Does Vitamin D Affect Mental Health
Different experts have different perspectives on this. As Inverse previously reported, Kathleen Holton, associate professor at American University and a nutritional neuroscientist, says low vitamin D can disrupt normal neurotransmission, and that in turn can lead to mental illness.
Others are more cautious about drawing conclusions. , medical microbiologist and immunologist at Pennsylvania State University, tells Inverse that human brain cells have vitamin D receptors, suggesting that vitamin D is important. But there havenât been sufficient studies in humans to determine what exactly this means for mental health, she says.
What If A Pill Has No Imprint
There could be a few reasons why a pill doesnât have an imprint.
For one, itâs possible a pillâs imprint code could wear away over time.
If thatâs not what happened, the pill in question might not be an FDA-approved drug. A pill without an imprint code could be a:
- Vitamin
- Medication from a foreign country
Still, some FDA-approved drugs are exempted from the agencyâs imprint code rule.
What Should I Discuss With My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Cholecalciferol
You should not use cholecalciferol if you have had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have:
- high levels of vitamin D in your body
- high levels of calcium in your blood or
- any condition that makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients from food .
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- kidney disease or
- an electrolyte imbalance.
Certain forms of cholecalciferol may contain ingredients you should know about, such as peanut or soybean oil, sugar, aspartame , or certain food dyes. Ask a doctor before using cholecalciferol if you have allergies, diabetes, or phenylketonuria .
Too much vitamin D could harm an unborn baby or a nursing baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy or while you are nursing.
Do not give cholecalciferol to a child without medical advice. Your child’s dose will depend on age, weight, diet, and other factors.
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How Can I Raise My Vitamin D Levels
People donât tend to get enough vitamin D from food alone. Rather, the most important natural source of vitamin D comes from exposure to sunlight. But as people spend more time inside and use sunscreen to ward off skin cancer, vitamin D production catalyzed by the Sun decreases. According to a 2017 study, this may mean more people have vitamin D deficiency compared to earlier times in human history.
The shorter, colder days of winter can also reduce our time spent in the sunlight, and so decrease vitamin D production, leading some experts and doctors to recommend supplementation through the winter months.
The Cleveland Clinic says that 10-15 minutes of sunlight exposure to the face, legs, arms, or back a few times a week may provide sufficient vitamin D.
If you prefer to take a tablet every day, then vitamin D supplements are often affordable and generally considered safe, but recommended dosages vary widely depending on the brand. Whatever you think may be best, speak to your doctor before you take a pill.
What Special Dietary Instructions Should I Follow
When cholecalciferol is used to treat and prevent bone diseases, you should eat and drink of foods and drinks that are rich in calcium. If you find it difficult to eat enough calcium-rich foods, tell your doctor. In that case, your doctor can prescribe or recommend a calcium supplement.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
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Persona Vitamin D 1000iu
Persona uses vitamin D3 sourced from Vitashine, which is a plant-based form of the vitamin.
As its name suggests, the tablet contains 1,000 IU of vitamin D3. It is vegan and free of all major allergens, including soy, dairy, wheat, fish, nuts, eggs, and shellfish.
Persona claims that its vitamins are backed by science, tested for quality and purity, and inspected by a professional before shipping.
What Protects From Fractures
For older patients at risk of vitamin D deficiency, supplements can have a major impact. They can prevent osteomalacia, a softening of the bone that makes fractures more likely.
A University of Auckland meta-study reported that vitamin D supplements had little effect on bone density.
We would not expect vitamin D supplements to have a large impact on bone density unless the deficiency was severe, he says. Then their impact could be significant.
Improving bone density is not the only way to prevent fractures especially in older patients. Vitamin D can also have huge benefits for muscle function, cognition and falling.
One study found no evidence that vitamin D supplements reduced mortality, or prevented falls or fractures. A different study found no evidence that vitamin D supplements reduced overall mortality. Drilling down into the type of supplement taken, however, vitamin D3 significantly reduced mortality while vitamin D2 slightly increased mortality.
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Vitamins K2 D3 Side Effects
Surely, these powerful duo work together to better maximize its individual potential in one bottle. However, there are warning signs to be aware of when taking this supplement. The combination of Vitamin D3 and K2 can cause some unfavorable side effects, both minor and major effects. Some minor adverse side effects can occur when you begin taking these supplements include flatulence, abdominal pain and swelling of the belly .” rel=”nofollow”> 17). Nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain are also considered rare side effects of this supplement .” rel=”nofollow”> 18). It is important, hence, to immediately cease taking the supplement and consult your doctor right away. It is also advised to talk to your healthcare practitioner before taking the supplement.
