Vitamin D and “The Why” For Taking It
It’s easy to get tired of taking more “pills.” Personally, I take a whole lot of pills and powders (not drugs; I take body support stuff) and at times I get a bit bored with taking them.
It is always encouraging for me to read or review data that underscores the WHY for taking something. In this particular case, Why should I take Vitamin D all the time? This will help answer that question.
It’s also interesting to note that at the end of the article it points out that taking other supplements helps your Vitamin D work better and stay higher. The example they give is that if you take Vitamin C with the vitamin D you will get significantly better levels of Vitamin D in the blood.
Specifically, people taking about 1000mg of Vitamin C could take 500-600 units less Vitamin D and get the same blood levels. To further explain, if you took 5000 units of Vitamin D and got a good Vitamin D level, you could take 4,500 units of Vitamin D and get the same amount of vitamin D in your blood if you also take Vitamin C 1000mg.
This article also explains a bit about why other nutrients are important for you to get an optimal impact from the Vitamin D you take.
While reading about the immune boosting benefits of Vitamin D for immune function, please don't forget that it is also important for:
1. Bones
2. Attitude
3. Helps improve insulin sensitivity (too much insulin is a big issue, and this effect is really good)
4. It can help lower blood pressure
5. Reduces pain, inflammation and muscle damage
6. For many people it’s a great answer for non-surgical low back pain - in other words, if back surgery is very unlikely to help. Vitamin D in sufficient amounts will often accomplish the relief.
My comments are included in [brackets].
The article might have a few areas where it gets a bit technical. Don’t worry about it. You’ll still get some great information that should be helpful. It’s a short article (with lots of foot notes, if interested) that should make it somewhat clear as to why taking Vitamin D routinely would be a really great thing to do for your immune system.
This article was provided by the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, associated with Orthomolecular Medicine groups. “Ortho” comes from from Greek and means “straight”, “upright”, “right”, or “correct”. Orthodontics means “straight teeth” or “correctly positioned teeth”. Orthomolecular means having the “correct” levels of various nutrients/molecules for optimal health.
These organizations have been leaders in understanding the necessity of good nutrition (the right molecules) for heath. You might find other helpful information on their website.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Apr 9, 2020
Vitamin D Supplements Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infection and Death
by William B. Grant, PhD and Carole A. Baggerly
(OMNS Apr 9, 2020) There are two main reasons why respiratory tract infections such as influenza and COVID-19 occur in winter: winter sun and weather, and low vitamin D status. Many viruses live longer outside the body when sunlight, temperature, and humidity levels are low as they are in winter [1].Vitamin D is an important component of the body's immune system, and it is low in winter due to low solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) doses from exposure and the low supplement intakes of most. While nothing can be done about winter sun and weather [except travel to Mexico, Hawaii, etc], vitamin D status can be raised through vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin D has several mechanisms that can reduce risk of infections [2]. Important mechanisms regarding respiratory tract infections include:
1. Inducing production of cathelicidins [these are small, antimicrobial/antibiotic amino acid chains known as peptides] and defensins [these are small proteins a bit bigger than the peptides which have direct antimicrobial/antibiotic effects] that can lower viral survival and replication rates as well as reduce risk of bacterial infection
2. Reducing the cytokine storm that causes inflammation and damage to the lining of the lungs that can lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. [The “cytokine storm” is what causes “sepsis”, a frequent killer in the hospital. By reducing the cytokine storm, we reduce the chance of becoming “septic” and dying from many things including COVID-19. Remember as you read this article, the point it is making is that Vitamin D helps specifically with COVID-19. But the same principles apply to all potential causes of the same problem including flu, etc.]
Vitamin D deficiency has been found to contribute to acute respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of death associated with COVID-19 [3]. An analysis of case-fatality rates in 12 U.S. communities during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic found that communities in the sunny south and west had much lower case-fatality rates (generally from pneumonia) than those in the darker northeast [4].
To reduce risk of infection, it is recommended that people at risk of influenza and/or COVID-19 consider taking 10,000 IU/day of vitamin D for a few weeks to rapidly raise 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, followed by at least 5000 IU/day. The goal should be to raise 25(OH)D concentrations above 40-60 ng/ml, taking whatever is necessary for that individual to achieve and maintain that level.
For treatment of people who become infected with COVID-19, higher vitamin D doses would be required to rapidly increase 25(OH)D concentrations. [To rapidly raise the blood levels in viral illness such as a cold or flu, we recommend taking 50,000 units or more of vitamin D each day for 2-4 days and then lower the dose to 10,000 units per day until well. Then, usually, 5000 units should be adequate for most people.]
