Has anybody heard of this AI treatment termed the Coimbra Protocol?
There seem to be many impressive accounts all over the internet of people with various
AI and neurological issues going into remission and even healing while following this
fairly simple Brazilian protocol:
Just a few links out of many (you can google it and find much more):
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/Multiple+Sclerosis+and+(lots+of)+Vitamin+D+-+book+by+patient+on+Coimbra+protocol+-+Feb+2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOfO29rL-gI
Looks like high dose Vitamin D is linked to improved Gut Microbiome and significantly higher CD8+ T immune cells.
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/High-dose-vitamin-D-may-boost-diversity-of-the-gut-microbiome-Study
Since the effect of CD8+ T Cells on specific autoimmune conditions is not well established, we might want to proceed with caution.
This is only supposed to be followed under a doctor's care.
He claims is works in 95% of AI illnesses.
If anybody has first hand experience with this protocol I would love to
hear from them. I can't find a doctor in my area who's knowledgable in this.
sharon did u see the possible reactions to a massive dose of vit d?
Yes Blue, I did, that's why it's important to be under a doctor's care if you follow this protocol.
You need checkups and tests to make sure your levels don't get too high and no toxicity is occuring and so on.
The possible reactions are nothing compared to those side effects you can get from steroids and Methorexate...
I generally do well with supplements.
The personal testimonies of people following this protocol are quite amazing and encouraging.
At this point it seems to me a better option than steroids or letting the disease rage on.
It sounds very interesting. They know AI diseases and other diseases are seen in people with low Vit D levels. Sometimes I think I've actually had better improvements with supplements and vitamins than with the plaquenil.... Very few of us get enough Vitamin D anymore. Kind of make me wonder about the rise in chronic disease. I religiously take my Vitamin D every night, 2,000 mgs. along with my fish oil. I feel a big difference in my mood as well.
Thanks for sharing this article Sharon.
This sounds very interesting. I going to investigate further. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback Deb and Wal.
I'm going to gradually raise to 10,000 IU of Vit. D3 on my own
since that's considered a non-toxic dosage,
evaluate how I feel and then decide
if I want to go the length and try the Coimbra Protocol.
Be very careful.
The Magnesium Advocacy Group on FB says taking Vitamin D3 without proper testing is a really bad idea.
More info here:
gotmag.org/vitamin-d-deficiency-mg-deficiency-period/
If you are going to take that big a dose daily it is necessary to have your blood level checked often. Too much Vit D can be a big problem and the other aspect is that this is something new in the way of treatment. I am speaking of the normal dosages of Vit d that are given now. The docs don't even know all the long term effects of the average dosages that we take. I have been on 2000 mgm for about 5 years now. Hard to tell if it is helping but at least my levels are up in lower end of normal range now. Irish
Thanks for your concerns all.
Jazz- I have been tested many times throughout the years and have a consistently low deficient level of Vit. D.
My magnesium levels are perfect as I've been supplementing with Mag. Citrate for many years. I really do avoid the sun like a plague due to my sensitivities so I have no source of Vit. D. in my life.
Irish- Yes, true I will need to begin closely monitoring my Vit. D levels. That's fine by me since I am sent to many blood tests in any case. I'll just request they add in the Vit. D, testing each time. From all I've read seems it's agreed among all authorities in the field that up to 10,000 IU is harmless. True that over that dosage it may pose a problem and that's why I'm not going there yet. If I do feel it would benefit me to go all Coimbra I would need a doctor who understands how to treat according to the protocol to do this safely since they give you other forms of testing and supplements to balance and lower the potential complications and you must then also lower calcium intake and begin exercising every day (which I'm unable to do now), among other things.
I'm planning on bringing this up with my rheumatologist during our next visit. The research is promising, but the studies are still small and preliminary. While I'm usually willing to use myself as a guinea pig, large vitamin D doses can have unpleasant side effects and lead to vitamin D toxicity (Mayo Clinic) (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d-toxicity/faq-20058108):
QuoteTaking 50,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity. This level is many times higher than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for most adults of 600 IU of vitamin D a day.
Doses higher than the RDA are sometimes used to treat medical problems such as vitamin D deficiency, but these are given only under the care of a doctor for a specified time frame. Blood levels should be monitored while someone is taking high doses of vitamin D.
Although vitamin D toxicity is uncommon even among people who take supplements, you may be at greater risk if you have health problems, such as liver or kidney conditions, or if you take thiazide-type diuretics. As always, talk to your doctor before taking vitamin and mineral supplements.
From what I understand they counter the possibility of toxicity with additional supplements
and treatment guidelines through the protocol alongside frequent bloodtests.
WhatYouSjo- You have no problem swallowing worms but balk at overdosing on Vit. D? :P
According to this study, Vitamin D reduces inflammatory environment in the gut.
A healthy gut may play a major role in the recovery of autoimmune diseases.
