The incredible potential of vitamin D

[Thought Art]

Interesting. Vitamin D3 in blood is not active. 

[Norbert Somogyi]

13 hours ago, Thought Art said:

Interesting. Vitamin D3 in blood is not active. 

Nice clickbait, but it seems to work. I like how he advocates for minimum 10K/day, which I tend to agree with (for most it seems to be enough to sustain a 50+ ng/mL / 125 nmol/mL levels)

Regarding inactive D3 present in the blood, I guess that's the only current way to provide an approximate measure of what levels of vitamin D3 can be present in the body. Since that amount is currently not being used. Higher levels usually correlate with higher concentrations (and with benefits), up to a certain point where the returns can be diminishing and point towards toxicity (the threshold of which is complex and multifactorial, but I guess the currently established ratios are downgraded for safety concerns).

It's interesting how he is being clear with some things (like the potential of healing MS with high doses of D3 (~20-150K IU/day - Coimbra protocol by Dr. Cicero Coimbra), while being vague with others (D3 shrinking tumors with therapeutic doses  - for which there are hints). Whatever therapeutic doses mean, however if I were to guess something like above 20-30K/IU (as in the link before).

[Cireeric]

On 17.3.2025 at 1:03 PM, Michael569 said:

Its not necessarily that levels will go up to much but that received in high doses at once, vitamin D can be hepatotoxic (cause damage to liver). More in people who have a pre-existing condition but also in healthy individuals. 

It also works with your parathyroid hormone and helps balance out the amount of calcium that's being absorbed and removed from the body so interfering with that balance for too long could lead to hypercalcaemia which in itself isn't great. You can imagine what having too much calcium floating around the body will do to your soft tissues (arterial calcification deposits, excessive calcium passing through kidneys increasing stone formation etc).  Yeah 10K feels too high as a maintenance dose.

Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet

I'd check your levels and if you are already on a good level then maintenance 2K or a gentle push for even higher with 5k seems like a reasonable strategy. If you are very low then 10K for some time is probably a valid, just check it monthly. 

if you want to go super geeky, you could also run a genetic test for VDR and some of the other relevant polymorphisms (if existing) to fine tune even further but for most people this might not be necessary. I've run a genetic test on myself years ago and my VDR is actually working overtime so my levels tend to go up fairly quickly and I found that taking seasonal 2000 IU about 3 months a year keeps me at lower 90s (nmol/L) throughout. However I eat tons of UV irradiated mushrooms, live in part of UK that has decent amount of sun and am a bit freak about getting enough sunshine since my balcony gets hit directly so I'm like a sunflower catching every sunshine I can get tanning in my shorts on balcony in January

@Norbert Somogyi btw really interesting insight about that vitiligo. I am just curious, are you sure this is vitiligo or could it be a fungal infection targetting your melanin cells. I am asking because I have 3 small spots on the top of my neck and they appear with each year's tan and fade as I lose tan. I got it tested and they said there was a small fungal infection that attacked the destroyed the melanin cells so those areas no longer tan. I had more but most of those naturally healed and they are no longer visible. 

So as we are now in the middle of "no-tan" season, those spots may have simply disappeared? Vitiligo tends to form around fingers and face the most and likewise tends to be more apparent during tan season. A GP can run a skin antibody test to assess whether this is an infection or autoimmunity/. 

Thanks for your detailed answer!

[Norbert Somogyi]

Vitamin D Research Update: PLUS The latest use of the disinformation playbook against vitamin D

Dr. Coimbra talks about how he came to develop the Coimbra protocol, treating people with autoimmune disorders (mainly Multiple Sclerosis) with vitamin D3 - controversial in the medical community, understandably so. However the first video goes into detail why RCTs (randomized controlled trials) for D3 are not currently properly designed. Video from 2014, English subtitles available.

[Thought Art]

Make sure to take things like Magnesium when taking your D3 to make sure it is active. 
 

D3 requires a balance if other vitamins you can research to ensure healthy use.

[Norbert Somogyi]

11 hours ago, Thought Art said:

Make sure to take things like Magnesium when taking your D3 to make sure it is active. 
 

D3 requires a balance if other vitamins you can research to ensure healthy use.

Thank you for pointing that out, those cofactors are important. Not only in reducing risk factors associated with D3 supplementation, but furthermore increasing absorption and utilization by activating D3.

