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Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health issue.
Rapidly Increasing Vitamin D Levels Strengthens the Immune System Against Infection
A study published in the journal Nutrients highlights the significant role of administering high doses of vitamin D to rapidly elevate its levels to therapeutic ranges.
Taking 5,000 units of vitamin D daily requires 3-5 months to achieve therapeutic levels, specifically higher than 50 ng/mL.
However, to bolster the immune system and reduce complications from autoimmune diseases and infections, it's necessary to increase vitamin D levels to therapeutic ranges within days, not over 3-5 months. Maintaining these levels above 50 ng/mL throughout the year is essential.
Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health issue. Those most affected include patients with cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, respiratory disorders, recurrent infections, and cancer.
A lack of vitamin D weakens the immune system and increases susceptibility to infections and their severe complications.
Vitamin D deficiency impacts the body's capacity to control inflammation effectively. It is linked to increased relapses and deterioration of autoimmune diseases, and it contributes to mood and sleep disorders, reduced energy, and metabolic issues. This deficiency aggravates diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance[1].
A recent study in the Nutrients journal summarizes existing knowledge and outlines the required vitamin D levels to boost the immune system effectively[2].
This study holds significant weight as its author, Prof. Sunil J. Wimalawansa, and editor, Prof. Bruce W. Hollis, are globally renowned experts in vitamin D research.
"For the optimal functioning of the immune system, vitamin D levels above 50 ng/mL are required."
Prof. S Wimalawansa. Nutrients 2022.
High-Dose Vitamin D for Reaching Therapeutic Thresholds
While vitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL suffice for healthy bone function, they are insufficient for optimal functioning of the immune and other body systems.
Vitamin D levels above 50 ng/mL are required to optimize the immune system's functioning.
Adults weighing around 70 kg (154 pounds) taking 5,000 units of vitamin D daily require over three months to reach blood vitamin D levels above 50 ng/mL. This slow increase is inadequate for patients in urgent situations, keeping vitamin D levels low for an extended period.
The delay in reaching therapeutic levels can be reduced to a few days by administering a higher initial dose of vitamin D.
The study suggests an initial oral dose of 100,000-500,000 units can increase blood vitamin D levels above 50 ng/mL within 3-5 days. Individuals taking such high daily doses should be under the immediate supervision of an experienced doctor and undergo regular blood tests.
Vitamin D circulates in the body in three primary forms. Two are inactive (cholecalciferol and calcifediol), and one is active (calcitriol). Its activation occurs through converting inactive forms to active ones, mainly in the kidneys, inside cells, and the skin's outer layer (epidermis).
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Image: Vitamin D exists in the body in three main forms. Two of these are inactive forms (cholecalciferol and calcifediol), and one is active (calcitriol). Clinical Nutrition 2021, modified.
In the immune system, vitamin D activation occurs inside the cells and is regulated by its blood levels. Low vitamin D levels in the blood hinder its entry into immune cells, thereby preventing the conversion to its active form, calcitriol.
A deficiency in vitamin D reduces its beneficial effects and disrupts the immune system's functioning. This increases susceptibility to infections, worsens the course of chronic diseases, and heightens the risk of serious complications.
Low levels of vitamin D in the blood prevent its entry into immune cells, consequently inhibiting the production of its active form.
The study notes chronic vitamin D deficiency significantly impacts health, reduces productivity, and increases healthcare costs.
Over half of the world's population experiences vitamin D deficiency at some point during the year. This increases susceptibility to infections and worsens the course of chronic diseases such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Conversely, ensuring the population has sufficient vitamin D levels improves overall individual health and significantly reduces healthcare costs.
However, typical dosage recommendations often must be higher to ensure adequate population coverage.
Safely Increasing Vitamin D Levels Through Supplementation
Regular sun exposure can increase vitamin D concentrations in the blood above 30 ng/mL. However, modern lifestyles, clothing, indoor living, and sun avoidance often prevent achieving levels over 30 ng/mL.
Besides certain fatty fish from open seas, sun-exposed mushrooms, and fortified foods, dietary vitamin D intake is negligible.
Even with occasional sun exposure and multivitamin supplements, maintaining levels above 50 ng/mL is challenging.
Adequate supplementation is necessary to reach and sustain vitamin D levels over 50 ng/mL.
High doses of vitamin D have been successfully used under expert guidance for conditions like migraines and autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, Hashimoto's disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, connective tissue disorders, and more.
Correcting deficiency should involve administering the inactive form of cholecalciferol of the vitamin, not the active form, to avoid toxicity.
Administering the inactive form increases their availability in the blood, allowing the body to activate only the needed amount of vitamin D, similar to natural processes like sun exposure.
The active form (calcitriol) is prescribed in special pathological conditions, such as when blood calcium levels need to increase or when kidney dysfunction prevents effective vitamin activation. Its administration should always be done under expert guidance due to the risk of toxicity, which involves elevated blood and urine calcium levels.
Researchers conclude that long-term vitamin D replenishment through supplements is the most cost-effective and practical approach to maintaining strong immunity in the population and reducing healthcare costs.
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Image: Infection risk decreases from 39% to 2.5% with blood vitamin D levels above 50 ng/mL.
No toxicity from vitamin D has been observed for blood levels below 200 ng/mL. Administering 20,000 - 50,000 units daily of the vitamin's inactive forms is entirely free of side effects. However, these doses should be prescribed by a specialist experienced in administering high doses of vitamin D. Individuals taking such high daily doses must be under the immediate supervision of an experienced doctor and undergo regular blood tests.
Alongside vitamin D supplementation, it's essential to identify and correct deficiencies in its cofactors, such as vitamin K2, B-complex vitamins, magnesium, and zinc, to meet the body's needs and observe significant clinical improvement[3-5].
Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels contributes to chronic and infectious disease prevention, reducing severe complications and deaths from infections and chronic diseases, decreasing work absenteeism, increasing productivity, and improving health.
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Bibliographic References
[1] A Narrative Review of the Evidence for Variations in Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration Thresholds for Optimal Health. William B. Grant et al. Nutrients Febr 2022.
[2] Rapidly Increasing Serum 25(OH)D Boosts the Immune System, against Infections—Sepsis and COVID-19. Prof. Sunil J. Wimalawansa. Εndocrinology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Cardiometabolic & Endocrine Institute, North Brunswick, NJ, USA. Academic Editor: Prof. Bruce W. Hollis. Nutrients 2022, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14142997
[3] Vitamin D Resistance as a Possible Cause of Autoimmune Diseases: A Hypothesis Confirmed by a Therapeutic High-Dose Vitamin D Protocol. Dirk Lemke et al. Front. Immunol. April 2021.
[4] World aging population, chronic diseases and impact of modifiable-metabolic risk factors. Dr. Dimitris Tsoukalas, MD (Greece). European Institute of Nutritional Medicine, E.I.Nu.M. 20th International Congress of Rural Medicine 2018. Tokyo - Japan.
[5] Sufficient vitamin D status positively modified ventilatory function in asthmatic children following a Mediterranean diet enriched with fatty fish intervention study. Maria M Papamichael, Catherine Itsiopoulos, Katrina Lambert, Charis Katsardis, Dimitris Tsoukalas, Bircan Erbas. Nutr Res . 2020 Aug 16.
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