Covid, Me and Vitamin D!
Get with the program!
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. See your physician for medical advice.
What are you afraid of?
Catching COVID 19
Why?
Because I might get sick and die (or infect a loved one who might get sick and die!)
While the emphasis has been on prevention of “catching COVID 19”, in fact it is not a matter of whether we contract COVID 19, but a matter of whether we will get very sick and/or die from it that is of greatest concern which is NOT being addressed by ANY of the present measures of masks, disinfectants and social distancing.
(Questions to raise about these protocols: https://www.myownhealthcare.org/qp.html )
There’s no need to fear,
Vitamin D is here!
Did you know? Dr. Fauci takes 6,000 IU/day of vitamin D3
DO YOU KNOW YOUR
VITAMIN D LEVEL?
Are you protected?
Dr. Raharusun’s study* of
780 patients, average age 62
with COVID 19:
* References:
April 2020: “Patterns of COVID-19 Mortality and Vitamin D: An Indonesian Study.”
https://emerginnova.com/patterns-of-covid19-mortality-and-vitamin-d-an-indonesian-study/
See also:
May 2020: “The role of vitamin D in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality.”
https://europepmc.org/article/MED/32377965#free-full-text
June 2020: “Role of vitamin D in preventing of COVID-19 infection, progression and severity”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120305311
and
June 2020 (readable summary of the above research articles in Orthomolecular News):
"HOW WE CAN FIX THIS PANDEMIC IN A MONTH"
http://orthomolecular.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=b73ce398c39f506af761d2277d853a92.164&s=b5a4d78a62acf8d7d34cf4c3d0c1905f
Excerpts:
" (June 22, 2020) If we act on the data showing that it is highly probable that vitamin D can save lives, we could fix this pandemic in a month, for perhaps $2 per person. There would be no significant adverse effects. If we wait for "evidence" that vitamin D mitigates the impact of COVID-19, thousands more will die. ...Dosage is important and generally misunderstood.
...The 3 papers mentioned above [3-5] show that a vitamin D3 blood level of at least 75 nmol/L (30 ng/ml) is needed for protection against COVID-19. Government recommendations for vitamin D intake - 400 IU/day for the UK and 600 IU/day for the USA (800 IU for >70 years) and the EU - are based primarily on bone health. This is woefully inadequate in the pandemic context. An adult will need to take 4000 IU/day of vitamin D3 for 3 months to reliably achieve a 75 nmol/L level [12]. Persons of color may need twice as much [13]. These doses can reduce the risk of infection, but are not for treatment of an acute viral infection. And since vitamin D is fat-soluble and its level in the body rises slowly, for those with a deficiency, taking a initial dose of 5-fold the normal dose (20,000 IU/day) for 2 weeks can help to raise the level up to an adequate level to lower infection risk."
A vitamin D deficiency is said to be levels less than 20 ng/ml. So if your doctor tells you your level is “normal”, is it actually protective in light of what the research shows?
Educate & Empower Yourself!
Key resources:
https://vitamindwiki.com/
https://www.vitamindsociety.org/
Vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin!
It’s more than just a vitamin:
it’s a hormone!
Vitamin D improves
There is a large body of research showing vitamin D plays a critical role in helping us fight viruses
including COVID 19. See Bibliography at the bottom of this page (at least skim it and read the titles of the articles to get a feel for what is in the science literature) or visit the Key Resources websites listed above. Note that VitaminDWiki has done an excellent job of keeping up with articles published about Covid 19 and vitamin D, beyond what is presented in the Bibliography below.
Getting Vitamin D from the Sun
Our skin manufactures vitamin D when we’re out in the sunlight, especially during peak hours (10am – 2pm). We have to get good sun exposure in summer to build up reserves for winter in northern climates.
Because in winter….
At our latitude (New York City level), the sun is low in the sky from mid-October through mid-March and the UVB rays needed to make vitamin D in our skin get refracted out of the atmosphere. Winter sunlight is good, but doesn’t help us make vitamin D in our skin. This is why you have to tank up in summer, and if you don't, you run out of your "Vitamin D gas" during the winter months and become much more susceptible to illnesses - colds and flu.
You may not get enough Vit. D if:
How to Supplement with Vit. D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so when you supplement with it, it is best taken with a fat-containing meal.
Vitamin D3 supplements are metabolized and utilized best by the body if certain key nutrients are present:
Many people are deficient in magnesium because our soils, hence our foods, are magnesium, deficient. Good bio-absorbable forms of magnesium include chelated glycinate and malate, and also magnesium chloride, while oxide forms are generally useless. Magnesium citrate is good but can have a strong laxative effect, so beware! The recommended amount to take daily is found on the label of the magnesium supplement. Typically one takes 100 mg three to four times a day - easiest to take it with meals. Magnesium also helps your muscles to relax and promotes better sleep.
Vitamin D3 mobilizes calcium into the bloodstream, so Vitamin K2 is needed because it directs calcium into the right places and out of the wrong ones. According to the Riordan Clinic, "For every 5,000–10,000 units of D3 being recommended and tested for, we are recommending 100 mcg of K2 mk7 to be sure and prevent the inappropriate calcification that higher doses of D3 alone could cause."
( https://riordanclinic.org/2013/10/vitamins-d3-and-k2-the-dynamic-duo/ )
Vitamin D3 requires some retinol receptors (from Vitamin A) for proper metabolism and use as well. Eating liver, fish, cheese and butter are good sources of oil-soluble vitamin A, or else one can supplement a small amount with some cod liver oil (liquid or in gel caps), for example.
Zinc, which is naturally anti-viral, is also needed in small amounts for vitamin D3 metabolism, as is boron. Naturally high sources of zinc are oysters while red beets are a good source of boron. Many decent multivitamins contain zinc and boron. For example, Life Extension's Two-per-day multivitamin capsules contain 25 mg of zinc and 3 mg of boron, but they are a poor magnesium source (oxide!).
These above co-factors are recommended by The Vitamin D Council.
HELPFUL CONVERSIONS:
Vitamin D levels in the blood are reported in either ng/ml or nmol/L and you can use this online converter to go from one to the other:
https://www.vitamindsociety.org/resources.php#converter
Vitamin D3 supplements are sold in dosages of International Units (IU) or micrograms (mcg):
1000 IU = 25 mcg, so, for example
5000 IU = 125 mcg
How much Vitamin D is enough?