[OK, a biochemistry-heavy paragraph coming up. You could likely skip it with no great loss. But for some folk, the biochemistry might be a bit interesting.] Vitamin D is an inactive, pro-hormone which is also considered a seasonal, 'conditional' vitamin as vitamin D is not usually produced by the skin during the winter or when people are inside or covered up in the summer. Vitamin D is produced through the action of UVB radiation on 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin followed by a thermal reaction. It then enters the blood stream and when it reaches the liver, it receives a hydroxyl group and becomes 25(OH)D. This is the circulating metabolite that is measured to determine vitamin D status [25(OH)D concentration]. This metabolite is essentially inert, but is converted in the kidneys to 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol) for circulation in the blood, where it helps regulate serum calcium concentrations. Other organs can also convert 25(OH)D to calcitriol as needed, such as to fight cancer. Most of the effect of vitamin D is mediated by calcitriol entering vitamin D receptors (VDRs) attached to chromosomes in nearly every cell in the body, resulting in many genes being up- or down-regulated.
An adequate magnesium level is required for the activation of 25(OH)D [5]. Since many people in our modern society are deficient, along with supplements of vitamin D, magnesium supplements (300-400 mg/d, in citrate, chloride or malate form)[also the glycinate form can work well] should be considered. Data from voluntary participants in GrassrootsHealth.net's 25(OH)D concentration measurement program found that taking magnesium supplements was equivalent to taking ~400 IU/d more vitamin D supplementation. [6] [
While the initial classical role of vitamin D is to regulate calcium and phosphate absorption and metabolism, vitamin D has many non-skeletal effects. Many of the effects are known from observational studies in which serum 25(OH)D concentrations for those with or without specific diseases or conditions are compared statistically. Such studies generally find that concentrations above 30 to 50 ng/ml are associated with lower risk of disease than concentrations below 10-20 ng/ml, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, etc. [7]. [Adequate vitamin D in the body helps with preventing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other issues. I prefer to see the levels between 50-100.] Two large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did find significant reductions in incidence and mortality rates for cancer and progression from prediabetes to diabetes in the secondary analyses [that is, adequate vitamin D provides serious benefits for cancer and to prevent diabetes]. [8].
At this point, what is needed are quickly developed public health studies to evaluate the effect on preventing COVID-19 in the populations that achieved the recommended serum concentrations. Another critically important project would be to evaluate the serum 25(OH)D concentrations of those who develop severe symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Achieved 25(OH)D concentrations should be measured…
Regarding the safety of high-dose vitamin D supplementation, the abstract of a recent article [11] stated:
"During this time, we have admitted over 4700 patients, the vast majority of whom agreed to supplementation with either 5000 or 10,000 IUs/day. Due to disease concerns, a few agreed to larger amounts, ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 IUs/day. There have been no cases of vitamin D3 induced hypercalcemia [too much calcium] or any adverse events attributable to vitamin D3 supplementation in any patient." In addition, many reviews have reported that vitamin D supplementation is safe.
The studies that aim to provide whatever intake is necessary to obtain a serum level between 40- 60 ng/ml have shown a wide range of responses to a specific vitamin D intake. Thus, it is necessary to measure 25(OH)D concentrations at the start of vitamin D supplementation and after supplementing for a 2-3 months. Hypercalceima is the only significant risk [12], but generally does not occur below 150 ng/ml and can be easily treated by stopping supplementation at that time.
The groups for whom it is most important to take vitamin D supplements during the current COVID-19 pandemic are health care providers and first responders [13].
It should be noted that treatment of those with COVID-19 has several goals:
1. Reduce the symptoms;
2. Overcome the adverse effects of the infection such as impaired oxygen uptake due to pneumonia;
3. If possible, reduce survival and replication of the virus;
4. Keep the patient alive long enough so that the body's immune system can overcome the infection.
5. As discussed in a recent review, the complex, integrated immune system needs multiple specific micronutrients, including vitamins A, D, C, E, B6, and B12, folate, zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, which play vital, often synergistic roles at every stage of the immune response. Micronutrients with the strongest evidence for immune support are vitamins C and D and zinc.
6. Available evidence indicates that supplementation with multiple micronutrients with immune-supporting roles may modulate immune function and reduce the risk of infection [14].
7. Thus, more attention should be paid to supporting the immune system when treating COVID-19 patients.
Data from GrassrootsHealth.net volunteers underscores the interdependence of various supplements that affect immunity. Participants taking approximately 1000 mg/d vitamin C achieved a 25(OH)D concentration of 40 ng/ml with 586 IU/d lower vitamin D supplementation. [15]
Results for effects on 25(OH)D for vitamins B6, B12, K2, and calcium are available at GrassrootsHealth.net.
