Vitamin D is a steroid hormone, which is produced in our skin after exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency is common even in places with mostly sunny weather like Florida and Hawaii. It is associated with many disease states, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type II, autoimmunity, musculoskeletal issues, and depression.
According to most laboratories, normal vitamin D levels are 30-100 ng/mL, but optimal levels should actually be higher, between 60-100 ng/mL. Spending adequate time outdoors might not be feasible for most people and even then, other factors such as natural color of your skin and the type of skin product you use might impede proper vitamin D production. To achieve the optimal levels, vitamin D3 supplementation might be necessary.
Before starting supplementation, make sure to get your level tested. If your level is less than 60 ng/mL you might benefit from vitamin D3 supplement. Dosing will depend on your baseline, specific health needs and wellness goals. The “optimal” level might be different for a person with diabetes and someone with autoimmune disease. Also remember that it takes time to increase vitamin D level and the amount required to get you where you need to be might be as high as 10,000-15,000 IU per day. There are other nutrients that you might need for proper vitamin D absorption and utilization, such as vitamin K and magnesium.
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Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Health
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352187218300226
