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The Scam Doctor's avatar

PCOS is not one of the indications I looked into vitamin D about. But for most otherwise healthy people, vitamin D supplements don't change health outcomes: https://thescamdoctor.substack.com/p/why-your-vitamin-d-protocol-is-a?r=6hgshq

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Fran | The PCOS Newsletter's avatar

It does for immune health, otherwise NHS wouldn't recommend it as a standalone supplementation for everyone during winter times. For PCOS specifically, it has to be linked to a deficiency so I agree with that.

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The Scam Doctor's avatar

The NHS recommendations say nothing about immune health. We know through VITdAl-ICU and VIOLET trials that vitamin D supplements are useless in regards to immune health.

Since I havent read about it with PCOS at all...whats the most convincing study you've seen that vitamin D can be of benefit?

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Fran | The PCOS Newsletter's avatar

So why is the NHS recommended it? I do agree with your stand on supplementation. In the lack of a deficiency supplements don't do much. There is quite a bit of nuance there, some things are harder to assess for deficiency (like minerals) and genetic variations of processing nutrients (early science)

My deepdive into the research for Vitamin D and PCOS is here: https://www.thepcosnewsletter.com/p/pcos-and-vitamin-d?utm_source=publication-search

The caveat on supplementation and Vitamin D is the SNPs around Vitamin D metabolism that might require higher dosages to make a difference. SNPs and genetics is early science but I did a deep dive into it last summer here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/thepcosnewsletter/p/vitamin-d-deficiency?r=5fgju&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

https://open.substack.com/pub/thepcosnewsletter/p/how-to-influence-vit-d-genetics?r=5fgju&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Would love to hear your thoughts!

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The Scam Doctor's avatar

Th NHS recommends it only for bone health, avoiding rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

I do think you missed the point of my article. Even with a deficiency vitamin D supplements don't do much. Vitamin D supplements have *no effect* on blood sugar, infections, cancer outcomes, depression, etc.

Further, the caveat with supplementation is also when you have genetic variations or medical conditions that require lower doses or you risk toxicity.

P.S. thanks for sharing will comment directly on your article; however, I am more interested in the research you read than your synopsis of it. I just prefer to get as close to the primary source of information as possible.

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Fran | The PCOS Newsletter's avatar

Actually the NHS recommends "But since it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter" - so it's a recommendation for everyone.

Regarding specific studies you can find all of the considered studies at the bottom of each of my article in the reference. I usually base my judgement on multiple meta-analysis and studies rather then one big one.

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The Scam Doctor's avatar

Yes, but they recommend it solely for bone health. Not for infections, cancer, sugar levels, depression, etc.

That's great practice! I dove into the data in one of the meta-analyses that you based a claim on.

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Salwa AbdusSamad's avatar

Loved this piece. Learned something new. Thank you for sharing this. ❤️

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Fran | The PCOS Newsletter's avatar

So glad to hear that and thank you for commenting and letting me know. It means a lot

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