Discovery of vitamin D
Vitamin D was one of 13 vitamins discovered in the early 1920’s by a group of doctors researching diseases resulting from nutritional deficiencies, such as rickets. Since then scientists have defined vitamins as being carbon-containing chemicals which must be obtained through diet because they are not produced by the body’s tissues. These vitamins play a vital role in our body’s metabolism, but only very small amounts are needed for them to achieve their purpose.
What is vitamin D?
Although vitamin D is referred to as one of the four fat-soluble vitamins, it is unique from the other vitamins in that it can be synthesised by the human body and food sources of vitamin D are scarce (limited to fish and egg yolks). Even when obtained from food sources, vitamin D must be converted before the body can utilise it.
Vitamin D is produced by our skin from a type of cholesterol called 7-dehydrocholesterol. Sunshine (UVB energy) is the magic key which enables 7-dehydrocholesterol to be converted to vitamin D3, hence it is often referred to as ‘the sunshine vitamin’. Vitamin D3 is carried to the liver and then the kidneys where it is transformed into active vitamin D.
Given the lack of sunshine in the Autumn and Winter months in the UK, vitamin D deficiency is common, particularly amongst population groups with darker skin, or those who cover their skin, limiting exposure to sunlight. Sunscreens also prevent us from producing vitamin D, given our need for UVB energy for the conversion process to take place. This deficiency has been linked to potentially increasing the risk of developing a wide range of illnesses.
Vitamin D, light and energy
Let’s delve a little deeper into this relationship between vitamin D and light or energy from the sun and what it means for the human body and our health. What is really happening when we go on holiday somewhere warm and sunny to ‘recharge our batteries’?
Let’s start by talking about our mitochondria (the powerhouses of our cells). Our mitochondria have a unique ability to switch between two different forms of energy production. This goes back to our ancestry, prior to the first ice age, where the earth’s atmosphere was devoid of molecular oxygen (O2) but dominated by carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane gas (CH4). The CO2 was produced from volcanic action of the earth’s crust and the CH4 produced by the ubiquitous archaea – a largely anaerobic life form – which converted CO2 into CH4. When the ice sheet melted O2 levels started to rise, most likely as a result of CO2 being converted into O2 via photosynthesis.
In his 16 stages of cellular change Henrich Kremer talks about how our mitochondria switch from functioning to one extreme where “aerobic” cells consist of 80% oxygen – 20% glucose, that can capture and hold light effectively to create ATP, to the other extreme of the spectrum “anaerobic” cells that are 80% glucose and 20% oxygen and are far less effective at converting light into energy, to produce ATP, (as low as 1;16th as effective) which is essential for healthy respiratory function. This ability for mitochondria to switch its method of energy production is important to prevent free radical damage. When ATP is being produced using oxygen, large amounts of free radicals are produced. These free radicals would damage the cells of the nucleus when they divide. Therefore, by the mitochondria switching to anaerobic respiration while replication takes place, free radicals are prevented. When replication is complete the mitochondria switch back to aerobic energy production.
But Kremer also talked about another important function of our mitochondria - transmitting information. He claims that ATP stores, bundles and emits targeted photon-modulated information in the electromagnetic field. If this is true, then our mitochondria also play an important part in allowing our cells to carry out metabolic processes and mitochondrial dysfunction may have a wider impact on our health, beyond our energy levels. It also begs the question of whether the benefits claimed of vitamin D are solely down to vitamin D, or rather the action of the sun stimulating bio-photon activity and therefore enhancing mitochondria function and our health via our mitochondria, of which vitamin D could be a contributing factor. Several variables may impact on mitochondrial function, such as a lack of enzymes or co-factors needed for the various complexes in the electron transport chain, lack of antioxidants (including vitamin D), toxins and heavy metals, or poor detoxification.
Given the mitochondria’s reliance on photon’s, our holidays to the sunshine to ‘recharge our batteries’ are actually an effective way for us to stimulate biophoton activity, resulting in improved mitochondrial function.
This is a similar concept to the way in which our environment can impact on our gene expression (or epigenetics). Yes, we inherit a genetic makeup, but the environment we bathe those genes in can have a huge impact on whether those genes ever translate. Nutrigenomics demonstrates this by improving the outcomes of patients with certain genetic predispositions to disease via tailored diets to reduce the chances of those genes ever becoming active or improving outcomes for patients who have already succumbed. A good example of this is the vegan diet, which is thought to turn on more than 500 disease-preventing genes whilst turning off genes connecting with chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and prostate cancer.
Several scientific experiments have demonstrated the way photons appear to interact with human DNA, which indeed further substantiates this concept of another source of energy potentially impacting on human DNA and human health.
