vitamin D supplementation REALLY that important?

[TulsaTalons]

here is an interesting link regarding vitamin D.
High vitamin D level = high testosterone level
apparently we dont get anywhere near enough vitamin D in our diet, and it is very important for producing testosterone.
what do u guys think? is it really that important to substitute vitamin D? discuss.

 

[carpee]

The question is...since d3 is so cheap, why wouldn't you?

There are too many associated benefits not to.

I use 5 or 10,000 ius a day. Mostly for immune system.

 

[JudoJosh]

Depends on where you live and the season. Sunlight = Vit D so in the summer if your outside a lot and get a lot of sun there is likely not much needed but for more of the winter months and fall where your covered up when outdoors and primarily indoors than supplementation can benefit you

 

[JudoJosh]

The question is...since d3 is so cheap, why wouldn't you?

There are too many associated benefits not to.

I use 5 or 10,000 ius a day. Mostly for immune system.

Agree

Vit D has a myriad of health benefits. I always hate when people try to isolate only one reason to take something.

If Vit D has 0 impact on testosterone levels one should still make sure they have adequate levels of it.

 

[TulsaTalons]

The question is...since d3 is so cheap, why wouldn't you?

There are too many associated benefits not to.

I use 5 or 10,000 ius a day. Mostly for immune system.

did u notice any type of difference when u started taking it?

 

[carpee]

did u notice any type of difference when u started taking it?

Have not been sick since.

Dunno what else youd really notice.

 

[TulsaTalons]

Have not been sick since.

Dunno what else youd really notice.

signs of increased test? elevated mood?

 

[carpee]

signs of increased test? elevated mood?

Possibly.

Nothing crazy noteworthy though. I'm also not taking it for test boosting reasons. If it happens, great.

 

[CJ_Xfit89]

Possibly.

Nothing crazy noteworthy though. I'm also not taking it for test boosting reasons. If it happens, great.

Boosts insulin sensitivity

 

[Whacked]

Same here

Have not been sick since.

Dunno what else youd really notice.

 

[StackedCop]

I used vit d last year starting around the beginning of fall and I didn't get the normal "winter depression". Also didn't catch a cold

 

[Bnatural]

I wrote a little article on this in the MST section under manufacturer's here on the forum.
Vitamin D has far too many benefits to not take this.
look into cal-mag by mst, you'll also be getting calcium and magnesium along with vitamin d3.

 

[fightbackhxc]

Also it is very difficult to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need from diet alone. Many of the foods today are grown in mineral/depleted fields and the fruits of today have far less nutritional benefit than fruits of the past. Supplementation of vitamins and minerals is vital.

 

[carpee]

Also it is very difficult to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need from diet alone. Many of the foods today are grown in mineral/depleted fields and the fruits of today have far less nutritional benefit than fruits of the past. Supplementation of vitamins and minerals is vital.

Great point.

 

[Rodja]

Have not been sick since.

Dunno what else youd really notice.

This should be incentive enough for most. I have a personal theory that severe Vitamin D deficiencies from a lack of being in the sun is partially responsible for the increase in autoimmune diseases in the US. Between that and the Hygiene Hypothesis, the US is going to be seeing an increase in these conditions.

 

[carpee]

This should be incentive enough for most. I have a personal theory that severe Vitamin D deficiencies from a lack of being in the sun is partially responsible for the increase in autoimmune diseases in the US. Between that and the Hygiene Hypothesis, the US is going to be seeing an increase in these conditions.

Just wish I had started sooner.

It's pretty amazing how much people would save on huge medical bills, or even just products like emergen-c, airborne, dayquil, etc. If they covered there basic vitamin and mineral needs.

The misinformation is partially due to what the gov't recommends.

What is it like 400 ius of D? Ridiculous, isn't that just enough to prevent rickets

 

[Rodja]

Just wish I had started sooner.

It's pretty amazing how much people would save on huge medical bills, or even just products like emergen-c, airborne, dayquil, etc. If they covered there basic vitamin and mineral needs.

The misinformation is partially due to what the gov't recommends.

What is it like 400 ius of D? Ridiculous, isn't that just enough to prevent rickets

I think it was actually raised to 800IUs recently, but that's still a small amount.

My best recommendation for Vit D supplementation: get a dog and go for a walk for 20-30 minutes per day.

 

[fightbackhxc]

I think it was actually raised to 800IUs recently, but that's still a small amount.

My best recommendation for Vit D supplementation: get a dog and go for a walk for 20-30 minutes per day.

Yeah most of the vitamin D in supplements are crap forms. The sun will activate the best Vitamin D for your body to use. If you are fair skinned all it will take is about 20 minutes....of course if you are dark skinned you will need to adjust that time.

 

[AustrianOakJr]

One of the most important vitamins to supplement with....especially for guys in the north where we rarely see sunlight in the winter. I noticed a big difference in mood and immunity when mega dosing vit D. I take 8-10,000 IU a day. Also, make sure your magnesium is at a very healthy level as magnesium is required for proper synthesis of the vit D.