Here is an overview - Vitamin D Cofactors in a nutshell | VitaminDWiki

Furthermore here are some optimal levels based on the research of Alex Vasquez (DC, ND, DO) - Optimal Vitamin D level: 50-90 ng - Dr. Vasquez | VitaminDWiki

 

Edited March 20 by Norbert Somogyi

[Norbert Somogyi]

7 minutes ago, Michael569 said:

save to your pc using snipping tool then upload here with the "choose files " link 

Thank you, this worked!

[Norbert Somogyi]

Dr. Cicero Coimbra's Presentation to Jen Aliano Grassrootshealth (transcript, pdf - video not found yet) - 2025, March 2nd
Publically available PDF containing all the 81 slides displayed at the presentation (Available at the bottom of the VitaminDWiki website linked above - if this direct link seems suspicious)

Summarization of the transcript by DeepSeek:

• The text is a detailed transcript of a discussion with Dr. Coimbra, a neurologist renowned for his use of high-dose vitamin D to treat autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). Here’s a summary of the key points:
• Dr. Coimbra's Background: Dr. Coimbra graduated in 1979, completed residencies in internal medicine and neurology, and has been practicing since. He developed an interest in vitamin D's role in treating autoimmune diseases after observing its effects on a Parkinson's patient with vitiligo.
• Vitamin D and Autoimmune Diseases: Dr. Coimbra discovered that high doses of vitamin D (10,000 IU/day) significantly improved autoimmune conditions, especially MS. He references studies showing reduced relapse rates in MS patients with vitamin D supplementation.
• The Coimbra Protocol: This protocol involves high-dose vitamin D (up to 1,000 IU per kilogram of body weight) tailored to individual patients, monitored through parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels to avoid toxicity. The protocol also includes dietary restrictions (low calcium) and supplements like magnesium and omega-3s.
• Vitamin D's Role in the Body: Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin via UVB sunlight exposure. Deficiency is common in urban populations due to limited sun exposure and sunscreen use. Vitamin D is crucial for immune function, and low levels are linked to various diseases, including tuberculosis and autoimmune disorders.
• Immune System and Vitamin D: Vitamin D enhances the immune system by activating immune cells to destroy pathogens like tuberculosis. It also inhibits TH17 cells, which are implicated in autoimmune diseases.
• Historical Use of Vitamin D: Dr. Coimbra references historical treatments, such as Dr. Rollier's use of sunlight to treat tuberculosis in the early 1900s, highlighting the long-standing recognition of vitamin D's therapeutic potential.
• Stress and Autoimmune Diseases: Emotional stress is a major trigger for autoimmune diseases. Managing stress is crucial for treatment success, as stress reduces magnesium levels, which are necessary for vitamin D activation.
• Vitamin D Resistance: Some patients with autoimmune diseases have genetic resistance to vitamin D, requiring higher doses. The Coimbra Protocol adjusts doses based on PTH levels to ensure safety and efficacy.
• Case Studies: Dr. Coimbra shares success stories of patients with lupus, psoriasis, and MS who experienced significant improvements with high-dose vitamin D therapy.
• Safety and Toxicity: High-dose vitamin D must be carefully monitored to avoid toxicity, which can occur if calcium levels rise too high. Patients must follow a strict low-calcium diet and stay hydrated. Toxicity is reversible if caught early.
• Vitamin D in Pregnancy: Adequate vitamin D during pregnancy (7,000 IU/day) reduces the risk of complications like autism, MS, and asthma in offspring. Children born to mothers with sufficient vitamin D levels show better neurodevelopment and higher IQs.
• COVID-19 and Vitamin D: Dr. Coimbra's patients on high-dose vitamin D either avoided COVID-19 or experienced mild symptoms. He recommends high-dose vitamin D during pandemics.
• Aluminum and Autism: Dr. Coimbra links the rise in autism to aluminum nanoparticles in vaccines, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause inflammation. He uses silica to help remove aluminum from the body in autistic patients.
• Training and Protocol Adoption: Dr. Coimbra trains other doctors in his protocol at no cost, emphasizing the importance of individualized treatment and monitoring.
• Global Health Crisis: Dr. Coimbra warns of a global health crisis due to the increasing use of aluminum in vaccines and the rise in autism, depression, and other neurological disorders. He advocates for replacing aluminum with safer adjuvants like calcium phosphate.
• In summary, Dr. Coimbra's work highlights the critical role of vitamin D in treating autoimmune diseases and the importance of addressing environmental toxins like aluminum in vaccines. His protocol offers a promising, albeit carefully monitored, approach to managing these conditions.

