Vitamin D, a fat-soluble nutrient, is sequestered in adipose tissue, limiting its circulation—an effect amplified in obesity. Obese adults, for example, exhibit a 57 % smaller rise in circulating vitamin D₃ after whole-body ultraviolet exposure (https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/72.3.690) and are more than half as likely to reach sufficient vitamin D levels (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.05.011) than normal-weight adults. Against this backdrop, the VitaDEx randomized trial showed that ten weeks of indoor exercise during winter sharply attenuated seasonal vitamin D loss and fully preserve... exercise
Read moreVitamin D deficiency is a public health problem, affecting 1 billion people worldwide. This review presents data from randomized controlled trials indicating that daily vitamin D supplementation of 2,000 international units (50 micrograms) prevents and treats vitamin D deficiency. The authors posit that long-term supplementation at this dose is deemed safe, with no significant safety concerns reported, even for those with sufficient baseline vitamin D levels. ... vitamin d micronutrients
Read moreTooth decay – a risk factor for cavities and tooth loss – often begins as white spots on the enamel, an early sign of demineralization. Strategies that promote tooth remineralization can reduce the need for invasive dental procedures. A 2022 study found that vitamin D promotes tooth remineralization, potentially reducing the risk of cavities. Researchers gave 40 healthy adults vitamin D supplements (1,000 IU) for six weeks. They collected saliva samples from the participants at the beginning of the intervention and again at the third and sixth weeks. They exposed healthy, extracted teeth to a... vitamin d inflammation dental
Read moreCoronary artery calcification is a pathological condition in which calcium deposits accumulate in the blood vessels that supply the heart. The extent of coronary calcification typically correlates with the severity of coronary artery disease (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936878X1731001X). Findings from a recent study suggest that vitamin K2 reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Vitamin K2 is an umbrella term for a family of molecules called menaquinones. This diverse collection of molecules is synthesized by the gut microbiota, but they can also be found in ferm... nutrition heart disease vitamin k
Read moreSince COVID-19's emergence in late 2019, the disease has claimed the lives of nearly 5 million people worldwide. Scientists predict that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will likely achieve endemic status (https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.abe6522) in the coming years, so identification of strategies that bolster viral immunity and reduce negative outcomes is essential. Findings from a recent study suggest that optimal blood levels of vitamin D could markedly reduce the risk of death from COVID-19. Vitamin D regulates the expression of thousands of genes in the human ... covid-19
Read moreVitamin D is a steroid hormone that plays critical roles in many aspects of human health. Findings from a new study suggest that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of developing vertigo in people who are deficient. Vertigo is a condition characterized by the false sensation of movement, such as spinning, swaying, or tilting. The most common form of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which affects roughly one-third of all adults at least once in their lifetime. BPPV is caused when small stones called canaliths, which are located in the inner ear, dislodge and move... vitamin d supplements
Read moreExercise-induced bronchoconstriction – a narrowing of the airways in response to exercise – occurs in as much as 10 percent of the general population and up to 50 percent in some fields of competitive athletics. Findings from a meta-analysis suggest that vitamin C might reduce the incidence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Previous research demonstrated that vitamin C can triple respiratory tissue levels within an hour or two of a single oral dose of 1 or 2 grams. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15454278) This local increase in vitamin C concentration appears to protect against a... exercise vitamin c asthma
Read moreVitamin D is an essential nutrient that is involved in multiple physiological processes. Inadequate vitamin D status is associated with poor bone health, impaired immune function, and increased risk for depression (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-depression-in-adults-systematic-review-and-metaanalysis/F4E7DFBE5A7B99C9E6430AF472286860). Approximately 70 percent of people living in the United States are vitamin D deficient. A recent study found that athletes who participate in indoor sports may be at high risk for vitamin... depression vitamin b12 vitamin a dairy
Read moreDr. Charles Raison discusses the role inflammation plays in the development of depression in response to illness and stress. ... depression exercise inflammation immune system behavior mental health psychedelic sauna
Watch nowRandomized controlled trial finds that high dose vitamin D supplementation (4,000 IU/day) for 18 weeks improves visual memory in healthy adults but low-dose vitamin D (400 IU/day) does not. Serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels increased significantly more in the high dose group (from 27 ng/ml to 52 ng/ml) than the low dose group (24 ng/ml to 34 ng/ml). What is interesting is that even though 34 ng/ml is considered sufficient, it still was not enough to improve visual memory. It has been suggested that visual memory tasks place greater demands on cognitive processing, organization, planning, and o... vitamin d brain performance memory vitamin a
Read more