Vitamin D Levels Need to Increase

Larry A. Law

Two new studies on vitamin D dosing, conducted by Intermountain Health, were presented at the American Heart Association's 2023 Scientific Sessions. Both studies concluded that current vitamin D recommendation levels appear to be too low for healthy heart protection. Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because the best source comes from skin exposure to the sun. ​When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol. The sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hit cholesterol in the skin cells, providing the energy for vitamin D synthesis to occur. The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 600 International Units (IU) (equivalent to 15 micrograms—mcg) for adults under the age of 70. The recommendation is 800 IU (20 mcg) for adults older than 70. Researchers noted that achieving therapeutic levels of vitamin D took time. It took 3 months of high dosing for 65% of the participants to reach optimal levels (40 nanograms per milliliter) and 6 months for 25% of the participants to get there. 

Higher Dosing Required

More than half the participants required between 5,000 and 8,000 IU (125 to 200 mcg) of vitamin D to reach optimal levels. In some cases, patients needed more than 10,000 IU (250 mcg). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns that mega-dosing with more than 4,000 IU of vitamin D could lead to adverse effects like kidney stones and high calcium levels in the blood. Clearly, there is a disconnect between current RDA and NIH academic standards and what researchers are seeing in their clinical studies. Since science is alway evolving and the academic standards are old, I don't hesitate to rely upon current clinical observations. 

Chronic Heart Failure

Vitamin D binds to a protein that is more likely to become depleted under the stress of inflammation. Research indicates that chronic heart failure is often linked to vitamin D deficiency; also that low levels of vitamin D are connected to a higher risk of death in those with heart failure. However, the evidence remains inconclusive concerning vitamin D's role in developing heart disease. It seems clear that the current RDA recommendations are much too low. Doubling or tripling those levels would keep you well under the NIH warning and would still ensure a much needed boost towards optimal health. Of course, getting a blood test to see your current level would be ideal. 

Part of a Whole

Vitamin D is one vitamin. It is important to remember that the body needs many nutrients—vitamins, minerals, sugar nutrients, water, pre- and pro-biotics, omegas, etc. Providing adequate levels in each area is vital to optimal health. For more information on vitamin D, see the Wellness Support Group Webinar titled Sunscreen and Vitamin D on our AngiesOptionGRM.org website.