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Vitamin D

1. Vitamin D Questions and Answers

1. Why is vitamin D beneficial to the immune system?

Ans: Vitamin D is required for the regulation of the minerals calcium and phosphorus found in the body. It also plays an important role in maintaining proper bone structure. Vitamin D plays a critical role in promoting immune response, and healthy levels of this vitamin may help lower risk of respiratory infections. It has both anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory properties, and is crucial for the activation of immune system defenses.

2. How does magnesium and K2 aid in Vitamin D absorption?

Ans: It is important to take vitamin K2 when you’re taking high-dose supplemental vitamin D to avoid complications associated with excessive calcification in your arteries. In fact, relative vitamin K2 deficiency is typically what produces symptoms of vitamin D toxicity. That said, magnesium is also a crucial part of the equation, as it is a component necessary for the activation of vitamin D. Without sufficient amounts of it, your body cannot properly utilize the vitamin D you’re taking. The dose of magnesium should be determined by a doctor, at high dose you may have loose stools. This can occur with higher-dose magnesium supplementation. If you have kidney damage, discuss the dose with your physician. One can also take vitamin K2, as it works synergistically with vitamin D. This will help drive the calcium that vitamin D helps increase in your blood, and drive it into your bones to build healthier bones. The only concern is that if you are on Coumadin, or other blood thinning medication you have to discuss vitamin K2 with your physician as it will interfere with Coumadin.

3. How do I know I am Vitamin D deficient?

Ans: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with more frequent infections and inflammation-related illnesses of all types. Other common signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include:

  • Muscle weakness and fatigue
  • Bone and joint pain, as well as fractures
  • Depression
  • Impaired cognition and headaches
  • Slow wound healing
  • 4. How safe are Vitamin D supplements?

    Ans: The body can easily handle high doses of Vitamin D, in fact there has been no single reported death from vitamin D toxicity in the past 10 years. It is also useful to understand that significant levels of vitamin D can be produced from sun exposure during sunny months. Approximately 10,000 to 25,000 IUs of vitamin D can be produced in a short time in the sun with full-body exposure, so it should be obvious that your body can easily handle high doses of vitamin D. However, Vitamin D can cause serious health problems when taken at high doses over many years. Taking high levels of vitamin D can cause too much calcium to be absorbed in the intestines, leading to rapid increases in blood calcium levels. This condition is called hypercalcemia.

    Vitamin D toxicity develops when serum levels of 25 OH vitamin D-3 levels reach 150 ng/ml( 375nmol/L) or above and daily intake should exceed 10.000 IU.

    5. How can you optimize your vitamin D levels and immune system function?

    Ans: To make sure your vitamin D level and immune system function are optimized, follow these three steps:

  • Measure your vitamin D level blood level so you can assess the dose needed to maintain or improve your level.
  • Assess your individualized vitamin D dosage using either a chart, or grassroots Health’s Vitamin D*calculator.
  • Re-measure your vitamin D level in three to six months, to evaluate how your sun exposure and/or supplement dose is working for you.