Is 50 ng of vitamin D too high, just right, or not enough

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Overview of the controversy

• A few governments say 10 ng is OK
• Some governments say 20 ng is OK
• Some governments say 30 ng is OK
• Most experts say 40 ng is good
• Some experts say 50 ng is much better for disease prevention
• A few people think that > 80 ng is needed to deal with possible vitamin D restrictions due to genes
  • One doctor found that >80 ng was the right level for 2,000 patients in his clinic
  • Health problems that run in families are often associated with low vitamin D
• Some experts say 50 ng is too much
• Some concern that >40 ng may be too much if taking some fixed chemotherapy or not adjust cofactors
• Some experts feel 50 ng is not enough to TREAT some diseases
• Consensus: 0 ng is bad and 30 ng is good/ok

Notional Graph of Expert Opinions of levels with Vitamin D MONOTHERAPY

Note: Monotherapy just increases vitamin D levels, and rarely adjusts the cofactor intake (Ca, Mg, Vitamin K2, Omega-3, etc)

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Vitamin D needed to TREAT Health problems (30 ng to 150 ng)

Vitamin D	Treats
150 ng	Multiple Sclerosis *
80 ng	Cluster Headache * Reduced office visits by 4X *
70 ng	Sleep *
60 ng	Breast Cancer death reduced 60% Preeclampsia RCT
50 ng	COVID-19 T1 Diabetes Fertility Psoriasis Infections Review Infection after surgery
40 ng	Breast Cancer 65% lower risk Depression ACL recovery Hypertension Asthma?
30 ng	Rickets

* Evolution of experiments with patients, often also need co-factors

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At VitaminDWiki - need 20 - 49 ng

• Stress fractures 2X less frequent when vitamin D more than 40 ng – June 2011
• Lung cancer not reduced when vitamin D levels were less than 40 ng – June 2011
• Four reasons why vitamin D levels should be higher than 30 ng – Aug 2011
• Osteoporosis Canada Sept 2010 >30ng/ml
• Mortality reduced 30 percent when vitamin D increase by 20 ng, 35ng/ml optimal? – Dec 2011
• Traditionally living Africans have 46 ng vitamin D levels – Jan 2012
• Linus Pauling Institute >32 ng - Dec 2011
• Increasing the vitamin D level of all Canadians to 40 ng would save 6 to 18 billion dollars a year – Grant Nov 2016
• Much less depression if more than 43 ng of vitamin D – Oct 2012
• Best heart geometry associated with vitamin D of 30-37 ng – Oct 2012
• More than 30 ng of vitamin D probably needed for long-latency diseases – Aug 2012
• Semen worse when vitamin D lower than 20 or higher than 50 ng – Oct 2012
• Teens no longer depressed after vitamin D raised to 36 ng – Feb 2012
• Hawaiians had 39 ng of vitamin D - July 2011
• Vitamin D: what clinicians need to know - Aug 2012 30-50 ng
• European Osteo group recommends 20-50 ng of vitamin D – Jan 2013
• 30 to 50 ng of vitamin D is optimal – Central Europe consensus Sept 2013
• Vitamin D supplementation guidelines (adults – 50,000 IU per week) – Feb 2017
• Critically Ill or injured patients need 30-50 ng of Vitamin D – Matthews March 2020
• More than 30 ng of vitamin D is needed for many diseases - Feb 2022
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At VitaminDWiki - 50 - 60 ng