 

[fightbackhxc]

One of the most important vitamins to supplement with....especially for guys in the north where we rarely see sunlight in the winter. I noticed a big difference in mood and immunity when mega dosing vit D. I take 8-10,000 IU a day. Also, make sure your magnesium is at a very healthy level as magnesium is required for proper synthesis of the vit D.

So is a proper ratio of Vitamin A: D

 

[carpee]

I've been using NOW Adam and D3 at 5-10,000 ius.

Ill check out A and magnesium

 

[fightbackhxc]

I've been using NOW Adam and D3 at 5-10,000 ius.

Ill check out A and magnesium

I would check out Cod Liver Oil. Its supposed to have the right ratio of A : D

 

[AustrianOakJr]

So is a proper ratio of Vitamin A: D

Got any quick links on that? Id like to read up if you know of a good resource.

 

[fightbackhxc]

Got any quick links on that? Id like to read up if you know of a good resource.

There was Superhuman Radio show on this, I couldn't find it quick enough but it seems that there has to be a proper ratio of Vitamin A : D
http://blog.cholesterol-and-health.com/2009/04/tufts-university-confirms-that-vitamin.html
http://healthandenergyfoods.com/cod-liver-oil-vitamin-d-vitamin-a-ratio-important
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/news-archive/2008/proper-vitamin-dvitamin-a-ratio/

There are the articles i could find quick at work, there seems to be an importance in the ratio of Vitamin A : D

 

[criticalbench]

The question is...since d3 is so cheap, why wouldn't you?

There are too many associated benefits not to.

I use 5 or 10,000 ius a day. Mostly for immune system.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Mike

 

[warsteiner]

I don't know if I would take a supp just because it's cheap. Yes, there are a lot of health benefits but, as with everything, too much doesn't mean better results - http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind

Vitamin D toxicity can cause non-specific symptoms such as anorexia, weight loss, polyuria, and heart arrhythmias. More seriously, it can also raise blood levels of calcium which leads to vascular and tissue calcification, with subsequent damage to the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys [1]. The use of supplements of both calcium (1,000 mg/day) and vitamin D (400 IU) by postmenopausal women was associated with a 17% increase in the risk of kidney stones over 7 years in the Women's Health Initiative [65]. A serum 25(OH)D concentration consistently >500 nmol/L (>200 ng/mL) is considered to be potentially toxic [5].

Vitamin D supplements have the potential to interact with several types of medications. A few examples are provided below.

Both the weight-loss drug orlistat (brand names Xenical® and alliTM) and the cholesterol-lowering drug cholestyramine (brand names Questran®, LoCholest®, and Prevalite®) can reduce the absorption of vitamin D and other fat-soluble vitamins [69,70]. Both phenobarbital and phenytoin (brand name Dilantin®), used to prevent and control epileptic seizures, increase the hepatic metabolism of vitamin D to inactive compounds and reduce calcium absorption.

It's worth looking into and something I take (only 1500UI a day) but taking a very high dosage of anything can be counter productive.

 

[RenegadeRows]

Just go without sunlight for a month

 

[TSB4me]

Something that many may not be aware of:

Increased levels of vitamin D require increased levels of vitamin K, especially of vitamin K2 (menaquinone). Without enough vitamin K2 there is an increased risk of hardening of the arteries and other soft tissues. Vitamin K, along with vitamin D, are essential for the bones to uptake and incorporate calcium.

And this also:

The Calcium Paradox

Vitamin D3 (the natural form of vitamin D) is required for the absorption of minerals in the body, including calcium.
Vitamin K2 is required to direct these minerals to the right place in the body, preventing the inappropriate calcification of the soft tissues

A number of clinical trials have shown that the combination of vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 is more effective in preventing bone loss than either nutrient alone, and there is overwhelming evidence that the safety of vitamin D is dependent on adequate levels of vitamin K2:

-- Without vitamin K2 to complement vitamin D3, calcium may go to the arteries instead of the bones.

Vitamin K2 has been linked to a decrease in atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, due to its ability to decrease serum cholesterol and reduce cholesterol deposits and calcification in the aorta.

 

[Whacked]

Great post/good info! Anyone carry a COMBO supp? (Preferably liquid/dropper version)

 

[AustrianOakJr]

It's worth looking into and something I take (only 1500UI a day) but taking a very high dosage of anything can be counter productive.

1500 IU of vitamin D can be absorbed within minutes of full sun exposure. Even at dosages of 10,000 IU a day, you are really not anywhere near dangerous levels of D supplementation. You can get that kind of a dosage within a half hour-1hr of sun exposure.

So....if you spend a lot of time in the sun, D supplementation is not necessary. If you live in the NE like I do, we see the sun about 4 days a year.

 

[Kdvwest]

Anyone have a rebuttal for what Dr. Cannell said about Vitamin A(cod liver oil) on the SHR just recently?