Is There a Missing New Factor in Meniere's Treatment? Something to Consider.

Rick (with many postings on this board) and I have exchanged a few personal messages regarding a new factor that certainly could be related to his successful Meniere’s treatment approach, one that avoids ingesting the gluten of wheat and oats (celiac disease) and pays close attention to the glycemic index of various foods. Many on this board have undertaken Rick’s recommendations and have found welcome relief from Meniere’s symptoms. He posted a thread noting that he’s been free of MM symptoms now for six years, following his own dietary recommendations related to Meniere’s. Many others, too, have found such relief following Ricks recommendations.

His 6-year posting prompted me to add up the years I’ve been symptom-free, and it’s been at least six years, maybe seven. I didn’t record my last Meniere’s symptom, but it would have been in 2001 or 2002, so I’m pleased to match Rick’s results, in my case following my own Meniere’s treatment regimen (posted at: http://www.menieresresources.org/Resources/HomePage?action=download&upname=ANewApproachtoMenieresDisease-TheJohnofOhioRegimen.pdf )

In our brief exchange of information, it became clear that a major new medical development almost surely relates to those with gluten-related, or metabolic-syndrome related Meniere’s. Rick suggested that I post this new information here for readers to diligently ponder.

First, everyone should understand that the information below, so far, has no positively known direct relationship to any form of Meniere’s, whether caused by gluten or other food allergies, the consumption of too many high glycemic foods (Rick’s approach), or to the involvement of embedded herpes viruses and their treatment (my approach). So far, what is presented below is still speculative. But it’s so powerful in regard to a multitude of diseases and conditions of the modern world that it’s worth presenting for the intelligent understanding of this audience that so intensively reads and responds to the board postings.

Here goes.

Is there something really new, perhaps revolutionary in modern health? Absolutely. And this healthful agent has been around for decades It is well known, but insufficiently. In the last decade, this body chemical has been discovered to promote, even create profound human health. This has been under our noses, or at least under the sun, for a long time and its essential importance to good health has been unfortunately overlooked and disregarded.

It’s vitamin D.

Unless you are familiar with the new findings on this chemical, set everything you think you know about vitamin D in the background. Disregard what you think you know about it. You were taught that vitamin D prevents bone-deforming rickets in children, and by drinking “fortified” milk with vitamin D, there is no other concern regarding this essential vitamin. That’s the story, so incomplete, from the last century.

Until recently, just about everyone thought this was the extent of vitamin D’s benefits, bone health. No more. Medical experts investigating the multitude of positive effects that ample vitamin D can have on human health have begun to recognize that this simple, cheap, and very safe “vitamin” (it’s now known not to be a vitamin but an essential human hormone) plays a multitude of roles in turning on over 200 good-heath genes in the human body.

Unfortunately, it has been erroneously presumed by medical experts that the only real role of vitamin D has been to facilitate calcium uptake, to harden bones. That it does, and at ridiculously trace amounts. With this outdated and clinically unsubstantiated understanding, the current RDA (recommended daily allowance) in America is only 400 International Units per day. That sounds like a lot of Units. But in fact, 40 IUs equals just one microgram, a millionth of a gram.

Modern research has found that 400 IUs of vitamin D will prevent rickets, but nothing else. Experts researching the topic now universally agree that 400 IUs is entirely insufficient for good health.

Examine this topic in depth. Take the time to go to the websites below and closely read the material presented there. If you are not yet familiar with the most recent findings on vitamin D’s remarkable health-promoting and disease-preventing effects, it would be worth your time to learn about all of this.

Frankly, the evidence for vitamin D’s value seems too miraculous. As the major researcher on the topic, Dr. John J. Cannell states, “...vitamin D deficiency is implicated in most of the diseases of civilization” Yes, that includes cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, autism, immune diseases, and a host of others, including metabolic syndrome, which is related to Rick’s treatment approach to Meniere’s. Ample vitamin D supplementation is now known to markedly hike the body’s natural immunity to microbes, which may make it associated with my Meniere’s treatment regimen, based upon the suppression of herpes viruses and the resulting inflammation. And yes, ample vitamin D reduces autoimmunity. There is strong evidence that multiple sclerosis is either caused or promoted by insufficient vitamin D levels.