• Type 1 Diabetic inflammation reduced by 50 ng of Vitamin D - Dec 2024
• Many diseases prevented if Vitamin D level higher than 50 ng -Sunil June 2024
• Rheumatic Diseases often treated by Vitamin D, may need 40-60 ng – Oct 2021
• Less muscle inflammation after exercise if high level of Vitamin D (50 ng) -July 2021
• Saudi study defines normal Vitamin D level to be 50 to 70 ng (diabetes, etc.) - June 2020
• NCAA trainers are getting on board the Vitamin D train (40-50 ng)– Nov 2019
• More than 30 ng of vitamin D is sometimes needed (Kidney needs 50 ng) – March 2019
• Vitamin D is needed for human fertility – goal is 50 ng – Sept 2018
• Vitamin D - at least 4,000 IU to achieve 40-60 ng and reduce risk of early death – Holick June 2018
• Need 51 ng to avoid premature ejaculation 2018
• Psoriasis reduced for those getting Vitamin D levels above 50 ng – RCT Feb 2018
• Healthy Pregnancies and infants for women having 40 – 80 ng of vitamin D – Nov 2017
• Vitamin D (40-70 ng) in Children’s Health – review Sept 2014
• Little risk of infection after surgery if have more than 50 ng of vitamin D - 2014
• Prevent half of T1 Diabetes with vitamin D levels of 50 ng – Dec 2012
• Vitamin D decreases incidence of disease many charts showing great benefits 40-60 ng
• Need 30-60 ng of vitamin D for good health – Grant Jan 2011
• USANA 50 ng/ml with graph
• Dr Oz recommends 50 ng/ml vitamin D blood level May 2010
• GrassrootsHealth.net 41 experts 40-60 ng/ml after IoM report
• Polish conference recommended vitamin D levels from 30 to 60 ng – Oct 2012
• Elite outdoor athletes had 52 ng of vitamin D – March 2013
• Populations with more than 50 ng of vitamin D
• A group of 6,000 people have vitamin D levels higher than 50 ng – GrassrootsHealth
• Many more people now have vitamin D levels above 50 ng, especially seniors – May 2015
• Vitamin D is needed for human fertility – goal is 50 ng – Sept 2018
• Best Vitamin D- 40 to 52 ng, achieved with 4000 – 6000 IU daily – Heaney Oct 2014
• Sports benefits from up to 50 ng of Vitamin – meta-analysis - Nov 2012

At VitaminDWiki - need > 60 ng

• Supplement preterm infants with vitamin D if less than 80 ng – RCT Sept 2021
• Saudi study defines normal Vitamin D level to be 50 to 70 ng (diabetes, etc.) - June 2020
• Parkinson’s Disease Summer School – therapies included 60-80 ng of Vitamin D – Sept 2019
• Pure North (Calgary) improves health by raising vitamin D to 60 ng
• Vitamin D treats and prevents a variety of eye problems (need 70 ng) – June 2018
• Autism treated by Vitamin D (80 – 120 ng) – Cannell update May 2018
• Vitamin D (40-70 ng) in Children’s Health – review Sept 2014
• Noticed bones heal faster when >60 ng of vitamin D
• Vitamin D should be 48 ng-90 ng – Heaney Sept 2011
• Need at least 80 ng of vitamin D if have chronic kidney disease – May 2012
• Need at least 80 ng of vitamin D if have chronic kidney disease – May 2012
• Many sleep disorders cured with vitamin D levels of 60 to 80 nanograms – May 2012
• Treatment (not just prevention) seems to require higher levels of vitamin D.
  Example:Clinical Trial: Colon Cancer and 80-100 ng
• Vitamin D level can be high, but little benefit: due to kidney, genes, low Magnesium etc.
• Dr. who got patients to vitamin D level of 80 ng - went out of business, patients became too healthy
• Autoimmune diseases such as MS treated/reversed - 150 ng of vitamin D
• Comparing High-dose vitamin D therapies 60-150 ng
• Healthy Pregnancies and infants for women having 40 – 80 ng of vitamin D – Nov 2017

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May 2023 study 30-60 ng

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At VitaminDWiki - COVID

• Is 50 ng of Vitamin D enough to fight COVID - TrialSiteNews - Jan 2024
• COVID etc. prevented and treated with 50,000 IU Vitamin D capsules - July 2022
• Discussion of COVID and 50 ng of Vitamin D (video and transcript)– Dr. Campbell Nov 17, 2021
• COVID probably fought by Vitamin D, might need 50 ng - Dr. Patrick Nov 8, 2021
• COVID-19 mortality extrapolates to zero at 50 ng of vitamin D – 18th Meta-analysis Sept 2021
• Vitamin D and COVID, review of evidence, loading dose if less than 50 ng - Masterjohn Sept 2021
• T-cells need at least 40-50 ng of Vitamin D to fight COVID-19 - June 2021
• COVID-19 prognostic indicators in plasma extrapolate to zero if Vitamin D is 40 to 80 ng – March 2021
• To protect against COVID-19, how much vitamin D – 20 to 50 ng – March 19, 2021

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At VitaminDWiki - Optimal/Treatment

