“To Vitamin D or not to Vitamin D, what shall it be!”
“The Nutritelligent Team”
We all know Vitamin D [the active form that is] is crucial for the human body. Some of the many functions it supports are:
Calcium abortion
Bone Health
Immune system support
Muscle function
Cell growth regulation: manages the process of programmed cell death
Did you know:
The Vitamin D we consume from Food Supplements [D3 and D2] are NOT the active forms of Vitamin D that our bodies actually makes use of directly
The inactive forms of Vitamin D [i.e. D3 and D2] are transformed through multiple steps involving the liver and kidneys into the active form of Vitamin D that our bodies actually make use of
Typical blood-tests test for the inactive form of Vitamin D. Having said that, there are tests that do test for the active form of Vitamin D
Here are 2 pathways the active form of Vitamin D is synthesised in the human body:
Pathway One:
1.The Sun
Produces UVB rays
2.The Skin
Absorbs the UVB rays and Converts 7-dehydrocholesterol into Cholecalciferol
Cholecalciferol is what comes in food supplement form [D3]. This is the inactive form of vitamin D
3.The Liver
Converts Cholecalciferol into Calcidiol
Calcidiol is also known as Calcifediol. This is what typical blood tests test for
4.The Kidney
Converts Calcidiol into Calcitriol
Calcitriol is the active form of Vitamin D. This is what your body makes use of. There are blood tests that do test for this
Pathway Two:
1.Eat
Foods rich in D2
Foods rich in D2: Mushrooms, Eggs, Fish, Cod liver oil. Some Food Supplements do contain D2 [ i.e. inactive form of vitamin D]
2.The Liver
Converts D2 into Calcifediol
Calcidiol is also known as Calcifediol. This is what typical blood tests test for
3.The Kidney
Converts Calcidiol into Calcitriol
Calcitriol is the active form of Vitamin D, this is what your body actually makes use of. There are blood tests that do test for this
And there you have it. No need for supplementing with the inactive form of Vitamin D to synthesise Calcitriol. All it takes is sunshine and some food. A good 30 minutes in mid-day sunshine in a Scandinavian country can produce between 5,000 IU’s and 20,000 IU’s. This will vary based on skin colour, age and health condition.
In the case you think you are not getting ample amounts of Vitamin D, then supplementation is an option. We at Nutritelligent have thought about this. Our Multivitamin Multimineral Spectrum food supplement not only provides Vitamin D3, but also provides a slew of other vitamins and minerals that work in synergy with Vitamin D3 as does Nutritelligent’s Organic Algae Seaweed Complex food supplement:
Calcium —>Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for strong bones and teeth
K2 —> Directs the body to deposit calcium into the bones rather than the arteries
Magnesium —> Needed for the activation of D3
Zinc —> Supports the function of Vitamin D receptors
Vitamin A —> Collaborates with Vitamin D to support immune system regulation and promote healthy skin
Both food supplements also provide vitamins and minerals needed for healthy liver and kidney function, both of which you now know play a vital role on synthesising the active form of Vitamin D:
Vitamins: A, E, C, B6, B12, Folic Acid
Minerals: Iron*, Magnesium, Calcium*, Selenium
Fatty Acids: Omega 3
Non of Nutritelligent’s food supplements come with added Iron, Copper or Calcium as a nutrient. If they do exist then they are there as part of the natural makeup of the ingredients. Our Organic Algae-Seaweed Complex food supplement naturally contains Calcium and Iron.