Better Nutrition February 2019

which was collected prior to antibiotic
treatment; and the third group was
given a commercial probiotic strain that
had never been scientifically studied.
The folks who got their own fecal
transplant had the quickest return to
a “normal” microbiome; those who took
only antibiotics returned to normal
next; and the probiotic group had the
slowest recovery.
We have abundant proof that probiotics
can reduce and cure post-antibiotic
diarrhea; therefore, this one study does
not invalidate using probiotics after
antibiotics. Further, folks who need
antibiotics are probably not particularly
healthy, so returning their guts to their
pre-antibiotic state may not be a good
thing. It’s unnecessarily premature to
take one negative probiotic study and
make it the new norm, especially given
that there are hundreds of positive
studies on probiotics, not to mention
entire conferences dedicated to studying
different strains of beneficial bacteria.
The bottom line: Trust your own
experience. My favorite way to help
improve your gut flora is to eat fermented
foods and a high-fiber diet. Fiber is
the main “prebiotic” that good bugs
need to flourish.
Most of Us Are Deficient in Vitamin D
Next, let’s look at the vitamin D kerfuffle
set off by the VITAL study at Brigham
and Women’s Hospital that involved
nearly 26,000 patients. One of the
emerging “issues” with vitamin D 3
supplementation concerns Michael
Holick, PhD, MD, of Boston University,
an ardent proponent of vitamin D 3
supplements. He’s recently been accused
of profit-mongering. He helped Quest
Labs develop a test for serum vitamin D 3
(which many other labs have since started
using), and he receives a consulting fee of
$1,000 per month from Quest.
That’s nice, but it’s hardly extravagant.
Being a consultant for a large, nationwide
lab using a test that you developed
doesn’t invalidate the test—or vitamin D 3
supplementation. It is intuitively obvious
in our sun-averse culture that we
would be deficient in a vitamin that
requires exposure to sunlight for the
body to produce.
In the VITAL study, the so-called
“high-dose” vitamin D 3
amount was
2,000 IUs daily. I generally recommend
my patients take 5,000 IUs, and if their
serum levels are below 40, I’ll have them
take 10,000 IUs daily (in 2 divided doses
for better absorption, and always with
food) to approach the optimal serum
levels of 60–90 ng/mL.
Even with a relatively low dose, the
rate of death was significantly lower
with vitamin D 3
supplementation than
with a placebo (if you exclude the first
two years after the trial). If someone has
an aggressive form of cancer, then starting
a vitamin D 3
regimen wouldn’t save
them. But it can help prolong the lives
of otherwise healthy folks. In this study,
the vitamin D 3
group had 25–37 percent
lower death rates. That’s impressive.
It’s unnecessarily premature to take one negative study on
probiotics and make it the new norm, especially given that
there are hundreds of positive studies on probiotics.
The fact is, we have become an
indoor-living species. Most of us are
deficient in vitamin D 3
(and melatonin,
thanks to artificial lighting). And studies
show that adequate vitamin D 3
supplementation
reduces influenza A (over
60 percent better than the flu shot). It
also reduces asthma incidence and MS
flare-ups, and, along with weight-bearing
exercise, helps maintain bone density.
Fish Oils Do Protect Your Heart
As for fish oil, the recent VITAL study also
assessed the impact of Omacor (840 mg
of marine omega-3 fatty acids) on cardiovascular
disease. “Fish Oil Has No Impact
on Strokes” and similar headlines spread
over the Internet after the study results
were released. But, according to the study’s
website (vitalstudy.org), “The omega-3
fatty acid intervention lowered the risk of
heart attack by 28 percent and the risk of
fatal heart attack by 50 percent, but had no
benefit on stroke or cardiovascular deaths
not related to heart disease. Additionally,
omega-3 fatty acids reduced the rate of
angioplasty procedures by 22 percent.”
So, “Fish Oil Has No Impact”? Lowering
rates of fatal heart attacks and angioplasty
certainly qualifies as a significant
impact in my book.
Vitalstudy.org also notes, “In participants
with low fish consumption (less than 1.5
servings, 3–4 ounces, per week), omega-3
supplementation led to a 19 percent
reduction in major cardiovascular events,
including a 40 percent reduction in heart
attack, as well as a trend toward a reduction
in death from any cause. Among African-
Americans, omega-3 supplementation led
to a 77 percent reduction in heart attacks,
and a benefit was observed regardless of
fish intake.” African-Americans, a high-risk
group for premature death from heart
disease, take note! No drug—ever—has
given this kind of hope. Please, take your
fish oil. Or at least eat wild salmon and
small tinned fatty fish regularly.
Do you have a question for Dr. Kane? Email it to editorial@
betternutrition.com with “Ask the ND” in the subject line.
FEBRUARY 2019 • 19