What vitamin D & your gut reveal about your health
https://www.vitamindservice.de/VitaminDBox-Video}YouTube German
Dr. Raimund von Helden is probably the doctor who is most enthusiastically advancing the topic of vitamin D in Germany (0:05). Raimund, we've had the pleasure of interviewing you twice already. The first interview we conducted has now received almost 200,000 views. We'll link it at the end (0:10). Today, however, we're talking about something new that you and your team have developed. It's about vitamin D deficiency symptoms – and much more (0:16). Would you like to introduce us to what great things you've come up with? (0:21)
Yes, everything I produce and publish stems from my practical experience since 2006 – almost two decades in which I've been issuing vitamin D prescriptions every day without ever encountering any problems (0:36). In fact, I was the first to discover that vitamin D deficiency also causes acute symptoms – acute vitamin D deficiency syndrome. I wrote a book about it – the first of its kind – and now there are over 300 books on Amazon that deal with therapeutic approaches to vitamin D. This is basically my "child" (1:02).
I not only described this success, but also scientifically systematized it. I developed the entire mathematics of vitamin D: that is, I calculated exactly how much you need to get from an initial value to a target value – without any trial and error or constant remeasurement (1:23). Unlike medications for high blood pressure or diabetes, where you titrate up slowly, with vitamin D you can immediately tell: This amount is necessary (1:35). From this, I developed and continuously perfected the world's first vitamin D calculator – probably the only one that calculates truly well. All other calculators are often just poor copies (1:59).
Then came the idea of modeling vitamin D levels over the course of a year. Vitamin D is unique in medicine: We can simulate levels over the course of a year – something that is otherwise almost impossible with medications (2:18). Medications are prescribed in large quantities, but the effective levels are often unknown. With vitamin D, however, we can model them – using a specially developed simulator (2:33).
Many patients come to me with a variety of symptoms. After thousands of encounters annually – probably over 20,000 in my practice alone – I have learned to recognize patterns (3:23). At the end of a conversation, many say: "Now I'm confused, so many symptoms, so many possible causes." Out of this uncertainty, I developed a tool that provides orientation – a kind of puzzle that can be put together at the push of a button (3:49).
Because it was originally created in a tin box with magnets, I created the domain "vitamindbox.de." It's publicly accessible – no registration required (4:08). Anyone who visits the site can recognize typical symptoms in everyday language: nighttime leg pain, exhaustion, poor sleep, pain when walking, susceptibility to infection, osteoporosis, constipation, food intolerances such as those to salami or fish – you can check all of these (4:48). By clicking on "Sort now," the entries are sorted into an overall picture (5:13).
My approach differs greatly from university medicine, which often deals with very specific diseases. I take a bird's eye view of the big picture – I call it satellite science (5:33). This allows me to paint a comprehensive picture (5:59). For example, we see a yellow column – that's the vitamin D deficiency syndrome, to which my book also owes its success (6:05). Often, 80% of symptoms can be attributed to these factors. Using the small black info buttons, you can find out more about each topic (6:20).
For example, with the term "adynamia" – lack of motivation – you can click through the website, read testimonials, or explore connections with vitamin D (6:59).
In addition to vitamin D syndrome, there is another important field: zonulin syndrome (7:40). Many people know this as "leaky gut syndrome." Zonulin is a laboratory value that indicates the permeability of the intestinal barrier – a hard scientific value that, like vitamin D, is measurable and interpretable (7:59). It was discovered in 2000 by Harvard professor Alessio Fasano. The zonulin measurement costs around 30 euros and can also be performed in German laboratories (8:25).
Many symptoms are listed at the top of the page. Not all of them can be attributed to a vitamin D deficiency – some belong to zonulin syndrome. This separation – this sorting – is a task for experts (8:47).
And so I've created three main categories in the vitamin D box:
- the yellow zone (vitamin D deficiency),
- the green zone (zonulin syndrome), and the
- red zone, which lies in between – the classic diseases of civilization (10:11).
These red areas lie at the intersection of both causal fields. Here we find diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, and many others (10:18). And again, there are information options for each entry (10:31).