The list of human diseases and conditions related to vitamin D insufficiency is too lengthy to enumerate here. And no, as far as I can tell, no one yet has noted a connection to Meniere’s. But I don’t think that should yet be ruled out.

In the case of high glycemic index foods causing Meniere’s symptoms, as Rick soundly contends, a recent Web article (http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/vitamin-d-treatment-for-metabolic.html) has shown the importance of adequate vitamin D in suppressing or eradicating metabolic syndrome, which is directly related to the consumption of high glycemic index foods.

The modern American diet is centered on sugars and starches with high glycemic indices. Is it any wonder, then, that diabetes, obesity, and resulting cardiovascular diseases are increasing at epidemic rates? A lack of sufficient vitamin D is playing a major role in all of this (not that we shouldn’t all eat a more nutritious diet, too).

So, if Meniere’s can be caused by sugars and starches in the diet, or by gluten proteins, and in the absence of sufficient vitamin D, the body is then over-reacting to these, bringing on metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or a form of Meniere’s, then getting enough vitamin D would be called for.

And that won’t happen by drinking a few more glasses of fortified milk. Not nearly enough vitamin D there, and it’s the wrong form, too (it’s vitamin D2, not the far more healthful D3).

To summarize the topic, I strongly suggest that readers do their own diligent study of the matter by starting at the Vitamin D Council website, where most of the research findings and recommendations are posted.

Go to: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

In short, it comes down to this. Virtually no modern citizen living north of the tropics has ample, sufficient vitamin D, except in the summer – presuming that anyone exposes skin to sun anymore.

Based upon the research, I and my family are now taking 4000 IUs of vitamin D3 each day, at a cost of about 12 cents. The results? I’ve lost my annual winter Seasonal Affective Disorder, the winter blues. I feel great, sleep better, and have so much more energy.

My 87-year old mother has been doing this too, and she’s been able to lose 25 lbs since August, has markedly increased her strength with exercises, and just feels mentally and physically at the top. Significantly, she’s the only person in her large retirement center who hasn’t come down with any winter flues or colds (there is profound evidence that vitamin D stops colds and flu epidemics far better than vaccinations and cold medications).

Again, does any of this have anything whatsoever to do with Meniere’s. Nobody knows right now. It’s time for readers of this board to start popping 2000 to 4000 IUs of vitamin D3, to see what this might mean for Meniere’s treatment. It almost surely will have a beneficial effect for those with celiac involvements. Perhaps, too, for those with viral Meniere’s.

Do a close reading of everything on the Vitamin D Council website, and make some personal decisions on the matter.

If it turns out that a bunch of people have tried this for six months and Meniere’s symptoms have remained constant and debilitating, the experiment hasn’t been a failure. Even though the Meniere’s symptoms have continued unabated, the chances of getting cancer (really, read the reports), of getting type-2 diabetes (same), heart disease, or a host of other diseases of modern civilization have been substantially reduced.

–John of Ohio

 

Thank you John and Rick.

My family dr just told me that I need more D. She did not talk about D3. If I take more D, I assume it does not address the D3 you talk about. Any side effects of D/D3? I remember my eye dr telling me that too much A was not good for people who smoked (lung cancer risk I think). Is there any natural way to increase D/D3 and do you think the use of sunscreen and generally not being in the sun light is an issue?

I wish the specialists were following your research.

 

June,

Virtually all the vitamin D in over the counter sales are D3. When a physician says take "vitamin D," he (or she) means D3, chemically known as cholecalciferal.

There is a way to naturally increase vitamin D to healthful levels -- stand out in the summer sun in your bathing suit, with no sun screen, for an hour or two. That will do it.

But it is impossible for your skin to synthesize vitamin D from sunshine when your shadow is longer than you are tall, as in most of the fall, winter, and spring in northern latitudes. When the sun is this low, the air absorbs the UVB rays that are required to photosynthesize vitamin D.

And of course, this is why flu strikes usually in the winter, when people have very low levels of vitamin D.

