Vitamin D & Chronic Disease Risk: Causes, Consequences, & Clinical Recommendations

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Program Overview:

Most health professionals know vitamin D for its critical role in preventing rickets in children andosteomalacia in adults by increasing the efficiency of dietary calcium absorption. However, recent research has identified important relationships between vitamin D and other chronic diseases.

In this program, noted vitamin D expert Dr. Michael F. Holick will explain the biology of vitamin D from the perspective of human evolution and why an endemic lack of vitamin D may be the mechanism by which diseases such as some types of cancer, Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis correlate with latitude.

He will also review current vitamin D intake levels and risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency, as well as the appropriate biochemical marker for vitamin D status. The toxicology of vitamin D, evidence for the safety of physiologically meaningful doses and clinical recommendations will also be discussed.