Although researchers, physicians, and clinical nutritionists can't agree completely on dose rates, recommended blood levels, and expected clinical outcomes, there is no question that vitamin D status plays an important role in reducing, preventing, and in some cases, treating a wide range of chronic degenerative medical conditions. The purpose of the Vitamin D Life is to provide a convenient, comprehensive, and authoritative resource to investigate how optimizing vitamin D status may be helpful for you or someone you care about. It's a big subject so we urge you to spend some time exploring and learning about this important nutrient.
Updated 2017
Table of contents
- Vitamin D is associated with many health problems
- See also Vitamin D Life: Random Controlled Trials with vitamin D intervention
- See also Vitamin D Life
- Vitamin D is especially needed during pregnancy
- Also, The Vitamin D Receptor limits the amount of Vitamin D in the blood actually gets to the tissue
- 6 times to 55 times more likely to get these health problems
- Health problem - examples
- Groups typically needing more Vitamin D
- Vitamin D supplementation
- Amount of vitamin D needed vs:
- Supplementation from Zika book (July 20, 2016)
- How often should I take 50,000 IU
- 10 minutes of sun not enough
- Loading Dose - to get the benefit as soon as possible
- Toxicity is rare
- Free Vitamin D evaluation service
- Cofactors are important if you take a lot of vitamin D for a long time
- Supplements categories in Vitamin D Life include
- Magnesium
- Omega-3
- Vitamin K2
- Calcium
- Boron - good, but not as essential
- Zinc - good, but not as essential
- Unfortunately, cofactors as pills are costly and typically need to be taken daily
- Perspective of the importance of Vit D and co-factors to health
- See also Vitamin D Life
- See also - Excellent reviews of supplements at ConsumerLab
- Genes can restrict Vitamin D from getting to the cells
- Additional Vitamin D information
Vitamin D is associated with many health problems
Less sun ==> Less Vitamin D ==> Less Health (chart)
click on image for details and translation
70 Proofs that Vitamin D prevents or treats the following diseases
ADHD, Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis, ALS, Alzheimer's, Antibiotic Use in Seniors, Asthma, Autism, Autoimmune Diseases, Back pain, Blood Cell Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cardiovascular, Cholesterol, Chronic Hives, Chronic Kidney Disease, Cluster Headaches, Congestive Heart Failure (Infants), COPD, Crohn's Disease, C-Section and Pregnancy Risks, Cystic Fibrosis, Depression, Diabetes, Diabetic Neuropathy, Eczema, Falls, Fatigue, Fatty Liver (Child), Fibromyalgia, Gestational Diabetes, Gingivitis, Growing Pains, Hay Fever, Heart Attack, Hemodialysis, Hepatitis-C, Hip Fractures, Hypertension, Influenza, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ischemic Stroke, Knee Osteoarthritis, Leg Ulcers, Low Birth Weight, Lupus, Male Infertility, Menstrual Pain, Metabolic Syndrome, Middle Ear Infection (Infants), Mite Allergy, Multiple Sclerosis, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Osteoarthritis, Parkinson's Disease, Perinatal Depression, Pneumonia (Ventilator-associated), Poor Sleep, PreDiabetes, Preeclampsia, Pre-term Birth, Prostate Cancer, Quality of Life, Raynaud's Pain, Respiratory Tract Infection, Restless Leg Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rickets, Sarcopenia, Sepsis, Short Neonates, Sickle Cell, Stronger Senior Muscles, Survive ICU, TB, Tonsillitis, Trauma Death, Traumatic Brain Injury, Tuberculosis, Ulcerative Colitis, Urinary Tract Infection, Vaginosis, Vertigo, Warts, Weight Loss
Reminder: Translate icon in the upper right selects a different language
Click on underlined items for details
Health Problem | Treat Prevent | Reduction by Vit D | RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial * = link to additional RCT CT = Clinical Trial | ||
Hypertension | T P | 149 to 142 mm Hg HT risk reduced 10X | RCT* *, 2400 IU. 100,000 IU* When Vitamin D > 40 ng | ||
Cardiovascular after attack | T | 32 % fewer deaths | CT 1000 IU | ||
Diabetes Type 1 | P | 85 % | 12,000 kids, 2000 IU | ||
Diabetes Type 2 | T | 62 % | RCT* CRP reduction, 4000 IU Injection is far better - RCT * RCT 50,000 IU/2weeks + probiotics RCT 5,000 IU daily 6 months | ||
Back Pain | T | 95 % reduced 50% | 5000/10000 IU 60,000 IU weekly | ||
Influenza | P | 90 % | RCT *, 2000 IU | ||
Falls | P | 50% | RCT, 100,000 IU monthly RCT with Meals on Wheels 2016 | ||
Hip Fractures | P | 30 % | RCT * 800 IU | ||
Rickets | P | 98 % | Turkey, 400 IU NOT RCT, given to all children | ||
Raynaud's Syndrome | T | 40 % | RCT, visual scale, 20000 IU Avg | ||
Menstrual pain | P | 76 % | RCT, 7000 IU Avg, 70% reduction 2018 PMS reduced by half | ||
Pregnancy risks | P | 50 % | RCT, 4000 IU | ||
C-section, unplanned | P | 50 % | RCT, 4000 IU, small study | ||
Low birth weight | P | 60 % | RCT * 1000 IU of D2 | ||
TB | P | 60 % | RCT, 800 IU | ||
Breast Cancer | P | 60 % | RCT, 1100 IU (2007) | ||
Rheumatoid Arthritis pain | T | 40 % | RCT, 500 IU, added to prescription | ||
Cystic Fibrosis | T | 75 % 2nd study improved | RCT, pilot 4X fewer deaths 250,000 IU RCT, pilot 8,200 IU | ||
Chronic Kidney | T | 90 to 70 PTH | RCT, 3500 IU, | ||
Respiratory Tract Infection | P | 63 % | 3 RCT, 4000 IU 1 year 2nd 2000/800 IU 20,000 IU weekly | ||
Lupus | T T | zero flares Pain reduced | Loading then 100,000 IU monthly, RCT too RCT 4,000 IU | ||
Sickle Cell | T | Less pain | RCT, up to 100,000 IU/week | ||
Leg ulcer healing | T | 4X faster | RCT, 50,0000 IU/week, small study | ||
Traumatic Brain Injury | T | 2X | RCT, 20,0000 IU/day with progesterone | ||
Parkinson's Disease | T | Stabilized | RCT, 1200 IU/day | ||
Multiple Sclerosis | P T | 68% 95% were CURED | RCT, 7100 IU prevent pre-MS ==> MS 20,000 to 140,000 IU/day | ||
Congestive Heart Failure | T | 90 % | RCT, 1000 IU infants (also: Adults, not RCT) | ||
Middle Ear Infection | P | 30 % | RCT, 1000 IU infants | ||
Gingivitis | T | 88 % | RCT, 2000 IU | ||
Muscle in seniors | T | 17 % more muscle | RCT, 4000 IU | ||
Antibiotic use when >70y | T | 47 % | RCT, 60,000 IU monthly | ||
Infants taller | Benefit | 1 cm tall | RCT, 50,000 IU weekly, for 8 weeks while pregnant | ||
Gestational Diabetes | T | Reduced 3X | RCT, 2 doses of 50,000 IU | ||
After Heart Attack | T | +6% ejection fraction | RCT, 800,000 IU one time | ||
Prostate Cancer | T | Fewer +cores | RCT, 4000 IU (2012) | ||
Asthma | P T | Reduced symptoms | RCT, 60K IU/month; RCT 50K IU/week Need good D at 4 weeks into preg. | ||
Depression | T | Reduced | RCT 300,000 IU injection RCT 1500 IU helped Prozac RCT 50,000 IU weekly, elderly | ||
Low vitamin D while breastfed | P | All infants > 20 mg | RCT, 5,000 IU | ||
Fibromyalgia | T | Half of many still has Fibro | RCT, 30-48 ng RCT 50K IU/week | ||
Hives, Chronic | T | Reduced 40% | RCT, 4000 IU added | ||
Cholesterol | T | Reduced 4 mg | RCT, 400 IU + Ca | ||
Weight Loss | T | lost 5 more lbs | RCT, 2000 IU +diet +exercise | ||