(William B. Grant, PhD, may be reached at Williamgrant08@comcast.net and Carole A. Baggerly at carole@grassrootshealth.org )
References
1. Aldridge RA, Lewer D, Beale S, et al. (2020) Seasonality and immunity to laboratory-confirmed seasonal coronaviruses (HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-229E): results from the Flu Watch cohort study [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review] 30 March 2020. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-52/v1
2. Grant WB, Lahore H, McDonnell SL, Baggerly CA, French CB, Aliano JA, Bhattoa HP. (2020) Evidence that vitamin D supplementation could reduce risk of influenza and COVID-19 infections and deaths. Nutrients. 12: 988. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/988
3. Dancer RC, Parekh D, Lax S, D'Souza V, Zheng S, Bassford CR, et al. (2015) Vitamin D deficiency contributes directly to the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Thorax. 70:617-624. http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=25903964
4. Grant WB, Giovannucci E. (2009) The possible roles of solar ultraviolet-B radiation and vitamin D in reducing case-fatality rates from the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic in the United States. Dermatoendocrinol. 1:215-219. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/derm.1.4.9063
5. Uwitonze AM, Razzaque MS. (2018) Role of magnesium in vitamin D activation and function. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 118:181-189. https://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2673882
6. GrassRoots Health Research Institute. (2020) Are both supplemental magnesium and vitamin K2 combined important for vitamin D levels? https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/supplemental-magnesium-vitamin-k2-combined-important-vitamin-d-levels
7. Rejnmark L, Bislev LS, Cashman KD, Eir¡ksdottir G et al. (2017) Non-skeletal health effects of vitamin D supplementation: A systematic review on findings from meta-analyses summarizing trial data. PLoS One. 12(7):e0180512. http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180512
8. Grant WB, Boucher BJ. (2019) Why secondary analyses in vitamin D clinical trials are important and how to improve vitamin D clinical trial outcome analyses - A comment on "extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D. Nutrients. 11(9). pii: E2182. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/9/2182
9. Heaney RP. (2014) Guidelines for optimizing design and analysis of clinical studies of nutrient effects. Nutr Rev.72:48-54. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nure.12090
10.McDonnell SL, Baggerly CA, French CB, Baggerly LL, Garland CF et al. (2018) Breast cancer risk markedly lower with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations ò60 vs < 20 ng/ml (150 vs 50 nmol/L): Pooled analysis of two randomized trials and a prospective cohort. PLoS One. 13(6):e0199265. http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199265
11. McCullough PJ, Lehrer DS, Amend J. (2019) Daily oral dosing of vitamin D3 using 5000 TO 50,000 international units a day in long-term hospitalized patients: Insights from a seven year experience. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 189:228-239. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30611908
12. Malihi Z, Wu Z, Lawes CMM, Scragg R. (2019) Adverse events from large dose vitamin D supplementation taken for one year or longer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 188:29-37. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960076018304692?via%3Dihub
13. Grant WB. (2020) Re: Preventing a covid-19 pandemic: Can vitamin D supplementation reduce the spread of COVID-19? Try first with health care workers and first responders. BMJ, 368:m810. https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m810/rr-42
14. Gombart AF, Pierre A, Maggini S. (2020) A review of micronutrients and the immune system-working in harmony to reduce the risk of infection. Nutrients 12(1). pii: E236. http://www.mdpi.com/resolver?pii=nu12010236
15. GrassRoots Health Research Institute. (2020) Is supplemental vitamin C important for vitamin D levels? https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/supplemental-vitamin-c-important-vitamin-d-levels
Related publications
Grant WB, Al Anouti F, Moukayed M. (2020) Targeted 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration measurements and vitamin D3 supplementation can have important patient and public health benefits. Eur J Clin Nutr. 74:366-376. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0564-0
Grant WB, Boucher BJ, Bhattoa HP, Lahore H. (2018) Why vitamin D clinical trials should be based on 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 177:266-269. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/161069124.pdf
McNamara L. (2020) COVID-19: Fighting fear and the coronavirus pandemic with precautions and quality supplements. https://laddmcnamara.com/2020/03/13/covid-19-fighting-fear-and-the-coronavirus-pandemic-with-precautions-and-quality-supplements
Laird E, Kenny EA. (2020) Vitamin D deficiency in Ireland - implications for COVID-19. Results from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). https://tilda.tcd.ie/publications/reports/pdf/Report_Covid19VitaminD.pdf
McCartney DM, Byrne DG. (2020) Optimisation of vitamin D status for enhances immune-protection against COVID-19. Irish Med J.113:P58. http://imj.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Optimisation-of-Vitamin-D-Status-for-Enhanced-Immuno-protection-Against-Covid-19.pdf
Schwalfenberg GK. (2020) Rapid Response: Covid 19, Vitamin D deficiency, smoking, age and lack of masks equals the perfect storm. BMJ, 368:m810. https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m810/rr-44
Wimalawansa SJ. (2020) Global epidemic of coronavirus - COVID-19: What we can do to minimize risks. Eur J Biomedical Pharmaceutical Sci. 7:432-438.
Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine
Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org