Why does vitamin D dissolve BONE?

Not many people realize this action is true, but, you need to read this whole paragraph for the complete story. Of importance is the final overall result, not each action involved. But, an awareness of each stage can help determine the best way to evaluate and use supplements. Often this means both too little as well as too much might exhibit adverse effects. ref

When the calcium level in blood drops below a certain critical point, the parathyroid gland secretes a hormone, PTH, that starts a cascade of actions resulting in the activation of vitamin D into it's active hormone form. The hormone form of vitamin D has a short life span in the body. The goal for this hormone form of vitamin D along with PTH is to help return the blood calcium level back to normal. To accomplish this it triggers a number of processes. First, it signals the intestinal tract to absorb more calcium out of food. Absorption percent varies from 10% to 50% with average between 25% to 33%. Second, it signals the Kidneys and colon to stop the elimination of calcium. Third, along with PTH, it signals the start of a process that dissolves bone freeing calcium to raise the amount of calcium in blood back to normal.    

Thus, both PTH and the active form of vitamin D are usually present at the same time. So while PTH might stimulate more of the bone dissolving process, vitamin D also gets some of the responsibility.

The body swings back and forth between two calcium processes, one controlled by vitamin D to increase absorption and hold onto existing body calcium amounts (taking calcium out of bones does not eliminate it), and the other is to turn off the activation of the hormone form of vitamin D which shuts down absorption and speeds up calcium elimination out of the body. Plus, this process also pushes extra calcium in the blood back into bones.

The driver for what happens to calcium is not the density of bones, but the level of calcium in the blood. A certain level of calcium is required so nerves can fire, muscles contract, plus to stimulate numerous other metabolic functions. If calcium amount in blood is lower or higher than the set point, many controlling processes are enacted to quickly re-establish balance. Yes, large doses of highly concentrated calcium supplements, which can increase blood calcium levels, requires a reverse process mentioned below. Both regulations use up vital body energy and stress organs and glands into action. Organs like the kidneys and liver are involved which have other critical functions they should be performing. 

THE COUNTER PROCESS

Now, Mother Nature knows the importance of bone density and that dissolving too much would have a negative impact on bone strength. Thus, bones serve as a reservoir of calcium and have extra just for this purpose. Plus, nature had the insight to also have the hormone form of vitamin D trigger the start of the bone building process that will eventually not only replace the calcium taken out of bone to normalize blood levels, but to also add more bone building as well. When calcium intake is low, the body holds onto calcium already in the body. When intake of calcium is in excess, the body packs more into bone reservoirs which increases density for a short time, and it also turns off the absorption channels and speeds up the elimination of calcium. Balance and Harmony! The critical point here is the short time aspect and the amount of calcium that can be safely packed into bone. After some time, a point is reached that no longer helps bone, but starts to hinder bone dynamics. Bones can even become too rigid with higher intakes of daily calcium. Bones need to flex yet be strong. Density balanced with bone structure create strength.

THE CHALLENGE OF CALCIUM HARMONY IN THE BODY

Many people are told to take 1000 mg. of calcium every day to protect bones and build up bone density. This sets up two body responses that over time, start to present a problem for the body. First, large amounts of calcium overwhelm the checks built into the digestive system that wants to just trickle calcium into the system so the calcium elimination process is not abruptly stimulated. Second, large amounts of calcium all at once block off avenues of absorption for other vital minerals, like magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Yes, one elimination process packs more calcium into bones, and builds more bone, too. These appear to be a beneficial effect. But, wait, another aspect of the elimination process is that the body no longer needs to activate vitamin D into the hormone form, a form that is 1000 times more active than the longer lasting storage form of vitamin D. Doctors measure the storage form and not the hormone form levels. To test for hormone D form actions, Doctors measure PTH levels.

DOES HORMONE VITAMIN D HAVE OTHER FUNCTIONS?