Benefits of vitamin D
So, let’s look at some of the health benefits associated with optimum vitamin D levels: -
Reduction in cancer risk
Recent research indicates that supplementation with Vitamin D3 may significantly reduce the risk of death from cancer. In one meta-analysis vitamin D3 supplementation statistically reduce cancer death by 16% (Zhang et al, 2019).
Energy Levels
Although there are many potential causes of fatigue, low vitamin D levels may be one of them.
In one case study, a 28-year-old woman with excessive daytime sleepiness was monitored for a period of 4 months. Her vitamin D levels were found to be at 5.9 ng/mL which is extremely low, so 50,000 IU's of vitamin D supplementation was administered once per week. After 2 weeks her symptoms dramatically improved. (McCarly, 2010)
Immune system support and wound healing
Studies have demonstrated an increased link between low vitamin D levels and increased illness or infection.
Jat (2017) carried out a systematic review and metanalysis of observational studies on children with lower respiratory tract infections and found a correlation between the incidence and severity of infection and vitamin D status.
Pletz et al. (2014) also found a link between vitamin D levels and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia.
Bergman et al. (2013) analysed the impact of vitamin D supplementation on Respiratory Tract infections and found vitamin D appeared to have a protective effect
Optimal vitamin D levels are also thought to aid wound healing, partly by reducing inflammation and reducing the risk of infection, but also by containing compounds which contribute towards the formation of new skin. (Bashutski et al, 2011)
Healthy bones and teeth
Vitamin D plays an important role in the absorption of calcium and bone metabolism, contributing to healthy bones and teeth.
A study examining bone density in menopausal and post-menopausal women found an association between low bone density and low vitamin D levels (Bener and Saleh, 2015)
Gene expression
There is a growing body of research indicating that vitamin D influences expression of up to as many as 200 different genes, including those involved in detoxification, immune system response and killing off cancer cells (Passing et al, 2017)
Behavioural problems in children
Vitamin D deficiency during primary school years has been shown to increase the risk of children developing behavioural problems during adolescence (Robinson et al, 2019).
Importance of vitamin D during pregnancy and optimal levels whilst breastfeeding
Optimal vitamin D levels during pregnancy have been found to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, insulin resistance and gestational diabetes in the mother. As with adults, Vitamin D is also important for the foetus’s developing immune system, skeletal system and brain.
A mother’s vitamin D status is passed on to her baby through breast milk, so it is vital that pregnant women check their vitamin D levels and address them if they are deficient prior to breastfeeding. This not only ensures the mother’s immune system is supported but also positively contributes to the baby’s developing immune system.
Digestive health
Low vitamin D levels have been associated with increased gastrointestinal inflammation and an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease and colitis. Low vitamin D levels have also been associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, impacting on the immune system and further increasing the risk of IBD developing. (Tabatabaeizadeh et al, 2018)
Mental Health
There are many potential causes for low mood, but low vitamin D levels can be one of them. Many studies have shown that supplementation with adequate vitamin D dosages may relieve symptoms of depression, particularly in older adults. (Okereke and Singh, 2016)
Vitamin D may also play a part in overall brain function (Soni et al, 2012) and reduction in the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s (Jayedi et al, 2018) and even schizophrenia (Salavert et al, 2017)
Nervous system support
Vitamin D is thought to be involved with the expression of genes which regulate Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Significant research has demonstrated a correlation between lower vitamin D levels and higher incidences of MS. Vitamin D levels may also impact on disease activity in patients already diagnosed with MS. (Sintzel et al, 2018). Similar, early research also shows a potential correlation between vitamin D levels and risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Vitamin D levels may also impact on the severity of existing Parkinson’s sufferers. (Peterson, 2014).
Reducing diabetes risk
Optimal vitamin D levels have been found to improve insulin resistance and decrease the risk of pre-diabetic patients developing full-blown diabetes (Niroomand, M et al, 2019)
Can I take too much vitamin D?
Vitamin D is clearly a very important nutrient and supplementation can be extremely helpful. In the UK vitamin D supplementation is often necessary to achieve optimal levels, given the lack of sunshine. However, it is wise to exercise caution with supplementation and speak with an appropriate health professional regarding appropriate dosing. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, it, therefore, accumulates in our system and in rare cases it is possible to overdose, leading to vitamin D toxicity or hypervitaminosis D. This condition is rare but can potentially be quite serious, leading to a build-up of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). Symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include nausea, vomiting, weakness and frequent urination. In extreme cases, this may also result in bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.
So, in summary, optimal vitamin D levels are advisable and clearly have many potential health benefits, but the question remains…. Are these health benefits as a result of vitamin D itself, or is vitamin D an essential component of optimal mitochondrial function and is it the enhanced mitochondrial function and / or even biophoton activity which really leads to these numerous health-promoting benefits?
