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VITAMIN D & IMMUNE FUNCTION: Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin/ steroid hormone that is essential for bone metabolism and calcium function, modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular function and immune function (including autoimmune issues). It not only helps to boost both innate and adaptive immune function, vitamin D is an immune modulator (balance) and seems to help dampen cytokine and bradykinin storms.
It is known than many Americans, 40-80% are vitamin D deficient. Deficiency is worse in people who are older, darker skin, stay indoors, dwell in cities, live up north, have kidney or liver problems, wear heavy sun screen, etc. Most people will need to supplement because there are few foods with good natural levels of vitamin D. Also, it is suggested to spend some time (i.e.15 minutes) exposing most of your skin to the sun without sunscreen (to just barely pink). (Sunscreen can block vitamin D production by over 90%.) Ultraviolet light converts the vitamin D precursor (from cholesterol) in your skin so that it can proceed for processing to your liver and then finally to your kidneys to become active D3.
There are varying opinions about what dose to use. Numbers vary from 2000IU to 4000IU of D3 cholecalciferol daily. Some recommend higher doses such as 5000IU or more to help optimize blood levels. Patients with a BMI from 25 to 30 need 1.5x and and those with BMI over 30 need 2-3x the base dosage to get their levels up. Testing blood levels is recommended. Blood levels over 30ng/ml are considered acceptable by some, while other experts strongly suggest 50-60 ng/ml or even higher according to studies. (Calcifediol is a form that is rapidly absorbed and increases blood levels and can be given in hospital setting but does not store in fat and has only 2 week half-life. Cholecalciferol is stored and has an 8 week half-life.) While vitamin D3 is actually a hormone and can have toxic effects when taken in high doses, reports suggest dangerous levels are from consumption of 100,000IU taken daily for several weeks to months. Don't take that much without medical guidance. (Coimbra protocol uses 100,000-300,000IU.)
Finally, it takes time to optimize one's vitamin D levels and that vitamin D needs to be taken daily or weekly to be of help. Monthly bolus doses are significantly less effective. (Although it now seems that even 4 weeks of supplementing D3 and high doses of calcifediol given in the hospital do help with COVID-19. A bolus may help up to 70 days.) Vitamin D is better absorbed when taken with dietary fats and other fat soluble vitamins. Adequate magnesium of 400-900mg (citrate or malate) is also important to activate the vitamin D. Vitamin K further helps vitamin D adsorption and also helps limit the deposition of calcium in the kidneys and blood vessel walls. Magnesium and K2 together help make vitamin D more than twice as effective. (See Dr. Been Dosage for vitamin D, K2 and calcium video below.)
Vitamin D May Help Sunburn by Medical News Today - 2017 Taking large doses of 100,000 to 200,000 iU right after sunburn exposure may help reduce damaging effects and inflammation and activate skin repair mechanisms. (See also the benefits of taking calcium before sun exposure.)
How Vitamin D Helps Reduce Autoimmune Disease by MedCram - Mar 2022
Get tested now and see what your numbers are. (Call us if you want us to order tests or supplements for you.)
VITAMIN A is another great immune helper among other things. For example, vitamin A and D have been shown to be effective as nutritional support during a measles infection. Miller's review book includes several research summaries for measles nutrition.
VITAMIN E is another powerful immune supporter.
VITAMIN K is also important for immune health and the blood. Deficiency of vitamin K leads to less protein S and more thrombosis (blood clotting). Low vitamin K also leads to failure of elastic fibers in the blood vessels leading to desmosins and calcification of the blood vessels with resulting fibrosis (scaring). Vitamin K1 for activation and clotting, K2 for calcium metabolism and can be converted to K1. Vitamin K2 helps remove calcium from the soft tissues and deposit it in the bones. The MK-7 form is more potent than the MK-4 and can be taken in a lower dose. It is suggested to take 100mcg of MK-7 per day or 1000mcg of MK-4 to accompany vitamin A or D. Patients on vitamin K antagonist medication (to limit clotting) need to discuss dosing with their doctor.