Patients who have visited many specialized clinics and specialists are often perplexed: "What did I do wrong? Why did I get sick?" And I then say: The causes lie in a chronic vitamin D deficiency (which is often ignored) and a disturbed intestine – zonulin syndrome (11:01).
Vitamin D is the connection to the outside world – to the sun. Many people avoid sunlight, sit in basements, or suffer from sun allergies (11:22). The intestine, on the other hand, is our microcosm – billions of bacteria work there for us. But when the intestine is damaged by poor diet, stress, medication, or infections, permeability develops, which promotes inflammation, allergies, and autoimmune diseases (11:40).
I have developed a product for zonulin syndrome: the yellow powder Nana 10. It is based on natural substances and has been proven to lower zonulin levels (12:40). So we have a measurable problem, a therapeutic agent, and visible successes – for example, in conditions like lipedema (13:05).
There is also a fourth column – the black field. This is where food intolerances are listed – such as those to fish, alcohol, blue cheese, or tomatoes. These are also indications of a zonulin problem (15:07).
Nana 10 is an open-source product. I've made it available to the public – without patents, without exclusive rights. Any manufacturer can replicate it (16:02). This promotes competition, lowers prices, and enables broad availability (16:22).
Just as I began raising public awareness of vitamin D levels 20 years ago, I now want to establish zonulin as an important blood or stool test (17:03). Then, as now, I conducted research from a practical perspective – not in an ivory tower, but with people's real problems (17:21).
With vitamin D, I've seen that a level of 60–100 ng/ml is optimal.
Even with levels up to 250, there were no problems that weren't reversible (21:22).
With zonulin, we're now seeing a similar trend: levels above 100 should be treated, levels below 50 are considered normal (23:15).
Those who regularly take Nana 10 can slowly decrease their blood sugar levels from high values like 400 to healthy levels below 50 month after month (23:02). I also take it myself as a precaution – because of its ingredients like magnesium citrate, vitamin C, inulin, and silicon – all in sensible doses of 1 g per substance (23:52).
Unlike overpriced supplements with tiny amounts and cryptic recipes, I deliberately designed Nana 10 so that anyone can replicate it themselves – with ten known substances, each containing 1 g (24:12).
Anyone who wants to know if they are affected can have their stool zonulin measured – because that's exactly where zonulin activity takes place. The zonulin key is like the front door key you throw to your son from the window: It opens the door. But if hundreds of these keys are constantly lying around, the door is too wide open (29:03). Then unwanted substances come into the house – into our bodies – and cause harm (30:21).
So instead of spending thousands of euros analyzing the gut microbiome in detail, a simple zonulin value is often sufficient – as a causal and therapeutic key (31:15).
I want to move away from expensive, patent-focused medicine and toward genuine preventative healthcare. Many chronic diseases such as allergies, autoimmune diseases, or cancer are linked to vitamin D and zonulin. It's time we recognize these connections and act – not with band-aids, but with cause and effect (32:53).
Key Points in 5–10 Bullet Points from Chat-GPT
- Acute Vitamin D Deficiency Identified as a Syndrome (00:50–01:24)
Dr. von Helden was one of the first to recognize that acute Vitamin D deficiency can cause immediately noticeable symptoms. He developed a Vitamin D calculator to precisely determine dosages and avoid trial-and-error. - Development of the Vitamin D Simulator and the "Vitamin D Box" (02:11–05:28)
He created a tool called the Vitamin D Box, an online interface where users can select their symptoms. The tool sorts these symptoms and shows whether they're likely related to Vitamin D deficiency or something else like Zonulin Syndrome. - Holistic Approach vs. Over-Specialized Medicine (05:53–06:21)
Instead of focusing on rare diseases requiring expensive drugs, von Helden takes a bird’s-eye (satellite) view to identify broad root causes of common illnesses. - Zonulin Syndrome: Gut Dysfunction as the Second Main Cause of Disease (07:32–10:18)
In addition to Vitamin D deficiency, Zonulin Syndrome (aka “leaky gut”) is identified as another major contributor to chronic illness. Zonulin is a measurable marker that indicates gut permeability. - Chronic Diseases Lie at the Intersection of These Two Deficiencies (10:18–11:25)
Diseases like autoimmune conditions, cancer, osteoporosis, and others often result from the combination of low Vitamin D and compromised gut barrier. - Treatment: Optimize Vitamin D & Lower Zonulin (12:27–14:35)
Target lab values:- Vitamin D: 60–100 ng/mL
- Zonulin: under 50 ng/mL
He recommends his natural, open-source powder formula “Nana10” to reduce Zonulin levels effectively.
