What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is produced in human skin in the form of cholecalciferol. This happens under the influence of (ultraviolet) sunlight. Cholecalciferol is then converted in the body into a metabolite named calcidiol and subsequently, as required, into the biologically active hormone calcitriol. Kala Health Vitamin D 3000 IU 180 capsules contain 75 mcg of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) expressed in 3000 IU (international units), extracted from sheep’s wool fat. This dose is particularly suitable for situations which require increased vitamin D intake, such as during the winter months. Would you like to order Vitamin D from Kala Health? You can do so quickly and easily during the summer months!

Vitamin D requirement

If there is sufficient sunlight, more than enough vitamin D is produced in the skin. In principle, therefore, Westerners can meet their vitamin D requirements during the summer months by spending at least half an hour outdoors in the sun every day between 11 am and 3 pm. However:

• Many people work indoors during the day
• It is often cloudy
• When the weather is nice and sunny, many people use sunscreen that blocks ultraviolet light.
• Outside the summer months, the sun lacks sufficient strength.
• People with darker skin produce much less vitamin D.

The reality, therefore, is that the majority of people in the West produce far too little vitamin D throughout the year, nor do they ingest enough of it through their diet.

Optimal vitamin D blood values

An official guideline is that the optimal vitamin D level should amount to 30 nanomol per liter of blood (nmol/l), and 50 nmol/l from the age of 70. However, there are increasing indications that these values are rather low. Today, many vitamin D experts state that the optimal vitamin D level for everyone is actually at least 75 nmol/l.

It is a fact of experience that many people’s vitamin D levels fall to 20 – 50 nmol/l outside the summer months, and sometimes even lower. It is therefore a good idea to regularly check the blood’s vitamin D value. A second good piece of advice is to take vitamin D supplements outside the summer months to help maintain the vitamin D level in the blood.

How much vitamin D should you take daily? That is a very good question and one that is not easy to answer, because every person is unique. However, there is a general guideline that you can follow:

• At an initial value of 20 nmol/l, an adult western person needs 100 mcg (4000 IU) daily to reach a blood value of 75 nmol/l after one month.
• At an initial value of 50 nmol/l, an adult western person needs 50 mcg (2000 IU) daily to reach a blood value of 75 nmol/l after one month.
• After reaching a blood value of 75 nmol/l, an adult western person needs 25 – 50 mg (1000 – 2000 IU) daily to maintain a blood value of 75 nmol/l.

Please note that these are general guidelines. It’s recommended to have the vitamin D level in the blood determined every 3 – 6 months, and to adjust the daily dose accordingly.

Vitamin supplements as a solution

Taking vitamin D supplements outside of the summer months is a sensible way to maintain the vitamin D level in the blood. How much should you consume? That is a good question, and one that is not easy to answer. Every person is unique. It is recommended to have the vitamin D level in your blood checked every three to six months and to adjust the daily dose accordingly.

Ingredients

Each capsule contains:
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol 3000 IU) 75 mcg (1500% RI*)
*RI = Reference Intake

Filler (sunflower oil), gelling agent (bovine gelatin), humectant (glycerol, water), cholecalciferol (from wool fat).

Vitamin D dosage 3000 IU 180 capsules

Adults can take 1 capsule daily unless otherwise recommended. Ingestion along with a (fatty) meal is preferable. Please be sure to always stick to the recommended dosage. This dietary supplement is not suitable for children up to and including ten years of age.

Permitted health claims

There is a reason the body produces large amounts of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight; this vitamin is essential and is used by the body for a large number of vital metabolic processes. On these grounds, the EU has approved the following scientifically proven health claims:

• Vitamin D contributes to immune system maintenance
• Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth
• Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscles
• Vitamin D plays a role in the cell division process