MS studies have shown a strong latitude effect in North America and elsewhere
Pg 108X – Not Mentioned: Meta-analysis of colon cancer and vitamin D has already shown
for every 100 IU of vitamin D the rate of colon cancer decreases by 4%. We do not have to wait 5 years for the VITAL study results
Pg 122X – Not Mentioned: Vitamin D also prevents many cancers
Pg 122X – Not Mentioned: Vitamin D aids some chemotherapies so much that it can cause the patient to die – must be very careful
Pg 122X – Not Mentioned: Vitamin D the only supplement which consistently helps cancer survivors
Pg 147X – Not mentioned: Vitamin D can TREAT as well as prevent diabetes
Pg 189 – Misleading: Times in the sun given are for thin, white, young people who are laying down
Thin, white, young people who are STANDING UP, need at 10-20 minutes.
Pg 202T – Misleading: Farmed salmon has far less vitamin D – this is alluded to several pages later, however
Pg 208M – Not Mentioned – there are other forms of vitamin D for people who cannot adsorb fats or have poor bowel absorption.
Pg 211M – Incorrect: Cannot get enough vitamin D from the sun walking for a few minutes in the sun three times a week. CLICK HERE
Probably need 40-80 minutes to get to 36 ng/ml of vitamin D
Pg 212M – Incorrect: “Most healthy adults only need 600-800 IU a day” This is not nearly enough for “healthy”
elderly, pregnant women, people with dark skin, high latitude, avoid sun for religious reasons, concern about skin cancer, stay indoors for video, etc.
See also the 11 new reasons for vitamin D deficiency
Pg 214T – Misleading: Fails to mention many more forms of Calcium – which are more bio-available and easier to digest
Pg 218T – Not Mentioned: Need not take vitamin D every day. The body stores vitamin D up nicely. Can just take it weekly if you wish
Pg 219M – Not Mentioned:Additional conditions which increase your need for vitamin D include MS, recent surgery, Colon cancer, Bariatric surgery, Crohn’s disease and Celiac Disease
Pg 222T – Misleading: A few men get enough vitamin D from foods, but virtually no women get enough
Pg 222M – Inconsistent: Some evidence that internal absorption of vitamin D is reduced in the elderly. (which is true) but stated just the opposite earlier in the book.
Pg 229T – Misleading: Yes. pregnant women and nursing mothers ‘need’ 600 IU of vitamin D – but they actually need 4000 to 6000 IU
Pg 241T – Incorrect: Studies have shown adverse reactions to vitamin D above 15,000 IU for a long period of time Example 50,000 IU for 2 months.
Pg 244M – Misleading: Tanning salons are probably safe – if you are not in them for very long.
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Two older books are probably better, though they are somewhat dated in this fast moving field.
- Power of Vitamin D $15 paperback, $10 Kindle and PDF, Google E-Book $8; Jan 2010
- The Vitamin D Solution $10 in hardback and Kindle; April 2010
You might consider buying the Dummies book and augment with the above notes.
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See also on Vitamin D Life for more information on Vitamin D
- Other books, information, and videos - many are free
- Short introductions to Vitamin D - all free
- Overviews/Summaries of Vitamin D Topics
- Home page for Vitamin D Wiki which has links to 100+ topics and 30+ Overviews
- Information on book Vitamin D for Dummies