• Vitamin D sufficiency 10 to 30 ng, optimal 40 to 80 ng (no consensus)– May 2018
• Sleep disorders cured by 60-80 ng of vitamin D and some B vitamins – March 2013
• Optimum Vitamin D level: Evidence for 30 and 40 ng – Grant Aug 2013
• Update on Treating Multiple Sclerosis with high dose vitamin D - Sept 2013 150 ng
• Need 40 to 80 ng of vitamin D to lose weight – Colgan Sept 2013
• Vitamin D of 32 to 60 ng is needed before, during, and after pregnancy – Dec 2012
• More than 30 ng of vitamin D probably needed for long-latency diseases – Aug 2012
• How often might 50,000 IU vitamin D be taken - results of clinical trials
• Need at least 80 ng of vitamin D if have chronic kidney disease – May 2012
• All items in category Optimum Vitamin D 99 items

At VitaminDWiki - other

• Hypothesis by VitaminDWiki – Vitamin D levels are no longer limited by evolution
• All items in category How Much Vitamin D 345 items
• Consensus Vitamin D category listing has 71 items along with related searches
• Overview Vitamin D Recommendations
• Same dose of vitamin D for everyone is virtually impossible - Dec 2015
• Recommendation by 25 experts most were 30-100 ng- 2010

Some indications that >40 or >50 ng may sometimes cause some problems

• Too little of cofactors such as Magnesium, Vitamin K2, etc.
• Too much of co-factor Calcium (probably just 500-750 mg]
• D interactions with some prescription drugs
• 40 ng Vitamin D perhaps optimal for reduced mortality – Meta-analysis Jan 2012

• U shaped risk curves at high latitudes that is, increasing disease risk for high levels of vitamin D
  • Veith 2011 - in latitudes with high UVB fluctuation
  • Dr. Grant believes this is due to long follow-up time - see bottom of this page
• Even if a J curve exists, it is 50X better to give vitamin D than not give it – May 2013
• Too much Vitamin D category listing has 33 items along with related searches
• Perhaps increase fraility if > 40 ng see following graph

Agreement: 50 ng is NOT TOXIC

• Toxicity level 300 ng
• Dr Norman - risk of Toxicity >150 ng

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U Shaped curve due to long follow-up time, not latitude - by Dr. Grant

The U-shaped relationship comes only from prospective studies with long follow-up times.
In my considered opinion, it is an artifact of the long follow-up time, not high latitude.
References (some of which are in VitaminDWiki)

• Robien K, Cutler GJ, Lazovich D. Vitamin D intake and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women: the Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer Causes Control. 2007 Sep;18(7):775-82.
• Lim U, Freedman DM, Hollis BW, Horst RL, Purdue MP, Chatterjee N, Weinstein SJ, Morton LM, Schatzkin A, Virtamo J, Linet MS, Hartge P, Albanes D. A prospective investigation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of lymphoid cancers. Int J Cancer. 2009 Feb 15;124(4):979-86.
• Grant WB. Effect of interval between serum draw and follow-up period on relative risk of cancer incidence with respect to 25-hydroxyvitamin D level; implications for meta-analyses and setting vitamin D guidelines, Dermato- Endocrinology, 2011 July, Aug Sept.;3(3) epub (lag) http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/dermatoendocrinology/article/15364/
• Grant WB. Additional strong evidence that optimal serum 25(OH)D levels are at least 75 nmol/l. Int J Epi 2011 40: 1005-1007.

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Chart of Vitamin D levels vs race - April 2013

• Nigerian albinos have vitamin D levels of 96 ng – Oct 2019

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See also Google Scholar

• "50 ng and "vitamin D: 22,600 items as of Dec 2024
• "60 ng and "vitamin D: 5,600 items as of Jan 2024
• "80 ng and "vitamin D: 4,000 items as of Jan 2024
• (optimal+OR+optimum) "Vitamin+D" 611,000 items as of Jan 2024
  • Note: need to also search for: 125 nmol, 150 nmol, 200 nmol

See also web - vitamin D test "reference range" = 20-100 ng

• Quest Diagnostics 20-100 ng Nov 2013, Dec 2016, March 2019. April 2021

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Grassroots Health infographic 40-60 ng (2020)

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72+ pages have 50 ng in the VitaminDWiki title

This list is automatically updated

short URL = http://is.gd/Dlevels