(Calcium 1000mg is useful with vitamin K and D but should be reviewed with one's doctor if any calcium channel blockers, kidney or heart disease.)
IMMUNE RESEARCH LINKS (note dates released):
Vitamin K Deficiency Leads to Poor COVID-19 Outcome by Dr. Been Medical Lectures - June 2020 the biochemistry
Many Life Saving Benefits of Vitamin K by MercolaPDF- Apr 2022 Vitamin K may help with many heart health issues leading to a decrease of death by 57% over 7-10 years.
Importance of Vitamin K2 with Dr. Rheaume Bleue by Mercola on Bitchute - Mar 2023 Discuss many essential benefits of K2 and natural source of M7 largely from grass fed dairy. How it interacts with vitamin D (need about 100mcg per 5000iu) and other benefits.
Benefits of Vitamin K by Mercola PDF- Jan 2022 CENSORED Low vitamin K levels affect coagulation and seem to be related to severe COVID-19.
Dosage For Vitamin D, K2 and Calcium by Dr. Been Medical Lectures - Sep 2020 his biochem review is included in my comments above. The liver takes up to 7 days to metabolize vitamin D given as a bolus and stored in fat. D3 dosing is at end of video, its half-life is 2-8 weeks.
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Meta Analysis Confirms Vitamin D Defends Against COVID by Mercola PDF - Sep 2022
More Evidence Vitamin D Helps Prevent Severe COVID-19 by Mercola PDF- Jul 2022
Evidence Vitamin D Helps Prevent Severe COVID-19 by Ivor Cummings on YouTube - Jul 2022
Adequate Vitamin D Levels Seem to Reduce COVID Deaths by Dr. Campbell on Youtube - Nov 2021 John Campbell reviews a study showing that adequate blood vitamin D levels correlate with a reduction of COVID deaths. Reports that low vitamin D levels increases spread of community disease, reduces effectiveness of vaccines and reduces protection against infection. Low vitamin D is more common in elderly, dark skinned, during winter and with comorbidities. Vitamin D3 is an epigenetic modifier that influences more than 2500 genes. It helps modulate (normalize) the immune system. It is advised to have serum vitamin D above 50 ng/ml which requires supplementation of 4000 - 10,000 iu per day. It is advised to be taken with vitamin K2 (200mcg/day) to avoid toxicity. Levels of 55ng/ml purportedly would save most lives...
Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Spread of Disease by Mercola PDF - Nov 2021 A referenced summary shows that levels below 50ng/ml are detrimental.
Benefits of Vitamin D from Dozens of Studies Reviewed by Dr. Patrick on Vdmeta.com- Jan 2022 Dr. Rhonda Patrick is a meticulous scientific researcher with a focus on issues that affect health. See also her website FoundMyFitness.com She reports the affects on immune, mood, bones, growth, etc.
Vitamin D May Reduce Susceptibility to COVID-19 Lung Damage by Dr. Patrick on FoundMyFitness.com - Jan 2022 A lengthy and thorough evaluation of the benefits of vitamin D.
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COVID-19 Mortality Risk Inversely Correlates with Vitamin D3 Status in Nutrients - Sep 2021 Based on a systematic and meta-analysis, the authors propose that COVID-19 could have a death rate near ZERO with vitamin D3 levels above 50ng/ml.
Judson Somerville, M.D. on Vitamin D3 by TSP2847 - Mar 2021 Discussion with doctor who has been using what he calls optimal doses of Vitamin D3 (30,000 daily units) to help his patients with immune, heart, hormone and many other problems for over 12 years. Dr. Sommerville reports that the real level of toxicity is over 300ng/ml. He recommends that his patients maintain a blood value of 100-140ng/ml. Could this therapy have ended COVID within a few months? He has written a book The Optimal Dose. They also discuss the poor chronic health of many Western people and their lack of good nutrition. Other books are mentioned: The Miraculous Results of Extremely High Doses of the Sunshine Hormone D3 by Jeff T. Bowles and How Not to Die with True High-Dose Vitamin D Therapy by Tiago Henriques. (Listener Caution: The host sometimes uses language that is not family friendly.)