Here is where the professionals appear to exhibit tunnel vision. Yes, the hormone form of vitamin D participates in a number of vital body functions. It not only helps balance blood calcium levels and build bone, it also has vital immune system actions, LL-37, as well as it plays a role in blood sugar control. What happens when the body is everyday bombarded with excess calcium? The body elimination processes work overtime to attempt to maintain a calcium equilibrium. And the body does a pretty remarkable job for a period of time, but then..

...The Countries with the highest per person intake of dairy products exhibit the weakest bone statistics...

While the active absorption of calcium is turned off when blood levels are adequate, the passive absorption for calcium is always working, and extra calcium can still get into the blood stream. This continues the shut off of the need for more calcium and also stops the activation of vitamin D into it's hormone form for a longer period of time than the normal dietary swings in calcium intakes would generate. This can be corrected by cycling calcium supplements on and off, but this takes some knowledge and testing to make sure body functions remain in balance. You will not find any information on this aspect anywhere. 

Can these processes be overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion?

This is perhaps what is happening, especially in dairy consuming Countries. The Countries with the highest per person intake of dairy products exhibit the weakest bone statistics. Countries that consume less dairy, generally have better bones. But the people there are also more active and eat a closer to the earth diet. Thus, total calcium intake may not be the most important aspect in bone integrity. A balance with perhaps some swings back and forth to let the body have its checks and balance actions would better serve the hormone vitamin D activation needs. article

WRAP UP

While one of the mechanisms of the hormone form of vitamin D is to dissolve bone to release calcium to balance blood calcium levels, once that level is achieved, this process stops. The other functions of hormone vitamin D that increase the absorption of bone building minerals plus stimulates or turns on the cells that build more bone, have a net result for the hormone form of vitamin D that builds more bone than it dissolves.

But, there are limits and nutrient ratios that should be maintained for balance and harmony for bone building and maintaining activities. Building healthy bone is more than just calcium with vitamin D. Calcium needs magnesium (ref) and phosphorus for the forming of bone hydroxyapatite crystals. Vitamin D needs magnesium to activate, plus vitamin D also needs vitamin K2 to finish the job vitamin D starts with osteocalcin production. And the actions of vitamin D need to combine with a form of vitamin A to accomplish many of the actions attributed to vitamin D. Strong bones need a support team of many nutrients and actions, like exercise to maintain and renew bone integrity.

Why fuss over GMO?

GMO, genetically modified organisms, refers to the introduction of gene codes from one plant or organism into another to influence genes that build proteins in an attempt to give a plant special "beneficial" characteristics. Certain gene codes might be taken out of a tomato and transferred into another plant like corn to give the new modified corn some advantage it did not naturally have, such as to prevent insect damage that the tomato plant exhibits. This new protein as built in the GMO plant may be entirely unique and never have existed before in nature. The GMO giant, Monsanto, says GMO plants are safe because the human digestive system will destroy any new gene or protein formed. This has recently been discovered to not be true. ref

ARE GMO PLANTS SAFE?

Why the stink? New proteins or the new DNA seeds that produce them in a food could get ingested and generate allergies. The company developing GMO plants or fish, etc. have held to the belief that these new proteins would not get ingested since they would be destroyed during digestion. Plus, the DNA material in genes found in seeds would not enter into digestion either. Thus there would be no reason to test the new GMO plant for allergy potential from the new proteins. The FDA agreed and Monsanto did not have to test the new plants, fishes, etc. BUT, recently a scientist (now many scientists) has discovered these new proteins do get inside the human body and this changes everything. The old theory about destruction during digestion is now invalid. All GMO crops and fish, etc. must now be tested for adverse reactions and safety. Many or most probably will not pass. But, is it already too late? 

This is just one aspect of GMO disasters to the health of the body and the environment. There are probably many more yet undiscovered influences that occur when other insects and animals feeding on the new DNA material crops like bees that pass it up the food chain, such as to birds, etc.

