Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH

Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH

University of Michigan Health System

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Dr. Moyad’s mission is to promote a greater attention to comprehensive lifestyle changes to improve overall mental, physical, and spiritual wellness along with contributing to more objective education on dietary supplements, OTC, and other potential health options. This has been the focus of his research, writings, and lectures his entire career. He occupies an endowed position, which was originally created and funded by the individuals he has empowered over the past 25+ years. He is the Jenkins/Pokempner Director of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Education at the University of Michigan Medical Center in the Department of Urology. This was one of the first endowments of its kind created for a doctor at a major medical center. Dr. Moyad has always considered himself to be first, and foremost, a public health educator with an expertise in clinical/medical epidemiology. Dr. Moyad received his medical education from the University of South Florida College of Public Health and the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is the primary author of over 150 medical journal publications on lifestyle changes and supplements, the past Editor-in-Chief of the medical journal Seminars in Preventive & Alternative Medicine, past CAM course director for a variety of medical societies, continues to be a guest editor and provide peer review for multiple medical journals, and he has given thousands of lectures around the world to the public and health care professionals in virtually every medical specialty and major medical center. Dr. Moyad is the author or co-author of 15 academic and consumer books, and now interviews other health experts on a variety of global wellness topics to enhance notable health care professional and patient education sources. He is also honored to be the moderator of one of the largest patient conferences held twice a year in Los Angeles, California, and has provided educational clinical research updates for the last 20+ years to health care professionals and national patient advocacy groups.

Disclosures:

Talks by Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH

Vitamin D and Men’s Health

Vitamin D and Men’s Health

Posted by | May 2023

Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH, the Jenkins/Pokempner Director of Preventive/Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, presents on the current status of vitamin D in men’s health. While randomized trials have shown limited benefits in major endpoints, such as preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer, there is a significant signal indicating the potential of vitamin D in autoimmune disease prevention. He discusses exciting findings from the VITAL trial suggesting that a moderate dose of vitamin D may reduce the risk of autoimmune disease. Additionally, individuals with a healthy BMI and those at high risk for bone loss could potentially benefit more from vitamin D supplementation. Dr. Moyad emphasizes the importance of understanding the limitations of vitamin D blood tests and suggests that targeted screening is recommended for specific groups. Overall, he says, fortification and supplementation of vitamin D remain safe and cost-effective strategies for improving men’s health.

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Vitamin D for Preventing Fractures in Low-Risk Adults: What Can We Learn from the VITAL Study?

Vitamin D for Preventing Fractures in Low-Risk Adults: What Can We Learn from the VITAL Study?

Posted by | Aug 2022

Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH, the Jenkins/Pokempner Director of Preventive/Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, reviews ancillary data from the VITAL study on using supplemental vitamin D to prevent bone fractures. Dr. Moyad notes that while recent reporting indicated data from the study showed no benefit for reducing fractures, the focus was only on low-risk adults (those without vitamin D deficiency, low bone mass, nor osteoporosis). He stresses keeping vitamin D testing in perspective; due to public health efforts such as fortification in milk, multivitamins, and other products, severe vitamin D deficiency (<12 ng/ml=30 nmol/l) is a rare occurrence. While most adults are in the adequate threshold (>20 ng/ml=50 nmol/l), other studies have proven excessive levels (>50 ng/ml=125 nmol/l) can increase the risk of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria, which can increase risk of stones, falls, or fractures. Dr. Moyad points to the baseline data from the study that showed the participants began with a vitamin D blood level that was healthy, at 30 ng/ml=75 nmol/l; therefore, he asserts it is not a surprise that increasing vitamin D from this level did not reduce the risk of fracture from falls. He explains that in oncology and urology vitamin D has a different role that is not discussed and that is in terms of counteracting hypocalcemia for patients on certain medications. He cites three drugs—Xgeva (denosumab), Zometa (zoledronic acid), and Reclast (zoledronic acid) and explains that treatment with any of these may worsen hypocalcemia and patients must be adequately supplemented with calcium and vitamin D. He emphasizes that for people at high risk for bone loss, vitamin D supplementation offers benefits; he cites data from the VITAL study that show a slight benefit of vitamin D supplementation for those taking osteoporosis medication. Dr. Moyad concludes by emphasizing extra vitamin D will work no better than a placebo in healthy patients and reiterating the comprehensive nature of the VITAL study.

