About Vitamin D

Natural production of vitamin D occurs in the bodies of all people everywhere when their skin is exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) light in sunlight. However, ultraviolet-B light is only present in mid-day summer sunlight on clear days. And, for the vitamin D production to occur, the sun must be shining directly on the skin. Once UVB light is on skin, the UVB light is absorbed by 7-dehydrocholesterol molecules in skin, which converts the 7-dehydrocholesterol molecules in the skin to vitamin D (cholecalciferol) molecules.

A recently developed (within the last 20 years) alternative method of producing vitamin D is done by the “metabolic engineering” of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, which has been used in bread, wine, and chocolate production for hundreds of years.  Saccharomyces cerevisiae is “re-engineered” for 7-dehydrocholesterol production, then exposed to the same ultraviolet-B light as skin is in the natural production of vitamin D, converting 7-dehydrocholesterol molecules in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast to vitamin D. Rubbing the yeast production vitamin D into the skin allows the skin to absorb the vitamin D and it remains in skin (it is hydrophobic, “water fearing”) until vitamin D-binding protein (gc-globulin) from the liver picks the vitamin D up and carries it into circulation.

Whether vitamin D is produced naturally in skin, or is added to skin, once attached to gc-globulin protein, vitamin D is free to move through the body. On passing back through the liver the vitamin D is converted to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcifediol (25(OH)D)) and then stored in adipocytes (fat storage cells) throughout the body in that state or is continued on in circulation.

If there is little 25(OH)D in fat storage cells, the body tends to store it. If the body has demand for 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (the next and final conversion of vitamin D, the conversion to its biologically active form), the body tends to convert 25(OH)D to 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol (1,25(OH)₂D)) and put it to work immediately. Exercise, hard work, or, in general, any vigorous physical activity [a rule of thumb, does the activity make you sweat?] creates an immediate strong demand for 1,25(OH)₂D.  Very little 1,25(OH)₂D is ever seen in circulation, because it is put to work immediately when it is made due to the demand that triggered the conversion.  This is the key to understanding vitamin D. And, it is converted to its active from not only by exercise and vigorous physical activity but also by needs for it from throughout the body. In every case, it is put to work immediately, which causes it to disappear from circulation.

1,25(OH)₂D (active D) acts through binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR).  As do needs for active vitamin D (1,25(OH)₂D) which come from throughout the body, vitamin D receptors are also located throughout the body.

– 1,25(OH)₂D regulates the expression of hundreds of genes involved in skeletal and other biological functions. 

– 1,25(OH)₂D regulates calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and is essential for maintenance of bone mineralization. 1,25(OH)₂D increases calcium and phosphorus uptake in the intestine.

– calcium phosphate salts spontaneously form and accumulate throughout the body. 1,25(OH)₂D creates calcium-binding protein and phosphatases to break up these calcium phosphate salts, and return the useful calcium and phosphate ions they are made of back to circulation.

– 1,25(OH)₂D exhibits many non-skeletal effects, particularly on the immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems.

– 1,25(OH)₂D is important for normal bone development and maintenance (severe vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults).

– secondary hyperparathyroidism due to 1,25(OH)₂D insufficiency increases bone breakdown and precipitates osteoporosis.

– 1,25(OH)₂D regulates cell proliferation and differentiation.

– there are reported associations between low sun exposure, poor vitamin D status, and increased risk of developing colorectal and breast cancer.

– there are reported inverse associations between vitamin D status and the susceptibility or severity of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

– current evidence from observational studies suggests an inverse relationship between circulating vitamin D concentrations and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. 

– randomized clinical trials are currently investigating whether vitamin D supplementation can limit cognitive deterioration and disease progression in subjects with neurodegenerative disease.

– vitamin D insufficiency in pregnant women may be associated with several adverse effects for the mother and newborn. 

– observational studies have documented an association between vitamin D deficiency and increased incidence and severity of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. 

– preliminary studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation may offer promising improvements in the management of atopic dermatitis (eczema) and Crohn’s disease. 

1,25(OH)₂D binds with vitamin D receptors (VDRs) throughout the body, becoming  a transcription factor, modulating the gene expression of many different genes.

– 1,25(OH)₂D influences the immune system, with vitamin D receptors (VDRs) being expressed in several types of white blood cells, including monocytes and activated T and B cells.

– VDRs regulate cell differentiation and cell proliferation: by keeping VDRs busy cells are adapting and thriving. 

– worldwide, by today’s standards, more than one billion people – infants, children, adults and elderly – can be considered vitamin D deficient. As we all come to see and understand that calcium phosphate salts are spontaneously forming and accumulating throughout the body in every body, we will come to see that billions of people are vitamin D deficient.

WorkoutD: within the body cells are organized into nerve, muscle, bone, and support mechanisms/systems to support nerve, muscle, and bone. Vitamin D uses phosphatases and calcium-binding proteins it produces through the genes it controls to clean and clear open space (extracellular space) of the calcium phosphates that form and accumulate there. Calcium phosphates form spontaneously throughout the body from circulating calcium and phosphate ions. The body is organized for thinking (nerve) and acting (muscle and bone); (1) calcium phosphates accumulate everywhere throughout the body; (2) calcium phosphate accumulation is increased during fever; (3) calcium phosphate accumulation is increased during times of metabolic imbalances; (4) calcium phosphate accumulation is increased during pregnancy; and (5) calcium phosphate accumulation is increased at and around sites of injury. Cleaning and clearing open space of calcium phosphates is essential to maintaining healthy bodies that act (muscle and bone) when told to act (nerve).

WorkoutD: it also may be that vitamin D uses some calcium-binding proteins to re-split Ca₂ molecules (in circulation, no charge, no longer useful) to Ca⁺⁺ ions (active and useful). This assertion is sensible but not yet proven.

WorkoutD: where there are large accumulations of calcium phosphates in open space, circulating macrophages combine and make themselves into multinucleated macrophages (Figure 4), to surround (using neoplastic, “new form” membrane), break up, dissolve, encapsulate, and transport away calcium phosphate masses throughout the body, another tool the body uses to thoroughly clean and clear open space areas in the body.

Figure 4: A multinucleated macrophage looking for some calcium phosphate to consume. Multinucleated macrophages that consume calcium phosphate are also called osteoclasts (“bone splitters”).

WorkoutD is a method of applying vitamin D powder directly to the skin to make vitamin D plentiful in the body. The powder is manufactured by Provitas, at www.Provitas.com (thank-you, Provitas). Once a day apply a gram (100,000 IU, a heaping quarter (¼) teaspoon) of the vitamin D powder directly to your skin.

Apply it dry when your skin is dry.

Mix it with vegetable oil when your skin is moist, w/water/sweat.

Expect the vitamin D powder you apply to continue to be absorbed all day.

WorkoutD with exercise extends open space calcium phosphate cleanup to every corner of the body. After you apply vitamin D powder, exercise, walk, run, lift weights, play, work in your garden, work in your yard, work on your car, be active. You will be helping multinucleated macrophages locate calcium phosphate masses throughout your body. Phosphatases and calcium-binding protein work locally w/cells, multinucleated macrophages work system-wide, w/circulation.

J. Dalen