Gestational Diabetes | P | 40% | RCT * , 5,000 IU | ||
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | T | 17X improvement | CT, 50,000 IU weekly RCT 100,000 IU monthly | ||
Asthma | T | 1/2 Asthma attacks | RCT >42 mg of vitamin D | ||
Quality of Life (QoL) | T | Nursing Home QoL | CT, 4,000 IU in daily bread | ||
Death of Critically Ill Patients | T | 20% increase in survivability | RCT 540 K IU loading than 90K monthly | ||
Restless Leg Syndrome | T | Score 26 ==> 10 | CT, Vitamin D dose size not stated in abstract | ||
Hepatitis-C | T | Aided normal drugs | RCT 2.000 IU | ||
Crohn's disease | T | improved when > 30 ng 2nd study fewer relapses | RCT 2,000 IU 10,000 IU RCT | ||
Pre-term birth | P | 2.5X decrease, also: fewer c-section & better Apgar | RCT 2,000 IU India | ||
Cluster headaches | T | CH eliminated in 60% | 10,000 IU, Mg, Omega-3, etc | ||
Autism | T | 80% improved | CT 300 IU/kg/day for 3 months | ||
PreDiabetes | T | ~20% reduced | RCT 60,000 IU/month | ||
Weight loss: Overweight and Obese | T | 12 lbs in 6 months | RCT 100,000 IU/month | ||
Sarcopenia = muscle loss | T | 27% increase | RCT 1,000 IU | ||
Growing Pains | T | 60% decrease | ~100,000 IU/month -NOT RCT 2nd study, similar results | ||
Osteoarthritis pain | T | 60% decrease | 50,000 IU/weekly - NOT RCT | ||
ALS | T | helped | 2,000 IU - NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Vertigo | T | 3X reduction if raised > 10ng | 600,000 IU load, then maint. NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Warts | T | 80% eliminated injection | NOT RCT 60,000 IU/injection | ||
Metabolic Syndrome | P | reduced 44% when VitD increased by 30 ng | NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Hay fever | P | reduced 48% | RCT 1,000 IU for 30 days | ||
Preeclampsia | P | Recurrance cut in half 3 RCT 3.6 X less likely if > 30 ng | 50,000 IU every 2 weeks 4,000 IU daily | ||
Blood cell cancer Multiple Myeloma | T | Survival 90% vs 50% | 10,000 IU/week NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Irritable Bowel Syndrome | T | Reduced | 3,000 IU spray RCT | ||
Urinary Tract Infection | P | 50% reduction | RCT 20,000 IU weekly | ||
Mite Allergy | P | 5X reduction | RCT 2,000 IU preg, 800 IU child | ||
Perinatal depression (depression near birth) | T | 50% reduction | RCT 2,000 IU for just a few weeks | ||
Vaginosis | T | 10X reduction | RCT 2,000 IU | ||
Eczema | T | Reduced | 2 RCT 1,600 IU | ||
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease | T | Reduced | RCT 20,000 IU weekly | ||
Knee Osteoartiritis | T | Pain Reduced | RCT 60,000 IU monthly after loading dose | ||
Tuberculosis | T | Faster Recovery | RCT single 450,000 IU dose | ||
Stroke - Ischemic | T | Faster Recovery | RCT single 600,000 IU injection RCT single 300,000 IU injection | ||
Sepsis | T | Reduce ICU and Hospital length of stay by 7 days each | RCT 400,000 IU | ||
Trauma deaths | T | 50% fewer deaths | Vitamin D & Glutamine NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Hemodialysis patients | T | helped | 50,000 IU weekly NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Fatty liver - child | T | 2 X reduction | RCT Vitamin D & DHA | ||
Fatigue | T | Reduced | 100,000 IU single dose NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Sleep Disorders | T | Nicely treated | RCT 50.000 IU bi-weekly | ||
Pneumonia (Ventilator-associated) | T | RCT Death rate cut in half | 300,000 IU injection | ||
Infertile males | T | birth rate doubled | RCT 300,000 IU + maint | ||
Waist size | T | Waist size reduced 3 cm | 100,000 IU loading + maint for 6 months for those with Metabolic Syndrome NOT RCT, given to all | ||
Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder | T | Reduced Reduced | RCT 3,000 IU for 12 weeks RCT 50,000 IU weekly | ||
Alcoholic liver cirrhosis | T | improved survival | 1,000 IU of vitamin D NOT RCT | ||
Diabetic nephropathy | T | Reduced HOMA-IR, FRS | RCT 50,000 IU weekly | ||
Ulcerative Colitis | T | Reduced 60% | RCT 50,000 IU nano daily for a week | ||
Obese weight loss | T | Lost 3X more pounds | $10 of Vitamin D added to calorie restriction & walking | ||
Endometriosis | T | Nicely treated | RCT 50.000 IU bi-weekly | ||
Diabetic Wounds | T | 4X more likely to heal | RCT 6,400 daily | ||
Alzheimer's | T | Often reverse | Each person gets a different amount of Vit D, Omega-3, B12, Iron, etc | ||
Autoimmune | P | Decrease 30% | RCT Vit D + Omega-3 | ||
Smoking | T | reduce problems | RCT 50,000 bi-weekly | ||
Tonsillitis | T | Virtually eliminated | RCT 50,000 weekly |
Most proofs are RCT (Randomized Controlled Trials), where not even the doctor knows who gets it vitamin D
- 2 are meta-analyses of multiple RCTs
- Vitamin D was given to ALL infants in the entire country (Rickets) - not an RCT
- In several studies, researchers felt that it was unethical not to give vitamin D to everyone
- In some studies, the dose size varied with the needs of the person (overweight, etc)
- In some studies, the COFACTORS were adjusted to the needs of the patients
- Curing requires the dose size and cofactors to be adjusted to the needs of each patient.
Many Clinical Trials have not found a benefit because of one or more of the following failures:
- Fails to use a large enough dose of vitamin D (often < 1,100 IU)
The Even larger dose needed if: 1) obese, 2) poor gut, 3) sick (many diseases consume lots of vitamin D) - Fails to have given vitamin D for a long enough time (a few RCT lasted less than 5 weeks)
- Fails to have given Vitamin D frequently enough. At least every 2 months for D3) - and at least weekly for D2
Note: Infrequent dosing also causes unbalancing of the body's chemistry - Fails to provide a loading dose, or had too short a duration to restore the vitamin D levels
- Fails to use D3 form, instead uses the less effective D2 form
- Fails to have a healthy range of Calcium or other important cofactors (especially for bone-related trials
Also, differences in Magnesium can result in 30% change in response to vitamin D
Magnesium is dependent on water, food, supplements - Fails to notice the pre-existing vitamin D levels - only those who are low will likely show a benefit
- Fails to notice how/when the vitamin D was taken (which can change the response by as much as 2X)
- Fails to report on compliance (in one case 40% of the participants did not take the supplements consistently)
Many Meta-Analyses also do not find a benefit because one or more of the above failures
In addition, many meta-analysis average together ALL of the trials
Imagine a story about a meta-analysis of aspirin (which has never been done)
There would be scores of RCT for aspirin not working with 3 mg doses
There would be a many RCT of aspirin not working with 30 mg doses
There would be a few studies of aspirin WORKING with 300+ mg doses
There would be many studies of small amounts of Willow bark (Vitamin D2 instead of Vitamin D3)
Then there would be a meta-analysis of aspirin and Willow Bark
- That meta-analysis would conclude that aspirin and Willow bark do not work.