One of the most damaging aspects of GMO crops is that winds and insects spread the new plant gene codes to neighboring farms where the native plants are turned into GMO plants. GMO created codes dominate over native plant codes. Often the new GMO crops need more chemical sprays in areas not influenced by the new GMO proteins for survival. A trait evidently not evaluated by Monsanto, or at least not expressed publicly. Plus, farmers of GMO plants are required to buy new seeds every year from Monsanto instead of in the past saving some seeds from native plants each year to grow the next crop. 

THE OIL TWIST

Since GMO only influences the protein of the new organism, like GMO soy, the soy fat or oil extracted and purified would not contain any GMO new proteins. It would be safe to consume. There could possibly be changes to the type or composition of fats, but this would not mean they are contaminated by the GMO process. The oils or fats would have their same chemical structure regardless of the growing method. Of course, all oils have to be kept fresh and there is the possibility of contamination by plant proteins or rancidity of fats after the extraction method. ref  ref ref  ref

GMO KNOWN ADVERSE DANGERS

Food Industry and US Government Helath Agencies are convinced GMO plants are safe. Not only plants, but also fishes and bacteria can and have been Genetically Modified. GMO bacteria are being used today to create some synthetic B vitamins such as B2, folate, and B12. Plus, GMO corn is the starting material for the majority of Vitamin C production, but again only the starch or sugars are used.

The discussion about the ramifications of using such bacteria is not without some valid negative points as already demonstrated by the L-Tryptophan disaster. Here a GMO bacteria was developed and used to shorten the production time and increase quantities the bacteria produced of L-Tryptophan. A contaminate element was also created during this process using the new GMO bacteria that was responsible for a rare blood disease causing the deaths of 41 people, between 28-37 in the USA, and lifetime injury to many more. That the FDA is not giving more diligence to safety examinations of GMO bacteria and other organisms borders on dereliction of duty to protect consumers. ref ref

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE GMO IS A 100% SAFE PRACTICE?  The GMO producing giant Monsanto and the Government officials in charge of monitoring Public safety still cling to the notion that GMO's are safe. Try selling that to the relatives of the 41 people who died.

IN THE INTEREST OF FAIR PLAY, conflicting view

Here is a contradicting opinion that EMS was caused by high dose tryptophan and not the GMO bacteria contamination formed during the manufacturing process From Showa Denko. Why did this EMS condition just suddenly show up after many years of tryptophan high dosage use, and then just as quickly disappear back to maybe just one or two here and there? article ref

Let's for the sake of discussion, say it was tryptophan and not the GMO bacteria that generated the EMS condition. Would not one expect to see random cases continually rather then all of a sudden an epidemic? Here is what Showa Denko did. First they developed a GMO bacteria that produced greater quantities of L-Tryptophan than the non-GMO bacteria presently used. This was in 1984. This bacteria was first used in their regular processing method. Then a few years later, a new shortcut process was tested and found to be safe, or under the 98.5% purity specs of the U.S. FDA. Then, after fermentation of the GMO bacteria in a food medium the bacteria eats, the newly formed L-TRYPTOPHAN is washed to concentrate and remove food medium and any impurities also formed. This new process shortened the normal wash period by about a third. This is probably were alot of the problem occurred.

It turns out that EMS cases had been silently and slowly increasing over this 5 year build up to the epidemic in 1989 after the new shortcut method was put in play. All the legal cases of EMS victims have been over 98% linked to Showa Denko L-Tryptophan. Here is best description of history and situation. article 

Thus, it is a possibility that the contaminant formed during this process was magnified and not completely washed out like it would have been if the wash time was longer. It may only have been an unfortunate association that the new GMO bacteria was also used with this new process. Since all the GMO bacteria was quickly destroyed, there were no tests conducted to verify the GMO bacteria was at fault and how the contaminant formed. All Scientist had was the test pattern that showed the mysterious X bump on the reading scope where none should appear.  Very tiny X bumps at the same spot have been seen since with just random EMS cases compared to the epidemic period after the new GMO tryptophan was released into the Public in 1989. 

