Increased D levels responsible for Dead Sea therapy

Increased vitamin D serum levels correlate with clinical improvement of rheumatic diseases after Dead Sea climatotherapy.

Isr Med Assoc J. 2011 Apr;13(4):212-5.

Harari M, Dramsdahl E, Shany S, Baumfeld Y, Ingber A, Novack V, Sukenik S.

DMZ Medical Center, Lot Spa Hotel, Dead Sea, Israel.

BACKGROUND:

Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are required by the skin for the production of vitamin D. The intensity of UVB at the Dead Sea area is the lowest in the world. Low vitamin D levels are often associated with musculoskeletal symptoms.

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the effectiveness of climatotherapy at the Dead Sea on the production of vitamin D in Norwegian patients suffering from various rheumatic diseases and to investigate possible associations between increased vitamin D serum levels, musculoskeletal symptoms and disease severity.

METHODS:

Sixty Norwegian patients who came to the Dead Sea area for 21 days of medical rehabilitation were divided into three groups according to their diagnosis: chronic pain syndromes, i.e.,

• low back pain or fibromyalgia (Group 1, n=33);

• rheumatoid arthritis (Group 2, n=16); and

• osteoarthritis (Group 3, n=11).

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) levels were determined at arrival and prior to departure. The treatment protocol included daily sun exposure (climatotherapy), bathing in the Dead Sea and mineral spring water (balneotherapy), mud applications and fitness classes.

RESULTS:

25-OH-D serum levels increased significantly from 71.3 +/- 26.6 nM at arrival to 89.3 +/- 23.2 nM prior to departure (P < 0.001). Adjusted for the initial levels of pain (assessed by a visual analog scale) and disease severity, a direct correlation was observed between increased 25-OH-D serum levels and pain reduction (P = 0.012) and reduction of disease severity (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS:

Climatotherapy at the Dead Sea induces significant changes in vitamin D. Increased 25-OH-D serum levels are associated with reduced musculoskeletal pain and disease severity.

PMID: 21598808

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Vitamin D therapy may decrease autoinflamation and pain – Editorial on this article

29 ng => 36 ng

Would have been far less exensive to just stay home and take vitamin D than go on a suncation

4 quarters ($1.00) will buy 200,000 IU of vitamin D

See also Vitamin D Life

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• Overview Osteoporosis and vitamin D

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• Overview Rheumatoid Arthritis and vitamin D

• Pain - chronic items

• Noontime sun and D items

• Vitamin D relieves pain – 2008 2010

• Lowest cost osteoporosis treatment in China was vitamin D and Calcium – Oct 2010

• Do not just take more Calcium if you fear Osteoporosis- Mercola Dec 2010 from book: The Calcium Lie

• Calcium in food increased much more than Magnesium in recent decades April 2010

• Fewer falls and fractures as vitamin D is increased – 1800 to 4000 IU July 2010 2 abstracts with chart

• 75 percent of hip fractures associated with vitamin D deficiency - Jan 2011

• Low vitamin D may account for half of the reasons for osteomalacia – Oct 2010

• Overview: Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue and vitamin D

• Vitamin D and chronic widespread pain

• Back pain reduced for 95 percent of those who took vitamin D - 2003

  • "only" 95% of the people with back pain were helped with vitamin D 5000 IU or 10000 IU daily