While about 200 RCTs will be published during 2014, I anticipate only adding 50 to the proofs table due to the reasons listed above
Also, some trials will not get started due to lack of people willing to go for years with < 500 IU of vitamin D
See also Vitamin D Life: Random Controlled Trials with vitamin D intervention
- Intervention - Vitamin D
799 Interventions - Note: It sorts the interventions by health problem as well as by date
- Vitamin D intervention trials - a long list - May 2014 1204 trials
2176 Vitamin D clinical trials as of June 2020: Nutrition Disorders 621, Vitamin D Deficiency 619, Malnutrition 601, Avitaminosis 586, Deficiency Diseases 583, **Metabolic Diseases 489. Musculoskeletal Diseases 362, Bone Diseases 317. Bone Diseases, Metabolic 282, Endocrine System Diseases 241. Osteoporosis 209, Immune System Diseases 190, Kidney Diseases 168, Communicable Diseases 164. Infection 164- Update Jan 2024 2835 Clinical Trials with Vitamin D
- Systematic Reviews or Meta-Analysis of Vitamin D
641 items - 137 health problems associated with low vitamin D – meta-meta-analysis April 2014
- Intervention - 2-30 days
261 items More intervention trials for Vitamin D than for the TOTAL of Vitamins A + C + K combined
Vitamin D = 2199, Others = 1803 Vitamin A 702 + Vitamin C 768 + Vitamin K 333 as of Aug 2020
See also Vitamin D Life
- Overview: Vitamin D also TREATS
- Is it ethical to not give vitamin D in osteoporosis trials– NEJM Sept 2010
- Some Vitamin D RCT are not being created because the researchers do not want to deprive the benefits to half of the patients
- Some Vitamin D RCT cannot be started because too many candidates are already taking vitamin D
- Reasons for Vitamin D deficiency
- List of all categories of Vitamin D Information and number of items in each
- List of all Overviews of Vitamin D
74 items along with related searches
CLICK ON chart for more information and translationVitamin D is especially needed during pregnancy
ProblemVit. D
ReducesEvidence 0. Chance of not conceiving 3.4 times Observe 1. Miscarriage 2.5 times Observe 2. Pre-eclampsia 3.6 times RCT 3. Gestational Diabetes 3 times RCT 4. Good 2nd trimester sleep quality 3.5 times Observe 5. Premature birth 2 times RCT 6. C-section - unplanned 1.6 times Observe Stillbirth - OMEGA-3 4 times RCT - Omega-3 7. Depression AFTER pregnancy 1.4 times RCT 8. Small for Gestational Age 1.6 times meta-analysis 9. Infant height, weight, head size
within normal limitsRCT 10. Childhood Wheezing 1.3 times RCT 11. Additional child is Autistic 4 times Intervention 12.Young adult Multiple Sclerosis 1.9 times Observe 13. Preeclampsia in young adult 3.5 times RCT 14. Good motor skills @ age 3 1.4 times Observe 15. Childhood Mite allergy 5 times RCT 16. Childhood Respiratory Tract visits 2.5 times RCT RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial
Also, The Vitamin D Receptor limits the amount of Vitamin D in the blood actually gets to the tissue
The risk of 48+ diseases at least double with poor Vitamin D Receptor
Short URL = is.gd/dproof
6 times to 55 times more likely to get these health problems
- Many health problems associated with low vitamin D
click to read the studies - 55 X more likely to have bone fracture requiring surgery
- 30 X more likely for COPD becoming suddenly worse
- 25 X more likely to have senior moment
- 23 X more likely to have vertigo
- 19 X more likely to get dementia
- 17 X more likely to have muscle inflammation
- 14 X more likely to die after first cardiovascular event
- 14 X more likely for dark-skinned children to get T1 diabetes
- 12 X more likely to die from elderly pneumonia
- 11 X more likely to be allergic to peanuts
- 10 X more reactions to flu vaccine
- 10 X more likely for stroke patients to become depressed
- 9 X more likely to have Gastric Cancer
- 8 X more likely to have Autoimmune Hepatitis
- 8 X more likely for alcoholic to have Alcoholic liver disease
- 8 X more likely to get lupus
- 7 X more likely to have low birth weight infant
- 7 X more likely for pregnant teen to have anemia
- 7 X more likely to have leg pain
- 7 X increased chance of death from coronary artery disease
- 6.5 X more likely for infant to be Small for Gestational Age
- 6 X worse outcome following Sudden cardiac arrest
- 6 X more likely to get hip fracture after stroke
- 6 X more likely to die after coronary bypass
- 6 X more likely to have allergic rhinitis
- 6 X more likely to get diabetes if abdominal obese
- 6 X more likely to get cancer in children
CLICK HERE for entire 3X to 55X list for more information
Health problem - examples
Alzheimers-Cognition
Overview Alzheimer's-Cognition and Vitamin D has the following summary
- FACT: Cognitive decline is 19X more likely if low vitamin D
- FACT: Dementia is associated with low vitamin D levels.
- FACT: Alzheimer’s Dementia 2.3X more likely in elderly if low vitamin D – Dec 2022
- FACT: Dementia is associated with low vitamin D - many studies
- FACT: Alzheimer's Disease is 4X less likely if high vitamin D
- FACT: Every single risk factor listed for Alzheimer's Disease is also a risk factor for low vitamin D levels
- FACT: Elderly cognition gets worse as the elderly vitamin D levels get even lower (while in senior homes)
- OBSERVATION: Reports of increased vitamin D levels result in improved cognition
- OBSERVATION: Alzheimer’s patients 3X more likely to have a malfunctioning vitamin D receptor gene – 2012
- OBSERVATION: Alzheimer's Disease has been seen to halt when vitamin D was added.
- OBSERVATION: Alzheimer’s is associated with all 7 of the genes which restrict vitamin D
- OBSERVATION: 39 vitamin D and Alz. or Cognition intervention trials as of Sept 2018
- OBSERVATION: 2 Meta-analysis in 2012 agreed that Alzheimer's Disease. associated with low vitamin D
- OBSERVATION: 50X increase in Alzheimer's while decrease in vitamin D
- OBSERVATION: Vitamin D reduces Alzheimer’s disease in 11 ways
- OBSERVATION: Alzheimer’s cognition improved by 4,000 IU of vitamin D
- OBSERVATION: Plaque removed in mice by equiv. of 14,000 IU daily
- OBSERVATION: DDT (which decreases Vit D) increases risk of Alzheimer's by up to 3.8X
- OBSERVATION: 2% of people have 2 copies of the poor gene reference: Alz Org
- OBSERVATION: Genes do not change rapidly enough to account for the huge increase in incidence
- OBSERVATION: End of Alzheimer's videos, transcripts and many studies protocol has been very successful
- It adjusts Vitamin D, B-12, Iron, Omega-3, food, etc, and can now be done at home.