[Norbert Somogyi]

Had my blood levels checked recently, the results came back at 200.6 nmol/mL (~80.24 ng/mL). Magnesium and Calcium are also within the optimal range. Incredibly happy with the results!

I will be experimenting with increasing the dosage (from 20,000) up to 30,000 daily (Optimal Dose according to Dr. Judson Sommerville's research and book with an identical title) along with adjusting the cofactors I currently take. I am curious to see if there are further improvements to experience. In case things stay relatively the same with my blood levels increasing (gonna test again during summer) within reasonable margins, then I will be using it for prevention potentially for the rest of my life as long as I don't experience bad symptoms.

[Norbert Somogyi]

This substack post highlights some of the potential reasons why Doctors are reluctant to test and recommend optimizing important biomarkers (such as vitamin D) to patients. In short, to avoid throwing themselves out of business. Personal note: When I tested my levels at my own cost in a lab, 25(OH)D cost 18-20x times as much as other markers I was interested in. Clearly not supported by my local government.

Here's a case of Dr. Dave McCarthy who optimized his patiens' levels (to around 80 ng/mL) and had to retire early due to a lack of visits in general. Summarization of the interview's transcript can be found below (DeepSeek). Full audio podcast can be found here - LINK.

• Key Takeaways:
  • Vitamin D’s Critical Role:
    • Dr. Dave McCarthy, a retired family physician, emphasizes the widespread deficiency of Vitamin D and its impact on health.
    • Optimal levels (80 ng/mL or 200 nmol/L) are far higher than what’s needed to prevent rickets (20 ng/mL).
    • Deficiency is linked to muscle pain, autoimmune disorders, heart failure, seizures, sickle cell crises, and more.
  • Case Studies Highlighting Vitamin D’s Impact:
    • Sickle Cell Patient: A 21-year-old with frequent crises had undetectable Vitamin D levels. After supplementation, he remained crisis-free. His sister, who consumed more dairy (Vitamin D-rich), never had a crisis.
    • Seizures in a Child: A dark-skinned child in Montana with unexplained seizures improved dramatically after Vitamin D and magnesium supplementation.
    • Heart Failure: Correcting deficiencies (Vitamin D, magnesium, thiamine, Vitamin C, CoQ10) significantly improved cardiac function in patients.
  • The "Panacea Paradox":
    • Vitamin D’s broad benefits seem "too good to be true," leading to underutilization despite extensive research (4,000+ studies annually).
• Supplementation Guidelines:
  • Dosage: 5,000–10,000 IU/day for most adults (higher for malabsorption).
  • Team Approach: Nutrition is a "team sport"—magnesium, thiamine, and other micronutrients are often needed alongside Vitamin D.
• Challenges in Medicine:
  • Traditional medicine focuses on treating diseases rather than addressing deficiencies.
  • Many physicians overlook micronutrient testing, despite evidence of their impact.
• Thiamine (B1) Deficiency:
  • Common in heart failure, neurological disorders, and alcoholism.
  • Anti-thiamine factors in coffee, tea, and beer can block absorption, even with adequate intake.
• Call to Action:
  • Dr. McCarthy advocates for widespread Vitamin D testing and supplementation, especially in high-risk groups (dark-skinned individuals, elderly, those with chronic illnesses).
• Final Thought:
  • The podcast underscores the transformative potential of addressing micronutrient deficiencies—often overlooked in conventional medicine—to improve healthspan and treat chronic conditions.
• Listeners interested in learning more can visit Dr. Gillian Lockitch’s website (askdrgill.com) or explore her book, Growing Older, Living Younger.

The more I do my research, the more I realize how much of a global exploitation healthcare and modern medicine usually is. I guess it makes sense from a capitalist perspective, but it is just so angering. Realizing how free I can finally feel after optimizing my biomarkers, a feeling I haven't reached through years of therapy, retreats and inner work. It is so hard to digest that so many people are robbed of this feeling (from even institutions that promise healing).

Is there a way healthcare and modern medicine can be transformed to be pro-humanistic and preventative instead of focusing on treatment (maximizing profit on treating intentionally inflicted and sustained diseases and disorders)? A way healthy forms of alternative medicine can be combined with the merits of modern medicine? In this century?

[D2sage]

Vitamin D is more of a hormone than vitamin.

I read a lab study they did on people with Tellogen Effluvium. People were given 200 000 UI in one go and the results were significant for hair loss.

