With Vit D there are categories, eg Deficient, Insufficient, Sufficient.
The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol. Over 220nmol is considered high and can lead to toxicity.
Before taking D3 supplements you need to test your Vit D level and supplement at the appropriate dose.
D3 is fat soluble and any excess gets stored, so yes, you can take too much.
When supplementing it's important to retest twice a year to check your level.
When taking D3 there are important cofactors needed, magnesium helps the body to use D3, and Vit K2-mk7 directs extra calcium uptake from food to bones and teeth and away from arteries and soft tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems.
Where Hashi's is present, an oral spray or sublingual drops give best absorption. Otherwise a good choice would be a softgel containing olive oil, eg Doctor's Best.
I dont supplement any at the moment . Just take selenium sometimes . Cant afford it all to be honest . But I know health should be my priority .besides false economy coz cant work if too ill
Popppie
How do you know how much Cod liver oil to take to raise your levels? My D3 was rather low (36 - range 50-200) and I started taking 5,000iu, then 2,000iu when the higher dose ran out, thinking that might be OK. But after several months my level was still only 66. I'm now taking 4,000 (with K2 and magnesium) but wondering whether that is enough. Will test again in a few months
I just remembered too, that liver contains high levels of vitamin A, which can be toxic. Not sure about cod liver, but found this link, which makes me cautious:
My mother used to give me CLO when I was a child. She gave up when I kept spitting it out. I find the taste disgusting. Worse yet, if I swallow it, it's "the gift that keeps on giving" as I then taste it AGAIN it every time I burp for several hours afterwards.
According to Consumerlab, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) cautions against levels of Vitamin D higher than 50 ng/ml (150 nmol/L). Based on Consumerlab's own review of the research, they advise not going too much higher than 30 ng/ML (75 nmol/L) - both recommendations are based on studies that show all sorts of adverse events beyond those levels, including increased mortality and cardiovascular events. Based on my reading of their review, it seems like around 40ng/ml (120 nmol/L) is where most trouble begins.
I know for autoimmunity higher levels of Vitamin D have been shown to be helpful (I believe closer to 50 ng/ml or 150 nmol/L?), and that there is some but limited evidence that Vitamin K2 mitigates toxicity at higher levels and that some suggest that Vitamin D toxicity is actually Vitamin K2 deficiency. So I think it is a personal decision what levels you feel comfortable with. I personally have decided to raise my levels from mid 30s to low/mid 40s (ng/ml) and will likely soon begin supplementing with Vitamin K2 (I did already start eating more Vitamin K2 rich foods).
Also, Vitamin K absorption has been shown to be hampered by other fat soluble vitamins that compete along the same pathways for absorption, including Vitamin D, so it's best to take those supplements away from each other. Vitamin D can interfere with production of Melatonin at night, so may be best to take D in the morning and K2 at night, both alongside some fat if not with a full meal.
Note: I have no expertise in this beyond my personal research on it.
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