- FACT: Vitamin D is extremely low cost and has very very few side effects
- CONCLUSION: Everyone concerned about cognitive decline or Alzheimer's Disease should take vitamin D
- PREDICTION MET: By 2024 Omega-3 and high dose Vitamin D will be found to reverse Alzheimer's in humans
There are 13+ Alzheimer’s meta-analyses in Vitamin D Life
There are 97+ Alzheimer’s studies in Vitamin D Life
Dementia is associated with low vitamin D - many studies 50+ studies
16+ studies in both categories Cognitive and Omega-3
Breast Cancer
Overview Breast Cancer and Vitamin D contains the following summary and sections
-
24 Meta-analyses of Vitamin D and Breast Cancer
example: 2X reduction of deaths from Breast Cancer if have enough Vitamin D.- Appears that having lots of Vitamin D will reduce by 3 X the chance of Breast Cancer
wonder just how much more proof is needed- Breast Cancer 4X more likely if have poor genes
- Cancer - Breast category listing has
252 items along with related searches - Breast Cancer treatment – Vitamin D was the most-popular supplement – Jan 2023
- Breast Cancer again associated with low vitamin D – 15th meta-analysis Sept 2020
- Vitamin D reduced Breast Cancer mortality in 9 out of 9 studies, yet still no consensus – April 2019
- Vitamin D both prevents and treats Breast Cancer – 2019
Breathing
Breathing category starts with the following
445 items in Breathing category Breathing-related Overviews at Vitamin D Life:
Allergy Lung Cancer TB Asthma Influenza Colds and flu
Pneumonia Respiratory infections COPD Air Polution Smoking Cystic FibrosisCardiovascular
Cardiovascular category listing has507 items along with related searches 507 items In Cardiovascular category Cardiovascular category is associated with other categories: Diabetes 31, Omega-3 31 , Vitamin K 25 , Intervention 22 . Mortality 20 , Skin - Dark 18 , Magnesium 17 , Calcium 14 , Hypertension 14 , Trauma and surgery 13 , Stroke 13 , Kidney 12 , Metabolic Syndrome 11 , Seniors 10 , Pregnancy 8 as of Aug 2022
- Overview Cardiovascular and vitamin D
- Cardiovascular Disease is treated by Vitamin D - many studies 39+ meta-analyses
- Coronary Artery Disease and Vitamin D - many studies 18+
- Cardiovascular problems reduced by Omega-3 - many studies 34+
- Arteries and Atherosclerosis and Vitamin D - many studies 71+
- Atrial Fibrillation decreased by Vitamin D or Magnesium - many studies 26+
- Statins and Vitamin D - many studies 25+
- Arterial Stiffness and Vitamins – only Vitamin D was found to help – meta-analysis Feb 2022
- Those raising Vitamin D above 30 ng were 1.4 X less likely to die of Heart Attack (VA 19 years) – Oct 2021
- Giving free vitamin D to every Iranian would pay for itself by just reducing CVD – Oct 2021
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest – 2.8 X higher risk if low vitamin D – 2019
- Peripheral arterial disease risk is 1.5X higher if low vitamin D – meta-analysis March 2018
- Heart attack ICU costs cut in half by Vitamin D – Oct 2018
- Cardiovascular disease 2.3 X more-likely if poor Vitamin D Receptor – Aug 2022
Cholesterol, Statins- Cholesterol is needed to produce both Vitamin D and Cortisol
- Overview Cholesterol and vitamin D
- Statins and Vitamin D - many studies statins often reduce levels of vitamin D
- Statin side-effects are reduced by Vitamin D – US patent Application – April 2019
Diabetes
Overview Diabetes and vitamin D appears to be due to a lack of Vitamin D
- Diabetes is 5X more frequent far from the equator
- Children getting 2,000 IU of vitamin D are 8X less likely to get Type 1 diabetes
- Obese people get less sun / Vitamin D - and also vitamin D gets lost in fat
- Sedentary people get less sun / Vitamin D
- Worldwide Diabetes increase has been concurrent with vitamin D decrease and air conditioning
- Elderly get 4X less vitamin D from the same amount of sun
Elderly also spend less time outdoors and have more clothes on - All items in category Diabetes and Vitamin D
537 items: both Type 1 and Type 2 Vitamin D appears to both prevent and treat diabetes
- Appears that >2,000 IU will Prevent
- Appears that >4,000 IU will Treat , but not cure
- 90% less T2 Diabetes in the group having lots of Vitamin D
- Appears that Magnesium helps both Prevention and Treatment
- Many diabetics would be better treated if Gut-Friendly Vitamin D were used
Number of articles in both categories of Diabetes and:
'This list is automatically updated''- Dark Skin
24 ; Intervention 56 ; Meta-analysis 38 ; Obesity 35 ; Pregnancy 44 ; T1 (child) 39 ; Omega-3 11 ; Vitamin D Receptor 24 ; Genetics 12 ; Magnesium 27 Click here to see details Some Diabetes studies
- Type 2 Diabetes treated by Vitamin D (often 50,000 IU weekly) – meta-analysis July 2023
- Diabetic inflammation synergistically decreased by Vitamin D and exercise – RCT June 2022
- Incidence of Type-2 Diabetes increased 3X in 30 years (by the way, Vitamin D helps) – July 2022
- Vitamin d treats Type II Diabetes in many ways (14 article review) - Sept 2021
- T2 Diabetes 30 percent more likely if poor Vitamin D Receptor – meta-analysis of 47 studies – July 2021
- Diabetes helped somewhat by weekly 50,000 IU of vitamin D (5 ways to improve) – RCT Aug 2021
50 ng of Vitamin D fights Diabetes
- Saudi study defines normal Vitamin D level to be 50 to 70 ng (diabetes, etc.) - June 2020
- Diabetes 5X less likely if more than 50 ng of Vitamin D – April 2018
T1 Diabetes
- T1 Diabetes 3X lower risk if high vitamin D (over 40 ng) – Meta-analysis Nov 2020
- Type 1 Diabetes is prevented and treated by Vitamin D – review of 16 studies – Sept 2019
- Type 1 Diabetes prevention with Vitamin D and Omega-3 – Symposium April 2019
Pre-Diabetes
- 4X reduction in prediabetes progressing to T2D if more than 50 ng of vitamin D – RCT March 2023
- Prediabetes reduced by weekly 60,000 IU of Vitamin D – RCT Jan 2021
- Prediabetes 1.5 X more likely to go away if take Vitamin D – meta-analysis July 2020
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Magnesium - many studies
Falls and Fractures
Falls and Fractures category contains the following summary
254 items in FALLS and FRACTURES - Vitamin D and Calcium cost-effectively reduce falls and fractures – April 2019
- see also Overview Seniors and Vitamin D
Falls
- Fall prevention - Vitamin D is one of the ways - umbrella review Jan 2024
- Deaths due to falls doubled in just a decade (age-adjusted, perhaps decreased vitamin D) – June 2019
- Preventing Falls in Older Adults – Vitamin D combination is the best - JAMA Meta-analysis Nov 2017
- Falls cut in half by 100,000 IU vitamin D monthly - RCT 2016
- Falls reduced by a third if achieved 40 ng level vitamin D– RCT Sept 2018
- Note: It took 6 months to get to that level. Most trials last only 3 months
- Vitamin D prevents falls – majority of meta-analyses conclude – meta-meta analysis Feb 2015
- Falls reduced by Vitamin D: 13 percent reduction if more than 700 IU – review of 38 trials – Aug 2022
Fracture
- Hip fractures are predicted by 10 factors – low Vitamin D is the biggest – Aug 2023
- Vitamin D and fractures – 24 meta-analyses and counting – Dec 2014
- Low trauma bone fractures in seniors – considering Vitamin D loading dose for all, without testing – Nov 2019
- Vitamin K (any amount and any kind) reduced bone fractures by 24 percent – meta-analysis – May 2019
- 75+ Hip fracture items in Vitamin D Life title Click here for details
Kidney
Overview Kidney and vitamin D contains the following summary
- FACT: The Kidneys are not the primary way to activate vitamin D; the tissues are
- FACT: When the Kidney has problems, there is less active vitamin D (Calcitriol) for the body
- FACT: When the Kidney has problems, there is increased death due to many factors - many of which are associated with lack of Calcitriol
- FACT: There are many ongoing intervention clinical trials trying to determine how much of what kind of vitamin D is needed to treat the problem
- FACT: One Randomized Controlled Trial has proven that Vitamin D treats CKD
