Vitamin D dosage is a hot topic during the pandemic. We talk to the experts to find out why.
Vitamin D: Death-defying miracle or is there such a thing as too much?
Throughout the rise of COVID-19 and its variants, there has been frequent conversation about whether Vitamin D supplementation is helpful for protecting people from either the virus itself, or in lessening its impact if you catch it.
But there has been much more than just discussion: there has also been cold, hard science.
At LYMA we are serious about evidence-based wellness and are pro Vitamin D for all round general health - hence why the powerful, proven Vita-algae D3™ is one of our hero ingredients, dosed at 2,000 i.u. (the optimal level proven by clinical trials).
We are glad to see science is now also backing Vitamin D in the fight against the pandemic: a study published by The Royal Society noted that "evidence linking Vitamin D deficiency with COVID-19 severity is circumstantial but considerable." Whilst another found that the countries in Europe with lower Vitamin D rates also had higher COVID-19 death rates.
The relationship between Vitamin D and Vitamin K2
Campbell draws attention to the fact that low Vitamin D levels can be connected to viral lung infections, chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis and more.
"The report also confirms Vitamin D is needed by our body to strengthen its immune system. "
Campbell also confirms that Vitamin K2 plays a vital role in the efficacy of supplementary Vitamin D.
Vitamin D daily maintenance dose. What you need to know.
The conclusion of the study is that Britons need much more Vitamin D than is currently recommended.
The report suggests the Vitamin D maintenance dose may need to be at the higher end for certain groups:
- If you live in the northern parts of the world, and get less sun exposure.
- If you're elderly, or spend more time indoors during the day.
- People with highly melanated skin, including Black Britons.
Why? “People with a naturally dark skin tone have natural sun protection and require at least three to five times longer exposure to make the same amount of vitamin D as a person with a white skin tone," Dr Ingrid Wilson, Director of Crewe Hair and Skin Clinic in Cheshire, explained in our guide to the best skincare for black skin.
Vitamin K2 - Should it be part of your Vitamin D stack?
Vitamin K2 will take any calcium and prevent it from going from the blood into tissue (and provide a healthy amount to bones.) By doing this, it prevents unnecessary calcification.
"If you are trying to improve skeletal health, K and D work together."
Prof. Paul Clayton, Leading Scientist in Personal and Preventative Medicine
"Vitamin D improves the uptake of calcium and magnesium, and then the K helps to build those elements into bone.
"If you are aiming at immune health, D and K work together in a different way," he says. "D improves certain aspects of innate and adaptive immunity, K adds some anti-inflammatory benefits."
The NHS suggests that you should be able to get "all the vitamin K you need by eating a varied and balanced diet." Dr Campbell recommends supplementing with additional Vitamin K if you're increasing the amount of Vitamin D you are taking.
The LYMA Supplement – naturally engineered to make you look & feel your best – also includes 75μg of daily Vitamin K in our patented K2VITAL® DELTA ingredient. Proven to get you ahead, The LYMA Supplement combines 10 powerful ingredients into 1 ultimate formula.
