As the saying goes, “Another day, another dollar.” That’s how people shilling for shady Covid-19 cures must view the pandemic. One day it’s ivermectin, the next it’s hydroxychloroquine or colloidal silver.
Remember hydroxychloroquine? Yes, there were anecdotes and observational studies, but, no, it flunked the gold standard for evidence, randomized controlled trials. Ditto with ivermectin.
Now the man named “the most influential spreader of coronavirus misinformation online” is promoting another candidate for magic bullet: vitamin D.
“10 ways to boost your metabolism.” “9 foods that lift your mood.” ”15 supplements to boost your immune system.” People love lists. So do websites eager to grab eyeballs. Only one problem: Much of the advice isn’t based on solid science. Here are some examples.
Roughly 20 percent of women and 4 percent of men aged 50 or older have osteoporosis, or brittle bones. Another 50 percent of women and 30 percent of men 50 or older have osteopenia, or low bone mass. Here’s what you can do to protect your bones.
Getting enough vitamin D is essential for preventing osteoporosis (or brittle bones), but in recent years, scientists have tested whether it can prevent or treat other diseases. Here’s a roundup of some recent findings.
“Bone health,” says CVS brand vitamin D, which comes in five doses—400 IU, 1,000 IU, 2,000 IU, 5,000 IU, and 10,000 IU.
Whoa. The Recommended Dietary Allowance is only 600 IU a day up to age 70 and 800 IU over 70.
Do your bones need doses in the thousands?
The VITAL trial randomly assigned 25,871 people to take 2,000 IU of vitamin D or a placebo every day for five years. Roughly 770 of the participants had their bone mineral density tested when they entered the study and again after two years.