200 000 is to much but 20 000 is not, daily.

Living in Sweden where the sun is a myth, taking 20 000 daily has made my appetite like it sohuld be.

Also it got rid of my insomnia. used to take 2-3 hours to fall asleep, now I can sleep within an hour. 

 

Before this eletronic society, people were outdoors and got probably more than 20 000 daily. 

Edited April 5 by D2sage

[Norbert Somogyi]

On 2025. 04. 05. at 3:00 PM, D2sage said:

Vitamin D is more of a hormone than vitamin.

I read a lab study they did on people with Tellogen Effluvium. People were given 200 000 UI in one go and the results were significant for hair loss.

200 000 is to much but 20 000 is not, daily.

Living in Sweden where the sun is a myth, taking 20 000 daily has made my appetite like it sohuld be.

Also it got rid of my insomnia. used to take 2-3 hours to fall asleep, now I can sleep within an hour. 

 

Before this eletronic society, people were outdoors and got probably more than 20 000 daily. 

The case with Tellogen Effluvium is very interesting! here is the case study I found (the study you read is most likely cited here too, 200K IU twice a month treating it).

Glad to hear it is working for you too! 

When it comes to acquiring Vitamin D from the sun, there are numerous factors involved in how much vitamin D you produce from sunlight.

• Skin color (darker skin produces less in comparison, ancient northern migration potentially induced pigment devolvation to increase vitamin D production)
• Altitude (near the equator is ideal)
• time of day (depending on where you live, mostly between 10 AM - 2-3 PM, best when your shadow is shorter than you)
• time of year (depending on where you live, 2-3 months up to 5-6 months near the summer - angle of incidence of the sun)
• Age (aging increases skin thickness, reducing vitamin D production)
• Sunscreen decreases absorbtion by 95-99%
• It does not work through glass
• Some other factors
• Here are some suggestions to optimize vitamin D production from the sun

I believe it is reasonable to consider people who spend the most of the time in the sun when it comes to determining optimal vitamin D levels. People natively living in equatorial Africa, or lifeguards for example. Some lifeguards are reported to have levels of 100-125 ng/ml, without toxicity. Perhaps those levels are closer to the optimum range than 30-50 which is usually recommended. Definitely below toxicity, if even vitamin D can be toxic by itself (and not just such levels negatively influencing other factors such as calcium or potassium). I wouldn't go above 150 unless medically supervised though, for example for autoimmune diseases or cancer.

[Norbert Somogyi]

The /r/vitaminD subreddit has been undergoing fundamental changes, and the new moderator u/vitaminDJesus (hah) came up with a comprehensive guide & FAQ when it comes to vitamin D supplementation. You can find it here

Unfortunately it lacks scientific references or studies (which has been proposed as a criticism, supposedly will be done later), but is a great base-line for people starting out with D3 supplementation.

[Norbert Somogyi]

Here is an overview examining the potential of the incredible immunomudolatory potential of vitamin D - preventing and/or fighting influenza, respiratory infections, enveloped viruses (Hepatitis, Corona, Ebola, pox, bird flu etc.).

I haven't been sick since I've been supplementing with vitamin D (at least since my dose was at least 10,000 IU/day - different people react differently to xyz doses). Even a flu that was not really advertised in my country, that made almost everyone around me sick for days or weeks - washed it off overnight. Now as my levels are close to optimal, whatever flu I seem to encounter (my immune system turns up - feeling heat and/or lower energy), I feel a little low for a few hours then everything goes back to normal. This is without drastic lifestyle changes such as healthy diet (my diet has almost always been moderately healthy - need to cut down on sugar) or exercise (I'm still slightly overweight). I'm also smoking, and it seems it is also fighting off the damage I've caused on my lungs (still, need to cut it out once and for all).

Edited April 11 by Norbert Somogyi
typo correction

[Norbert Somogyi]

Adequate (higher than adequate when it comes to conservative views - 70+ ng/mL) levels of vitamin D appears to induce or maintain beneficial structural changes in the eye. Preventing, improving or even treating certain conditions. For example dry eyes, glaucoma, myopia, possibly age-related macular degeneration etc. - Study overview can be found here

Other studies and related overviews in vision category can be found on the website - here

P.S: It drastically improved my eyesight as well. Did not clear up my astigmia (cylinder - visual focal point issues), but feels as if my eyesight is as good as it used to be a few years ago. However it's not permanent, seems to be fluctuating - due to my fluctuating vitamin D levels in my speculation. 