Vitamin D3 Pill Images
What does Vitamin d3 look like?
Note: Multiple pictures are displayed for those medicines available in different strengths, marketed under different brand names and for medicines manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies. Multi ingredient medications may also be listed when applicable.Return to Pill Identifier
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What Is Vitamin D And How Do I Get It
Vitamin D is an important ingredient in many different cellular processes in the body. It is well-known for keeping our bones strong, but it also plays a role in other functions, including:
-
Muscle strength
-
Calcium and glucose metabolism
There are two natural sources of vitamin D:
1) Food: There are only a small number of foods that naturally contain vitamin D. Some of the best sources include:
-
Liver
-
Mushrooms
-
Egg yolks
It is more common to find foods that are artificially fortified with vitamin D, like cereals and milk.
2) Sunlight: Our body can actually make its own vitamin D! When we are exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun, our skin uses the sunlight to make the vitamin from scratch.
Most people have adequate levels of vitamin D through these two sources. After all, it takes only 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure a day for your body to make enough of it. But some people choose to take supplements to keep their vitamin D levels at a normal level especially if they have or are at risk for low levels of it.
How Many Milligrams Of Vitamin D Should I Take In One Day
The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D is 15 micrograms or 600 international units for most adults under 70. Vitamin D supplements often contain much more than the RDA, with some products ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 IUs per dose. The National Institutes of Health recommends that people limit their daily vitamin D intake to no more than 4,000 IUs from food and supplements combined. Speak with your healthcare provider to determine the supplemental dose that is right for you.
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What You Can Do Now
If youre concerned about vitamin D deficiency, ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level, says Dr. Deal. If the level is low and your provider starts you on supplements, you need repeat testing in eight to 12 weeks to make sure the level is not too high or too low.
If testing shows your vitamin D level is normal, you need repeat testing every two to three years unless you have major changes in your overall health.
Different diseases need different doses of vitamin D. If you have chronic kidney disease or parathyroid disease, ask your kidney specialist or endocrinologist about the type and dose of vitamin D you need.
If youre pregnant or breastfeeding, Dr. Deal recommends you keep taking vitamin D supplements as long as your doctor prescribes them. The supplement is linked to healthy development for you and your baby.
For bone health, be sure to stay active and remember to eat a calcium-rich diet. Consult with your doctor frequently to make sure youre taking the right steps to current bone health.
Choosing The Best Vitamin D Supplement For Your Health
If you choose to go the supplement route, Clifford recommends taking around 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day. Vitamin D3 is the form that is already stored in the body, so some studies have found it to be more effective, Clifford says. Also, take vitamin D with a healthy fat, such as sliced avocado, because it is a fat-soluble vitamin that requires fat to be absorbed.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesnt oversee supplements, so it can be tough to know if youre buying a good one. Some research has found the potency of supplements varies greatly among brands. The supplements tested in the aforementioned research had between 9 and 146 percent of the expected dose. The researchers found supplements from a USP-verified bottle were the most accurate and least variable, so when youre looking for a supplement, be on the lookout for the USP mark.
Meghan Sedivy, RD, of Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, recommends:
- Garden of Life Vitamin Code RAW D3
- Solaray Vitamin D3
Since D3 sometimes comes from animal sources, vegans should opt for vitamin D2 or a D3 supplement marked as vegan, such as Vitashine Vegan D3 Supplement.
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What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency
Your body can manufacture small amounts of vitamin D when you’re exposed to the sun. In addition, vitamin D is found in a number of foods, including fatty fish, egg yolks, beef liver and mushrooms. The nutrient is also added to some dairy products and breakfast cereals. People who are severely lacking in vitamin D may develop a condition called rickets, which causes the bones to become soft. Vitamin D deficiency symptoms may also include muscle weakness and pain can also stem from low vitamin D levels. People who are most likely to become deficient of vitamin D may include individuals who spend all of their time indoors, infants who are exclusively breastfed and those who cover all of their skin for style or religious reasons. Vitamin D deficiency can often be addressed with supplements.
How Much Vitamin D Should Women Take
The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D is the same for men and women, including those who are pregnant or lactating. The RDA is 15 micrograms or 600 international units for most people age 1 to 70 years old. For those older than 70, the ability to absorb vitamin D can become more difficult, and the RDA is 20 mcg or 800 IUs. Some patient populations may require more vitamin D, and your healthcare provider can help answer any questions you have about vitamin D supplementation.
