Vitamin D
I think Vitamin D is so important I decided to make a page for it!
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that supports brain function, cardiovascular health, bone strength, and the immune system. Vitamin D3 is the most biologically active form of the vitamin and what your body naturally produces when your skin is exposed to sunlight.
Below is summarized from Dr. Mercola:
A growing body of evidence shows that vitamin D plays a crucial role in disease prevention and maintaining optimal health. There are about 30,000 genes in your body, and vitamin D affects nearly 3,000 of them, as well as vitamin D receptors located throughout your body.
According to one large-scale study, optimal vitamin D levels can slash your risk of cancer by as much as 60 percent. Keeping your levels optimized can help prevent at least 16 different types of cancer, including pancreatic, lung, ovarian, prostate, and skin cancers. Moreover, vitamin D can build your defenses against cancer by:
Enhancing the self-destruction of mutated cells (which can replicate and cause cancer)
Slowing down the production and spread of cancer cells
Helping in the differentiation of cells (cancer cells are not differentiated)
Preventing the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones (this can help stop the progress of benign tumors into cancerous ones)
Vitamin D can also help reduce the risk of other conditions as well, including type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation, age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness), and Alzheimer’s disease.
Vitamin D also exhibits its infection-fighting abilities in the treatment of tuberculosis, pneumonia, colds, and flu. It can also improve seizure control in epileptics.
While scientists refer to vitamin D as a vitamin, it is actually a steroid hormone obtained from sun exposure, food sources, and supplementation. Common types of vitamin D are vitamin D2 and D3. Compared to D2, vitamin D3 is 87 percent more effective, and is the preferred form for addressing insufficient levels of vitamin D.
Today, many Americans are found to be in a serious deficiency state. Over 95 percent of senior citizens in the US may possibly be deficient, along with 85 percent of Americans. The late winter average vitamin D level was found to be about 15 to 18 ng/ml, which is far below optimal levels.
Cases of vitamin D deficiency are also seen more frequently in individuals (of all ages) that have increased skin pigmentation, including those whose ancestors are from Africa, the Middle East, or South Asia.
This deficiency problem also applies to people who often use sun protection, or those who spend more time indoors than outdoors. Regardless of skin pigmentation, deficiency can be even worse if they live in northern latitudes, as there is very little sun exposure.
Although most dermatologists will tell you to avoid the sun to prevent diseases like cancer, exposure can actually aid in skin cancer prevention – and there are studies confirming this. Melanoma occurrence is found to decrease with greater exposure to direct sunlight. According to a study published in the European Journal of Cancer, melanoma was found to be more common in workers who spent time indoors, and in body parts that are not exposed to the sun.
The sun emits two types of wavelengths at different periods in a day: UVA rays and UVB rays. Your body requires UVB for vitamin D production. UVA rays, on the other hand, have longer wavelengths and can penetrate the ozone layer, as well as clouds and pollution. Frequent exposure to this type of wavelength increases your risk of skin cancer and photoaging.
Occasional exposure of your hands and face to the sun does not constitute appropriate sunlight exposure. To optimize your levels, large portions of your skin needs to be exposed to the sun. However, over exposure to the sun can result in sunburn, which will increase your risk for skin cancer and premature skin aging.
Once you get the proper amount of sunlight, your body will stop producing vitamin D because of its self-regulating mechanism. Visit Vitamin D Resources for other important factors in safe sunlight exposure.
From Vitamin D3 :
Studies from around the world have identified that there is a correlation between Vitamin D3 levels and Covid-19 illness severity. People deficient in Vitamin D3 were more likely to have severe and longer lasting Covid-19 symptoms. The optimal level in protecting against Covid-19 is measured at 50 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter) and above.
Vitamin D levels are measured by a blood test which can be ordered by your doctor, purchased at some pharmacies, or purchased online. It is important to test regularly to be sure you are getting enough sun or supplementing adequately. Supplementing Magnesium Glycinate with Vitamin D3 will assist in Vitamin D3 absorption.
Most mainstream health experts agree that 4,000 IU of Vitamin D3 is the safe maximum daily dose. A daily dose above 4,000 IU is considered a risk because the increased Vitamin D could cause excessive calcification overtime which may cause hardening of the arteries. If a dose above 4,000 IU a day is necessary to achieve the desired 50 ng/ml, it is highly recommended to supplement Vitamin K2, which regulates calcium so it does not build up in the arteries, and instead is directed to the bone.
Here are some links to evidence and helpful information related to Vitamin D3 and the effect on protecting against Covid-19.
