Customer Reviews

Vitamin D For Dummies (For Dummies (Health & Fitness))

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you regularly use sunscreen to protect against sunburn and skin cancer, or if you live far from the equator, or if you always cover up with clothing when you go outdoors, you are at risk of developing a Vitamin D deficiency. As this book explains, adequate Vitamin D ("the sunshine vitamin") is manufactured by the body whenever the skin receives sufficient exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. But if you don't get enough exposure to the sun--and don't take Vitamin D supplements--then you may develop serious bone diseases (such as rickets, osteomalacia, or osteoporosis); and you will definitely lose out on the many likely benefits of having an adequate level of the active Vitamin D hormone (calcitriol) in your bloodstream.

As this book explains, recent research studies strongly suggest that the Vitamin D hormone does far more than help build strong bones by regulating calcium in the body. Calcitriol seems to play a role in protecting the immune system (including protecting against autoimmune diseases); preventing cancer (especially colon and breast cancer); improving heart health; avoiding diabetes and asthma; treating psoriasis; preventing brain diseases (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, autism, depression, and seasonal affective disorder); and managing your weight. The book describes all of these diseases and their symptoms, and how calcitriol levels may relate to them.

Written by a physician, the book explains in easy-to-understand language exactly how Vitamin D and calcitriol are known to function in your body, and how these substances operate to prevent bone disease. However, the bulk of the book consists of educated conjecture about the possible preventive and protective effects of calcitriol that are merely suggested by recent studies of the Vitamin D hormone. Because the book has so much repetitive conjecture, I rate it at 3 stars ("it's okay"). Nevertheless, the book is an excellent choice if your doctor--like mine--has recently ordered you to be tested for a Vitamin D deficiency, and you are wondering why Vitamin D testing has recently come into such vogue with family doctors.

This book's strength is that it is current, incorporating the state of the research on vitamin D and the latest evidence-based recommendations for intake through at least November 2010, when the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science set the Daily Reference Intakes (RDA, adequate intake, and upper limits) for vitamin D. Its weakness is that, based on that very same research, there are an awful lot of caveats and qualifying comments peppered throughout the book. Combined with the usual "Dummies" style of constantly referring readers to other chapters and pages plus to other "Dummies" books, I found all the "we just don't know"/"more research is needed" comments to be a little too CYA and downright irritating at times.

I think it would have been more effective to include an introductory summary of all of vitamin D's probable (Part II) and possible new (last chapter) functions; a wholesale caveat or two about the current state of the research, then, could have been added to this summary so Dr. Rubin would not have had to repeat himself so much later. As the book is compiled now, it reads like it was rushed to press years too soon. The information really is so important, however, that I think the decision to publish it now was a wise one. It just could have been organized differently to make it less irritating to read.

The information included in the book, especially the chapters about getting vitamin D from our diet and the sun (including the skin type/sun exposure chart and link to an online calculator based on location and other pertinent factors), ranged from helpful to intriguing. Rubin tells us why "vitamin" is a misnomer for D and further enlightens us as to how its active form works in the body. He tells us why it's not just rickets and our bones we need to be concerned about; the chapters on how vitamin D is thought to impact the myriad diseases that plague us are eye-opening food for thought. I was surprised at how vastly different most of this information is from what I learned in school about the function and importance of vitamin D.

Although Dr. Rubin is very cautious with his "we need more research"/"we just don't know" scientific approach, it became clear to me from reading this book that a lot of my health problems now (including "worrisome" osteoporosis diagnosed in my forties, disabling depression, fibromyalgia, and thyroid disease) might well have been exacerbated, if not outright caused, by chronic vitamin D deficiency. Fortunately, Rubin gives sound guidelines to follow to reverse my deficiency without overdoing it.

Parents, especially, should read this book so they understand the implications for their children of not receiving adequate nutrition (including prenatally) and some measured exposure to sunlight. Those adults who avoid the sun entirely and those who think they are getting their vitamin D on a tanning bed need to read this book. I will be interested in re-reading "Vitamin D for Dummies" again when it is updated to include completed research results, and I'll certainly be following the topic of vitamin D more closely on the internet from now on.

Lately there has been a lot in the news about vitamin D. Not only is the latest research suggesting that it maybe useful in the prevention of cancer, osteoporosis, and many other conditions, but new research also suggests that many Americans are suffering from a deficiency. Anyone wishing to separate the myths from the facts and wants to learn if they may be deficient and/or benefit from supplementation would do well to check out this book. Like all the dummies books, the information is straightforward, organized and written with the layperson in mind.

As someone who suffered from a vitamin D deficiency and thought that I was pretty well-educated on the subject, I was surprised by how much I learned from this. For instance, I had no idea that optimal levels of vitamin D may even assist in successful IVF attempts or that someone with my skin type would have to be in the sun for over an hour and a half in the winter in order to make enough vitamin D. (This last fact alone is worth the price of the book. Many people are under the impression that direct exposure to sunlight will provide all the vitamin D that they need. There is even a very popular vegan diet book that perpetuates this myth.)