- Vitamin D Is Safe Even at Higher Levels (21:11–23:07)
Dr. von Helden reports that even levels of 150–250 ng/mL in his patients caused no harm, countering common toxicity fears. Side effects, if any, were reversible. - Zonulin Can Be Measured Easily and Cheaply (16:17–18:00)
Zonulin testing costs about €30 in Germany and can be ordered from a lab. Von Helden sees this as being where Vitamin D awareness was 20 years ago. - Open-Source Approach, Not Profit-Driven (15:50–16:58)
The Vitamin D Box and the Zonulin-lowering supplement are open-source, non-patented tools. He has no ties to pharmaceutical companies, encouraging independent reproduction and public benefit. - Root Cause Medicine, Not Just Symptom Control (26:50–30:01)
By measuring and correcting Vitamin D and Zonulin levels, many symptoms can be resolved without pharmaceuticals. His recommendation:
- Use the free Vitamin D Box tool
- Measure your Vitamin D and Zonulin
- Bring levels into the healthy range
- Track improvements over time
Symptom-to-Cause Mapping Table (Chat-GPT)
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Notes |
| Muscle pain / leg aches at night | Vitamin D Def. | Classic symptom of low Vitamin D |
| Persistent fatigue / lack of energy | Both | Can stem from D deficiency or gut inflammation |
| Poor sleep quality | Vitamin D Def. | Often reported to improve with optimal Vitamin D levels |
| Pain when walking long distances | Vitamin D Def. | Linked to musculoskeletal weakness |
| Frequent infections | Vitamin D Def. | Vitamin D modulates immune function |
| Osteoporosis / brittle bones | Vitamin D Def. | Directly impacts calcium absorption and bone remodeling |
| Constipation / slow digestion | Zonulin Synd. | Related to gut dysbiosis and inflammation |
| Food intolerances (e.g., salami, fish) | Zonulin Synd. | Suggests increased gut permeability (Leaky Gut) |
| Chronic stomach issues | Zonulin Synd. | Zonulin affects gut lining; inflammation can trigger GI symptoms |
| Autoimmune diseases (e.g., Hashimoto's, IBD) | Zonulin Synd. | Leaky gut linked to immune dysregulation and autoimmunity |
| Allergies / histamine sensitivity | Zonulin Synd. | Gut permeability allows allergens into bloodstream |
| Mood swings / brain fog | Both | Brain-inflammation and neurochemical effects possible |
| Skin issues (eczema, rashes) | Both | Linked to immune and gut-skin axis or nutrient deficiency |
| Chronic migraines | Both | Dr. von Helden reports success treating with Vitamin D + gut repair |
| Feeling "drained" after eating certain foods | Zonulin Synd. | Post-meal fatigue indicates food sensitivity or inflammation |
Color Key for Causes:
- 🟡 Vitamin D Deficiency – Often linked to low sunlight exposure, poor absorption
- 🟩 Zonulin Syndrome (Leaky Gut) – Indicates increased gut permeability, systemic inflammation
- 🟧 Both – Synergistic overlap; requires attention to both systems
Vitamin D Life: There are many ways to improve Vitamin D and gut if have poor gut
- Gut-Friendly Vitamin D
- Gut microbiome massively changed by weekly vitamin D – July 2015
- Vitamin D, Microbiome, Gut Health - Dr. Beltran Oct 2024
- Fiber makes Butyrate, which reduces gut inflammation – Dr. Greger Aug 2019
Sodium Butyrate activates the Vitamin D Receptor in the gut - Strong interactions between Vitamin D and the gut microbiota via Butyrate and VDR – Dec 2019
- Vitamin D levels change Gut Microbiota – 25 study review Sept 2021