Check it out:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/High-dose-vitamin-D-may-boost-diversity-of-the-gut-microbiome-Study
BTW, I'm now taking 5,000IU of Vit. D daily and am doing well on it. :)
Quote from: Sharon on June 02, 2016, 04:21:02 PM
WhatYouSjo- You have no problem swallowing worms but balk at overdosing on Vit. D? :P
Perhaps my previous post was unclear - I am not entirely opposed to trying the protocol, but I would consult with my rheumatologist first. I would not try it on my own, as I would need regular testing of various blood levels. Just to note, my rheumatologist is also is aware of and supports my use of helminthic therapy.
[soapbox]
Helminths have been present in humans throughout our evolution, for hundreds of thousands of years. Even today, over one billion people carry helminths, mainly in countries with low incidences of autoimmune diseases. In addition, my therapeutic dose is lower than the number of worms generally carried throughout history. I feel quite confident that I know the risks and potential side effects. Most people avoid the treatment due to an aversion to the idea of worms, but HT has been with us for far longer than modern pharmaceutical treatments, as doesn't have nearly the risks of current treatments (retinal damage from Plaquenil for example).
Taking 200,000 IUs of vitamin D, which is about 100 times the recommended daily dose, is a very new idea with limited (though growing) evidence to support it. I already take a 5,000 IU vitamin D supplement, which I know keeps my levels well into the normal range. However, vitamin D toxicity is a known and documented side effect of large vitamin D doses. As a result, I am at least as cautious, if not more, about the Coimbra Protocol than HT.
[/soapbox]
I know you were probably just making a lighthearted joke, and my post wasn't pointed at anyone in particular. I have personally found HT to be very helpful, and I'm surprised sometimes at the level of resistance to it when compared to other drugs (e.g. biologics) which are far more dangerous. But back to the Coimbra Protocol - it may well be helpful, but I want to make sure I have the support of my doctor before trying it. I am certainly interested to hear your results if you try it though :)
I was kinda joking. ;)
I do understand why you're going the helminthic route and find it very brave.
Of course nobody should go full Coimbra without appropriate doctor's care.
That would be dangerous.
I do however think the basic idea behind it may be implemented modestly on our own
by at least raising D3 dosages while remaining below 10,000 IU which I understand is a "safe" dosage
while adhering to some basic guidelines.
Where did you read 200,000 IU on Coimbra??? :o
I've read of about 50,000 IU for AI issues, tailored to each person's unique situation and weight.
Vit. D3 has also been found to be helpful in many other ailments:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/vitamin-d/evidence/hrb-20060400
After only a few days on less than 5,000IU my severe muscle and joint pains have subsided! :)
(Hope I'm not speaking prematurely though....)
I'd like to point out that I do suffer from Vit. D deficiency from the get go.
Quote from: Sharon on June 03, 2016, 09:00:57 AM
Where did you read 200,000 IU on Coimbra??? :o
From the book that was linked (https://www.amazon.com/Multiple-Sclerosis-lots-Vitamin-Eight-Year-ebook/dp/B01BVRZX02) earlier, "Multiple Sclerosis and (lots of) Vitamin D: My Eight-Year Treatment with The Coimbra Protocol for Autoimmune Diseases". The first line of the summary states "The Coimbra Protocol relies on doses of vitamin D that range from 40,000 IU to 200,000 IU per day." I assume that most people start far lower, but the 200,000 IU number caught my attention.
Glad to hear that 5,000 IU is helping you! I started supplementing after blood work showed that my vitamin D level was borderline low when my symptoms first hit. I can't say exactly how much it has helped my symptoms, but my last round of blood work showed that the level was comfortably in the normal range.
The dosage of Vitamin D is based on 1000 IU per kg of body weight, so the 200,000 UI dose would have to be for a 200kg person, roughly 440 lbs. Most weight based therapies are regulated as weight changes, so I would have to guess the 200,000 would be an initial dose, and as weight loss occurred, the dose would be lowered.
I notice the article seems to refer to MS exclusively?
Thanks for clearing that issue up Linda.
WhatYouSjo- According to the protocol, even those with AI with normal levels of Vit. D may have trouble utilizing that vitamin correctly, that's why they strive for higher levels overall. I think the dosage is according to both weight and the condition treated.
Alwaysimproving- watch the video I attached (with translation on) and you'll see he mentions success with all other AI illnesses as well.
You need to have both tests for Vit D ..
The storage and the active ...
Here is more extensive information in English on the Coimbra Protocol:
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/coimbra-high-dose-vitamin-d-protocol-f57/topic27182.html
Short video with english subtitles and voiceover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soKM6z1cdiM&app=desktop
Seems promising to me.
Yet more evidence of Vitamin D's role in AI disease (as well as in other illnesses):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23527013
Adding another study which concludes that vitamin D is the environmental factor that most strongly influences autoimmune disease development:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4364365/