Overall, a must-read for anyone interested in their health.

While there are many good points in the book, there more than 28 errors which were either Misleading, Incorrect, failed to mention information, or it was Internally inconsistent

Two older books are probably better, though they are somewhat dated in this fast moving field.
Power of Vitamin D- Jan 2010,
The Vitamin D Solution - April 2010

You can see the details of the errors by using Google to search for "problems with the book vitamin D for dummies"
That web page includes links to many sources of Vitamin D information - virtually all of which are free

You might consider buying the Dummies book and augment with the listed errors.

My comments are based on reading 10+ books and 3,000+ articles on vitamin D and maintaining the largest vitamin D website on the internet.

Typically the 'For Dummies' series covers a broad topic (stuff like Golf or WW2, etc) but with this particular book they offer a comprehensive review of a micro-subject, the great Vitamin D. By the end of it all, at the very least, readers will be convinced that they need to get a Vitamin D blood test screening the next time they're at the Doctor. While the book makes very clear that a lot of recent health benefit claims based around Vitamin D are mostly unproven there is a growing body of evidence pointing to a plethora of benefits and needs that the body extracts from D and therefore maintaining proper intake levels is vital. For the most part this was a compelling read, however, the author cites quite a bit of recent studies that sometimes bogs the pace down with an abundance of technical medical jargon.

Vitamin D has been in the news in late 2010 and early 2011, largely because the FDA has increased suggested minimum requirements for Vitamin D but also because there is lots of scientific research showing it plays an important role in good health.

This book covers this all nicely and in a way that's pretty clear to the lay reader, It's a good summary by a doctor and good writer of lots of material.

But if you are looking for information about some of the more startling conclusions from these studies, don't look here. You won't find anything much beyond the mainstream.

My doctor told me I was vitamin D deficient so I got this book hoping to learn more about the vitamin, and the deficiency instead of just assuming taking some supplements would be enough for me.

I've not always had good luck with "...For Dummies" titles, but this one did not disappoint. With excellent facts and detail, you will learn everything there is you need to know about vitamin D and how it plays such an important role in your body function.

The book covers the basics about how vitamin D works in your body, but also talks about new research on how it can help prevent diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. One of my favorite chapters is that on how to get vitamin D naturally from foods. I always prefer to get my vitamins from their original source rather than processed into a pill.

You may want to ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels next time you're at the doctor's office. It's just a simple blood test. Deficiency can cause so many ailments, including hives! Even if you turn out to be at normal levels, consider getting this book. I've learned so much, and I think you will too.

I read this book for two reasons: health books are interesting and lately most of my friends over the age of 50 have been told by their doctors to take a Vitamin D supplement. Dr. Rubin leaves no stone unturned; he covers all the essentials--what Vitamin D actually is, its role in our bodies, how to get enough and why it is so misunderstood. Much of the book's information is based on current research and studies--interesting to learn about, but at this point in time just speculative conjecture with little practical use.
This is a good resource guide for inquisitive health nuts like me, or if you suspect or have a Vitamin D deficiency and want to learn as much as possible. For everyone else, the book's biological content might be rather dry reading, and useful advice is limited. I thought reviewer JRH summed up Dr. Rubin's recommendations for the general population succinctly--get a little sunshine and take a supplement of some sort.

Recently studies have shown that much of our American society is Vitamin D deficient and this may be due to constant reminder to stay out of the sun. Our bodies have become challenged while we juggle trying to get enough Vitamin D from the main source - sun. Some foods do provide Vitamin D by not enough to supply the body. The other alternative is using supplements.

"Vitamin D for Dummies" gives the reader basic understanding about Vitamin D and the importance of it. For me personally reading this book gave a refresher of what I already knew. I did extensive research when I was diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency and wish I would have been privy to a book like this. The information is concise and condensed; it is in lay-talk making it very easy to understand.
The part of the book I liked best is Chapter 15: Ten Myths Regarding Vitamin D. One myth addressed is "You protect Your Skin Completely with Sunscreen." According to the author "This statement is true only if a person uses sunscreens correctly."

I recommend this book if you are concerned of not having enough Vitamin D or have been diagnosed with deficiency. I believe you will be able to glean enough information from it to know exactly what your next step is - either get more sun or use supplements. Maybe both. Thumbs up!

The information in this book can easily be obtained off the internet. I didn't gain any new insight from this book then I already had from the internet. My doctor discovered I had a Vitamin D deficiency when she ran tests after I indicated that my fingernails would crack after they reached a certain length.

This book contains a lot of information on Vitamin D and how it can be used to treat various conditions like psoriasis, cancer (breast and ovarian), prostate cancer, and various other conditions.

The book, like the internet, doesn't support any of the claims it makes about Vitamin D. A person could end up reading this book thinking that Vitamin D is a cure for all the illnesses they may have. I think this book promises too much.

For instance, I have a touch of psoriasis and it never went away from taking a Vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D may prevent some ailments but I don't see any data anywhere indicating it will cure anything.