Vitamin D Council
The Vitamin D Council was a proactive nonprofit organization committed to advocating the utilization of Vitamin D for achieving peak health and wellness. Founded in 2003 by Dr. John Cannell, a psychiatrist who observed that many of his patients were vitamin D deficient, the council has since grown to become a leading resource for information on vitamin D and its numerous health benefits. Dr. Cannell believed that vitamin D deficiency was a contributing factor to the mental health issues experienced by his patients.
From their Website: “Why,” you might ask. Simply put, humans do not get enough sun exposure in the 21st century. Because of this, many — if not most — humans are deficient in vitamin D. “What’s so wrong with that,” you might ask.
Researchers are beginning to discover that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Furthermore, researchers are discovering that vitamin D deficiency may make some diseases more severe.
Research on vitamin D is pouring out and it’s hard to keep up with the latest information. Recommendations on vitamin D and sun exposure are confusing, conflicting and inconsistent.
We’re here to help both the public and health professionals sort through everything. The Vitamin D Council serves as a center for evidence-based vitamin D research and is a reliable source for the general public.
The Vitamin D Council was formed in 2003 by John J Cannell, MD. He founded the Vitamin D Council to educate the public on the importance of sun exposure and vitamin D. In November 2019, they issued a plea: "We need to raise $35,000 in 30 days in order to continue fulfilling our mission." Unfortunately, it appears that they fell short of reaching their target. It seemed as though Cannell had finally relinquished his efforts to rescue the council. However, Mr. Cannell informed that he is alive and in Las Vegas. He has now ventured into the world of art as the owner of Gallery54. Rest assured, Dr. Cannell continues to make a positive impact and is very much alive.
Vitamin D - Overview
Vitamin D Overview
Vitamin D Health
Vitamin D Deficiency
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Vitamin D Articles
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Vitamin D Levels
Nearly every cell in the body contains a vitamin D receptor. Research shows vitamin D plays an important role in skeletal, immune, developmental and c…
Vitamin D and Physiology
When vitamin D comes into your body, it goes through all sorts of processes and is turned into different forms to be effective. In this article, we’ll…
Vitamin D and Minerals
The way that vitamins and minerals work in your body is interconnected. How well vitamin D works depends on the amount of other vitamins and minerals …
Vitamin D and Alzheimer's Disease
What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition that causes memory problems and other cognitive functions that cause unpredictabl…
Vitamin D Sources
The two main ways to get vitamin D are by exposing your bare skin to sunlight and by taking vitamin D supplements. You can’t get the right amount of v…
Vitamin D Test
Having blood tests to measure the amount of vitamin D in your blood is the only way to know if you’re getting enough vitamin D or not. The blood test …
Vitamin D and Depression
We all feel fed up, miserable and sad at certain times in our lives. Most of the time, these feelings last for a few days, or maybe a week, but don’t …
Vitamin D Deficiency
For a number of reasons, many people aren’t getting enough vitamin D to stay healthy. This is called vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D and Respiratory Infections
Respiratory Infections Respiratory infections are any infection in the throat, sinuses, airways, or lungs. The respiratory tract is the part of the bo…
Vitamin D and Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a respiratory illness that usually affects the lungs, but can also infect the kidney, spine, or brain. Tuberculosis can be either dorm…
Vitamin D and Rickets
Rickets Rickets is a condition that affects the development of bones in children. It causes soft weak bones, which can become bowed or curved. It’s a …
Vitamin D and Sepsis
Sepsis and septicemia Sepsis is a severe illness. It is caused by a bacterial infection that begins anywhere in the body and moves to the blood. The b…
Vitamin D and Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity For most people, supplementing with vitamin D is a safe and healthy practice. Getting too much vitamin D is rare and hard to achieve,…
Vitamin D and Pneumonia
Pneumonia Pneumonia is a lower respiratory infection that affects the lungs. Pneumonia can usually be treated at home in a few weeks. However, pneumon…
Vitamin D and Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia Preeclampsia is a condition which occurs only during pregnancy and a short post-pregnancy period. It causes increased blood pressure and …
Vitamin D and Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic gum condition. Bacteria cause the gums to swell, redden, and bleed. Connective tissue holdin…
Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer The prostate is a small gland found in men. It is about the size of a walnut and is part of the reproductive system. Prostate cancer o…
Vitamin D and Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries. As it has few symptoms at first, it is often diagnosed at more advanced stages. Ea…
Vitamin D and Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurological disease. It is linked to decreased production of dopamine, a nerve …
Vitamin D and Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer is cancer of the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin. Approximately 44,000 people in the United States are d…
Vitamin D and Type II Diabetes
Type II Diabetes Type II diabetes is a condition in which the body has a hard time managing sugar the right way. Usually you develop type II diabetes …
Vitamin D and Lupus
What is lupus? Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is a chronic disease that affects many systems in the body, such as the skin, heart and m…
Vitamin D and AIDS (HIV)
HIV and AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The immune system begins to fail. This leads to life…
Vitamin D and Esophageal Cancer
Esophageal cancer Esophageal cancer is a moderately important cause of disease and death. In the United States each year, it affects about 17 thousand…