Flu epidemics just never occur in tropical areas, where people get sufficient sunlight. For years, physicians have wondered why cancers, heart disease, and a bunch of other modern diseases were so uncommon in tropical areas, even among people who have very poor diets. It's the sun shine thing and vitamin D.

Side effects with vitamin D3 supplementation? Not until you start taking at least 10,000 IUs a day. Even then, probably none. For those with the very rare condition known as sarcoidosis, vitamin D in any form should be avoided. Those with this rare condition already know this and must stay out of the summer sun, etc. For the vast majority, there are no side effects whatsoever.

In an hour of summer sun at the beach, your body can produce 20,000 IUs or more.

And about the specialists. Finally, Dr. Cannell and his group at the Vitamin D Council, along with others, are starting to get the message out.

Who knows how much national health care costs could be reduced if everyone started to get -- at dime a day -- the vitamin D3 they really need. In 2009 you are going to hear a lot more about this. The FDA is going to have to revise their way out of date and insufficient RDAs for vitamin D. The Vitamin D Council already suggests 4000 IUs, and larger people should probably take 5000 IUs a day.

You are going to hear more and more on this. I hope that here we can find out if vitamin D can help those with Meniere's.

It just might.

--John of Ohio

 

John, you are such a fountain of great information :-* as is Rick :-*

I read your previous post about Vit D and went to the site, certainly made me think : especially as I recently had blood work done and my Vit D level was very low (and remember, I live in the Sunshine State...beautiful one day, perfect the next, sunny Queensland ;D so lack of sunshine is definitely not an issue)

I had already commenced D3 supplemention (plus calcium) as ordered by the Immunologist but only at 1000u a day. He commenced them as I have osteopenia from the steroids : and I have also just commennced MTX (to try and get off the prednisone) When I read your last post I increased the Vit D to 3000u but then thought maybe I shouldn't until I see the doc again in late January???

I have searched for any contrandications with the multiple drugs I am on, can't find any but am still a bit dubious about inceasing the dose. I will certainly keep you informed about any improvements but its gonna be hard cause I started the MTX, calcium, Vit D and Folic Acid all at the same time : I am very interested in its possible role in reducing autoimmunity

Maggie

 

I was about to start taking cod liver oil capsules, as it's said to be beneficial in ms...

But I think I'll take vitamin D instead...

Thanks for the info, John

Very interesting.


Also interesting that maggie is vit D deficient, even though she lives in Australia?

I thought the sun supplied all the vit D we needed?

At least that is what the experts have been telling us :-\

Hearing loss is listed as a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.

 

Ok...but take it easy.

Everyone thought Vitamin E was going to be a health savior too and there was research to back it up. Not long-term research until now, but plenty of short-term research.

Everyone try to get the D3 in as natural a form as possible. Do get sunshine even if you're taking a supplement, I guess I'm saying. My father had squamous cell skin cancer as well as prostate cancer and his docs told him to definitely get sunshine.

Keep us up on how things go.

And yes, John was right that everyone interested should do their own reading. Be open-minded about this, but not so much that your brains fall out.

I've solved my gluten problems by using recipes that call for preparing dough ahead of time with buttermilk and allowing at least 12 hours for the acid in the buttermilk to destroy the phytates in the wheat and oatmeal (or using traditional sourdoughs). I'm using recipes from Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and have been more than pleased with how much better I feel.

Perhaps it isn't the presence or absence of gluten that causes problems for me, but phytates in high-gluten foods?

I guess I'm saying WE NEED MORE RESEARCH!!

 

We get 52 days of sunshine a year where I live and they still tell us to wear sunscreen every day! I always found that suspect. I had a melanoma on my back where I got no sun my whole life. Yet they told me it is caused by too much sun but melanoma is also considered an auto immune disease I believe. It would be funny if it were caused by the autoimmune aspect of not enough sun instead of too much sun wouldn't it? Just musing about how much is not known and how a little bit of knowledge could in fact set us on the wrong path as it has so many times in the past. It will all be so obvious once we have all the pieces to the puzzle but it is so elusive yet.

 

A great source of Vitamin D, and also classified as a "Superfood.":

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2004/01/13/cod_liver_oil_number_one_superfood.htm

I've taken it every winter since 2006, and it works.

