What's the Optimal Level of Vitamin D (50-60 ng) - Patrick
What's the Optimal Level of Vitamin D?
AI Summary of Video
(00:00) The conversation opens by contrasting vitamin D from sunlight versus supplementation. They highlight that sunlight provides other benefits (e.g., nitric oxide production, physical activity) and can be a confounder when comparing it to supplements.
(01:06) At the molecular level, once vitamin D is converted to its active form (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D), it acts the same way whether it was produced from sunlight or obtained through supplements.
(01:35) The body naturally regulates vitamin D production from sun exposure, preventing toxicity by stopping production once a certain threshold is reached—unlike with high-dose supplements.
(02:06) Discussion about naturally high vitamin D levels: some people working outdoors (e.g., in tropical regions) can achieve high levels, but factors like skin pigmentation also influence how much vitamin D is produced.
(02:37) Many studies suggest that levels up to 80 ng/mL may still be beneficial, lowering risks such as all-cause mortality. However, extremely high doses taken over long periods might lead to calcium-phosphorus issues.
(03:36) They critique large vitamin D trials for using uniform dosages rather than individualizing to achieve specific blood levels. This design flaw may mask potential benefits of higher vitamin D targets (e.g., 60–80 ng/mL).
(04:39) A major limitation in vitamin D research is that many trials only measure serum vitamin D levels in a small percentage of participants, making it difficult to draw strong conclusions.
(05:06) Genetic differences (SNPs) affect how individuals respond to vitamin D supplementation; some people need higher doses to reach the same blood levels. Many large trials don’t account for these genetic factors.
(05:34–06:33) The conversation touches on personal optimization (e.g., aiming for 50–60 vs. 80 ng/mL), potential interactions with hormones like estrogen, and the need for longer-term data on how vitamin D (and hormone therapy) affect health outcomes over time.
13+ VitaminDWiki pages have both VITAMIN AND PATRICK in the title
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Introduction to Is 50 ng of vitamin D too high, just right, or not enough
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40-150 ng of Vitamin D needed to treat some health problems
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Some categories of people are at High Risk of vitamin D deficiency
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300+ Health problems associated with low vitamin D
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