- FACT: 38% of seniors have Chronic Kidney Disease and most are unaware of it CDC statistics 2020
- FACT: Taking extra Vitamin D, in various forms, does not cause health problems - even if poor kidney
- Suggestion: Increase vitamin D getting into body now - and increase co-factors so that the vitamin D can be better used
Sun, UV lamp, Vitamin D supplement - probably > 5,000 IU,
Nanoemulstion vitamin D (inside cheek, topically) gets activated Vitamin D to the cells without the need for healthy kidney, liver, or intestine
Calcitriol - which bypasses the need for the kidney to activate vitamin D
Problems with Calcitriol however: typically only lasts for a few hours, also, possible complications
Update: Pre-cursor of active vitamin D made from plants is better than calcitriol – Sept 2012 - Category Kidney and Vitamin D contains
225 items Obesity
Overview Obesity and Vitamin D contains the following summary
- FACT: People who are obese have less vitamin D in their blood
- FACT: Obese need a higher dose of vitamin D to get to the same level of vit D
- FACT: When obese people lose weight the vitamin D level in their blood increases
- FACT: Adding Calcium, perhaps in the form of fortified milk, often reduces weight
- FACT: 168 trials for vitamin D intervention of obesity as of Dec 2021
- FACT: Less weight gain by senior women with > 30 ng of vitamin D
- FACT: Dieters lost additional 5 lbs if vitamin D supplementation got them above 32 ng - RCT
- FACT: Obese lost 3X more weight by adding $10 of Vitamin D
- FACT: Those with darker skins were more likely to be obese Sept 2014
- OBSERVATION: Low Vitamin D while pregnancy ==> more obese child and adult
- OBSERVATION: Many mammals had evolved to add fat and vitamin D in the autumn
- and lose both in the Spring - unfortunately humans have forgotten to lose the fat in the Spring
- SPECULATION: Low vitamin D might be one of the causes of obesity – several studies
- SUGGESTION: Probably need more than 4,000 IU to lose weight if very low on vitamin D due to
risk factors such as overweight, age, dark skin, live far from equator,shut-in, etc. - Obesity category has
428 items See also: Weight loss and Vitamin D - many studies Child Obesity and Vitamin D - many studies Obese need more Vitamin D
- Normal weight Obese (50 ng = 125 nanomole)
Osteoporosis
Overview Osteoporosis and vitamin D contains the following summary
- FACT: Bones need Calcium (this has been known for a very long time)
- FACT: Vitamin D improves Calcium bioavailability (3X ?)
- FACT: Should not take > 750 mg of Calcium if taking lots of vitamin D (Calcium becomes too bio-available)
- FACT: Adding vitamin D via Sun, UV, or supplements increased vitamin D in the blood
- FACT: Vitamin D supplements are very low cost
- FACT: Many trials, studies. reviews, and meta-analysis agree: adding vitamin D reduces osteoporosis
- FACT: Toxic level of vitamin D is about 4X higher than the amount needed to reduce osteoporosis
- FACT: Co-factors help build bones.
- FACT: Vitamin D Receptor can restrict Vitamin D from getting to many tissues, such as bones
- It appears that to TREAT Osteoporosis:
- Calcium OR vitamin D is ok
- Calcium + vitamin D is good
- Calcium + vitamin D + other co-factors is great
- Low-cost Vitamin D Receptor activators sometimes may be helpful
- CONCLUSION: To PREVENT many diseases, including Osteoporosis, as well as TREAT Osteoporosis
- Category Osteoporosis has
215 items - Category Bone Health has
307 items Note: Osteoporosis causes bones to become fragile and prone to fracture
Osteoarthritis is a disease where damage occurs to the joints at the end of the bones
Osteoporosis category includes the following215 items in category - see also Overview Osteoporosis and vitamin D - Overview Fractures and vitamin D
- Bone - Health
307 items - Vitamin D Life pages with BONE MINERAL DENSITY or BMD in title 29+ pages
- Search Vitamin D Life for OSTEOPENIA 1740 items as of July 2020
13 articles are in both Osteroporosis and Vitamin D Receptor categories 9 articles are in both Osteroporosis and Meta-analysis categories - 20X increase in vitamin D sold and 36 percent decrease in osteoporosis business in Australia – Nov 2013
Pain
Pain - chronic category has the following
159 items in category Chronic pain See also
- Overview Pain and Vitamin D
- Percentage of people with pain increased 25 percent in 18 years – Jan 2019
- Pain not reduced by 60,000 IU monthly vitamin D (need 50,000 IU weekly) – RCT Aug 2023
- Overview Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue and vitamin D
- Overview Rheumatoid Arthritis and vitamin D
- Shingles and vitamin D
- Shin splints decrease with vitamin D
- Migraine and Vitamin D
- Headache category
79 items - "musculoskeletal pain" 490 items as of Aug 2023
- "chronic fatigue" 185 items as of Jan 2017
- Category Back Pain
42 items - 7 pain studies in Vitamin D Life with KNEE in the title as of Aug 2023 (see below)
- Opioid OR Opiate OR Morphine in the title 10 pages as of June 2021
Parkinson’s
Overview Parkinson's and Vitamin D contains the following summary
- Vitamin D associated with Parkinson’s Disease in 55 studies, more studies needed- March 2022
- Parkinson's category has
112 studies - Parkinson’s Disease and Vitamin D – review of 52 studies – May 2022
- Parkinson patients: 60 % taking Vitamin D – Dec 2019
- Low Vitamin D increases Parkinson's by 3X– July 2010 "only" a 30 year test, need more study
- Parkinson's disease prevented by Vitamin D, but small doses do not treat it - Aug 2023
- 10 clinical trials for PD with vitamin D intervention as of June 2023
- Parkinson’s Disease Summer School – alternative therapies included 60-80 ng of Vitamin D – Sept 2019
- Associated with PD are: Meta-analyses (
12 ), Cognition ( 22 studies), Multiple Sclerosis ( 17 studies), VIRUS ( 4 studies), Omega-3 ( 3 studies), Vitamin D Receptor ( 11 studies) - Note by the Founder of Vitamin D Life: I have twice recommended lots of Vitamin D to treat PD. Both got much better, but one had his doctor him cut back to just 2,000 IU. All of his recovery got reversed. With lots of vitamin D he could sing and bike, but now he can barely talk or walk
Schizophrenia
Overview Schizophrenia and Vitamin D contains the following summary
14 reasons to think that schizophrenia is associated with low vitamin D
1) 97% of patients with schizophrenia are vitamin D deficient
2) Schizophrenia varies with latitude (UVB) by 10X (controversy)
3) Schizophrenia is more common in those with dark skin (when away from the equator)
4) Schizophrenia is associated with low natal vitamin D
5) Schizophrenia has been increasing around the world when vitamin D has been decreasing (controversy)
6) Schizophrenia is associated with low birth rate, which is associated with low vitamin D
7) Schizophrenia is associated with Autism which is associated with low vitamin D
8) Schizophrenia Bulletin Editorial (Jan 2014) speculated that Vitamin D could be a major player
9) Schizophrenia 2X more likely if low vitamin D - meta-analysis
10) Schizophrenia increased 40 % for Spring births after Danes stopped vitamin D fortification
11) Schizophrenia is associated with season of birth
12) Schizophrenia is associated with poor Vitamin D Receptor genes
13) Schizophrenia risk is decreased if give Vitamin D after birth
14) Schizophrenia symptoms reduced when Vitamin D levels are restoredSports
Overview Sports and vitamin D has the following summary
Athletes are helped by vitamin D by:- Faster reaction time
- Far fewer colds/flus during the winter
- Less sore/tired after a workout
- Fewer micro-cracks and broken bones
- Bones which do break heal much more quickly
- Increased VO2 and exercise endurance Feb 2011
- Indoor athletes especially need vitamin D
- Professional indoor athletes are starting to take vitamin D and/or use UV beds
- Olympic athletes have used UV/vitamin D since the 1930's
- The biggest gain from the use of vitamin D is by those who exercise less than 2 hours per day.