 

Trish and Spinner, Since I as DX with MS in June, I have been on 2000 IU of D3 daily at the instruction of my neuro. Any more than that I would check with the DR just to make sure it won't interact with any other meds you are taking. The neuro is the one who gave me the info from studies on Vit D.

 

.

 

The Vitamin D Council claims (http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment.shtml), "However, 2,000 IU a day is simply not enough for many people to get the full benefit of vitamin D, nor is it enough to keep vitamin D levels around 50 ng/mL, especially in the winter."

Vitamin D has no toxicity or complications with other drugs. If it did, people standing in the summer sun for an hour would be in deep trouble. The body makes about 20,000 IUs of vitamin D in an hour's exposure to summer sun in a bathing suit (presuming no sun screen).

--John of Ohio

 

Hydrops,

Although cod liver oil has along and storied past, modern researchers have evidence that it can be both good and bad. Good because it can provide vitamins D and A, and bad because the amount of vitamin A (retinol) is often excessive, which can result in various health problems, including broken hips, joint aches, abdominal pains, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, and hair loss.

A review of this subject is at: http://www.thenaturalconnection.net/TNC%20Columns%202000/question_of_cod_liver_oil.htm

-- John of Ohio

 

and cod liver oil tastes like --- UGH ---rancid fish.

I tried it in an orange flavored chewable form, and that kind gave me SBDs!

Plain old vitamin D3 does neither of these things.

 

As with anything, dosage/amount is key.

 

Liquid form in lemon flavor is the best.

 

Here's a comprehensive review of the hazards of cod liver oil:

http://www.healthiertalk.com/important-cod-liver-oil-update-0192

Cod liver oil is not the best (or cheapest) way to get adequate vitamin D.

--John of Ohio

 

It's not just Vitamin D, although it's a great, great source.

Selected Food Sources of Vitamin D [23-25]Food IUs per serving* Percent DV**

Cod liver oil, 1 tablespoon 1,360 340
Salmon, cooked, 3.5 ounces 360 90
Mackerel, cooked, 3.5 ounces 345 90
Tuna fish, canned in oil, 3 ounces 200 50
Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 1.75 ounces 250 70
Milk, nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D-fortified, 1 cup 98 25
Margarine, fortified, 1 tablespoon 60 15
Ready-to-eat cereal, fortified with 10% of the DV for vitamin D, 0.75-1 cup (more heavily fortified cereals might provide more of the DV) 40 10
Egg, 1 whole (vitamin D is found in yolk) 20 6
Liver, beef, cooked, 3.5 ounces 15 4
Cheese, Swiss, 1 ounce 12 4


A host of other factors are at play as well. The pluses far outweigh the minuses as long as it is used correctly. Carlson's is probably the best brand.

 

Since I have been reading all this info on here pieces of the puzzle seem to be fitting together. Gosh, so much makes sense. I have learned so much so why does my ENT seem to me know very little? I have not got access to top DRS here but I was always made to feel like I had to just live with it and on here now so much has opened up a whole new world of treatments. I had no idea about autoimmune ear diseases etc.
I am on an immune supressant for a skin condition so I am excited about all this stuff about VitD. I am trying JOH but now I find more info I dont think I should take the beta glucans as they are immune supressant what do you think JOH?
TO goomeri spinner I see you have immune issues and are you on a suppressant? will other vits work together with these? The supresant I am on I have only just recently read that it is used for mm yet my stupid ENT does not know about it.

 

Jilly,

I don't regard beta-glucans as an immune suppressant. It hikes the immune system against pathogens. But if you'd prefer, don't include them. The vitamin D may be much more important.

--John of Ohio

 

My balance doctor started me on 2000 IU of vitamin D3 last October. He sells it right there in his office. My vertigo is gone. In all fairness, I'm also using the Enttex P100. I was going to wait 6 months before saying anything but John brought this up so I started in.
I still get attacks, but they are not vertigo. They are the type where my eyes get wonky and my brain poops out and I get topheavy and can't walk. It happened this past week but I was at my Mom's retirement home and they serve higher sodium food there than you'd think they would, and the weather is doing 30 degree oscillations.
It prolly takes at least 4 months for it to start working according to my doctor.