A 2018 study* showed, “the maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D is not enough for patients to keep the 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/mL”
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135651/
Dosages appropriate for you depend on your body weight and your current vitamin D status. Large doses (e.g. 200,000 IU) can be taken safely to boost levels quickly. Taking vitamin K2 and/or vitamin A at the same time will offset any possible toxicity. As the articles in the bibliography below reveal, even at doses as high as 300,000 IU and/or in patients with chronic kidney disease, taking vitamin D3 without these helpful co-factors was not toxic and did not raise blood calcium levels or tax the parathyroid glands (which regulate calcium). Nevertheless, to ensure safety when taking vitamin D3, vitamins K2 and/or vitamin A will serve this purpose as is cited in the Bibliography below.
More information on dosing here: https://vitamindwiki.com/Overview+Loading+of+vitamin+D
Or try a vitamin that includes vitamin D3+ cofactors such as Dr. Whitaker’s “BeyonD3” and after a month or two….
GET YOUR LEVEL RETESTED!
Vitamin D Testing:
If you have trouble getting a vitamin D test through your doctor, there are online options.
For example, Life Extension permits you to order a blood test online, pay for it online and then they will e-mail to you the requisition form (good for 6 months) that you can take to the nearest Lab Corp blood draw facility (they send you that information too), and then the results are e-mailed to you with a couple days.
https://www.lifeextension.com/lab-testing/itemlc081950/vitamin-d-25-hydroxy-blood-test
There are other companies that offer similar services, so once you grasp how it works, you can shop around online to find one that works best for you.
If, after getting tested, you find that your vitamin D levels have not changed and are still at a level which the studies show make you more susceptible to severe sickness from Covid 19, then you will need to take more Vitamin D3 on a daily basis or superdose (e.g., take 200,000 IU in one shot) in order to raise it. Also make sure you're taking the co-factors needed to help metabolize and utilize it properly. Keep in mind that it takes about a week for a superdose of vitamin D3 to be fully metabolized and register in your blood test, so if you superdose, wait at least one week after that to get your blood tested again. If you are taking 5,000 - 10,000 IU/day of vitamin D3, getting tested after a couple of months will give you a sense of whether you are taking enough or too much. You can adjust your daily dosing depending on your vitamin D results and your desired target level. Obviously if your results come back and show your vitamin D levels is super high, like over 100 ng/ml, then you similarly adjust your intake downward so as to not overdo it. Vitamin D levels in excess of 100 ng/ml are generally considered less desirable or even harmful because of the calcium load it puts into your bloodstream...which should not be a problem if you're taking (daily) the co-factors at the same time you take the vitamin D3.
Because Vitamin D is fat-soluble, it is stored in your body and depleted over time as your body's needs dictate. If you get to a blood level that is too high, you simply stop supplementing with vitamin D3 for a while and let it come down. Maintaining the co-factor supplements during this time would be important to help the body best utilize its stores of vitamin D and manage calcium in the blood. However, high blood levels of vitamin D are very rare and very hard to attain**. MOST people do not have sufficiently immune-protective vitamin D levels in our society today due to the factors cited earlier in this article. Read more on the websites under KEY RESOURCES above. Physicians knowledgeable on the proper use of Vitamin D3 regard it as VERY SAFE to use.
** Reference: https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2012/5/new-study-warns-against-excessive-vitamin-d-intake [Note: this article references a study showing an increase in atrial fibrillation when blood levels of vitamin D exceed 100 ng/ml. However, no informaiton is provided on magnesium status under such conditions, as magnesium is a critical co-factor to vitamin D which can be a potential "cure" for atrial fibrillation [See, for example, Dr. Carolyn Dean, Atrial Fibrillation: Remineralize the Heart]. Again, the lack of proper co-factors when vitamin D levels are high is an important omission and likely cause of complications from vitamin D that is completely avoidable.]
Relevant excerpt:
"We at Life Extension long ago noted wide dose-response variability with vitamin D and recommended 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood tests to ensure our members are in the optimal range of between 50–80 ng/mL.
Most members are surprised that even taking 5,000 IU a day (or more) of supplemental vitamin D does not always get them above 50 ng/mL. In rare instances, however, doses of less than 5,000 IU result in blood levels greater than 100 ng/mL.
These real world findings confirm the importance of checking one’s vitamin D blood status after initiating a daily dose significantly higher than 2,000 IU to establish how much vitamin D is individually needed to achieve optimal ranges (50–80 ng/mL) and not excess levels (over 100 ng/mL)."
To reiterate....
DO YOU KNOW YOUR
VITAMIN D LEVEL?
Are you protected?
According to Life Extension, optimal blood levels of vitamin D are 50–80 ng/mL
They've been preaching that since well before Covid 19.
The data above show that you are less likely to die from Covid 19 if your blood level of vitamin D is
AT LEAST 30 ng/ml
To reiterate from above:
A 2018 study* showed, “the maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D is not enough for patients to keep the 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/mL”
So this should provide you with some initial guidance on how much vitamin D3 to take.... you will need more than 2,000 IU/day to achieve even a minimum protective blood level of vitamin D.
But from the Raharusun study, we have further information indicating that the higher the vitamin D level, the less severe the symptoms from Covid 19 until
NO SYMPTOMS for 80 ng/ml or greater Vitamin D level
(for patients of average age 62....)
...and from the Life Extension article we see, "even taking 5,000 IU a day (or more) of supplemental vitamin D does not always get them above 50 ng/mL "
The above information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Use this information to hold a meaningful conversation with your physician or consult with another qualified health professional knowledgeable in holistic health and nutrition. Keep in mind that most physicians have scant training in nutrition and are unfamiliar with the science literature being presented here.
Info on Vitamin D3 Supplements
There are many manufacturers of vitamin D3. Some are liquid forms (e.g. Biotics Research Bio-D-Mulsion or BlueBonnet Liquid Drops), some in capsules or tablets, some in combination with co-factors (e.g., Dr. Whitaker's "BeyonD3" or Standard Process' "Cataplex D"). Read product reviews and compare prices to find one that works for what you can afford and makes the most sense to you.
[Disclaimer: Webmaster has no ties to any vendors nor any products and cannot/will not endorse any particular product. However some products will work better for you than others... you will know when you get your vitamin D blood test if a product is working for you (assuming you're taking enough to expect to make a dent in your blood level)]
Here is an Anecdotal case of learning how to use Vitamin D3.
www.myownhealthcare.org/anecdote.html
Supplemental information on
WIRELESS DEVICES and VITAMIN D
Chronic exposure to low-intensity microwave signals from a multitude of wireless devices (from WiFi, cell phones, cordless phones, and other wireless devices and infrastructure) slowly and insidiously erodes our health and can interfere with vitamin D metabolism by interfering with VDR (vitamin D receptor) [https://www.trevormarshall.com/ ]. No long-term safety studies have been conducted on the levels of microwave radiation to which many of us are exposed today, and the FCC guidelines are completely inappropriate and inadequate to ensure safety (for which there are several major lawsuits pending against the FCC, including one by the Environmental Health Trust for the FCC’s failure to bring their safety standards up to date with the findings in the science literature that shows harm from chronic exposure to low-intensity signals like those from all manner of today’s wireless devices - see for example, https://ehtrust.org/eht-takes-the-fcc-to-court/ ). This is another factor no one is addressing with regard to health and susceptibility to COVID 19.
Wireless signals (3G, 4G, 5G) inappropriately activate voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) with VGCC activation producing five different effects, each of which have roles in stimulating the replication and spread of coronaviruses:
1. Excessive intracellular calcium
2. Oxidative stress
3. NF-kappaB elevation
4. Inflammation
5. Apoptosis (programmed cell death)
[Reference: numerous scientific journal articles by Prof. Martin Pall - just google his name]
In general, we are advised to reduce our exposure to wireless signals especially during this alleged pandemic time.
Webmaster's comment: Critics claim that non-ionizing radiation at very low levels cannot harm us, but they are stating so out of ignorance. Read the science literature and you will find that the mechanisms by which microwaves - even at very low levels - cause harm to bioloigical organisms (including US) have been identified and substantiated repeatedly. It has nothing to do with the photon energy itself (which cannot ionize an atom), but has to do with the oscillating electric field of the microwaves being just the right size scale to tweak sensitive voltage gated ion channels, and this starts a cascade of reactions whose downstream effects include free radical creation, oxidative stress and DNA breakage. Consequently, while non-ionizing radiation does not cause the fast-acting instant harm that ionizing radiation does, we have to remember the primary rule of radiation safety: Time, Shielding, Distance. You want to minimize your time being exposed to the radiation, use appropriate shielding between you and the radiation source, and/or maximize your distance from the radiation source. What we are doing today is subjecting ourselves to low-intensity microwaves 24/7 with all of the wireless technolgies around us - without observing proper shield or distance, and this is acting as another pollutant and stressor on our bodies. More and more people are getting sick from it - so much so, that a March 11, 2020 publication cites a "growing global pandemic" of persons becoming electromagnetically hypersensitive. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7139347/
For a good documentary on this subject:
https://theconsciousresistance.com/trojanhorse/
Get with the program!
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. See your physician for medical advice.
What are you afraid of?
Catching COVID 19
Why?
Because I might get sick and die (or infect a loved one who might get sick and die!)
While the emphasis has been on prevention of “catching COVID 19”, in fact it is not a matter of whether we contract COVID 19, but a matter of whether we will get very sick and/or die from it that is of greatest concern which is NOT being addressed by ANY of the present measures of masks, disinfectants and social distancing.
(Questions to raise about these protocols: https://www.myownhealthcare.org/qp.html )
There’s no need to fear,
Vitamin D is here!
Did you know? Dr. Fauci takes 6,000 IU/day of vitamin D3
DO YOU KNOW YOUR
VITAMIN D LEVEL?
Are you protected?
Dr. Raharusun’s study* of
780 patients, average age 62
with COVID 19:
- 100% mortality (death) from COVID 19 if vitamin D levels were less than 17 ng/ml
- NO COVID 19 deaths if vitamin D blood levels were above 34 ng/ml.
- Flu-like symptoms with blood levels on the order of 60 ng/ml.
- NO SYMPTOMS for blood levels above 80 ng/ml.
* References:
April 2020: “Patterns of COVID-19 Mortality and Vitamin D: An Indonesian Study.”
https://emerginnova.com/patterns-of-covid19-mortality-and-vitamin-d-an-indonesian-study/
See also:
May 2020: “The role of vitamin D in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and mortality.”
https://europepmc.org/article/MED/32377965#free-full-text
June 2020: “Role of vitamin D in preventing of COVID-19 infection, progression and severity”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120305311
and
June 2020 (readable summary of the above research articles in Orthomolecular News):
"HOW WE CAN FIX THIS PANDEMIC IN A MONTH"
http://orthomolecular.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=b73ce398c39f506af761d2277d853a92.164&s=b5a4d78a62acf8d7d34cf4c3d0c1905f
Excerpts:
" (June 22, 2020) If we act on the data showing that it is highly probable that vitamin D can save lives, we could fix this pandemic in a month, for perhaps $2 per person. There would be no significant adverse effects. If we wait for "evidence" that vitamin D mitigates the impact of COVID-19, thousands more will die. ...Dosage is important and generally misunderstood.
...The 3 papers mentioned above [3-5] show that a vitamin D3 blood level of at least 75 nmol/L (30 ng/ml) is needed for protection against COVID-19. Government recommendations for vitamin D intake - 400 IU/day for the UK and 600 IU/day for the USA (800 IU for >70 years) and the EU - are based primarily on bone health. This is woefully inadequate in the pandemic context. An adult will need to take 4000 IU/day of vitamin D3 for 3 months to reliably achieve a 75 nmol/L level [12]. Persons of color may need twice as much [13]. These doses can reduce the risk of infection, but are not for treatment of an acute viral infection. And since vitamin D is fat-soluble and its level in the body rises slowly, for those with a deficiency, taking a initial dose of 5-fold the normal dose (20,000 IU/day) for 2 weeks can help to raise the level up to an adequate level to lower infection risk."
A vitamin D deficiency is said to be levels less than 20 ng/ml. So if your doctor tells you your level is “normal”, is it actually protective in light of what the research shows?
Educate & Empower Yourself!
Key resources:
https://vitamindwiki.com/
https://www.vitamindsociety.org/
Vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin!
It’s more than just a vitamin:
it’s a hormone!
Vitamin D improves
- Mood (especially in winter)
- Immune system health
- Bone density
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Cardiovascular health
- Hearing (in some cases)
- Protection against cancers
There is a large body of research showing vitamin D plays a critical role in helping us fight viruses
including COVID 19. See Bibliography at the bottom of this page (at least skim it and read the titles of the articles to get a feel for what is in the science literature) or visit the Key Resources websites listed above. Note that VitaminDWiki has done an excellent job of keeping up with articles published about Covid 19 and vitamin D, beyond what is presented in the Bibliography below.
Getting Vitamin D from the Sun
Our skin manufactures vitamin D when we’re out in the sunlight, especially during peak hours (10am – 2pm). We have to get good sun exposure in summer to build up reserves for winter in northern climates.
Because in winter….
At our latitude (New York City level), the sun is low in the sky from mid-October through mid-March and the UVB rays needed to make vitamin D in our skin get refracted out of the atmosphere. Winter sunlight is good, but doesn’t help us make vitamin D in our skin. This is why you have to tank up in summer, and if you don't, you run out of your "Vitamin D gas" during the winter months and become much more susceptible to illnesses - colds and flu.
You may not get enough Vit. D if:
- You spend most daylight hours indoors
- You wear sunscreen outside
- You have darker skin – which has less ability to produce vitamin D from sun exposure
- You’re elderly or obese
- The skin of older people is not as good at manufacturing vitamin D as it did when they were young, and their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D into its active form for use in the body
- In obese people, the fat in their bodies binds the vitamin D and prevents it from getting into the blood.
- You lack other key nutrients – which could be due to malabsorption in the gut, deficiencies in the diet, or disorders like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease which do not allow the body to handle fats properly.
How to Supplement with Vit. D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so when you supplement with it, it is best taken with a fat-containing meal.
Vitamin D3 supplements are metabolized and utilized best by the body if certain key nutrients are present:
- Magnesium
- Vitamin K2 (MK-7 or MK-4 forms)
- Vitamin A (fat-soluble, retinol form)
- Zinc and Boron
Many people are deficient in magnesium because our soils, hence our foods, are magnesium, deficient. Good bio-absorbable forms of magnesium include chelated glycinate and malate, and also magnesium chloride, while oxide forms are generally useless. Magnesium citrate is good but can have a strong laxative effect, so beware! The recommended amount to take daily is found on the label of the magnesium supplement. Typically one takes 100 mg three to four times a day - easiest to take it with meals. Magnesium also helps your muscles to relax and promotes better sleep.
Vitamin D3 mobilizes calcium into the bloodstream, so Vitamin K2 is needed because it directs calcium into the right places and out of the wrong ones. According to the Riordan Clinic, "For every 5,000–10,000 units of D3 being recommended and tested for, we are recommending 100 mcg of K2 mk7 to be sure and prevent the inappropriate calcification that higher doses of D3 alone could cause."
( https://riordanclinic.org/2013/10/vitamins-d3-and-k2-the-dynamic-duo/ )
Vitamin D3 requires some retinol receptors (from Vitamin A) for proper metabolism and use as well. Eating liver, fish, cheese and butter are good sources of oil-soluble vitamin A, or else one can supplement a small amount with some cod liver oil (liquid or in gel caps), for example.
Zinc, which is naturally anti-viral, is also needed in small amounts for vitamin D3 metabolism, as is boron. Naturally high sources of zinc are oysters while red beets are a good source of boron. Many decent multivitamins contain zinc and boron. For example, Life Extension's Two-per-day multivitamin capsules contain 25 mg of zinc and 3 mg of boron, but they are a poor magnesium source (oxide!).
These above co-factors are recommended by The Vitamin D Council.
HELPFUL CONVERSIONS:
Vitamin D levels in the blood are reported in either ng/ml or nmol/L and you can use this online converter to go from one to the other:
https://www.vitamindsociety.org/resources.php#converter
Vitamin D3 supplements are sold in dosages of International Units (IU) or micrograms (mcg):
1000 IU = 25 mcg, so, for example
5000 IU = 125 mcg
How much Vitamin D is enough?
A 2018 study* showed, “the maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D is not enough for patients to keep the 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/mL”
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135651/
Dosages appropriate for you depend on your body weight and your current vitamin D status. Large doses (e.g. 200,000 IU) can be taken safely to boost levels quickly. Taking vitamin K2 and/or vitamin A at the same time will offset any possible toxicity. As the articles in the bibliography below reveal, even at doses as high as 300,000 IU and/or in patients with chronic kidney disease, taking vitamin D3 without these helpful co-factors was not toxic and did not raise blood calcium levels or tax the parathyroid glands (which regulate calcium). Nevertheless, to ensure safety when taking vitamin D3, vitamins K2 and/or vitamin A will serve this purpose as is cited in the Bibliography below.
More information on dosing here: https://vitamindwiki.com/Overview+Loading+of+vitamin+D
Or try a vitamin that includes vitamin D3+ cofactors such as Dr. Whitaker’s “BeyonD3” and after a month or two….
GET YOUR LEVEL RETESTED!
Vitamin D Testing:
If you have trouble getting a vitamin D test through your doctor, there are online options.
For example, Life Extension permits you to order a blood test online, pay for it online and then they will e-mail to you the requisition form (good for 6 months) that you can take to the nearest Lab Corp blood draw facility (they send you that information too), and then the results are e-mailed to you with a couple days.
https://www.lifeextension.com/lab-testing/itemlc081950/vitamin-d-25-hydroxy-blood-test
There are other companies that offer similar services, so once you grasp how it works, you can shop around online to find one that works best for you.
If, after getting tested, you find that your vitamin D levels have not changed and are still at a level which the studies show make you more susceptible to severe sickness from Covid 19, then you will need to take more Vitamin D3 on a daily basis or superdose (e.g., take 200,000 IU in one shot) in order to raise it. Also make sure you're taking the co-factors needed to help metabolize and utilize it properly. Keep in mind that it takes about a week for a superdose of vitamin D3 to be fully metabolized and register in your blood test, so if you superdose, wait at least one week after that to get your blood tested again. If you are taking 5,000 - 10,000 IU/day of vitamin D3, getting tested after a couple of months will give you a sense of whether you are taking enough or too much. You can adjust your daily dosing depending on your vitamin D results and your desired target level. Obviously if your results come back and show your vitamin D levels is super high, like over 100 ng/ml, then you similarly adjust your intake downward so as to not overdo it. Vitamin D levels in excess of 100 ng/ml are generally considered less desirable or even harmful because of the calcium load it puts into your bloodstream...which should not be a problem if you're taking (daily) the co-factors at the same time you take the vitamin D3.
Because Vitamin D is fat-soluble, it is stored in your body and depleted over time as your body's needs dictate. If you get to a blood level that is too high, you simply stop supplementing with vitamin D3 for a while and let it come down. Maintaining the co-factor supplements during this time would be important to help the body best utilize its stores of vitamin D and manage calcium in the blood. However, high blood levels of vitamin D are very rare and very hard to attain**. MOST people do not have sufficiently immune-protective vitamin D levels in our society today due to the factors cited earlier in this article. Read more on the websites under KEY RESOURCES above. Physicians knowledgeable on the proper use of Vitamin D3 regard it as VERY SAFE to use.
** Reference: https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2012/5/new-study-warns-against-excessive-vitamin-d-intake [Note: this article references a study showing an increase in atrial fibrillation when blood levels of vitamin D exceed 100 ng/ml. However, no informaiton is provided on magnesium status under such conditions, as magnesium is a critical co-factor to vitamin D which can be a potential "cure" for atrial fibrillation [See, for example, Dr. Carolyn Dean, Atrial Fibrillation: Remineralize the Heart]. Again, the lack of proper co-factors when vitamin D levels are high is an important omission and likely cause of complications from vitamin D that is completely avoidable.]
Relevant excerpt:
"We at Life Extension long ago noted wide dose-response variability with vitamin D and recommended 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood tests to ensure our members are in the optimal range of between 50–80 ng/mL.
Most members are surprised that even taking 5,000 IU a day (or more) of supplemental vitamin D does not always get them above 50 ng/mL. In rare instances, however, doses of less than 5,000 IU result in blood levels greater than 100 ng/mL.
These real world findings confirm the importance of checking one’s vitamin D blood status after initiating a daily dose significantly higher than 2,000 IU to establish how much vitamin D is individually needed to achieve optimal ranges (50–80 ng/mL) and not excess levels (over 100 ng/mL)."
To reiterate....
DO YOU KNOW YOUR
VITAMIN D LEVEL?
Are you protected?
According to Life Extension, optimal blood levels of vitamin D are 50–80 ng/mL
They've been preaching that since well before Covid 19.
The data above show that you are less likely to die from Covid 19 if your blood level of vitamin D is
AT LEAST 30 ng/ml
To reiterate from above:
A 2018 study* showed, “the maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D is not enough for patients to keep the 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/mL”
So this should provide you with some initial guidance on how much vitamin D3 to take.... you will need more than 2,000 IU/day to achieve even a minimum protective blood level of vitamin D.
But from the Raharusun study, we have further information indicating that the higher the vitamin D level, the less severe the symptoms from Covid 19 until
NO SYMPTOMS for 80 ng/ml or greater Vitamin D level
(for patients of average age 62....)
...and from the Life Extension article we see, "even taking 5,000 IU a day (or more) of supplemental vitamin D does not always get them above 50 ng/mL "
- So the first step is: GET TESTED and KNOW YOUR Vitamin D LEVEL
- The second step is: Supplement with enough vitamin D3 + cofactors to safely raise your level to one you feel is most appropriately protective for you under the present Covid 19 conditions based on your age, weight, lifestyle, habits (good or bad), diet and health conditions.
- The third step is: GET RETESTED to see how you are faring!
The above information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Use this information to hold a meaningful conversation with your physician or consult with another qualified health professional knowledgeable in holistic health and nutrition. Keep in mind that most physicians have scant training in nutrition and are unfamiliar with the science literature being presented here.
Info on Vitamin D3 Supplements
There are many manufacturers of vitamin D3. Some are liquid forms (e.g. Biotics Research Bio-D-Mulsion or BlueBonnet Liquid Drops), some in capsules or tablets, some in combination with co-factors (e.g., Dr. Whitaker's "BeyonD3" or Standard Process' "Cataplex D"). Read product reviews and compare prices to find one that works for what you can afford and makes the most sense to you.
[Disclaimer: Webmaster has no ties to any vendors nor any products and cannot/will not endorse any particular product. However some products will work better for you than others... you will know when you get your vitamin D blood test if a product is working for you (assuming you're taking enough to expect to make a dent in your blood level)]
Here is an Anecdotal case of learning how to use Vitamin D3.
www.myownhealthcare.org/anecdote.html
Supplemental information on
WIRELESS DEVICES and VITAMIN D
Chronic exposure to low-intensity microwave signals from a multitude of wireless devices (from WiFi, cell phones, cordless phones, and other wireless devices and infrastructure) slowly and insidiously erodes our health and can interfere with vitamin D metabolism by interfering with VDR (vitamin D receptor) [https://www.trevormarshall.com/ ]. No long-term safety studies have been conducted on the levels of microwave radiation to which many of us are exposed today, and the FCC guidelines are completely inappropriate and inadequate to ensure safety (for which there are several major lawsuits pending against the FCC, including one by the Environmental Health Trust for the FCC’s failure to bring their safety standards up to date with the findings in the science literature that shows harm from chronic exposure to low-intensity signals like those from all manner of today’s wireless devices - see for example, https://ehtrust.org/eht-takes-the-fcc-to-court/ ). This is another factor no one is addressing with regard to health and susceptibility to COVID 19.
Wireless signals (3G, 4G, 5G) inappropriately activate voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) with VGCC activation producing five different effects, each of which have roles in stimulating the replication and spread of coronaviruses:
1. Excessive intracellular calcium
2. Oxidative stress
3. NF-kappaB elevation
4. Inflammation
5. Apoptosis (programmed cell death)
[Reference: numerous scientific journal articles by Prof. Martin Pall - just google his name]
In general, we are advised to reduce our exposure to wireless signals especially during this alleged pandemic time.
Webmaster's comment: Critics claim that non-ionizing radiation at very low levels cannot harm us, but they are stating so out of ignorance. Read the science literature and you will find that the mechanisms by which microwaves - even at very low levels - cause harm to bioloigical organisms (including US) have been identified and substantiated repeatedly. It has nothing to do with the photon energy itself (which cannot ionize an atom), but has to do with the oscillating electric field of the microwaves being just the right size scale to tweak sensitive voltage gated ion channels, and this starts a cascade of reactions whose downstream effects include free radical creation, oxidative stress and DNA breakage. Consequently, while non-ionizing radiation does not cause the fast-acting instant harm that ionizing radiation does, we have to remember the primary rule of radiation safety: Time, Shielding, Distance. You want to minimize your time being exposed to the radiation, use appropriate shielding between you and the radiation source, and/or maximize your distance from the radiation source. What we are doing today is subjecting ourselves to low-intensity microwaves 24/7 with all of the wireless technolgies around us - without observing proper shield or distance, and this is acting as another pollutant and stressor on our bodies. More and more people are getting sick from it - so much so, that a March 11, 2020 publication cites a "growing global pandemic" of persons becoming electromagnetically hypersensitive. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7139347/
For a good documentary on this subject:
https://theconsciousresistance.com/trojanhorse/
VITAMIN D BIBLIOGRAPHY
Links to some of the published articles on Covid 19 and Vitamin D:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7231123/
April 2, 2020
“Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths”
William B. Grant1,*, Henry Lahore2, Sharon L. McDonnell3, Carole A. Baggerly3,Christine B. French3, Jennifer L. Aliano3and Harjit P. Bhattoa4
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1548/rr-6
April 24, 2020
“Is ethnicity linked to incidence or outcomes of covid-19?“
Robert A. Brown
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.24.20075838v1.full.pdf
April 28, 2020
“Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent in severe COVID-19”
Frank H. Lau, MD, FACS1, Rinku Majumder, PhD2, Radbeh Torabi, MD1, Fouad Saeg, BS3, Ryan Hoffman, BS4, Jeffrey D. Cirillo, PhD5, Patrick Greiffenstein, MD, FACS1
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.08.20095893v1.full.pdf
May 13, 2020
“Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Treatment with COVID-19 Incidence”
David O. Meltzer MD, PhD, et. al.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7266578/pdf/main.pdf
May 26, 2020
“Vitamin D Levels andCOVID-19 Susceptibility: Is there any Correlation?”
Karan Razdan, Kuldeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7299247/
June 3, 2020
“Possible role of vitamin D in Covid‑19 infection in pediatric population”
F. M. Panfili1 · M. Roversi1 · P. D’Argenio2 · P. Rossi2 · M. Cappa3 · D. Fintini3
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1548/rr-22
June 5, 2020
“Vitamin D deficiency due to skin pigmentation and diet may explain much of the higher rates of COVID-19 among BAME in England “ [BAME = Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic]
W.B Grant, B.J. Boucher
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7276229/
June 7, 2020
“Vitamin D deficiency and co-morbidities in COVID-19 patients – A fatal relationship?”
Hans K. Biesalski
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1548/rr-25
June 10, 2020
“BAME Children at High Risk of PIMS-TS, a Covid-19 Kawasaki-Like Disease - Vitamin D, a Factor? – Testing and Data Urgently Required“
Robert A. Brown
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32557271/
June 15, 2020
“Possible role of vitamin D in Covid-19 infection in pediatric population”
F. M. Panfili · M. Roversi · P. D’Argenio · P. Rossi · M. Cappa · D. Fintini
“We reviewed the literature about the immunomodulatory role of Vitamin D collecting data from the databases Medline and Embase. Results: Vitamin D proved to interact both with the innate immune system, by activating Toll-like receptors (TLRs) or increasing the levels of cathelicidins and β-defensins, and adaptive immune system, by reducing immunoglobulin secretion by plasma cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines production, thus modulating T cells function. Promising results have been extensively described as regards the supplementation of vitamin D in respiratory tract infections, autoimmune diseases and even pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusions In this review, we suggest that vitamin D supplementation might play a role in the prevention and/or treatment to SARS-CoV-2 infection disease, by modulating the immune response to the virus both in the adult and pediatric population “ [emphasis added]
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1548/rr-26
June 17, 2020
“High BAME COVID-19 Mortality - Ethnicity a Factor? – Yet: Cardiovascular Disease – Hypertension – Diabetes - were rare in 1920-60’s in Indigenous Africans – Vitamin D an underrated factor?”
Robert A. Brown
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7301098/
June 18, 2020
“Vitamin D and Coronavirus”
William Simonson, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.24.20138644v1.full.pdf
July 1, 2020:
“Strong Correlation Between Prevalence of Severe Vitamin D Deficiency and Population Mortality Rate from COVID-19 in Europe”
Isaac Z. Pugach, M.D. (Complete Med Care, Dallas, Texas),
And Sofya Pugach, M.D., Ph.D., MPH (Complete Med Care, Dallas, Texas)
https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2020/07/02/Experts-criticise-government-review-of-Vitamin-D-for-COVID-19#
Experts criticise government review of Vitamin D for COVID-19
02-Jul-2020 By Nikki Hancocks
Nutrition and industry experts have responded to Public Health England's (PHE) reports which found no evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to prevent or treat COVID‑19, describing the conclusions as 'narrow-minded' and 'abysmal'.
<read more online>
[Webmaster's observations/opinion: There is a battle taking place in the science literature between medical professionals/scientists who are publishing their findings of effective interventions for Covid 19 and the backlash from others declaring no evidence of benefit from such interventions or even possible harm. A good example is the use of hydroxychloroquine with zinc (the former assists the latter to enter the cell and allow the zinc to work in its most complete anti-viral capacity).
As dozens of medical doctors are making use of this intervention, The Lancet printed an article by a host of medical professionals denouncing the use of hydroxychloroquine. This article was then boldly exhibited in the media to convince the public of the dangers of using hydroxychloroquine…. But now that the article has been debunked and retracted, we do not get the benefit of having THAT marched in the public sphere by the media. There is clear bias occurring during this “pandemic” against low-cost effective prevention and interventions. The appropriate use of Vitamin D and its co-factors is one such intervention we are not hearing about.]
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/933715
Note: you need to register & have a login account to access this article, so it is cut and pasted below:
Medical Societies Advise on Vitamin D in Midst of COVID-19
Becky McCall
July 10, 2020
Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center.
Six medical societies from across the globe are emphasizing the importance of individuals obtaining the daily recommended dose of vitamin D, especially given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on outdoor time.
The statement, "Joint Guidance on Vitamin D in the Era of COVID-19," is supported by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), the Endocrine Society, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), among others.
They felt the need to clarify the recommendations for clinicians. Central to the guidance is the recommendation to directly expose the skin to sunlight for 15-30 minutes per day, while taking care to avoid sunburn.
The statement notes that "Vitamin D is very safe when taken at reasonable dosages and is important for musculoskeletal health. Levels are likely to decline as individuals reduce outside activity (sun exposure) during the pandemic."
It adds, "Most older and younger adults can safely take 400-1000 IU daily to keep vitamin D levels within the optimal range as recommended by [the US] Institute of Medicine guidelines."
The statement adds that the scientific evidence clearly supports the benefits that vitamin D (in combination with calcium intake) plays in building a strong skeleton and preventing bone loss.
Other societies supporting the statement are the European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS), the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).
What Role for Vitamin D in COVID-19? Over recent months, the role of vitamin D in relation to prevention of COVID-19 has been the subject of intense debate. Now, these societies have joined forces and endorsed evidence-based guidance to clarify the issue around obtaining the daily recommended dosage of vitamin D.
During the pandemic, orders to stay at home meant individuals were likely to spend less time outdoors and have less opportunity to draw their vitamin D directly from sunlight, which is its main source, other than a limited number of foods or as a dietary supplement, the societies explain.
However, they acknowledge that the role of vitamin D in COVID-19 remains unclear.
"The current data do not provide any evidence that vitamin D supplementation will help prevent or treat COVID-19 infection; however, our guidance does not preclude further study of the potential effects of vitamin D on COVID-19," says the joint statement.
Research to date suggests that vitamin D may play a role in enhancing the immune response, and given prior work demonstrating a role for the activated form of vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] in immune responses, "further research into vitamin D supplementation in COVID-19 disease is warranted," it adds.
"Trials to date have been observational and there have been no randomized controlled trials from which firm conclusions about causal relationships can be drawn. Observational studies suggest associations between low vitamin D concentrations and higher rates of COVID-19 infection."
Medscape Medical News has previously reported on the existing observational data regarding vitamin D in COVID-19.
And a recent rapid evidence review by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), also reported by Medscape Medical News, failed to find any evidence that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk, or severity, of COVID-19.
Joint Guidance on Vitamin D in the Era of COVID-19. Published July 9, 2020. Statement
[Webmaster's opinion: the Medscape article above reflects the prevailing ignorance of the medical community in how to appropriately supplement with vitamin D. Some of the other peer-reviewed published studies cite much higher recommended daily doses of vitamin D, but few mention the critical role of co-factors that should be taken with it. Only holistic or functional medicine doctors tend to have the nutritional training and research background to understand how to properly administer vitamin D3 supplementation.
This is a long way to say that if the research shows levels above 50 ng/ml are needed to be protective against Covid 19, then taking 400 – 1000 IU of vitamin D3/day is completely insufficient to raise blood levels significantly in the short period of time needed to improve the immune system against the threat of this virus. A single dose of 200,000 IU’s will typically raise the blood levels of vitamin D by ~9 ng/ml within a week. [See dosing information at https://vitamindwiki.com/Overview+Loading+of+vitamin+D ] A person taking 5000 IU of vitamin D per day will then theoretically require 40 days to achieve a blood level increase of ~9 ng/ml, depending on how well they are metabolizing that supplement and their body’s requirements (use) of vitamin D. A person taking 1000 IU/day of vitamin D3 will theoretically take 200 days to raise their blood levels by 9 ng/ml, with less likelihood of ever reaching that level due to the body’s need for vitamin D along the way.
The statement “Research to date suggests that vitamin D may play a role in enhancing the immune response” reveals further ignorance of the large body of science that exists that shows the well-established critical role of vitamin D and immune health. For further reading, read Dr. Michael Holick’s book, The Vitamin D Solution or do a literature search – for example:
(2011) “Vitamin D recommendations: beyond deficiency”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22123631/
“…all of the nonbone activities of vitamin D are in concert with vitamin A (9-cis retinoic acid). Studies combining both vitamins in sufficient amounts (cod liver oil) demonstrated a beneficial effect on the prevention of respiratory tract infections. Consequently, it should be strongly recommended to increase the intake of vitamin D and to ensure a daily intake of vitamin A as counseled.” [emphasis added]
(2011) “Vitamin D and the Immune System” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/
(2012) “Vitamin D and immune function: an overview” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21849106/
(2012) “Vitamin D and respiratory infection in adults”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22115013/
(2012) “Addition of vitamin D status to prognostic scores improves the prediction of outcome in community-acquired pneumonia”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22942205/
(2013) “Vitamin D and Immune Function” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3738984/
(2013) “Vitamin D status and community-acquired pneumonia: results from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24260547/
(2015) “Modulation of the immune response to respiratory viruses by vitamin D” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26035247/
(2015) “Vitamin D and respiratory infections”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25881523/
(2016) “Vitamin D Status and Long-Term Mortality in Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Secondary Data Analysis from a Prospective Cohort “
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27367810/
(2018) “Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in hospitalized adults with community-acquired pneumonia” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29570946/
(2019) “Acute Respiratory Tract Infection and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31438516/
(2020) “Vitamin D's Effect on Immune Function”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32353972/
“The first hint of the significant role of vitamin D on the immune system was made by the discovery of the presence of the vitamin D receptor on almost all cells of the immune system. … the evidence of a link between vitamin D deficiency and adverse outcomes* is overwhelming and clearly points towards avoidance of vitamin D deficiency especially in early life.” [*autoimmune disease; infectious disease; multiple sclerosis; rheumatoid arthritis; type 1 diabetes] [Emphasis via highlighting added]
[Webmaster's Observations and Opinion:
Bottom line: vitamin D deficiency is a strong predictor of mortality and severity of illness in community-acquired pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections – and, according to the non-biased literature - Covid-19. Do note that vitamin D alone (in many studies) may fail to elicit a therapeutic response because … where are the co-factors needed for proper metabolism? Only vitamin A (retinol) is mentioned in one of the articles above! Most critical are magnesium and, if taking high doses of vitamin D, vitamin K2. But you have to read the science literature in holistic nutritional circles to learn this… It’s largely absent from the conventional medical literature.
Note also that vitamin D deficiency is common to many co-morbidities we have heard about during this “pandemic”, so that supplementing with vitamin D is serving multiple purposes and can be therapeutic and beneficial because it is strengthening the body’s ability to cope with these co-morbidities too. See for example:
(2004) “Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15585788/ ]
References on Single High-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation:
(2012) “Efficacy and safety of a short course of very-high-dose cholecalciferol in hemodialysis”
Haimanot Wasse, Rong Huang, Qi Long, Salman Singapuri, Paolo Raggi, Vin Tangpricha The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 95, Issue 2, February 2012, Pages 522–528
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/95/2/522/4576862
Excerpt:
We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study that compared placebo with very high doses of oral cholecalciferol for 3 wk (200,000 IU/wk) in hemodialysis patients. …Subjects in the cholecalciferol treatment group were administered 200,000 IU cholecalciferol (4 pills of 50,000 IU vitamin D3) once weekly for 3 wk (total of 600,000 IU) under direct observation of the study coordinator to confirm subject compliance. …At follow-up, 90.5% of subjects treated with cholecalciferol achieved serum 25(OH)D concentrations ≥30 ng/mL in contrast to 13.6% of the placebo group. There were no significant changes in serum calcium, phosphate, or intact parathyroid hormone during the study. Conclusion: Short-term, high-dose oral cholecalciferol treatment of vitamin D deficiency in hemodialysis patients appears to be effective and with no evidence of toxic effects. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00912782.
See here for many more links to using high doses:
https://vitamindwiki.com/Large+dose+of+vitamin+D+%28200%2C000+IU%29+lasts+for+about+100+days+%E2%80%93+Feb+2015
(2015) “The effect of a single, large bolus of vitamin D in healthy adults over the winter and following year: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial”
MD Kearns,1 JNG Binongo,2 D Watson,2 JA Alvarez,1 D Lodin,1 TR Ziegler,1 and V Tangpricha1,3
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015 Feb; 69(2): 193–197.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4318716/
Excerpts: A dose of 250 000 IU of vitamin D3 given once in November resulted in a robust increase in plasma 25(OH)D after 5 days, but it was unable to sustain this increase after 90 days. A larger or more frequent dosing regimen may be needed for long-term vitamin D sufficiency. …PTH and calcium concentrations were unrelated to changes in 25(OH)D levels and similar between groups over time.
…Importantly, this study showed a dose of 250 000 IU of vitamin D3 given at once to be safe in a healthy, young adult population, and may thus help inform vitamin D dosing regimens in future studies.
(2017) “Vitamin D in Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis Patients”
Guillaume Jean,1,* Jean Claude Souberbielle,2 and Charles Chazot1,3
Nutrients. 2017 Apr; 9(4): 328.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409667/
[Webmaster's observation/opinion: This article (above) is important because it shows that vitamin D is beneficial even to patients with CKD, though care must be taken to prevent hypercalcemia . The authors appear ignorant about the use of co-factors to offset the “toxicity” of vitamin D in such cases. The next article addresses how vitamins A & K negate any toxicity associated with taking vitamin D3, particularly at high doses. Another article addresses the role of magnesium.]
(2016) Comparison between the protective effects of vitamin K and vitamin A on the modulation of hypervitaminosis D3 short-term toxicity in adult albino rats
ELSHAMA, S. S., et. al.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27511521/
(2018) Personalized magnesium intervention to improve vitamin D metabolism: applying a systems approach for precision nutrition in large randomized trials of diverse populations
Simin Liu and Qing Liu
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290361/
Various sources online quote that “The Vitamin D Council recommends that Vitamin D be taking with its essential co-factors including magnesium, boron, and zinc as well as Vitamin K and A.” Their website is: https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
A 2018 article referencing the Vitamin D Council’s recommendations:
Maintenance Dose of Vitamin D: How Much Is Enough?
Sadat-Ali, M., et. al.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135651/
Concluded, “Our study indicates that the maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D is not enough for patients to keep the 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/mL.“ [25(OH)D refers to blood levels of vitamin D.]
(2015) “Vitamin D, Essential Minerals, and Toxic Elements: Exploring Interactions between Nutrients and Toxicants in Clinical Medicine”
Gerry K. Schwalfenberg 1 , * and Stephen J. Genuis 2
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4539504/
Select Excerpts:
This paper explores the literature to determine a suitable clinical approach with regard to vitamin D and essential mineral intake to achieve optimal biological function and to avoid harm in order to prevent and overcome illness. It appears preferable to secure essential mineral status in conjunction with adequate vitamin D, as intake of vitamin D in the absence of mineral sufficiency may result in facilitation of toxic element absorption with potential adverse clinical outcomes.
…In the medical literature as a whole, many researchers suggest that measured levels of 25(OH)D should ideally remain within the 100 and 150 nmol/L [40-60 ng/ml] range [66]. This view is endorsed by the Vitamin D Society as lower levels are associated with inferior human health outcomes and higher levels might have the possibility of increasing risk of morbidity and mortality. As mentioned, some recent information suggests that vitamin D intake to achieve a minimum level of 120 nmol/L [48 ng/ml] is associated with the lowest mortality [3] [Emphasis added]
…It is important to recognize that vitamin D does not work alone but requires essential minerals to achieve its full benefit. Deficiency of minerals including magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron is very common as outlined above. Recognizing the synergistic action of mineral deficiency with elevated vitamin D levels on the uptake of toxic elements, adequate intake of minerals needs to be ensured.
It is possible that the concern associated with excessive vitamin D might be explained by the increased absorption and bioaccumulation of toxic elements.
See also, footnoted references in this online article about vitamin D and its co-factors:
https://www.bioceuticals.com.au/education/article/vitamin-d-and-its-helper-nutrients
Dr. John Campbell’s online lecture at the 40 second mark shows that Dr. Fauci himself takes 6,000 IU/day of vitamin D3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqZLMoLvhgk
The above was posted September 16, 2020
For the most recent scientific publications, visit the Covid 19 links at https://vitamindwiki.com/
Additional Resource: https://www.vitamindsociety.org/index.php
APPENDIX
UNITS CONVERSIONS:
Blood levels of vitamin D: 1 ng/ml = 2.5 nmol/L
Vitamin D3 supplements: 1000 IU = 25 mcg
Testing Nomenclature:
25 hydroxyvitamin D blood test is abbreviated as 25(OH)D, which is the accepted and recommended test used to measure vitamin D levels in the blood overall. This is the test your doctor should order for you (or you should look for online).
1,25 hydroxyvitamin D blood test is used to assess the active form of Vitamin D in the blood, but is not respresentative of all the vitamin D available for conversion into active use and is not the preferred test to use for assessing vitamin D status.
Posted 10/9/20
Last updated 10/11/20
