Published on October 17, 2019
There are two main pathways in which vitamin D impacts health after it enters the body from UV exposure or diet. First, vitamin D can be delivered to the liver where it is converted to 25(OH)D and moved into circulation, then, as needed, delivered to the kidneys to be converted to its active form of 1,25(OH)2D, which helps control calcium absorption and bone health. Second, vitamin D can be delivered directly to many tissues in the body where it can be converted to its active form and enable cells to fight against infection, disease, and autoimmune disorders. While 25(OH)D lasts for several weeks in the body, vitamin D only lasts for a few days, so daily or every other day dosing is important for this second pathway.
How frequently do GrassrootsHealth Participants take their vitamin D supplement?
On the GrassrootsHealth health and lifestyle questionnaire, questions about dosing frequency were added in 2017. The chart below shows the percent of participants for each intake frequency category for vitamin D supplement users. As participants can enter information about more than one supplement with vitamin D, the most frequent dosing interval selected is shown here.
A vast majority of participants (87%) took their vitamin D supplement every day or most days. Click here for more information on the importance of vitamin D dosing frequency.
Is your vitamin D level responding as expected to supplementation?
Testing your vitamin D level regularly and taking steps to keep it at a target level of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) is important for all stages of health. Through GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute, you can also test your omega-3 status, inflammation levels, and levels of essential nutrients and toxins. Find out your levels today! Log on to the shop (click the link below) to get your tests and see for yourself if your level can be improved.
Make sure you track your results before and after, about every 6 months!
Click Here to Access the Shop Page
How can I track my nutrient intake and levels over time?
To help you track your supplement use and nutrient levels, GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute has created an online tracking system called myData-myAnswers. For each specific supplement, you can track what days you take it, how much, and many other details. This will help you know your true supplemental intake and what patterns of use work for you to reach and maintain optimum nutrient levels. Check it out today!
How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?
Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!
STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health
STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study
STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there
STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)
