Researchers discovered that vitamin D stimulates your white blood cells to make a substance called cathelicidin. Studies report that it attacks a wide variety of pathogens including fungi, viruses, bacteria, tuberculosis and even cancer. Here’s how it works: T-cells are a type of white blood cell that circulate around our bodies, scanning for cellular abnormalities and infections. When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signaling device or 'antenna' known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin D. This means that the T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease. If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won't even begin to mobilize.

How much is too much vitamin D?

The research states that the tolerable upper limit of 2000 IU's is a great daily dose for vitamin D therapy for children, but that it has no basis in any science for an upper level for adults and is not in any way excess vitamin D since the levels required for symptoms of vitamin D overdose are at least 5 times that much for an extended period of time. About 42% of U.S. adults are deficient in vitamin D, according to the journal Nutrition Research and the latest research is seeing that the acceptable range should be higher than we previously thought. Just to keep an eye on your levels, I always recommend including an OH25 vitamin D test when you get your regular blood work.

While we’re at it—according to recent findings, the benefits of vitamin D, in terms of bone strength and cardiovascular health, are greatly improved when combined with vitamin K. Specifically K2. Vitamin D3 improves your bone health by helping you absorb calcium. However, it is vitamin K2 that directs calcium to your bone, to prevent it from being deposited in the wrong areas. Think of it like a rudder on a boat, it steers the calcium to where it’s supposed to go—like your bone—rather than your arteries, which can lead to atherosclerosis. Vitamin K2 activates a protein hormone called osteocalcin, which is needed to bind calcium into the matrix of your bone. Vitamin D is dependent on vitamin K, and vitamin D toxicity (although very rare with the D3 form) is actually caused by vitamin K2 deficiency.

…But wait there’s more to this formula, don’t forget the other cofactors: dietary boron enhances utilization of or, alternatively, compensates for, inadequate concentrations of active vitamin D metabolites and provides the starting materials for bioenergetic reactions utilization and mineral metabolism. Boron enhances major mineral content in bone, and, independently of vitamin D3, enhances some indices of growth cartilage maturation. Throw a bit of zinc in the formula which is involved in a number of important bodily functions, including our hormonal production, the growth and development of our bones, our immunity, and our digestion. And best of all zinc also has a number of acute benefits on its own, such as managing inflammation. And voila! The perfect combo for immune and bone support. Thanks Dr. Stewart for another great formula.

Best of Health!