- Reduced muscle fatigue with 10,000 IU vitamin D daily
- Muscle strength improved when vitamin D added: 3 Meta-analysis
- Reduced Concussions
See also: Sports and Vitamin D category273 items Groups typically needing more Vitamin D
Seniors need more vitamin D - 10 reasons
- Senior skin produces 4X less Vitamin D for the same sun intensity
- Seniors have fewer vitamin D receptor genes as they age
Receptors are needed to get Vitamin D in blood actually into the cells - Many other Vitamin D genes decrease with age
- Since many gene activations are not detected by a blood test,
more Vitamin D is often needed, especially by seniors - Seniors are indoors more than when they were younger
not as agile, weaker muscles; frail, no longer enjoy hot temperatures - Seniors wear more clothing outdoors than when younger
Seniors also are told to fear skin cancer & wrinkles - Seniors often take various drugs which end up reducing vitamin D
Some reductions are not detected by a vitamin D test of the blood
statins, chemotherapy, anti-depressants, blood pressure, beta-blockers, etc - Seniors often have one or more diseases that consume vitamin D
osteoporosis, diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, ... - Seniors generally put on weight as they age - and a heavier body requires more vitamin D
- Seniors often (40%) have fatty livers – which do not process vitamin D as well
- Reduced stomach acid means less Magnesium is available to get vitamin D into the cells
- Vitamin D is not as bioavailable in senior intestines
- Seniors with poorly functioning kidneys do not process vitamin D as well
Seniors category has427 items Infants-Child
Infant-Child category starts with
- No consensus on MINIMUM International Units (IU) for healthy infant of normal weight
- 400 IU Vitamin D is no longer enough
Was OK in the past century, but D levels have been dropping for a great many reasons.
FDA doubles the amount of vitamin D permitted in milk – July 2016 - No consensus: range is 600 to 1600 IU – based on many randomized controlled trials
- Review of 400 IU to 2000 IU daily and higher if non-daily
- Fewer pre-infants were vitamin D deficient when they got 800 IU – RCT Feb 2014
- 1600 IU was the conclusion of three JAMA studies
1000 IU recommended in France and Finland – 2013 - appears to be a good level - 5X less mite allergy after add vitamin D
- Child bone fractures with low vitamin D were 55X more likely to need surgery
- 75 % of SIDS had low vitamin D
- Children stayed in ICU 3.5 days longer if low vitamin D – Dec 2015
- 5 out of 6 children who died in pediatric critical care unit had low vitamin D – May 2014
- Infants have gotten free 400 IU of vitamin D in Turkey since 2005, More for longer would be even better – Feb 2022
- Preemies should have vitamin D supplements – reaching an agreement – April 2021
- Vitamin D loading dose was as effective as daily dosing (rickets in this case) – RCT July 2021
Having a good level of vitamin D cuts in half the amount of:
- Asthma, Chronic illness, Doctor visits, Allergies, infection
Respiratory Tract Infection, Growing pains, Bed wetting
Need even more IUs of vitamin D to get a good level if;
- Have little vitamin D: premie, twin, mother did not get much sun access
- Get little vitamin D: dark skin, little access to sun
- Vitamin D is consumed faster than normal due to sickness
- Older (need at least 100 IU/kilogram, far more if obese)
- Not get any vitamin D from formula (breast fed) or (fortified) milk
Note – formula does not even provide 400 IU of vitamin D daily
Infants-Children need Vitamin D
- Sun is great – well known for 1,000’s of years.
US govt (1934) even said infants should be out in the sun - One country recommended 2,000 IU daily for decades – with no known problems
- As with adults, infants and children can have loading doses and rarely need tests
- Daily dose appears to be best, but monthly seems OK
- Vitamin D is typically given to infants in the form of drops
big difference in taste between brands
can also use water-soluable form of vitamin D in milk, food, juice, - Infants have evolved to get a big boost of vitamin D immediately after birth
Colostrum has 3X more vitamin D than breast milk - provided the mother has any vitamin D to spare - 100 IU per kg of infant July 2011, Poland etc.
More than 100 IU/kg is probably better 823 items in the category Infant/Child See also - 34 pages in Vitamin D Life had BREASTFE*in title as of Jan 2022
- "BIRTH DEFECTS" 172 items as of July 2016
- Stunting OR “low birth weight” OR LBW OR preemie OR preemies OR preterm 1940 items as of Oct 2018
- 96 Vitamin D Life pages contained PRETERM or PREEMIE in title as of Aug 2021
- "SUDDEN INFANT DEATH" OR SIDS 214 items as of Dec 2020
- Overview of Rickets and Vitamin D
- Youth category listing has
174 items along with related searches - Down syndrome and low vitamin D - several studies
- Rett syndrome associated with low vitamin D, treated by Omega-3
Pregnant
Overview Pregnancy and vitamin D
Pregnancy category starts with886 items in Pregnancy category - see also
- Overview Pregnancy and vitamin D
- Number of articles in both categories of Pregnancy and:Dark Skin
28 ; Depression 21 ; Diabetes 44 ; Obesity 15 ; Hypertension 44 ; Breathing 35 ; Omega-3 40 ; Vitamin D Receptor 24 Click here for details - All items in category Infant/Child
823 items - Pregnancy needs at least 40 ng of vitamin D, achieved by at least 4,000 IU – Hollis Aug 2017
- 38+ papers with Breastfed etc, in the title
- Call to action – more Vitamin D for pregnancies, loading doses are OK – Holick Aug 2019
- 53+ preeclampsia studies
- 94+ studies with PRETERM in the title
- Fertility problem (PCOS) reduced by vitamin D: many studies 15+
- 94+ Gestational Diabetes
- Caesarean birth much more likely if low Vitamin D - many studies 15+ studies
- Post-partum depression and low Vitamin D - many studies 15+ studies
- Stillbirth reduced by Vitamin D, Zinc, Omega-3 - several studies 5+ studies
- Search Vitamin D Life for "Assisted reproduction" 33 items as of Aug 2022
- Fertility and Sperm category listing has
134 items along with related searches - (Stunting OR “low birth weight” OR LBW) 1180 items as of June 2020
- Less labor pain if higher level of vitamin D – August 2021
- Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D
- Ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby - take Vitamin D before conception
ProblemVit. D
ReducesEvidence 0. Chance of not conceiving 3.4 times Observe 1. Miscarriage 2.5 times Observe 2. Pre-eclampsia 3.6 times RCT 3. Gestational Diabetes 3 times RCT 4. Good 2nd trimester sleep quality 3.5 times Observe 5. Premature birth 2 times RCT 6. C-section - unplanned 1.6 times Observe Stillbirth - OMEGA-3 4 times RCT - Omega-3 7. Depression AFTER pregnancy 1.4 times RCT 8. Small for Gestational Age 1.6 times meta-analysis 9. Infant height, weight, head size
within normal limitsRCT 10. Childhood Wheezing 1.3 times RCT 11. Additional child is Autistic 4 times Intervention 12.Young adult Multiple Sclerosis 1.9 times Observe 13. Preeclampsia in young adult 3.5 times RCT 14. Good motor skills @ age 3 1.4 times Observe 15. Childhood Mite allergy 5 times RCT 16. Childhood Respiratory Tract visits 2.5 times RCT RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial
CLICK HERE to see entire pageDarker Skin
- Overview Dark Skin and Vitamin D
- Dark skin pregnancies and Vitamin D - many studies
- Vitamin D deficiency diseases in dark skinned people living far from equator – Meta-analysis Oct 2013
- Forearm fracture 3.5X more often in black children with low levels of vitamin D – Sept 2012
- Extra 4,000 IU daily raised the vitamin D levels of blacks to that of whites – July 2012
- Increased risk of multiple sclerosis risk in African Americans due to genes – June 2013
- Differences in black and non-black mortality and vitamin D – Oct 2012
- Diabetes (Type 1) 14X more likely in dark skin children with low levels of vitamin D – May 2015
Other High Risk Groups
High Risk of little Vitamin D category listing has64 items and has: - 40 percent lower vitamin D level if work other shifts (Italy) – June 2015
- Burka clothing reduces vitamin D levels, which causes pregnancy problems – Oct 2015
- The only supplement NASA gives crews is vitamin D - Sept 2015
- People with health problems lacking noon sun (severe Multiple Sclerosis, etc.) have even lower levels of vitamin D – March 2015
- Intellectually disabled 2X more likely to have low vitamin D (shut-in) – Sept 2014
- 4.7X less likely to feed self in nursing home if vitamin D deficient – Oct 2013
Vitamin D supplementation
Amount of vitamin D needed vs:
More vitamin D needed -nutshell category has the following
AgeLatitudeSeasonObesitySkin colorAvoid SunSupplementation from Zika book (July 20, 2016)
Vitamin D Recommendations: based on hundreds of successful Vitamin D studies (with/without pregnancy)
- 4,000 IU daily average minimum amount of Vitamin D
Similar dosing is 50,000 IU bi-weekly (Daily is probably slightly better)
It is 1/3 the cost and easier to remember than daily dosing.
