Years ago when I was pregnant with my third baby and had two toddlers, I was getting head colds often, and my chiropractor friend told me about Vitamin D deficiency and how much Vitamin D myself and the kids should take during the winter time. I did research and ever since I have been taking Vitamin D all winter and giving it to my family. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is a hormone precursor (3). Vitamin D3 is the vitamin that is naturally in fish, mushrooms, cheese, egg yolks and beef liver and it can be synthesized from exposure to sun (3). In fact, Vitamin D historically was only obtained from the sunlight, and those with continual sun exposure will have adequate levels (3). Those who do not have adequate sun exposure should consider supplementation. Bone health and immunity are associated with Vitamin D (1). Lower Vitamin D levels were found in those fighting cancer though this can be associated with SNPs to make a clear connection(2). Vitamin D deficiency is correlated with infection and even auto immunity (1).
Absorption of Vitamin D is best when taken with fat or a meal. Aside from supplements, cod liver oil is a good source of Vitamin D.
Get Vitamin D at my Fullscript store!
I recommend having your levels checked then working with me to determine your supplementation needs.
Recommended supplement brands:
Vitamin D Douglas Labs Serving Size: One Tablet Amount Per Serving Vitamin D-3 … 5, 000IU (cholecalciferol) Other Ingredients: Cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, calcium carbonate, silica and vegetable stearate.
Liposomal Vitamin D Dr Mercola Serving Size: One Capsule Amount Per Serving Vitamin D … 5, 000IU (Vitamin D3) (as Cholecalciferol) Other Ingredients: Sunflower Lecithin, Capsule (hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose), Medium Chain Triglycerides.
You can check your Vitamin D levels yourself with Your Lab Work or Ulta Labs.
Levels of vitamin D (2)
sufficient 30–100 ng/ml
insufficient 21–29 ng/ml
deficient <20 ng/ml).
References:
1 Aranow C. (2011). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research, 59(6), 881–886. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
2 Young, M. R. I., & Xiong, Y. (2018). Influence of vitamin D on cancer risk and treatment: Why the variability?. Trends in cancer research, 13, 43–53.
3 Gaby, Alan. (2017) Nutritional Medicine (2nd ed.). Fritz Perlberg Publishing.