McCarrison Society

Health Through Nutrition, A Birthright

Project 1 Measure Vitamin D in Non-Westernised Groups

There is debate as to optimal vitamin D levels in those of all skin tones.  One paper has looked at levels in white beach guards. Four papers  cited on Vitamindwiki looked at vitamin D levels in East African tribes still living a relatively traditional lifestyle; levels were around 115nmols in males and 140nmols in pregnant females.

The number of peoples living outside western influence is diminishing. Having a better idea as to ‘natural’ levels in people of all skin types would be invaluable, as suggested by the data in this paper cited by the Vitamin D Council.

The paper concludes: “This study suggests that the disparities by skin color in the vitamin D status and in the health of the US population are related to each other. Treating groups at risk for insufficient vitamin D – including all people of color living in the United States – with inexpensive vitamin D supplements may be a viable strategy for reducing health disparities and lowering the cost of health care. Our findings suggest that US public health authorities may never eliminate health disparities without attending to the skin-color related disparities in vitamin D nutriture.””

Vitamin D comparative graphJ Acad Nutr Diet. 2013 May;113(5):643-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2012.12.011. Epub 2013 Feb 13.  Vitamin D status is a biological determinant of health disparities.  Weishaar T1, Vergili JM.

The study  “used data from 12,505 (unweighted) subjects (3,402 non-Hispanic blacks, 3,143 Mexican Americans, and 5,960 non-Hispanic whites), aged 13 years or older, from the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2006.

Vitamin D levels are low globally in all ethnic groups.

Pregnant women are at particular risk as evidenced by this paper “Vitamin D deficiency and supplementation in pregnancy in a multiethnic population-based cohort.”  Link Vitdwiki

The huge importance of vitamin D including to skeletal and dental formation, and prevention of caries and rickets were extensively explored identified and flagged as of fundamental importance by Melanby,  McCarrison, and others. Dental caries are arguably a window into long term skeletal structure prognosis and wider health if diet and lifestyle remains unchanged.

Mellany dental decay vitamin DVitamin D intake and dental decay from a publication by Melanby Link

Vitamin D - Powerpoint slide - R Brown Robert A Brown from presentation to the RSM  “Nutrient Deficiencies and Imbalances; Evolutionary Estuarine Origins”

Progress

At the moment there has been discussion with a McCarrison member with connections in southwest Africa, and in very general terms with a limited number of people who might potentially have an interest in the idea.

Once the McCarrison Society is again on a more solid footing it would by our intention to see if this aim could be funded and achieved.

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