VitaminDWiki.com: Single best source of Vitamin D info. on the web
BACKGROUND: Got interested in vitamin D through the experience of a friend successfully treating back pain with Vitamin D. My investigations raised many questions: which diseases Vitamin D could prevent; which diseases it could treat; how much is needed in each case; what cofactors are needed; which diseases are strongly suspected to be related to Vitamin D deficiency; how much Vitamin D is needed to feel benefits quickly; which groups of people are particularly at risk for Vitamin D deficiency; when are Vitamin D tests needed before supplementation; what is the optimum blood level; why do 9 out of 10 people have sub-optimum levels; when during the day/week should it be taken; what are the alternate ways of getting Vitamin D?
METHODS: Began researching the topic and discovered a wealth of material. Decided to share findings through a website, and developed VitaminDWiki to do this. It contains abstracts, full papers. podcasts, videos, summaries, charts, and links to related studies. Virtually all are instantly translated into more than 72 languages.
RESULTS: After 3 years, VitaminDWiki has grown to contain over 5,000 studies in 100+ categories (half have 50+ entries), 60+ overviews, 100+ meta-analysis, 34+ proofs of diseases prevented/treated with Vitamin D intervention, and records of 5 previous Vitamin D conferences. Information is updated daily. The website receives over 1,000 visitors a day.
CONCLUSIONS: All of the above questions have been answered. Access to the information has proved extremely useful to researchers, doctors, and the general public. A 5 minute animated video about Vitamin D was has been created and can be seen at this conference as well as on the web in 16 languages. This abstract and this some of this conference are at: http://is.gd/vitapril2014
NEXT STEPS: Promote education thru information sharing of publications and material on the website and possible production and dissemination of additional videos and even on-line courses in Vitamin D.
Update Feb 2014 - not going to the conference
Conference was so overbooked with speakers that the abstract could only be a poster.
Previous notes
Audience clinical, public health professionals, nutritionists and policy-makers