Could Most COVID Deaths have been Prevented? by Mercola.com - Jan 2021 CENSORED A number of scientists add to the mounting evidence that good levels of Vitamin D are critical to immune health, some urging that it can lower the risk of COVID-19 related death by 700% in the elderly. Dr. Peter Osborne states that he feels 9 of 10 COVID deaths could have been avoided with adequate vitamin D. And Dr. Peter McCullough, M.D. professor of medicine at Texas A&M who testified that 85% of COVID deaths could have been prevented using effective early treatments was censored. Early treatment options were heavily suppressed. And his video reviewing effective early treatments was banned by social media. He felt that so many people were dying because they did not know early treatments existed. And Dr. Mercola's paper study that was censored titled: Evidence Regarding Vitamin D and Risk of COVID-19 and Its Severity.
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Vitamin D, Large Scale Study review by Dr. John Campbell - Sep 2020 Low vitamin D associated with increased COVID-19 severity risk. Deficient is below 20ng/ml with insufficient is 20-30ng/ml. Low levels = 45% more likely infected and 95% more likely to be hospitalized. Helps lungs. Supplementing over previous 4 weeks showed a significant protective effect against COVID-19. Low levels 4x likely to die from COVID-19.
What Vitamin D Level Reduces Risk of Death from COVID-19? by Dr.Been Medical Lecture - Sep 2020 Levels above 40ng/ml are signifcantly protective with a 7% reduction in seasonal infections for every 4ng/ml above that level. Boston University study showed no deaths under age 40 regardless of D levels, while over age 40, had 20% death rate if low levels of vitamin D and 6.3% death rate if levels over 40ng/ml. Sufficient level patients had lower symptoms in hospital. Another study shows those with adequate vitamin D levels 54% less likely to suffer from COVID-19.
Short-term High Dose Vitamin D and COVID-19; India by BMJ - 2020 This randomized, clinical controlled study found that high dose cholecalciferol caused SARS-CoV2 to turn seronegative more and significantly decrease fibrinogen.
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Vitamin D, First Clinical Trial by Dr. John Campbell - Sep 2020 Vitamin D seems to reduce COVID-19 symptoms in several ways. Spain study gave 20,000 IU calcifediol initially (10,000 day 3 & 7) then 10,000 IU weekly = only 2% to ICU vs. 50% of those NOT getting vitamin D3!
Vitamin D High Dose and COVID-19 by Dr.Been Medical Lectures - Sep 2020 technical review of Spain hospital study and D3 benefits including how it modulates many immune functions (even actions blocked by a virus & mimics drug actions), lowers inflammation & reduces problems.
Vitamin D and Pandemic Science by Dr. John Campbell - Sep 2020 Dr. Fauci reports taking vitamin C and 6000iu of vitamin D.
Vitamin D Deficiency in COVID-19 & Endothelium Problems by MedCram - July 2020 Vitamin D3 reduces All Cause Mortality, Cardio & Cancer problems (45-60nmol/L) and may help with coronavirus and short & long term complications.
Vitamin D, Science by Dr. John Campbell - July 2020 How does vitamin D work??
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Benefits of Vitamin D - A Lengthy Review by Dr. Patrick on FoundMyFitness.com - Jan 2022 A lengthy, detailed review of D3 research.
Vitamin D Comments by Harvard Professor Dr. JoAnn Manson - See her 2020 article too. Where did this ever go??
