Are You Getting Enough?
Empowering Health with Vitamin D
Symposium: Are You Getting Enough? Empowering Health with Vitamin D
Summary of the Canadian Vitamin D Symposium: Are You Getting Enough?
The Canadian Symposium on Vitamin D, held on November 1, 2024, brought together experts to discuss the latest research and clinical perspectives on vitamin D. The event, moderated by Dr. Mallard, Professor of Immunology and Immunogenetics at the University of Guelph, featured a full day of presentations and workshops, covering a wide range of topics related to vitamin D’s role in health.
Everyone walked away with the most up-to-date cutting-edge information on this sunshine vitamin. This nutrient is particularly relevant to Canadians since living in the northern hemisphere means most people have insufficient vitamin D, particularly in the fall and winter months. Various factors such as nutrition, latitude, skin colour and genetics influences vitamin D. With several hundred genes regulating Vitamin D, the only way to know if a person has sufficient vitamin D is to test, don’t guess! Home test kits are available at ImmunoCeutica (ImmunoCeutica – Labs & Technologies)
The morning session began with a keynote address by Dr. Reinhold Vieth from the University of Toronto, who emphasized the importance of vitamin D for health, comparing the risks of avoiding sunlight or vitamin D to smoking.
Dr. Phil Britz-McKibbin from McMaster University followed with a presentation on addressing severe vitamin D deficiencies in critically ill children.
Dr. Gerry Schwalfenberg, a family physician and adjunct professor at the University of Alberta, then discussed vitamin D’s role throughout the human life cycle, drawing on his 40 years of clinical experience.
Dr. Linda Rapson from the University of Toronto concluded the morning session with a talk on the relationship between vitamin D and pain management.
The afternoon session featured two concurrent workshops.
Workshop 1, focused on the genetic and immunological aspects of vitamin D.
Dr. Niel Karrow from the University of Guelph presented on genetic and epigenetic factors that influence individual vitamin D status, while Dr. Byram Bridle, also from the University of Guelph, discussed vitamin D’s role in immune function and cancer biology.
Workshop 2, covered practical approaches to measuring vitamin D.
Dr. Aileen Burford Mason reviewed current controversies and recommendations around vitamin D testing, while Dr. Armen Charchoglyan, a biotechnologist at the University of Guelph, explained the various methods for measuring vitamin D, including mass spectrometry and home testing techniques.
The event concluded with a keynote address by Dr. Michael Holick, MD, PhD, who provided a global perspective on vitamin D’s history, current challenges, and future directions in both research and public health. The symposium provided valuable insights into the ongoing developments in vitamin D research, its clinical applications, and its essential role in human health.
Thank You To Our Symposia Sponsors
The Vitamin D Symposia Organizing Committee extends its sincerest gratitude to the following Sponsors for supporting these important Vitamin D conferences. Please visit the Sponsors’ websites (linked through their logos below) to learn more about the products, services, research and/or educational opportunities they offer.
DISCLAIMER:
The information contained or presented on this website is presented solely for educational purposes only on matters of interest for the personal use of the reader, who accepts full responsibility for its use. The information is provided with the understanding that the authors and publishers are not herein engaged in rendering medical, pharmaceutical, nutritional, mental health, legal, or any other professional advice or services. As such, it should not be used as a substitute for consultation and advice from a licensed professional in the specific field of interest who will provide recommendations based on your particular situation and factual background. Do not make any decisions based on the information contained or presented on this website without consulting an appropriate professional.
While we have made every attempt to ensure the information contained in this site has been obtained from reliable sources, Canadian Citizens Care Alliance (CCCA) is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this site is provided “as is,” with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to the fitness for any particular purpose. Nothing herein shall to any extent substitute for the independent investigations and judgement of the reader. Information, laws and regulations are continually changing, and can be interpreted only in light of particular factual situations.
Certain links in the website connect to other sites maintained by third parties that may or may not be presented within a frame on the website. CCCA has not verified the contents of such third-party sites and does not endorse, warrant, promote or recommend any of the information or opinions that may be provided or accessed through them or any person or body which may provide them. Contact the external site directly for answers to any question regarding its content.
CLAUSE DE NON-RESPONSABILITÉ
Les informations contenues ou présentées dans ce courriel sont uniquement destinées à des fins éducatives. L’information contenue dans ce courriel n’est PAS destinée à remplacer le diagnostic, le traitement ou les conseils d’un professionnel de la santé agréé. Les faits présentés sont offerts à titre d’information uniquement afin de vous permettre de prendre des décisions plus éclairées. Tous les liens sont fournis à titre de commodité et à des fins d’information seulement ; ils ne constituent pas un appui ou une approbation par Alliance Canadienne de Soins pour les Citoyens (CCCA) de tout produit, service ou opinion de la société, de l’organisation ou de l’individu. Le CCCA n’est pas responsable de l’exactitude, de la légalité ou du contenu du site externe ou de celui des liens subséquents. Communiquez directement avec le site externe pour obtenir des réponses à toute question concernant son contenu. Tout protocole de traitement que vous entreprenez doit être discuté avec votre médecin ou un autre professionnel de la santé agréé. En aucun cas, quiconque ne doit déduire que nous, même si nous sommes médecins, pratiquons la médecine; ce site est uniquement destiné à des fins éducatives. Demandez l’avis d’un professionnel de la santé pour l’application correcte de TOUT le contenu de ce courriel à votre situation particulière. N’arrêtez ou ne modifiez JAMAIS vos médicaments sans consulter votre médecin.