Now, each batch of L-tryptophan and 5-HTP is tested for this contamination spot before release. It has never again been found at the same size and spot on the scope that it was in 1989 from the GMO bacteria produced L-Tryptophan. Was the epidemic caused by just high dose L-tryptophan or the GMO bacteria produced L-tryptophan by Showa Denko as over 98% of cases have discovered? No other manufacturers L-Tryptophan have so far been found contaminated.

GMO Bacteria Designed to Help Fight Disease

While Scientists are looking into the possibility of using GMO bacteria to help destroy pathogenic bacteria that cause disease. ref There are some very real concerns since reworking bacteria DNA can get out of control. 

UPDATE on GMO World (May 2022)

This new article describes a new concept beyond GMO to target changing plant elements. In this case it is using a new method called gene editing to produce vitamin D provitamins in tomatoes. This could rapidly deal with the low vitamin D crisis worldwide. This low vitamin D crisis became very evident as the Covid-19 pandemic was made more severe since vitamin D works with building immune system.

How does gene editing differ from GMOs? article 

Can whole food vitamins be taken without food?

While this is often mentioned by some "whole food like" vitamin companies to increase the image of their vitamins as whole food, the truth is absorption would suffer compared to taking them with a meal. So, no, do not take them by themselves.

Here is the logic. Digestion of nutrients in food or supplements depends upon a number of processes and secretions happening in a sequential pattern from various triggers. Smelling and tasting food are triggers. Another is the motion of the jaw moving up and down, the chewing motion. These stimulate the production of gastric juices, acids and later enzymes, and prepares the pH of the stomach to get ready for nutrient breakdown. If you just shallow a pill, none of these triggers are activated and the digestive system is not ready to begin the breakdown process. There are also other triggers in the stomach, maybe from stomach motion itself, that act to prepare the small intestines by stimulating the production of bile in the pancreas for the digestion of fats, fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, & K, CoQ10, and oils from fish and from nuts, flowers, and seeds. Yes, some nutrients, already at a pre-digested state, can be taken on an empty stomach. SAM-e is very unstable and should be taken on an empty stomach, plus free amino acids are already pre-digested for assimilation too.

Fish oil and CoQ10 absorption are especially enhanced by other fats in the same meal. Oh, another thing, this generated image for most whole food vitamins is really another myth as well. See here. 

Are natural and synthetic vitamins the same?

NO, THIS IS NOT GENERALLY TRUE FOR ALL VITAMINS. It is quite amazing to hear a health professional say synthetic vitamins are the same as natural. THAT statement exhibits such a profound ignorance on the molecular level that it defies logic and reason. The professionals are leaving out a very important part that needs to be included with such a statement. And that is "scientists have always known that some synthetic vitamins exhibit different molecular structures than natural and that the activity levels in the body were adjusted using different amounts of each vitamin type to generate identical, or nearly so, activity. Not mentioned here is that it takes almost 40% more synthetic vitamin E material to equal the same activity that was measured for natural vitamin E. New research now puts natural E at twice the absorption value of synthetic E, with even greater biological activity.

You will hear and read that vitamin C as ascorbic acid is not a complete vitamin since it does not have all the synergistic or "cofactor" elements often found with it in foods. But, in the case of vitamin C, this is simply not the reality of physiological facts. Most mammals, except humans and a few other animals and birds, can make vitamin C inside their bodies from the sugar glucose in their blood. An enzyme needed for this glucose conversion is missing in humans. Yes, the form this vitamin C takes in the body is as an ascorbate, or a mineral combined with ascorbic acid. In the Lab, Scientists use this same enzyme to turn usually corn sugar into vitamin C as ascorbic acid.

