Vitamin D or the "sunshine vitamin" has gained quite a bit of popularity in the last few years. And for good reason! It's a critical part of so many different systems in your body.
Vitamin D is also called calciferol, and can be further specified as ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2), or cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3). Vitamin D2 can be found in small amounts in certain plants like mushrooms, while Vitamin D3 can be found in certain animals like fish. Both forms can be used as a supplement, but Vitamin D3 has been shown to be superior by increasing Vitamin D blood levels more than Vitamin D2. (1)
Our skin can also naturally make Vitamin D when it's exposed to sunlight, which is where the name "sunshine vitamin" comes from. This is a great way to get Vitamin D because you don't have to worry about Vitamin D toxicity. Your skin will not produce enough Vitamin D for it to become a concern, however consuming too much Vitamin D from supplements could cause toxicities. (2)
Vitamin D is one of the 4 fat-soluble vitamins, which means it's beneficial to consume Vitamin D with foods that contain some fat to help with its absorption. This also means it's stored in your fat tissue. Toxicities could occur when too much is stored in that fat tissue. The Upper Limit for anyone aged 9+ is 4,000 IU, or 100 mcg. (2) Which is why consuming a supplement that is mega-dosed with 10,000 IU of Vitamin D is not a good idea.
Consuming more than the Upper Limit for Vitamin D can cause blood levels of Calcium to be too high. This can lead to vomiting, muscle weakness, dehydration, kidney stones, and renal failure in extreme cases. Which is why you only want to look for the 100% RDA for Vitamin D in supplements. The 100% RDA for everyone aged 1-70 is 600 IU, or 15 mcg. (2)
Luckily for you, our Pinnacle Men's and Women's Multis have this 100% RDA value using Vitamin D3. This means you can be sure you are getting enough Vitamin D when you are not out in the sunshine, and not have to worry about exceeding the Upper Limit. All of the benefits, none of the risks.
Why do you want to make sure you are getting this 100% RDA value everyday? Vitamin D is critical for the immune, nervous, and muscular systems. It helps the body absorb calcium, maintain calcium stores, and its combination with calcium helps maintain strong bones. It's also involved in glucose metabolism, reducing inflammation, and cell growth. (2)
Why should you be looking for Vitamin D in a multivitamin? It's been recently reported that more than 94% of Americans are NOT getting enough Vitamin D. (3) Let's repeat that in case it didn't sink in. 94%!! This means there are very good odds you are one of those people lacking this critical nutrient. And unfortunately, low levels are associated with all-cause mortality in the general population. (4) Which means this is not something to mess around with. An investment in a multivitamin specifically formulated for men and women could be life-changing.
1. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/106
2. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD