Health, wellness, Disease Prevention Advanced Health and Life Extension
| Home | Articles

Life Extension Foundation Supersale
Affiliate Disclosure: Purchasing products through links on this website will earn the author a commission at no additional cost to the purchaser.

Vitamin D

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a group of fat soluble vitamins or prohormones. The two most common forms are D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). D2 can be obtained from plant sources while D3 is the form primarily synthesized in the skin by absorbing light energy from UVB rays. Vitamin D3 is considered to be the more bioavailable form of the vitamin and is the preferred form when supplementing.

Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements. It is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylation reactions to be activated in the body. Calcitriol (1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol) is the active form of vitamin D found in the body.

The action for which vitamin D is best known is regulation of calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the blood. Vitamin D enhances the absorption of these two minerals in the small intestine; if dietary intake of calcium falls below adequate levels, vitamin D, in conjunction with parathyroid hormone, will mobilize calcium stores from the bones into the blood. Vitamin D is also necessary for bone growth and remodeling.

Approximately 5,000 research papers have been written about vitamin D in the last 40 years. Only recently have we begun to appreciate vitamin D's influence on many aspects of health beyond building healthy bones.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D Deficiency has Been Linked to:

  • Various forms of cancer including breast, prostate and colon cancer
  • Fractures
  • Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
  • Heart Disease
  • Pain and Muscle Aches
  • High CRP Levels
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Decreased immunity and lowered resistance to influenza and viruses
  • Osteoporosis and osteomalacia
  • Depression
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  • Periodontal Disease
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chronic Pain
  • Peripheral Artery Disease
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Type I Diabetes
  • Parkinsons
  • Autoimmune Disorders
  • Multiple Sclerosis

As vitamin D is becoming increasingly recognized as important to health, more doctors are doing blood tests for vitamin D levels to assess the nutritional status of this vital substance.

Vitamin D from Food

Vitamin D occurs freely in relatively few foods. Fish contain vitamin D because they are directly or indirectly nourished by algae which create the vitamin D from exposure to ultraviolet sunlight in shallow waters. Natural sources of vitamin D include:

  • Fish liver oils (cod liver oil provides 1350 IU per Tbs.)
  • Herring (1383 IU in 3 oz.)
  • Catfish (425 IU in 3 oz.)
  • Salmon (360 IU in 3.5 oz.)
  • Mackerel (345 IU in 3.5 oz.)
  • Sardines (250 IU in 1.75 oz.)
  • Tuna (200 IU in 3 oz.)
  • Eel (200 IU in 3.5 oz.)
  • One Egg (20 IU each)
  • Beef Liver (15 IU in 3.5 oz.)

The practical reality is that, on average, the U.S. diet provides 100 IU/day. That includes the contributions from vitamin D fortification of foods.

Vitamin D from Sunshine

The human body is incredibly efficient at creating vitamin D from sun exposure. It is estimated that full-body exposure for a few hours will create 10,000 IU of vitamin D. The full exposure necessary for vitamin D production is present in the tropics year around, at mid latitudes in the summer months only and not at all in the upper latitudes and arctic areas. Add to this the reduced exposure from spending most of ones time indoors, covering the skin with clothing and using sunscreen when in the sun. The result is that very few individuals are getting adequate vitamin D from their exposure to the sun. Concerns over skin cancer from excess sun exposure have caused some doctors to recommend limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen and protective clothing. More recently, some doctors have concluded that obtaining the vitamin D is more important than avoiding sun exposure to reduce skin cancer risk.

How Much Vitamin D do We Need?

Adequate Intake has been defined as 200 IU/day for ages infant to age 50, 400/day for ages 51-70, and 600/day for ages over 70. Note that these numbers are derived from early research that showed that this was the intake required to prevent the manifestation of gross deficiency symptoms like rickets and osteomalacia.

The American Academy of Pediatrics argues that these recommendations are insufficient and instead recommends a minimum of 400 IU, even for infants. The 100% Daily Value used for product labels is 400 IU. The National Institute of Health has set the safe upper limit at 2000 IU, but acknowledges newer data supporting a UL as high as 10,000 IU/day.

More recent research is indicating that these numbers are very inadequate for optimum health. In one study, the researchers noted that only children receiving the equivalent of 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D had the necessary increases in vitamin D levels to the 30 nanograms per milliliter level considered optimal for adults. There was no evidence of vitamin D intoxication at the 2,000 IU a day dosage. The researchers noted that there is a high prevalence of low vitamin D levels across all age groups worldwide and that many adult diseases are rooted the pediatric age group.

Vitamin D Toxicity

Because synthesis of the most active form of vitamin D is tightly regulated by the body, vitamin D toxicity usually occurs only if excessive doses are taken. Vitamin D 1000 ?g (40,000 IU)/day produces toxicity within 1 to 4 mo in infants. In adults, taking 1250 ?g (50,000 IU)/day for several months can produce toxicity. Vitamin D toxicity can occur iatrogenically (caused by medical treatment) when hypoparathyroidism is treated too aggressively. Of all published cases of vitamin D toxicity for which a vitamin D amount is known, only one occurred at a level of intake under 40,000 IU per day.

Vitamin D toxicity symptoms may include anorexia, nausea, and vomiting often followed by polyuria (excess urination), polydipsia (excess drinking), weakness, nervousness, pruritus (itching), and eventually renal failure. Proteinuria, urinary casts, azotemia, and metastatic calcifications (particularly in the kidneys) can develop. Most of the symptoms and effects of excess vitamin D are related to the increased calcium levels that result.

Vitamin D is contraindicated in individuals with elevated blood calcium levels or hypercalcemia. Individuals with kidney disease and people who use digoxin or other cardiac glycoside drugs should consult a physician before using supplemental vitamin D.

Vitamin D Drug Interactions

Some medicines interact with vitamin D.

The following medications may increase the need for vitamin D.

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Bile Acid Sequestrants
  • Cimetadine
  • Colestipol
  • Estrogens
  • Flurbiprofen
  • Gabapentin
  • Heparin
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Indapamide
  • isoniazid
  • Mineral Oil
  • Neomycin
  • Oral Corticosteroids
  • Orlistat
  • Phenobarbital
  • Sodium Fluoride
  • Valporic Acid

The following medications may have complex interactions with vitamin D and a physician should be consulted when combining vitamin D with these medications.

  • Verapamil
  • Warfarin
  • Allopurinol
  • Estradiol
  • Estrogens
  • Medroxyprogesterone
  • Thiazide Diuretics

These lists are not comprehensive. Exercise due diligence and always ask your pharmacist about potential interactions.

Vitamin D Supplements

Here are some recommended Vitamin D Supplements.

Vitamin D3 5000 IU

Vitamin D3 with Sea-Iodine 5000 IU

Vitamin D3 1,000 IU

Vitamins D and K with Sea-Iodine

Vitamin D References

Click to Expand References

Anon. ACOG practice bulletin. Clinical management guidelines for obstetrician-gynecologists. Number 50, January 2003. Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Jan;103(1):203-16.

Bertone-Johnson ER, Chen WY, Holick MF, et al. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and risk of breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005 Aug;14(8):1991-7.

Berube S, Diorio C, Verhoek-Oftedahl W, Brisson J. Vitamin D, calcium, and mammographic breast densities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004 Sep;13(9):1466-72.

Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, et al. Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA. 2005 May 11;293(18):2257-64.

Bischoff HA, Stahelin HB, Dick W, et al. Effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on falls: a randomized controlled trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2003 Feb;18(2):343-51.

Bischoff-Ferrari HA, wson-Hughes B, Willett WC, et al. Effect of Vitamin D on falls: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004 Apr 28;291(16):1999-2006.

Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, et al. Epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Dec;134(6):1129-40.

Cerhan JR, Sellers TA, Janney CA, et al. Prenatal and perinatal correlates of adult mammographic breast density. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005 Jun;14(6):1502-8.

Chaudhuri A. Why we should offer routine vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy and childhood to prevent multiple sclerosis. Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):608-18.

Dietrich T, Nunn M, wson-Hughes B, Bischoff-Ferrari HA. Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and gingival inflammation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;82(3):575-80. Faraawi R. Osteoporosis in men. Saudi Med J. 2005 Apr;26(4):519-23.

Franklin GM, Nelson L. Environmental risk factors in multiple sclerosis: causes, triggers, and patient autonomy. Neurology. 2003 Oct 28;61(8):1032-4. Gesensway D. Vitamin D and sunshine. Ann Int Med. 2000;133:319-20.

Gysemans CA, Cardozo AK, Callewaert H, et al. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 modulates expression of chemokines and cytokines in pancreatic islets: implications for prevention of diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice. Endocrinology. 2005 Apr;146(4):1956-64.

Giovannucci E. The epidemiology of vitamin D and colorectal cancer: recent findings. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2006 Jan;22(1):24-9.

Giovannucci E. The epidemiology of vitamin D and cancer incidence and mortality: a review (United States). Cancer Causes Control. 2005 Mar;16(2):83-95.

Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, et al. Vitamin D and prevention of colorectal cancer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Oct;97(1-2):179-94.

Gordon CM, Feldman HA, Sinclair L, et al. Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Healthy Infants and Toddlers. Archives of Paediatric Medicine. June 2008, Vol 162, No. 6.

Grant WB, Holick MF. Benefits and requirements of vitamin D for optimal health: a review. Altern Med Rev. 2005 Jun; 10(2):94-111.

Hartman TJ, Albert PS, Snyder K, et al. The association of calcium and vitamin D with risk of colorectal adenomas. J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):252-9.

Hayes CE, Cantorna MT, DeLuca HF. Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1997 Oct;216(1):21-7.

Heaney RP. Advances in therapy for osteoporosis. Clin Med Res. 2003 Apr;1(2):93-9.

Holick MF. Sunlight and vitamin D: both good for cardiovascular health. J Gen Intern Med. 2002;17:733-5.

Holick MF, Shao Q, Liu WW, Chen TC. The vitamin D content of fortified milk and infant formula. N Engl J Med. 1992 Apr 30;326(18):1178-81.

Holick MF. High prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and implications for health. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006 Mar;81(3):353-73.

Holick MF. Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Mar;79(3):362-71.

Holick MF. Vitamin D: important for prevention of osteoporosis, cardiovascular heart disease, type 1 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and some cancers. South Med J. 2005 Oct;98(10):1024-7.

Holick MF. The vitamin D epidemic and its health consequences. J Nutr. 2005 Nov;135(11):2739S-48S.

Hypponen E. Micronutrients and the risk of type 1 diabetes: vitamin D, vitamin E, and nicotinamide. Nutr Rev. 2004 Sep;62(9):340-7.

Hypponen E, Laara E, Reunanen A, Jarvelin MR, Virtanen SM. Intake of vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Lancet. 2001 Nov 3;358(9292):1500-3.

John EM, Schwartz GG, Koo J, Van Den BD, Ingles SA. Sun exposure, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, and risk of advanced prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 2005 Jun 15;65(12):5470-9.

Lehmann B. The vitamin D3 pathway in human skin and its role for regulation of biological processes. Photochem Photobiol. 2005 Feb 1.

Lind L, Hanni A, Lithell H, et al. Vitamin D is related to blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged men. Am J Hypertens. 1995 Sep;8(9):894-901.

Li YC. Vitamin D regulation of the renin-angiotensin system. J Cell Biochem. 2003 Feb 1;88(2):327-31.

Liu S, Sonh Y, Ford ES, Manson JE, Buring JE, Ridker PM. Dietary calcium, vitamin D, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older US women. Diabetes Care. 2005 Dec;28(12):2926-32.

Lou YR, Qiao S, Talonpoika R, Syvala H, Tuohimaa P. The role of Vitamin D3 metabolism in prostate cancer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 Nov;92(4):317-25.

Maalouf J, Nabulsi M, Vieth R, Kimball S, El-Rassi R, Mahfoud Z, El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Short-Term and Long-Term Safety of Weekly High-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation in School Children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Apr 29.

Marniemi J, Alanen E, Impivaara O, et al. Dietary and serum vitamins and minerals as predictors of myocardial infarction and stroke in elderly subjects. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2005 Jun;15(3):188-97

Martins D, Wolf M, Pan D, et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin d in the United States: data from the third national health and nutrition examination survey. Arch Intern Med. 2007 Jun 11;167(11):1159-65.

Miggiano GA, Gagliardi L. Diet, nutrition, and rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Ter. 2005 May-Jun;156(3):115-23.

Moan J, et al "Addressing the health benefits and risks, involving vitamin D or skin cancer, of increased sun exposure" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2008; 05: 668-673.

Nagpal S, Na S, Rathnachalam R. Noncalcemic actions of vitamin D receptor ligands. Endocr Rev. 2005 Aug;26(5):662-87.

Nakagawa K, Kawaura A, Kato S, Takeda E, Okano T. 1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) is a preventive factor in the metastasis of lung cancer. Carcinogenesis. 2005 Feb;26(2):429-40.

Park EA. The therapy of rickets. JAMA.1940;115(5):370-9.

Plotnikoff GA, Quigley JM. Prevalence of severe hypovitaminosis D in patients with persistent, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2003 Dec;78(12):1463-70.

Porojnicu AC, Dahlback A, Moan J. Sun exposure and cancer survival in Norway: changes in the risk of death with season of diagnosis and latitude. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;624:43-54.

Pfeifer M, Begerow B, Minne HW, Nachtigall D, Hansen C. Effects of a short-term vitamin D(3) and calcium supplementation on blood pressure and parathyroid hormone levels in elderly women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Apr;86(4):1633-7.

Qiao G, Kong J, Uskokovic M, Li YC. Analogs of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) as novel inhibitors of renin biosynthesis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Jun;96(1):59-66.

Shearer MJ. The roles of vitamins D and K in bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Proc Nutr Sci. 1997;56:915-37.

Steingrimsdottir L, Gunnarsson O, Indridason OS, Franzson L, Sigurdsson G. Relationship between serum parathyroid hormone levels, vitamin D sufficiency, and calcium intake. JAMA. 2005 Nov 9;294(18):2336-41.

Shearer MJ. The roles of vitamins D and K in bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Proc Nutr Soc. 1997 Nov;56(3):915-37.

Timms PM, Mannan N, Hitman GA, et al. Circulating MMP9, vitamin D and variation in the TIMP-1 response with VDR genotype: mechanisms for inflammatory damage in chronic disorders? QJM. 2002 Dec;95(12):787-96.

VanAmerongen BM, Dijkstra CD, Lips P, Polman CH. Multiple sclerosis and vitamin D: an update. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug;58(8):1095-109.

van den Bemd GJ, Chang GT. Vitamin D and vitamin D analogs in cancer treatment. Curr Drug Targets. 2002 Feb;3(1):85-94.

van Veldhuizen PJ, Taylor SA, Williamson S, Drees BM. Treatment of vitamin D deficiency in patients with metastatic prostate cancer may improve bone pain and muscle strength. J Urol. 2000 Jan;163(1):187-90.

Vijayakumar S, Mehta RR, Boerner PS, Packianathan S, Mehta RG. Clinical trials involving vitamin D analogs in prostate cancer. Cancer J. 2005 Sep-Oct;11(5):362-73.

Vieth R. Vitamin D supplementation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, and safety. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 May;69(5):842-56.

Wolters M. Diet and psoriasis: experimental data and clinical evidence. Br J Dermatol. 2005 Oct;153(4):706-14.

Woo TC, Choo R, Jamieson M, Chander S, Vieth R. Pilot study: potential role of vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) in patients with PSA relapse after definitive therapy. Nutr Cancer. 2005;51(1):32-6.

Wortsman J, Matsuoka LY, Chen TC, Lu Z, Holick MF. Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Sep;72(3):690-3.

Yoshihara A, Watanabe R, Nishimuta M, Hanada N, Miyazaki H. The relationship between dietary intake and the number of teeth in elderly Japanese subjects. Gerodontology. 2005 Dec;22(4):211-8.

Zadshir A, Tareen N, Pan D, Norris K, Martins D. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among US adults: data from the NHANES III. Ethn Dis. 2005;15(4 Suppl 5):S5-101.

Zamora SA, Rizzoli R, Belli DC, Slosman DO, Bonjour JP. Vitamin D supplementation during infancy is associated with higher bone mineral mass in prepubertal girls. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Dec;84(12):4541-4.

Zhou W, Suk R, Liu G, et al. Vitamin D is associated with imrpoved survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005 Oct;14(10):2303-9.

Zittermann A. Vitamin D and disease prevention with special reference to cardiovascular disease. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2006 Sep;92(1):39-48.

http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch004/ch004k.html Accessed September, 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_d Accessed September, 2009

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp Accessed September, 2009


Back to Top

Life Extension  Daily News
Anti-Aging
Nutrition
News
Life Extension  Disease Prevention and Treatment Protocols
Life Extension
Health
Protocols


Home |   All Site Articles |   Health Research ResourcesLife Extension Foundation Protocols |   Privacy Policy |  


Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional. The author and publisher are not providing medical, psychological, or nutritional counseling services. Liability for individual actions based upon the contents of this site is expressly disclaimed. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. FDA.

Affiliate Disclosure: The website author will earn an affiliate commission if you purchase any products from any of the links on this site. There is no additional cost to the purchaser.



© copyright 2022 Clear Springs Press, LLC. All rights reserved.