There are ascorbate supplements. And ascorbic acid does turn into the ascorbate form in the body. But what is important here is that the animals that make their own vitamin C do not also make any of the other synergistic parts of vitamin C or the cofactors often mentioned as being needed for complete vitamin C activity. The reason being of course is that vitamin C as a mineral ascorbate is all that is needed for most vitamin C functions. Yes, these "cofactors" do offer some protection to preserve vitamin C and also have similar and related functions to perform as well. That is how they relate to vitamin C, not that they are needed for ascorbic acid as vitamin C to function. Vitamin C also combines with proteins and minerals to form enzymes. Some of the functions of these enzymes are sometimes referred  as vitamin C functions, but really is the enzyme function of which vitamin C is just one part. ref

Yes, it is true that these enzymes would not be able to function without vitamin C, but then they would not be able to funciton without the proteins or minerals either, even though there was plenty of vitamin C. So, in some way these minerals and proteins are cofactors for a vitamin C function, but just not the cofactors mentioned by the "whole food" vitamin people attempting to make their case.

SIDEBAR: Here is copy from a website blog talking about synthetic vitamins. This needs a dose of reality.

"Much of the synthetic vitamin passes through the urine unabsorbed." Stop and think about this for a moment. In order for some element to pass out of the urine, it must first GET ABSORBED into the body. If it was unabsorbed it would pass out of the colon. Yes, it is true that some synthetic forms of vitamin metabolites are eliminated quicker than natural vitamin metabolites from the body. Metabolites are the elements that dietary vitamins whether natural or synthetic breakdown into during body processing. So what that author meant to say is that synthetic vitamins do not as readily participate in these body processes and the body might even recognize some of them as foreigners and attempt to quickly expel them. Some parts of Synthetic vitamins are used by the body.

Wrap UP Factors

There is one factor that is prehaps the telling end all for the many discussions about the differences between natural and synthetic vitamins. At the end of the day, it is a measure of the level of increase for each vitamin in the body or blood that determines the real benefit of natural or synthetic vitamins.

A vitamin level in the body is first measured, than the same amount of either a natural vitamin or a synthetic version of that vitamin is consumed. Blood is later drawn and levels of each vitamin are measurmented and compared. Sometimes both are pretty close, but other times, they are widely different. But only a few times does the synthetic version come out on top. Folic Acid is one example. These are largely due to absorption factors since some synthetic vitamins are produced in a more stable form that the natural form.

Also remember that some synthetic vitamins are excreted out of the body faster that their natural counterpart. So, while the synthetic might measute nearly the same at the beginning, the natural could win the longevity factor. Vitamin D3 is the longer lasting form while D2 is shorter.

Another factor would be the biological participation aspect. Natural vitamin E represents the vitamin with the greastest difference of the natural over synthetic. To see these differences, read this article. 

Why is grass fed beef better?

A very simple concept here. Grass fed beef has more omega 3 and the correct ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fats. ref  Plus, grass fed beef has a much higher content of CLA. WHY? Grass feeds certain bacteria in the cows intestinal tract that produce more omega 3 fats as well as greater quantities of CLA. 

Cows fed grains in feed lots develop different bacteria in their guts that do not produce the same amount of omega 3 or CLA. It is just that simple. The bacteria grown on grains pushes the omega 6 to omega 3 ratio to over 15 - 1 while cows eating pasture grass have within a 4-1 ratio. This is very significant to health. The cattle research industry knows this is a problem and has developed methods (back grounding) to slightly lower this ratio. This also significantly lowers the pathogenic e-coli bacteria count from grain feeding.

Could grains have a similar affect on human intestinal bacteria types? And could this lead to digestive problems? VERY INTERESTING! Could this be one of the positive aspects of gluten free programs?

A connection has been discovered between good bacteria acting on certain fecal enzymes to lower the colon cancer risk. Giving Lactobacillus acidophilus significantly reduced the activity of these 3 enzymes known to increase colon cancer, B-glucuronidase, nitroreductase, and azorductase. These 3 enzymes can catalyze procarcinogens into a proximal carcinogen (direct cancer causing element). It takes 4 weeks after discontinuing Lactobacillus for these enzymes to return to their pre-bacteria levels. AJCN, 39: May 1984, pp 756-761.  ref  ref  < check date, new study