Orkney has 'higher vitamin D levels than mainland' - study

[MSUK]

Orkney has 'higher vitamin D levels than mainland' says study

People in Orkney have higher levels of vitamin D than people on mainland Scotland, a study has suggested...Read more - http://www.ms-uk.org/MSnews

[lyndacarol]

Orkney has 'higher vitamin D levels than mainland' says study

People in Orkney have higher levels of vitamin D than people on mainland Scotland, a study has suggested...Read more - http://www.ms-uk.org/MSnews

From this article:

People in Orkney have higher levels of vitamin D than people on mainland Scotland, a study has suggested.

Low vitamin D levels have previously been put forward as a reason for Orkney having one of the highest rates of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the world.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have been left surprised at the findings of their Orkney survey.

The highest levels were found in farmers, and people over 60 who took regular foreign holidays.

I ask, "Is Orkney small enough to test everyone's vitamin D level? What were the vitamin D levels in the people in Orkney who have MS? How many cases of MS are found in 'farmers and people over 60 who took regular foreign holidays' – people with the highest levels of vitamin D?

[CureOrBust]

you do not need to test / know "everyone's" vitamin D to reach statistical significance on a hypothesis.

[lyndacarol]

Holidays in the sun hold key to boosting vitamin D
http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2016/holidays- ... -vitamin-d

Holidays abroad may hold the key to tackling Scotland’s vitamin D deficiency, research suggests.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh surveyed the vitamin D levels of around 2000 people in Orkney – 1 in 10 of the population – as part of the ORCADES study.

The team were interested to see whether widespread vitamin D deficiency in Orkney might explain why rates of multiple sclerosis are higher there than anywhere in the world.

They were surprised to find that average vitamin D levels are higher in Orkney than mainland Scotland.
…
Deficiency in vitamin D has been strongly linked to diseases including multiple sclerosis.

Studies have yet to prove that vitamin D is responsible or whether it serves as a marker for how much sun exposure a person has had. Scotland has one of the world's highest rates of MS with Orkney being the worst affected.

I wonder if there could be a genetic defect or kidney problem that does not allow 25(OH)D, the bulk storage form of vitamin D, to be hydroxylated (or converted) in the kidneys (or in most cells) into the active metabolic hormone form of vitamin D. I wish these researchers could go back and test for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (Mistakenly, some doctors have tested for this in the past. With its very short half-life, measurement is not generally useful; but in the case of Orkney, such additional information might be revealing, IMO).

http://www.naturalnews.com/035089_vitam ... ptoms.html

4.) Chronic kidney disease – According to Holick, patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (especially those requiring dialysis) are unable to make the active form of vitamin D. These individuals need to take 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or one of its calcemic analogues to support calcium metabolism, decrease the risk of renal bone disease, and regulate parathyroid hormone level.