FEM D3LD

·  Bone health

·  Supports musculoskeletal comfort

·  Repletes dietary deficiency/limited sunlight exposure

·  Repletion of D with depleting drugs (steroids, antacids, calcium-channel
     blockers etc)

·  Modulation of immune function

·  Cancer protective properties

·  Chemoprotection, CV risk reduction

Ergocalciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3) are very similar biochemically; however, vitamin D (2) is one-third the potency and has shorter duration of action relative to vitamin D (3). The kidneys convert D3 into the hormone, calcitriol which affects bone, intestine, muscle, brain, skin and immune system cells. Calcitriol is important for healthy cell differentiation. The active metabolites of cholecalciferol increase plasma levels of calcium and phosphorous by increasing the amount of calbindin, the protein responsible for binding calcium in the intestine, and by stimulating transfer of calcium and phosphorus from the bone to the plasma. In addition to the association of vitamin D blood levels to bone metabolism, researchers have also demonstrated associations with healthy blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, as well as healthy pulmonary function.

The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency has been shown among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and dramatic reduction by supplementation with the vitamin has been demonstrated. Research demonstrates 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is an immune modulator and the majority of 63 observational studies in a PubMed database search demonstrated a chemo protective role of vitamin D. Data also suggests that vitamin D therapy may prolong survival in patients with chronic kidney disease. A study reported in Stroke concluded Vitamin D deficiency is present in most cases of acute stroke and may even precede a stroke event and post-stroke repletion enhances musculoskeletal health. The standards for recommended dietary intakes of vitamin D are being scrutinized for being too low.

Dosage: Current understanding is that the physiological requirement of this fat-soluble vitamin may be as high as 4000 iu/day. This is less than half the amount the body would be able to synthesize on its own with full-body exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D3 is highly lipid-soluble, has a plasma half-life of about 19-25 hours, and a terminal half-life of weeks to months. A study demonstrated that it is not necessary to dose vitamin D according to body fat content. Note: One microgram of cholecalciferol has 40 iu of Vitamin D activity. Thus, another way of expressing 400 IU of Vitamin D is 10 ug (micrograms) cholecalciferol.

Contraindications:  Consult with your health care practitioner before beginning vitamin D therapy. Drug interaction is theoretically possible with drugs that are cleared via glucuronidation.