Good Morning,

Since the beginning of COVID many people have been taking Vitamin D daily. They have the mindset that the more you take, the better…. but not so! Recently, I have noticed more and more people with toxic levels of Vitamin D. Yes… I just said TOXIC!

From infants to the elderly, everyone should have their vitamin D level checked at least once a year… maybe twice. Each individual person has unique genetics, lifestyle, environment, and health challenges. This is what makes each person’s individual need for vitamin D unique.

There are two different forms of vitamin D: active (1-25,OH calcitrol) and inactive/precursor (25-OH calcifediol). We attempt to keep the inactive stores in the 40-60ng/mL range. This is referred to as “the sweet spot”. Lower levels can be associated with immune deficiency. However, higher levels are immunosuppressive. Higher levels may be good short-term in cases of autoimmune or other aggressive inflammatory diseases.

Lower vitamin D levels (BELOW 30) are associated with poor wound healing, depression, migraines, increased autoimmune disease, increased viral infections, multiple sclerosis, and calcium loss from bones.

Levels between 40-60 ng/mL are typically optimal.

Levels 50-80 ng/mL (Borderline) can support cancer treatment and show a decreased risk in all solid cancers and slowing cancer growth in certain types of cancer.

Levels > 100 ng/mL INCREASED RISK OF TOXIC SYMPTOMS (Hypercalcemia) especially when not matched with enough K2, and magnesium. Vitamin A is also needed.

Your skin makes vitamin D from a pinking dose of sunlight. How much you make depends on your age, genetics, skin tone, and how much skin is uncovered. One light pinking exposure will typically produce 10,000 to 15,000 units of vitamin D. Sunscreen of more than 15 SPF blocks almost 100% production in the skin. The darker the skin, the more sun exposure you need.

Depending on where you live, you may not get enough sun exposure between October and April. This population may need to supplement during these times.

When you do begin vitamin D, you should start it slow. Magnesium is required for vitamin D to be converted to its final usable form. Vitamin A competes with vitamin D at the receptors for absorption.

Supplementing with other fat-soluble vitamins helps to prevent toxicity.

Too much vitamin D actually increases bone resorption of calcium and can cause hypercalcemia, with decreases in glomerular filtration rate and loss of calcium homeostasis.

Signs of high D include: polyuria, weakness, nausea, GI distress, headache, hypercalcemia. and calcinosis.

Calcinosis is the deposits of calcium and phosphate in soft tissues, especially the heart and kidney, but also the vascular and respiratory systems and other tissues. High levels of vitamin D can affect other organs!!

To help prevent calcification of soft tissues, vitamin K2 can be used. If you need to supplement with vitamin D, look for a good supplement that also contains K2.

Please have your vitamin D level checked at least once a year!

Have a Wonderful Week and Take Back Your Health!

Dr. Melissa Bass