Vitamin D and Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome of body-wide pain. Tender points are the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. People with…
Vitamin D and Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer Endometrial cancer is cancer that starts in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus (womb). Each year, endometrial cancer affects…
Vitamin D and Leukemia
Leukemia Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. The disease causes an abnormal increase of white blood cells. There are many types of leuke…
Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Because these ner…
Vitamin D and Type I Diabetes
Type I Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It is a condition where your own immune system attacks certain cells called beta-cells. Beta…
Vitamin D and Dental Caries
Dental Caries Dental caries, also known as tooth decay, is a tooth infection caused by bacteria that leads to a loss of the hard tissues of your teeth…
Vitamin D and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Congestive heart failure Heart failure is also called congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the…
Vitamin D and Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive impairment Cognitive dysfunction is defined as unusually poor mental function. This causes confusion, forgetfulness and difficulty concentra…
Vitamin D and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Coronary heart disease Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of several cardiovascular diseases. The others include stroke, congestive heart failure, an…
Vitamin D and Influenza
Should I take vitamin D to reduce the risk of colds and flu (URI)? Yes, you should because so many studies show that vitamin D helps reduce the risk o…
Vitamin D and COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. There are two main forms o…
Vitamin D and Anemia
Anemia Anemia occurs when the body has a low number of red blood cells (RBCs). These cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Fewer RBCs limit the body…
Vitamin D and Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer Cervical cancer starts on the surface of the cervix. This is the lower part of the uterus (womb), which opens at the top of the vagina…
Vitamin D and Renal Cancer
Renal Cancer Each year, kidney (renal) cancer affects approximately 61,000 Americans and kills about 13,000. Risk factors Risk factors for kidney canc…
Vitamin D and Melanoma
Melanoma Melanoma is a type of cancer originating in the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, which gives skin its pigment (color)…
Vitamin D and Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the plasma cells. They are white blood cells that normally produce antibodies. Multiple myeloma …
Vitamin D and Parathyroid Glands
Parathyroid glands When most people think of calcium, they think it’s most important for bone health. But actually, calcium is most important for your…
Vitamin D and Pregnancy
Vitamin D during pregnancy and breastfeeding Getting the right nutrients and eating well when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding is important for your b…
Vitamin D and IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in all or part of the digestive tract. The two mai…
Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor, which is caused by a group of cancerous cells growing in either the colon or rectum. Colon c…
Vitamin D and Vitamin K
What is vitamin K? Vitamin K describes a family of compounds with a common chemical structure. These compounds include vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) and …
Vitamin D and Hypertension
Hypertension Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. High blo…
Vitamin D and Lung Cancer
Lung cancer Lung cancer is a cancer starting in the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Annually, it affects…
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer
I have breast cancer. Should I take vitamin D? The answer is a resounding YES, not only because there are positive clinical trials showing that vitami…
Vitamin D and Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer Stomach (gastric) cancer is a moderately important cause of disease and death. In the United States each year, it affects about 21 thou…
Vitamin D and Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine that is focused on the use and study of drugs and their actions. This page discusses vitamin D in pharmacology,…
Vitamin D and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a condition where you lose too much bone or don’t make enough bone to replace the bone that you normally lose. If you los…
Vitamin D and Autism
As the reader will see below, there is compelling evidence that low vitamin D status during pregnancy is a major cause of autism, and that high dose v…
Vitamin D and Eczema
Eczema Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin disorder that causes inflammation and red, dry, rough, and itchy skin. Eczema is mos…
Vitamin D and Asthma
What is asthma? Asthma is a lifelong lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. There are tubes or airways, which carry air to and from the lung…
Vitamin D for Professionals
The marker for vitamin D status is 25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25(OH)D], a metabolite of vitamin D3. A 25(OH)D level determines whether a person is deficient…
Vitamin D and Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a very severe hypersensitivity to an allergen. Allergens are any substances that cause allergies. This condition affects ma…
Vitamin D and Toxicity
Although most people take vitamin D supplements without any problems, it’s possible to take too much. This is called vitamin D toxicity.
Vitamin D and Acne
Acne Acne is a disorder of the glands which lubricate the skin, called sebaceous glands. When these glands become blocked, bacteria overgrow and cause…
Vitamin D Council - former Staff & Board members
John J. Cannell, M.D., Founder and Medical Director
Missy Sturges, Executive Director
Missy is the Executive Director of the Vitamin D council. She is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic planning of the organization. She also focuses on writing articles, fundraising and keeping up with the latest research. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Missy’s passion for vitamin D derives from her personal battle with an unexplained inflammatory disorder. When she is not at the Vitamin D Council, she enjoys her time with her husband, animals and the outdoors.