After my cancer diagnosis, my naturopathic medical doctor checked my Vitamin D level and found that it was low at 21.8 ng/mL. Normal levels are 30-100 ng/mL. Levels between 20-30 ng/mL are considered insufficient and levels below 20 ng/mL are considered deficient. My NMD wanted my levels around 80 ng/mL for therapeutic healing of cancer. He instructed me to begin vitamin D supplements. Well, I knew that the body can make its own vitamin D in the presence of sunlight. So I decided to just spend some time in the sun by the pool every day to increase my levels. A few months later my vitamin D level was checked again. It increased to 26.7 ng/mL. I was not technically deficient, but it is still considered an insufficient level. Definitely not sufficient enough to assist in my cancer management protocol, according to my NMD. When I told him what I had been doing to increase my levels, he looked at me like I was dumb. He reiterated what he told me before: that I should be using a supplement. I caved. I bought one from Amazon. I found one that is 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per dose delivered in an olive oil base. I began taking 1 drop a day with all of my other supplements. A few months later my level was 55.7 ng/mL. It was an improvement, but not as high as he wanted. So I increased my dose and took a drop in the morning and one in the evening. Several months later my NMD was finally satisfied with a level of 85.1 ng/mL.
Why was he so concerned about my vitamin D levels? Vitamin D is mostly recognized for its importance in aiding with the absorption of calcium from the intestines and to mineralize the bones. 1 But that is not the only purpose of vitamin D. It has been suggested by research studies that vitamin D may have anti-cancer properties. “Laboratory and animal studies suggest that vitamin D might inhibit carcinogenesis [tumor growth] and slow tumor progression by, for example, promoting cell differentiation and inhibiting metastasis. Vitamin D might also have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory [changes in the immune system], proapoptotic [death of unwanted cells], and antiangiogenic [suppression of growth of new blood vessels that feed cancerous cells] effects.” The study also showed that daily supplementation of vitamin D reduced cancer mortality rates by 13%. 2
Vitamin D also has neuro-regulatory properties. It aids in the formation of glutathione, which is the most important antioxidant in the brain thereby acting as a neuroprotectant. It also aids in the formation of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) which is the precursor to adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin, which affect mood. Frequently, low levels of vitamin D are associated with depression. In addition, it is also important in the production of melatonin, which regulates sleep. 3 Insomnia and poor sleep have been reported with low vitamin D levels.
Studies have also shown that vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, researchers have found that vitamin D reduces inflammation caused by T-cells and helps speed the transition of T-cells from a pro-inflammatory phase of clearing out infection, to the anti-inflammatory phase. 4 It also reduces cytokine production by the T-cells and immunoglobulin production by the B cells. In the brain, cytokines have a negative effect on the neurotransmitters (like dopamine and serotonin) which can result in anxiety, depression, and sleep impairment. 3 This is another way that low vitamin D levels affect mood and sleep. As part of the anti-inflammatory properties, Vitamin D aids in the body’s immune response. It not only enhances the ability of the white blood cells to defend the body against microbes, but it decreases the autoimmune response of the body as well. 5 This contributes to diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and IBS.
As vitamin D’s roles in the immune response have been investigated, recent studies have discovered that vitamin D is effective at preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms. 5 While more research needs to be done, there is definitely an association between low vitamin D levels and severe COVID-19 symptoms. 6 It is suspected that it could be due to the role that vitamin D plays in reducing the cytokine storm that is responsible for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) experienced by those with severe COVID-19.
There have also been studies that suggest that vitamin D deficiency can be related to childhood food allergies. Apparently, areas further from the equator have a higher incidence of hospital admissions related to food allergies, epinephrine prescriptions, and peanut allergies. 7 One particular Australian study showed that “infants with low vitamin D were more likely to have egg or peanut allergy and were more likely to have multiple allergies compared to infants with normal vitamin D levels.” 8
It is estimated that about 40% of the US population is deficient in vitamin D. That means a level below 20ng/mL. And it is even higher for the Hispanic and black population which can reach up to 80% of people that are deficient. 9 Some of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include regular sickness or infection, fatigue, bone and back pain, low mood, impaired wound healing, hair loss, and muscle pain. 10
With all the roles vitamin D plays in the neuro and immune systems it seems to be downplayed in its importance and the need for supplementation. Yes, your body can manufacture vitamin D through exposure to the sun. But doctors discourage going out in the sun without protective sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. But the sunscreen then acts as a barrier and inhibits the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D can also be obtained through diet in foods such as fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified cereals, fortified milk and juices, yogurt, mushrooms, and beef liver. 11 But it is difficult to get enough through diet alone. I would recommend getting your vitamin D level checked by your healthcare provider to determine your baseline level and see if supplementation is necessary.
References
- Moriarty, C. (2018, March 15). Vitamin D Myths ‘D’-bunked. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/vitamin-d-myths-debunked
- Vitamin D: Fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2022 from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
- di Michele, Flavia. (2020). Why Vitamin D Status Might be Important for Brain Health and Mental Well-Being?. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 26. 2439-2441. 10.2174/138161282621200520085710.
- Steff, B. (2021, November 18). Researchers study the link between vitamin D and inflammation. Perdue University News. Retrieved March 31, 2022 from https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2021/Q4/researchers-study-the-link-between-vitamin-d-and-inflammation.html
- Bui L, Zhu Z, Hawkins S, Cortez-Resendiz A, Bellon A. (2021, January). Vitamin D regulation of the immune system and its implications for COVID-19: A mini review. SAGE Open Medicine. doi:10.1177/20503121211014073
- Dror AA, Morozov N, Daoud A, Namir Y, Yakir O, Shachar Y, et al. (2022) Pre-infection 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and association with severity of COVID-19 illness. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0263069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263069
- Vitamin D and Food Allergy. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. (2020, September 28). https://www.aaaai.org/Tools-for-the-Public/Conditions-Library/Allergies/vitamin-d-food-allergy
- Allen KJ, Koplin JJ, Ponsonby AL, Gurrin LC, Wake M, Vuillermin P, Martin P, Matheson M, Lowe A, Robinson M, Tey D, Osborne NJ, Dang T, Tina Tan HT, Thiele L, Anderson D, Czech H, Sanjeevan J, Zurzolo G, Dwyer T, Tang ML, Hill D, Dharmage SC. Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with challenge-proven food allergy in infants. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Apr;131(4):1109-16, 1116.e1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.01.017. Epub 2013 Feb 27. PMID: 23453797.
- Forrest KY, Stuhldreher WL. Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults. Nutr Res. 2011 Jan;31(1):48-54. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2010.12.001. PMID: 21310306.
- Ware, M. (2019, November 7). What are the Health Benefits of Vitamin D? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161618.
- Food Sources of Vitamin D. (n.d.) Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved March 31, 2022 from https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials/food-sources-select-nutrients/food-sources