Note: Taking vitamin D also increases chance of pregnancy - More is needed if likely to have very low levels of vitamin D:
6,000 IU daily average if:- having twins or had a recent birth,
- health problems associated with low vitamin D
- indoors a lot or avoid the sun
- dark skin
10,000 IU (50,000 IU every 5th day) if:- Obese
- Normal weight Obese (50 ng = 125 nanomole)
Click here for 2014 obesity study
- if diseases run in the family
- May want to restore levels as quickly as possible with 350,000 IU loading dose
during pregnancy, especially if there is the threat of Zika
this gets a strong immune system quickly, not with months of delay using a daily maintenance dose- 50,000 IU daily for 1 week if not pregnant
- 50,000 IU every second day for 2 weeks if pregnant
- Start ASAP during pregnancy (even before) so as to both avoid Zika and have healthy pregnancy and infant
- Should use a vitamin D which has no known adverse affects
No additives, no oils (30% of oil-based Vit D which restrict vitamin D adsorption) - Most people (80%?) can take regular vitamin D capsules
Options if:- Not want to take pills – use liquid Vitamin D or pour vitamin D powder from capsule into food/drink
- Poor gut – several “gut friend” forms are available
- Vegan – several forms of Vitamin D3 are made from plants such as lichen
- Halal, Kosher, etc.
- Magnesium Cofactor 100+ miligrams of element daily – tell why especially during pregnancy
- Increases the benefits of vitamin D
- Decreases chance of allergic-type reaction to Vitamin D (from ~ 3 in 1000 to 1 in 1000)
- Omega-3 Cofactor
- Vitamin K2 cofactor
- Test for Vitamin D is nice but very expensive ($60) and not really essential
- Take vitamin D just after evening meal
- about~30% more benefit with evening meal, but most anytime is OK
- Just concerned about average vitamin D during a 2 week time period
4,000 IU taken daily is virtually identical to 50,000 IU once every two weeks
OK to have missed your dose for a few days - just take nissed once all at once.
How often should I take 50,000 IU
How often should I take 50000 IU (1.25 mg) of vitamin D
10 minutes of sun not enough
No – 10 minutes per day of sun-UVB is NOT enough
Loading Dose - to get the benefit as soon as possible
Overview Loading of vitamin D contains the following
Loading dose:200 studies at Vitamin D Life Vitamin D loading dose (stoss therapy) proven to improve health overview
If a person is or is suspected to be, very vitamin D deficient a loading dose should be given- Loading = restore = quick replacement by 1 or more doses
- Loading doses range in total size from 100,000 IU to 1,000,000 IU of Vitamin D3
- = 2.5 to 25 milligrams
- The size of the loading dose is a function of body weight - see below
- Unfortunately, some doctors persist in using Vitamin D2 instead of D3
- Loading may be done as quickly as a single day (Stoss), to as slowly as 3 months.
- It appears that spreading the loading dose over 4+ days is slightly better if speed is not essential
- Loading is typically oral, but can be Injection (I.M,) and Topical
- Loading dose is ~3X faster if done topically or swished inside of the mouth
- Skips the slow process of stomach and intestine, and might even skip liver and Kidney as well
- The loading dose persists in the body for 1 - 3 months
- The loading dose should be followed up with on-going maintenance dosing
- Unfortunately, many doctors fail to follow-up with the maintenance dosing.
