It’s likely that you’ve heard something from someone about the need for Vitamin D in the past few years. However, we’re often behind the times when it comes to properly compiling available information and getting it out into public hands. With respects to Vitamin D3, there is a lot that you don’t know – yet anyhow. Almost every major disease you can think of has some sort of relation to Vitamin D deficiency among other things. If that doesn’t blow your mind, we don’t know what will. More on that later.

First and foremost, we should note that the majority of us are Vitamin D deficient. Years ago, the daily recommended intake of Vitamin D3 was 400-600IU’s, that was later changed to 800IU’s and is currently at 1000IU. Unfortunately, this is what happens when information moves slowly. It’s not that we didn’t know more Vitamin D was needed, it’s simply how the process works on a large scale. In fact, many medical (see references) and fitness professionals (the likes of Fitness Guru Charles Poliquin) are suggesting 3000IU-5000IU be our daily intake.

So how might Vitamin D3 save your life? Well, let’s take a look at some Professional Research studies conducted within the medical world. Before doing this, please take a moment to see what some of the better known authorities on the subject say. Feel free to visit http://www.vitamindsociety.org/ , http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/ or http://www.vitamindhealth.org/

Now, let’s take a look at the list of diseases that have been related to a Vitamin D3 deficiency.

1.  Rickets, bone density, osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteomalacia: Low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures. JAMA. 2002;287:3127-3129.

2.  Fetal brain development and maternal health: Med Hypotheses. 2010 Jan;74(1):71-5. Epub 2009 Aug 18.

3.  Psoriasis: “Hyperproliferative skin disorders such as psoriasis might be responsive to treatment with vitamin D….” “[Treatment with vitamin D] …showed great improvement in reducing the severity and area of psoriatic lesions.” Holick, MF. High prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and implications for health. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2006 Mar;81(3):353-73. 

4.  Cancer: “Both prospective and retrospective epidemiologic studies indicate that levels of 25-OH D below 20 ng [nanograms] per milliliter are associated with a 30 to 50% increased risk of incident colon, prostate, and breast cancer, along with higher mortality from these cancers….” “Vitamin D either directly or indirectly controls more than 200 genes, including genes responsible for the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

5.  Blood sugar regulation and insulin resistance: “Vitamin D deficiency increased insulin resistance, decreased insulin production, and was associated with the metabolic syndrome.” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

6.  Depression and other neurological concerns: “Several studies suggest an association between hypovitaminosis D and basic and executive cognitive functions, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.” Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2009 Feb;11(1):12-9.

7.  Multiple Sclerosis: “High circulating levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis.” JAMA. 2006;296:2832.

8.  Immune function: “When serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D fall below 20 ng per milliliter, the monocyte or macrophage is prevented from initiating this innate immune response” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

9.  Cold, flu, and respiratory tract infection: shortened duration of symptoms in study of African women.

10.  Symptoms associated with autoimmune conditions: Vitamin D deficiency affects the immune system’s capacity to self-regulate and can therefore lead to tissue damage via overproduction of potentially pathogenic cytokines.

11.  Hypertension and congestive heart failure: “In a study of patients with hypertension who were exposed to ultraviolet B radiation three times a week for 3 months, 25-OH D levels increased by approximately 180% and blood pressure became normal.” “Vitamin D deficiency is associated with congestive heart failure.” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

12.  Muscle mass and strength: “Vitamin D deficiency causes muscle weakness.” “Performance speed and proximal muscle strength were markedly improved when 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increase from 4 to 16 ng per milliliter (10 to 40 nmol [nanomole] per liter) and continued to improve as the levels increase to more than 40ng per milliliter (100 nmol per liter). Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

13.  Weight Loss: “For every increase of 1 ng/mL in level of 25-OH D3, subjects ended up losing almost 0.2 kg more on their calorie-restricted diet.” Shalamar Sibley, prepublication report for the Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting. 

14.  Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, thyroid conditions (cancer et al), blood circulation, longevity…

*Special thanks to Charles Poliquin in this article.

We urge you to examine this material yourself (all publications have been referenced) or do your own independent research. This should absolutely be blowing you away. So how do you get your levels up? You supplement with Vitamin D3. It’s extremely inexpensive and readily available. No wonder big Pharmaceutical companies and for profit research groups haven’t been spreading the word. Imagine how many billions could be lost on their end if people were healthier. We here at Get Fit Journey are going with 5000IU per day ourselves.

Want our recommendation? We’re always happy to provide it. We recommend NOW’s Vitamin D3, extremely inexpensive and from a brand that is reputed for delivering high quality.

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