Vitamin D is so important researchers worry about ethics of limiting supplementation to perform research trials

In order to effectively study vitamin defriciencies, many pharmaceutical agencies hold controlled studies that are overlooked by medical physicians. These are typically done by giving some participants the vitamin supplement, while others get a placebo. In the case of vitamin D, however, experts are labeling studies to be unethical because of the potential damage that participants could face if they become deficient while on the placebo due to their vitamin D levels dramatically dropping to an unsafe level.

Key Takeaways:

• Many researchers view Vitamin D as so important to overall health that they are concerned about the ethics around limiting D supplementation specifically for research.
• According to Dr. Leigh Frame of George Washington University School of Medicine, denying someone deficient in vitamin D could cause both long- and short-term health problems.
• One solution to this dilemma would be to allow vitamin D studies but to monitor all participant’s D levels and provide the placebo group a rescue repletion at the completion of the study.

"In case you needed any more proof of how essential vitamin D is to good health, researchers have warned that placebo-controlled trials that involve limiting some people’s intake of the all-star nutrient could be considered unethical."

Read more: https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-04-13-vitamin-d-is-so-important-researchers-worry-about-ethics-of-limiting-supplementation-research-trials.html