I Might Get Banned for This...

Summary

This video challenges conventional wisdom on vitamin D, suggesting that the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 600 IU is inadequate. The speaker argues that historical practices like heliotherapy and modern research indicate higher needs, with toxicity studies showing no adverse effects at doses up to 1 million IU. They propose that pharmaceutical interests may influence low RDA recommendations, despite vitamin D's role in numerous health benefits.

Takeaways

• 🚫 The video suggests that the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D, set at 600 IU, might be controversial and possibly too low.
• 🔍 The RDA for vitamin D is considered arbitrary, decided by a committee rather than strictly scientific evidence.
• ☀️ Historically, heliotherapy, or sunbathing, was used to treat various diseases before the advent of modern medicine.
• ⏳ The RDA for vitamin D has been inconsistent, with different numbers recommended over the years, suggesting a lack of consensus.
• 🚷 A government-commissioned study on vitamin D toxicity found no toxicity at dosages ranging from 200,000 to 1 million IU, challenging the notion of vitamin D being harmful in high amounts.
• 🛡️ Vitamin D3 is highlighted as an immune modulator, suggesting it plays a crucial role in the immune system.
• 🤔 The video implies that there may have been errors in the evaluation of the RDA for vitamin D, with some organizations suggesting it should be higher.
• 🌐 The speaker faced backlash from the scientific community for presenting data that contradicted established beliefs about vitamin D.
• 📊 The script presents graphs showing a correlation between latitude and the risk of certain diseases, suggesting that higher levels of vitamin D, which are more prevalent near the equator, may be protective.
• 💊 The video mentions that medications containing vitamin D at 50,000 IU are prescribed, yet the RDA remains low, indicating a discrepancy in what is considered safe.
• 🧬 Vitamin D is involved in the function of 2,700 different genes, indicating its broad impact on the body.
• 💊 The speaker speculates that big pharmaceutical companies and modern medicine may prefer people to take low doses of vitamin D for reasons not disclosed in the video.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed in the video about modern medicine?

The main concern is that the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D might be too low and that there is a potential underestimation of its benefits and the arbitrary nature of the RDA set by committees.

What is the RDA for vitamin D in international units (IUs)?

The RDA for vitamin D is typically about 600 IU, which is an arbitrary number decided by a committee.

What was the historical use of heliotherapy in treating various diseases?

Heliotherapy, or sunbathing, was used in the early 1900s to treat diseases such as tuberculosis, asthma, osteoporosis, tooth decay, psoriasis, mood issues, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

What is the relationship between the RDA of vitamin D and sun exposure?

600 IU of vitamin D is roughly equivalent to 1.8 minutes of sun exposure in the summer, while 10,000 IU is equivalent to about 30 minutes of sun exposure.

What was the outcome of the University of Illinois Chicago study on vitamin D toxicity?

The study, which involved hundreds of doctors, 773 patients, and 63 dogs, used dosages of 200,000 to 1 million IU of vitamin D and did not find any toxicity.

Why is vitamin D3 considered special in the context of the immune system?

Vitamin D3 is an immune modulator, which means it can help regulate the immune system's response.

What were the findings of the re-evaluation of the Institute of Health's RDA for vitamin D3?

Two other organizations re-evaluated the Institute of Health's data and found mistakes, suggesting that the RDA should have been 8,895 IU instead of 600 IU.

What was the reaction of the top vitamin D researchers to the presented data at a conference?

The reaction was hostile, with attacks on the presenter's claims and a defense of their established careers and beliefs about vitamin D.

How does the script suggest a correlation between latitude and certain diseases?

The script presents graphs showing that diseases like breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and diabetes have the lowest risk near the equator, where there is the most sun and vitamin D.

What historical context is provided about the RDA for vitamin D over the years?

The script outlines a timeline from 1900 to 2010, showing how the RDA for vitamin D has changed, with a focus on the increase from 400 IU to 600 IU and the continued use of higher doses in medications.

What is the speaker's perspective on melanoma and its relation to vitamin D?

The speaker suggests that melanoma might be related to vitamin D deficiency, as vitamin D is needed in many genes and there are numerous barriers to absorbing vitamin D3.

What is the speaker's view on the role of big Pharma and modern medicine regarding vitamin D?

The speaker believes that big Pharma and modern medicine want people to take extremely low doses of vitamin D, if any, possibly due to vested interests.