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How Can I Increase My Vitamin D
There are a few options when it comes to increasing vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is found in some foods, primarily in fatty fish such as salmon and trout and in fish liver oils. It can also be produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight, but too much sun exposure can be dangerous for the skin. Its important to practice proper sun protection at all times. Some people, such as older adults or people with darker skin tones, may have more trouble making vitamin D naturally after exposure to the sun.
Getting enough vitamin D can be difficult, but supplements can help those who struggle to reach the recommended dietary allowance of 15 micrograms or 600 international units for most adults. Vitamin D supplements are available in a variety of doses and forms, including softgels, gummies, and tablets.
Vitamin K2 D: A Powerful Duo
It is very evident that both vitamins promise remarkable health benefits in the body. However, as Vitamin D3 helps with the absorption of calcium and the mineralization of bones and teeth, some experts fear that very high levels of Vitamin D and calcium could result in the deposit of this mineral in places where it can be detrimental to your health. Vitamin 2 comes in and controls where that calcium ends up so it would not endanger some organs of our body .
Over-supplementation of vitamin D3 without ample vitamin K2, leads to problems of excess calcium and if calcium does not proceed to its right destination, it will reroute itself to other tissues, like your arteries, in the walls of blood vessels or in the kidneys . When calcium stays in the arteries, it is dangerous because it contributes to atherosclerosis and vessel stiffness that leads to cardiovascular disease that may cause death . This is why that if you are supplementing with Vitamin D3, you surely should partner it with an ample amount of Vitamin K2. Because of this mechanism, many nutrition experts consider these vitamins as synergistic because they are capable of working together to increase the potency of the beneficial effects they provide .
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Which Drugs Or Supplements Interact With Vitamin D
Vitamin D should be used with caution with mineral oil because mineral oil slows down the absorption of Vitamin D and reduces its therapeutic benefits.
Thiazide diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone should be used with caution in people with hypoparathyroid taking Vitamin D, because thiamine diuretics may increase calcium levels.
Who Should Take Vitamin D
Some people may be at an increased risk of low or inadequate vitamin D levels. Older adults and people with darker skin may have trouble naturally producing enough vitamin D from sun exposure. People with health conditions such as Crohns disease, celiac disease or ulcerative colitis may have difficulty absorbing vitamin D. Individuals who have had gastric bypass surgery or who are obese may also require more vitamin D than others. Supplemental vitamin D may be a great option for these individuals as well as for anyone who is concerned about their daily vitamin D intake. People who do not consume dairy or animal products may also benefit from vitamin D supplementation. Your healthcare provider can help you determine if supplemental vitamin D is right for you.
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How Should I Take Cholecalciferol
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use only the recommended dose of cholecalciferol.
It may be best to take cholecalciferol after a meal, but you may take this medicine with or without food.
Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device .
The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.
To take a disintegrating tablet, place it on your tongue and do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.
The cholecalciferol wafer is usually taken only once per week or once per month. Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions very carefully. The wafer must be chewed before you swallow it.
While using cholecalciferol, you will need frequent blood tests. You may also need x-rays.
Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with this medicine.
Cholecalciferol may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes dietary changes and taking calcium and vitamin supplements. Follow your doctor’s instructions very closely.
Learn about the foods you should eat to make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Your cholecalciferol dose may need to be adjusted as you make changes to your diet.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, light, and heat.
Do Vitamin D Supplements Work
There is plenty of debate about vitamin D supplementation, and about the role of vitamin D in human health.
Vitamin D is most famous for promoting bone health, but a recent scientific review published in 2018 concluded that vitamin D supplementation did nothing to increase bone mineral density or to decrease bone fractures in people who already had normal vitamin D levels.
But according to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D supplements are an effective way to raise blood vitamin D levels â if needed.
âWhether vitamin D supplements ‘work’ depends on whether you are deficient, low, or adequate in vitamin D,â Paul Thomas, a nutrition scientist who works with the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, tells Inverse.
âIf you get enough vitamin D from food and Sun, vitamin D supplements should not be expected to provide any additional benefits.â
Thomas says that the recommended daily intake of Vitamin D from all sources is 15 mcg for people from 14-70 years old.
âAdequate levels range from 50-125 nmol/L or 20-50 ng/mL, depending on how the results are reported,â Thomas explains.
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