The amount of vitamin D we need daily is far higher than the recommended daily amount suggested by the National Institute for Health (NIH). Maintaining vitamin D sufficient levels requires a higher supplemental amount when sunlight and or nutrition from diet is limited. The NIH RDA for vitamin D is 800IU because its considering most of the intake of the nutrient will be from those two factors.
The NIH states that to maintain sufficient vitamin D levels, maintenance of a 30 to 32 ng/mL (sufficient) serum level, requires approximately 2,200 to 3,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D from all sources. Lets consider extreme circumstances. If a person is removed from all sunlight and food intake, supplementation is needed to meet the total requirement of 2200-3000IU to maintain sufficient vitamin D levels over time. Upper limits of Vitamin D intake need to be evaluated as well. The NIH mentions that The Institute of Medicine lists 2,000 IU as the upper tolerable limit, but in fact (NIH continues), there is little evidence of toxicity unless doses of 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 are exceeded.
At Risk Groups
Three groups must pay extra attention to vitamin D serum levels. Obese people, according to the NIH, tend to be more deficient in D due to volumetric dilution into the greater volumes of fat, serum, liver, and muscle. Obese people tend to be bigger all around so vitamin D becomes diluted. This vitamin is also fat soluble. Another group that needs to be aware is seniors. Their thinner skin makes vitamin D synthesis less efficient. Seniors also have lower absorption rates and tend to spend less time outdoors.
People with dark skin are also more prone to low D levels. The extra melanin in their skin protects them from sun damage but also makes them more resistant to creating D. The table below (Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ng/ml) shows whites having vitamin D levels two thirds higher than those of blacks in a study from 2005. Some studies put the African American D sufficiency rate at less than 18%.
A growing number of international doctors and researchers are encouraging governments to increase daily recommendations for vitamin D consumption to a level many times higher than they are presently at. They believe it will reduce Covid-19 hospitalizations and the evidence is growing that this is strong possibility. Vitamin D has many functions that keep the immune system ready to both detect and fight an incoming virus
Another study came out of Spain last night. Researchers at the University of Cantabria say 82 percent of them had inadequate D levels. The control group in the study (Covid-19 negative) only had a 47 percent deficient or insufficient combined rate. That study followed 216 patients. Please also refer to our recent article detailing several studies indicating the importance of maintaining higher vitamin D levels
Better Nutrition
We want to deliver enough vitamin D to maintain healthy levels in the circulatory system under severe conditions. With the days getting shorter for the next two months, those conditions are fast approaching. 2200IU is available in our Immune Support, 7EN (Essential Nutrients), while 2000 IU is available in our Organic Elderberry Extract. Our Organic Multivitamin contains 800IU of both Vitamin D2 and D3. Please consider the importance of D supplementation in the coming months. All of our vitamin D2 entirely from Reishi Mushrooms and all of our D3 comes from lichen. Two organisms that have been harnessing the rays of the sun for millions of years. Supplemental D sold online is virtually all created using components of radiated pig. Ours is solely from mushrooms and lichen.