[Norbert Somogyi]

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

There are actually two types of vitamin D. The first that was discovered is D2 (ergocalciferol), derived from plants/fungi. Later D3 (cholecalciferol) was discovered, which is animal sourced (or synthetized in human skin through UVB exposure) and more suitable for human and animal consumption. Research heavily favors D3, being much more effective compared to D2 (which sometimes is even counter-effective at correcting vitamin D deficiency). Yet, medical practice and doctors still majorly tend to prescribe D2. Here is an overview on VitaminDWiki

Summarization by Perplexity

The website "Overview Vitamin D3 not D2" on VitaminDWiki emphasizes the superiority of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) over vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) for supplementation and health benefits. Key points include:

• Vitamin D3 is more effective than D2: Studies consistently show that vitamin D3 raises and maintains blood serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D more effectively than D2. In contrast, vitamin D2 can lower serum levels of D3 and may even worsen certain health outcomes.
• Health risks associated with vitamin D2: Supplementation with D2 has been linked to increased risks of falls, muscle damage, and worsened conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). It has also been associated with increased mortality risk compared to the mortality reduction observed with D3.
• D2's limited utility: Despite its historical use as the first discovered form of vitamin D, D2 is now considered less suitable for human and animal supplementation. Many healthcare professionals still prescribe it due to outdated practices, although research strongly favors D3.
• Vegan alternatives for D3: While some individuals choose D2 because it is vegan, there are now vegan sources of D3 derived from lichen.
• Food fortification and supplementation: Some fortified foods and multivitamins still use small amounts of D2, but these are often negligible in impact. Long-term supplementation studies favor daily or loading doses of D3 for maintaining optimal vitamin D levels.

The page includes numerous studies, graphs, and meta-analyses supporting these claims, highlighting that vitamin D3 is the preferred choice for supplementation across various contexts.

Edited April 15 by Norbert Somogyi
Visual improvement

[Norbert Somogyi]

A little personal update on my journey of optimizing biomarkers.

I've been experiencing symptoms akin to peripheral neuropathy (pins and needles in my hands and feet, climbing up in my arms and legs over time) for 2 months or so, with differing intensity (sleep-deprivation made it worse). I just couldn't get a handle on it or what's causing it. At first I believed that my nerves can potentially be healing (corresponding transient pain), but that theory slowly and steadily was placed in the trash as my symptoms kept getting worse.

I've been looking and asking around, and someone on /r/vitaminD mentioned B6 toxicity leading to similar symptoms. I started taking Copper&Boron 6mg/day (for this and other reasons) and increased my Magnesium intake (400 mg/day of Bisglycinate - seems to be sleeping better since - this amount of D3 seems to eat up a lot of Magnesium), as well as stopped taking the B-Complex which included 12 mg of B6 (maximum daily intake according to EU guidelines, while the US lags behind still at 100 mg - a little suspcious given the RDA is just a bit more than 1/100 of it). If I were a vegan I may need this amount of B6 supplementation (which I doubt, perhaps taken once or twice a week), but my diet is ordinary (therefore not lacking in Bs).

The copper and boron could have helped on their own, but since last week I stopped taking this B-Complex my symptoms diminished (98% I'd say). Let's go! I realized I may not need this amount of vitamin Bs, since my body gets rid of the B2 in it too (Riboflavin, excess causes unusually yellow urin - my first pee after an hour of the capsule was yellow already - despite I'm almost overly hydrated). I also consider the potential effect of optimal levels of vitamin D on my gut biome, to be a contributing factor. Enhancing my nutrient absorption rates.

I gather I need to take thorough tests to be able to validate these theories, but frankly I'm just happy my symptoms are gone and I'm doing good. Supplementation is a minefield, you can either waste your money or cause more trouble if you are not careful.

I also stopped smoking 2 weeks ago, just did it on a whim while smoking my cigar (not the large Cuban, just normal cigarette shaped ones) on a Wednesday evening. Smoked that last one, had a little grief processing the departure and dropped it since. It's been impossible before, could barely manage a week once a year (I don't seem to miss it at the moment). Now I'm not sure how much optimizing my biomarkes could have contributed to this, but I definitely gained immense clarity and brain efficiency (my brain power is off the charts sometimes, similar to my teenage years). Mucus is also coming up on my throat, the damage is healing. 

Thank you for reading, take care!

Edited May 1 by Norbert Somogyi
changed a word