Letters / Vital vitamin
According to recent media reports, Shetland has the highest incidents of type 1 diabetes in Scotland.
A link between type 1 diabetes and Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and early childhood is now well established, similar to other immune-mediated diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, both of which, I believe, occur at higher than average rates in Shetland.
A 1966 Finish birth cohort (Hypponen et.al.2001) was followed for 30 years and those who received 2000 international units of Vit D3 daily during infancy had a significantly lower incidence of type 1 diabetes than the control group.
Incidents of type 1 diabetes are highest in countries furthest from the equator and tend to be prevalent in populations chronically deficient in Vitamin D, such as Scotland (including Shetland).
Not only does our climate prevent us from absorbing sufficient levels of Vitamin D from skin exposure to the sun, but a far smaller percentage of our population work outdoors compared to 50 or 60 years ago.
Over the past half century the Shetland diet, which used to contain large amounts of oily fish, such as mackerel and herring, which are rich in Vitamin D, has changed dramatically.
This problem has also been compounded in recent years due to fear of contracting skin cancer. We slather ourselves, and especially our children, in UV protection products as soon as the sun comes out, which prevents the absorption of this vital vitamin.
Vitamin D differs from all other vitamins. It acts like a hormone in the body, influences cell division and repair and is vital for a well-functioning immune system.
Vitamin D is stored in the body and can be taken in an easy monthly dose. Individuals with sufficient levels have lower incidents of flu and colds, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, cancer, both types of diabetes, and any injuries heal quicker and with fewer complications.
Sadly and inexplicably, despite mounting and compelling evidence that sufficient Vitamin D levels prevent many diseases and disorders, Vitamin D3 (choleocalciferol), identical to what sunshine produces in our bodies, is not licensed in the UK, which means that GPs – and there is a growing band of these courageous individuals –have to prescribe it at their own risk.
An international body of medical professionals is calling for VitD3 to be made freely available on prescription to all who live in sun-deprived climates, and fail to understand why the Scottish government is dragging its feet on this important issue.
I’m sure if VitD3 was some new “miracle drug” invented by a pharmaceutical multinational we would have seen huge lobbying and advertising campaigns by now and concerted pressure put on every GP to prescribe, as happened not so long ago (and sadly wholly misguidedly) regarding HRT.
Vitamin D prevents, rather than cures disease, and those almighty international drug companies are not interested in preventative medicine, quite the opposite. The more individuals depend on expensive and long-term – preferably life-long – medication, the higher the profits for them and their shareholders.
The very same vital substance sunlight produces in our bodies can be manufactured easily and very cheaply from lanolin, the fat found in sheep’s wool.
Efforts to find a cure for type 1 diabetes are laudable, but a cure is elusive and could be a long way off.
In the meantime, and in the long term for that matter, I can’t think of a better way than Shetland – given its significant ovine population – leading the way and diversifying into VitD3 manufacture (an additional string to the bow of the Sandness Spinning Mill?), while rendering the islands’ population significantly healthier in the process.
Rosa Steppanova
Tresta
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