More Benefits of Vitamin D & A by Dr. Rhonda Patrick - Start at 35 minutes for nutrient deficiency immune discussion June 2020
Vitamin D Research Paper Summary by Dr. Rhonda Patrick - Start at minute 24 for Vitamin D April 2020
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Vitamin D Harvard Research Review by Dr. John Campbell - Please search his other Vitamin D reviews too.
Vitamin D Strongly Recommended - Update by Dr. John Campbell - June 2020 MORE SUPPORT
Vitamin D and COVID: Prevention and Treatment by Dr. Seheult of MedCram - Dec 2020 explains all that D3 does as a hormone
Vitamin D Immune Support Biochemistry Explanation by Dr. Been Medical Lectures - see his other good topics.
Vitamin D for Influenza - Jun 2015 Canadian study suggests that to achieve 50ng/ml healthy level a daily dose of 8800IU may be needed.
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Vitamin D More Effective Than Flu Vaccine from Mercola.com - CENSORED
Vitamin D for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Dr. Seheult by Mercola.com - Jan 2021 CENSORED Shows the significant benefits of vitamin D for immune and respiratory health. Low vitamin D levels makes one statistically vulnurable to SARS-CoV2. Vitamin D is known to be very safe and cost effective. There is no down side. The U.K. started a citizen distribution program but then discontinued it - possibly with pressure from industry groups. Vitamin D is more effective when taken with vitamin K2 and magnesium.
How Long Will We Ignore the Truth About Vitamin D? by Mercola.com - Dec 2020 CENSORED References Dr. Campbell video review and others Gives indepth info on many aspects of vitamin D. Reports about benefits of having serum vitamin D at least 40-60ng/ml. Magnesium and vitamin K2 are important cofactors.
More than 80% of COVID Patients are Vitamin D Deficient by Mercola.com - Nov 2020 CENSORED Per Spain study 82% of COVID patients were vitamin D deficient. Another study found that once vitamin D is over 30ng/ml the risk of severe COVID virtually disappears. Vitamin D helps respiratory viral illness by reducing survival and replication of virus, reducing inflammatory cytokine production and maintaining endothelial integrity. Darker skin, obesity, increased age and pre-existing conditions all reduce vitamin D levels. Levels over 20ng/ml seem to reduce hospital stays.
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Effects of Vitamin D and COVID Related Outcomes by Mercola.com - CENSORED July 2021 Many big benefits from vitamin D.
Patterns of COVID-19 Mortality and Vitmain D - Indonesia - Apr 2020
Vitamin D Could Possibly Improve COVID-19 Outcomes preprint by Mark Alipio - Apr 2020
Vitamin D Cuts SARS-CoV2 Infection Rate by Half by Mercola.com - Sep 2020 CENSORED Studies from U.S.A, Israel, Spain.
Vitamin D & Stopping the Second Wave by Mercola.com - Sep 2020 CENSORED More about how optimal vitamin D levels help with COVID-19. Vaccine?
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Vitamin D in the Prevention of COVID-19 from Mercola.com - July 2020 CENSORED
Vitamin D Important Regardless of Media Reports from Mercola.com- June 2020 CENSORED
Vitamin D Levels Correlated to COVID-19 Outcome from Mercola.com - reviews several European papers May 2020 CENSORED
Vitamin D Immune Support for 2020 from Mercola.com - some official comments April 2020 CENSORED
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The Optimal Dose by Judson Somerville, M.D. - book on Restore Your Health With the Power of Vitamin D3
HIGH-DOSE Vitamin D Therapy by Tiago Henriques - book on Coimbra's Protocol and the Secrets of Safe High-Dose Vitamin D3 & K2 Supplementation. How not to die with true High-Dose Vitamin D Therapy.
*See also my Inflammation and Cytokine Storm pages for Dr. Been videos explaining how Vitamin D affects CRP and COVID-19 illness.
Dr. Rolland discusses some of many essential and immune benefits of vitamins A, E, D & K - 2020.