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Men’s Health & My World from A-to-Z: What is New, Old, Hot, or Cold?

Men’s Health & My World from A-to-Z: What is New, Old, Hot, or Cold?

Posted by | Aug 2022

Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH, the Jenkins/Pokempner Director of Preventive/Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, reports on the latest trends in men’s health and related research. Covering topics from blood pressure to vitamin D, Dr. Moyad brings levity to the array with a “hot or not” rating.

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ADT and Cognitive Health

ADT and Cognitive Health

Posted by | Jul 2022

Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH, the Jenkins/Pokempner Director of Preventive/Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) at the University of Michigan Medical Center in the Department of Urology in Ann Arbor, Michigan, interviews Celestia S. Higano, MD, FACP, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia and Medical Director of the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Program at the Vancouver Prostate Centre, about the importance of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) screening to preserve bone health in men initiating androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Dr. Moyad begins by highlighting the findings of an article recently published in JAMA which showed that while DEXA screening was associated with a decreased risk of osteoporotic fracture, only 7.9% of older men starting ADT received this screening. Dr. Moyad argues that this demonstrates that while many focus on calcium and vitamin D deficiency as the causes of bone issues in men on ADT, the real deficiency is in DEXA screening. Dr. Higano concurs, explaining that the only good way to monitor bone density in men on ADT is to get a baseline, and noting that every patient in her practice undergos DEXA screening before initiating ADT unless they are on a bone health agent already. She also mentions that she performs a repeat DEXA after a year. Dr. Moyad then considers whether quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is a reasonable alternative to DEXA, arguing that it is not since it is more expensive, uses a lot of radiation, and overestimates bone health issues. Dr. Higano agrees, observing that QCT was designed as a research tool rather than a diagnostic one, while DEXA is the “gold standard” in this area. They then hypothesize that some clinicians are switching from DEXA to QCT because of higher reimbursement rates. Drs. Moyad and Higano conclude by underscoring that wider DEXA screening is the most significant change needed to preserve bone health in men on ADT.

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Bone Health and ADT

Bone Health and ADT

Posted by | Jul 2022

Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH, the Jenkins/Pokempner Director of Preventive/Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) at the University of Michigan Medical Center in the Department of Urology in Ann Arbor, Michigan, interviews Celestia S. Higano, MD, FACP, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia and Medical Director of the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Program at the Vancouver Prostate Centre, about the importance of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) screening to preserve bone health in men initiating androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Dr. Moyad begins by highlighting the findings of an article recently published in JAMA which showed that while DEXA screening was associated with a decreased risk of osteoporotic fracture, only 7.9% of older men starting ADT received this screening. Dr. Moyad argues that this demonstrates that while many focus on calcium and vitamin D deficiency as the causes of bone issues in men on ADT, the real deficiency is in DEXA screening. Dr. Higano concurs, explaining that the only good way to monitor bone density in men on ADT is to get a baseline, and noting that every patient in her practice undergos DEXA screening before initiating ADT unless they are on a bone health agent already. She also mentions that she performs a repeat DEXA after a year. Dr. Moyad then considers whether quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is a reasonable alternative to DEXA, arguing that it is not since it is more expensive, uses a lot of radiation, and overestimates bone health issues. Dr. Higano agrees, observing that QCT was designed as a research tool rather than a diagnostic one, while DEXA is the “gold standard” in this area. They then hypothesize that some clinicians are switching from DEXA to QCT because of higher reimbursement rates. Drs. Moyad and Higano conclude by underscoring that wider DEXA screening is the most significant change needed to preserve bone health in men on ADT.

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