- About 1 in 300 people have some form of a mild allergic reaction to vitamin D supplements, including loading doses
- it appears prudent to test with a small amount of vitamin D before giving a loading dose
- The causes of a mild allergic reaction appear to be: (in order of occurrence)
- 1) lack of magnesium - which can be easily added
- 2) allergy to capsule contents - oil, additives (powder does not appear to cause any reaction)
- 3) allergy to the tiny amount of D3 itself (allergy to wool) ( alternate: D3 made from plants )
- 4) allergy of the gut to Vitamin D - alternative = topical
Toxicity is rare
Overview Toxicity of vitamin D
Free Vitamin D evaluation service
Free Vitamin D evaluation service had the following questions
Positive answers indicates a possible vitamin D deficiency- At night, I ...... have a cold feeling ... have legs that hurt ... have a restless sleep ... wake up suddenly
- During the day, I am...... listless ... tired ... lethargic ... uninspired
- I feel cramps or twitches...... in the leg ... in the arm ... in the hand ... in the eyelid
- I get dizzy...... when I stand up ... when I exert an effort ... around noon ... when that happens, I need to lie down
- I feel sick...... when I stand up ... when I exert an effort ... around noon ... when that happens, I need to lie down
- My head hurts or I feel pressure in my head...... when I stand up ... when I exert an effort ... around noon ... when that happens, I need to lie down
- If I stand or work for an extended period of time, it hurts...... in my neck ... in my lower back ... in the groin ... in the feet
- The Sun at noon causes...... circulatory problems ... headaches ... an itching skin ... red spots
- I repeatedly have...... cold hands ... cold feet ... cold legs ... white fingertips
- My fingernails have… number of white spots
Cofactors are important if you take a lot of vitamin D for a long time
Vitamin D Cofactors in a nutshell
!!!!Cofactors need to be adjusted when taking a lot of vitamin D for more than a month
"A lot" is more than 4,000 IU Vitamin D daily (average)
There is virtually no agreement as how much of each cofactor is needed vs vitamin D level
The first three cofactors have, like vitamin D, greatly decreased in the human diet in the past 50 years
The goal is to restore Vitamin D, Magnesium, Omega-3, and Vitamin K back to where they had been
in a nutshell = summed up = condensedSupplements categories in Vitamin D Life include
Supplement # of
studiesIncrease D
to tissueHow
OftenMagnesium 349
Many people need Mg
Vit D consumes Mg
Muscle pain, Afib30% Several
times
a dayVitamin K 152 Hard bones, soft arteries 115% 2 day Omega-3 394
Synergistic with Vit D
Independent of Vit D30? % 2 day Calcium 220
Reduce or add Vit K 2 day Zinc 88 immunity 20 ?% if poor VDR 7 day Boron 37 plants and animals need B +20% 7 day Resveratrol 47 antioxidant >100% if poor VDR Daily Also Vitamin C 54 Iodine 30
Iron 68
Vitamin B12 57
Selenium 25 Folate 31 Magnesium
- About 1 in 300 people have a poor reaction to increasing Vitamin D
but the Vitamin D reaction (muscle pain) is almost always due to lack of Magnesium - Magnesium increases the benefits of vitamin D by about 30% (Mg and Vit. D are synergistic)
- Magnesium provides a great many health benefits independent of Vitamin D
- Magnesium is used in 8 stages of Vitamin D metabolism
- 100 milligrams of Magnesium supplement (say from Magnesium Chloride) may be enough, even with high levels of Vitamin D
Some people (not a consensus) believe that only 100 mg of Mg can be taken up by the gut at a time
Some people get 300+ mg of Magnesium daily from greens
If possible, take your Magnesium several times during the day - not just once- Vitamin D appears to consume Magnesium
- People with > 100 ng of Vitamin D (and do not consume Mg) are 2.5X more likely to have A-fib
- Constipation due to low Magnesium after greatly increasing Vitamin D level (personal experience of the founder of Vitamin D Life)
- Overview Magnesium Magnesium category has
349 items Omega-3
- Omega-3 increases active vitamin D - especially in people with poorly functioning livers or kidneys
- Need >1 gram of Omega-3. Note: different brands have widely different bio-availability
- Need to take with a fatty meal unless you use an emulsified form
- Overview Omega-3 Omega-3 category has
394 items Vitamin K2
- K2 Keeps Calcium in bones and out of arteries
- Calcification due to K2 deficiency may be a reason for increased mortality for some diseases for high vitamin D
- Probably need 100 micrograms per 2,000 IU of vitamin D (i.e. 500 micrograms for 10,000 IU of Vit D)
- Perhaps Vitamin D consumes Vitamin K, so need more of it
- Vitamin D decreases the uptake of Vitamin K1 by 50%
- Perhaps should not take K2 concurrently with Vitamin D.
- Overview Vitamin K2 Vitamin K category has
152 items Calcium
- Too much Calcium is associated with cardiovascular problems years later, not stronger bones
- Should have less than 750 milligrams of Calcium supplementation
- Drinking a lot of water helps flush any excess Calcium from the Kidneys
- VegiCalcium appears to be better than rock Calcium, and only costs 10 cents a capsule
- Overview Calcium Calcium category has
220 items Boron - good, but not as essential
- Boron increases Vitamin D and Magnesium in the body by ~ 20%
- Most people Boron deficient now that commercial fertilizers are used
- Should have an average of 3 -10 milligrams of Boron daily
- Founder of Vitamin D Life takes a 30mg Boron capsule once every 4 days
- Boron category has
37 items Zinc - good, but not as essential
- Extra Zinc does not appear to increase D in the blood. but may increase D in the tissue
- Zinc is, however, essential to make Vitamin D Receptors and utilize Omega-3
- Low zinc is associated with many autoimmune diseases,infections, colds, etc
- Zinc, like Boron, is extremely low-cost and safe
- Zinc category has
88 items Unfortunately, cofactors as pills are costly and typically need to be taken daily
- The cost of cofactors is 10X to 100X more than vitamin D when taken as pills
- Many of the cofactors need be taken daily (vs Vitamin D can be taken weekly or bi-weekly)
Perspective of the importance of Vit D and co-factors to health
See also Vitamin D Life
- Need to adjust cofactors if take 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly – Nov 2013
- How you might double your response to vitamin D
- primarily by increasing Magnesium, Boron, Vitamin K, Omega-3
- 20 reasons for not taking Vitamin D debunked
- Too much Vitamin D long-term problems if take too much vitamin D without balancing cofactors
- Low cost cofactors for vitamin D - includes a listing of what the founder of Vitamin D Life actually takes
- Supplements category listing has
104 items - Includes morality problems with >400 IU of Vitamin E
- Immune system is better fortified by nano forms of Vitamin D, Vit C, Vit B12, Omega-3, resveratrol, etc - March 2021
- many of the vitamin D cofactors are available in nanoforms
- Dr. Ames triage theory - Vit D, Mg, etc. immediate needs reduce their use for long-term needs such as DNA repair
- Vitamin D Receptor is one of the genes which can block vitamin D from getting to the cells
- The standard Vitamin D test cannot detect a poor Vitamin D Receptor
- Adding more Vit D, Mg, Omega-3, Boron, Resveratrol, Zinc, etc. increases Vit D getting into the cells
See also - Excellent reviews of supplements at ConsumerLab
short URL = is.gd/Dplus
Genes can restrict Vitamin D from getting to the cells
Even if vitamin D levels are OD (e.g. > 40 nanogram)
Genetics category listing contains the following332 articles in the Genetics category see also
- Vitamin D Receptor has
512 items - Vitamin D Binding Protein = GC has
176 items - CYP27B1 has
60 items - CYP24A1 in title of 34+ items
- CYP2R1 25+ items
- Calcidiol has
46 items - Calcitriol has
56 items - Topical Vitamin D
- Nanoemulsion Vitamin D may be a substantially better form
- 1289 genes changed with higher doses of Vitamin D - RCT Dec 2019
- CYP3A4 (7 as of Dec 2022)
- Getting Vitamin D into your body
Vitamin D blood test misses a lot
- Vitamin D from coming from tissues (vs blood) was speculated to be 50% in 2014, and by 2017 was speculated to be 90%
- Note: Good blood test results (> 40 ng) does not mean that a good amount of Vitamin D actually gets to cells
- A Vitamin D test in cells rather than blood was feasible (2017 personal communication) Commercially available 2019
- However, test results would vary in each tissue due to multiple genes
- Good clues that Vitamin D is being restricted from getting to the cells
1) A vitamin D-related health problem runs in the family
especially if it is one of 51+ diseases related to Vitamin D Receptor
+2) Slightly increasing Vitamin D shows benefits (even if conventional Vitamin D test shows an increase)+3) DNA and VDR tests - 120 to 200 dollars $100 to $250+4) PTH bottoms out ( shows that parathyroid cells are getting Vitamin d)Genes are good, have enough Magnesium, etc.
+4) Back Painprobably want at least 2 clues before taking adding vitamin D, Omega-3, Magnesium, Resveratrol, etc
- The founder of Vitamin D Life took action with clues #3&4
Additional Vitamin D information
from Increased visibility for Vitamin D Life pages
There have actually beenPlugin execution pending approval
This plugin was recently added or modified. Until an editor of the site validates the parameters, execution will not be possible.
Shorturl = http://is.gd/VitDisgd (Vitamin D Is Good)
Overview of Vitamin D Life11270 visitors, last modified 04 Sep, 2022, This page is in the following categories (# of items in each category) - Vitamin D Binding Protein = GC has
- All items in category Infant/Child
- Category Bone Health has
- Appears that having lots of Vitamin D will reduce by 3 X the chance of Breast Cancer
- Many health problems associated with low vitamin D