Database of all vitamin D COVID-19 studies. 139 studies by 1,214 scientists
Israeli study offers strongest proof yet of vitamin D’s power to fight COVID Article 2/3/22
COVID-19 mortality risk correlates inversely with vitamin D3 status, and a mortality rate close to zero could theoretically be achieved at 50 ng/ml 25(OH)D3: Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis Study (10/01/21)
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.22.21263977v1.full
Why you should be supplementing with vitamin D - Biologists Dr. Heather Heyer and Dr. Bret Weinstein - 17 minute video (11/02/21)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHVqfJg4h-I&t=629s
Vitamin D, First clinical trial - Dr. John Campbell - 27 minute video (09/06/20)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Ks9fUh2k8&list=PLWU3giMB4xP4JJK3tMumRGxmffdkG-kJE&index=21
Vitamin D Reduces Mortality Risk by -89% - Dr. Chris Martenson - 19 minute video (10/27/20)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIb_wX3Y1AE&list=PLWU3giMB4xP7Tg5dHfxirt6Btc-KIc5Wo&index=63
Vitamin D studies confirm correlations - Dr. John Campbell - 26 minute video (02/04/21)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au6FKi8aAsA&list=PLWU3giMB4xP7Tg5dHfxirt6Btc-KIc5Wo&index=64
Vitamin D, blood levels - In this video the Doctor measures his Vitamin D levels and discovers they are Insufficient (22 ng/ml), even after supplementing 2-3,000 IU a day. - Dr. John Campbell - 30 minute Video (02/12/21)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS2VObw1UeI
Vitamin D and COVID 19: The Evidence for Prevention and Treatment of Coronavirus (SARS CoV 2) - Dr. Roger Seheult - 1 hour video (12/10/20)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha2mLz-Xdpg&list=PLWU3giMB4xP7Tg5dHfxirt6Btc-KIc5Wo&index=67
Could Vitamin D’s role in the ACE2 renin-angiotensin system help protect from severe COVID-19? - Dr. Roger Seheult and Dr. Rhonda Patrick - 4 minute video (03/05/21)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPENJBarIfc&list=PLWU3giMB4xP7Tg5dHfxirt6Btc-KIc5Wo&index=116
Dr. Fauci takes 6,000 IU of Vitamin D daily? – Email from Sept 2020
Article: https://vitamindwiki.com/Dr.+Fauci+takes+6%2C000+IU+of+Vitamin+D+daily+%E2%80%93+Sept+2020
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqZLMoLvhgk&list=PLWU3giMB4xP7Tg5dHfxirt6Btc-KIc5Wo&index=66
Vitamin D levels deplete after vaccination?
https://twitter.com/Fynnderella1/status/1418630143074050048
https://twitter.com/Fynnderella1/status/1418631367202648064
Other Vitamin D benefits:
The Best (And Worst) Time of Day to Take Your Vitamin D | Dr Alan Mandell, DC - 5 minute Video (01/16/21)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXuAmLR_v9M
Why Vitamin D is ESSENTIAL For Immune Health - Dr. Group - 4 minute video (12/4/20)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGOF2RFuREE&list=PLWU3giMB4xP4JJK3tMumRGxmffdkG-kJE&index=65
Low vitamin D and increased deaths - Dr. John Campbell - 17 minute (10/26/21)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwNgKJ-7YWQ
How To Use Sunlight As Medicine For Your Body | Amazing Health Benefits of Sunlight - Subah Saraf - 19 minute video (03/02/19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilh91OMG7Qk&list=PLWU3giMB4xP4JJK3tMumRGxmffdkG-kJE&index=24
Vitamin D for Pain: Is it safe and reasonable for chronic pain patients to take higher doses of Vitamin D? And just how high is safe?
https://www.painscience.com/articles/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-pain.php
Vitamin D Health Channel - Telegram
https://t.me/Vitamin_D_Health_Channel
Vitamin D Resource Page (put together by Dr. Joseph Mercola)
https://www.mercola.com/article/vitamin-d-resources.htm
All things Vitamin D! Just select the Menu at the top to navigate.
Mainstream Articles from Healthline:
Vitamin D 101 — A Detailed Beginner's Guide
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-101#sunshine
The Benefits of Vitamin D
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-vitamin-d#fights-disease
What Vitamin D Dosage Is Best?
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-dosage
Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms, Treatments, Causes and More
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms
Recommended Supplement brands and dosage (Remember to monitor D3 levels):
Vitamin D3 (2,000 IU) Take one dose daily (2,000 IU). In the winter increase to two doses (4,000 IU). If sick with Covid-19, increase dosage to 10,000 IU for at least 10 days.
Magnesium Glycinate (200 mg) Take either a full dose or a half dose every day to assist D3 absorption.
Vitamin K2 MK7 (100 mcg) When dosing 4,000 IU of Vitamin D3, take one every other day. When dosing more than 4,000 IU of Vitamin D3, take one every day. Helps to regulate calcium.
