The most active vitamin D metabolite, calcitriol [1,25(OH)₂D], is generated intracellularly in peripheral target cells (e.g., immune cells) from the circulatory D₃ and 25(OH)D. Sufficient diffusion against a concentration gradient occurs when these precursors in the circulating are above 40 ng/mL (preferably 50 ng/mL) [1,2]. This process allows the intracellular generation of sufficient amounts of calcitriol for signaling and binding to vitamin D (calcitriol) receptors (VDR), initiating genomic activity. Vitamin D sufficiency suppresses pathological processes, including hyper-inflammation, oxidative stress, and hyper-immune reactions, with its genomic and non-genomic actions, including autocrine/intracrine and paracrine signaling mechanisms [36,37]. These actions reduce the risks of cytokine storms and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with the severe pulmonary system, endothelial instability and thrombosis linked to cardiovascular complications in people with infections and sepsis) such as SARS-CoV-2 [180,181].

1.1. Importance of cofactors and micronutrients for the full functions of vitamin D

The complete activity of vitamin D, VDR, and associated enzymatic reactions require the presence of endogenous or supplemented cofactors [182,183]. The latter include magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, B₂, C, and K, anti-oxidant trace minerals (zinc and selenium), resveratrol, essential fatty acids such as omega-3, and boron [3,184]. Besides, it is important to note that the immune system and other target cells, during the biological processes, consume vitamin D metabolites and cofactors [41]. This requirement is enhanced due to the multiple immune and metabolic pathways in which vitamin D is intimately involved in vivo. Consequently, it is essential to replace these cofactors, especially during severe illnesses like infections (like COVID-19) and sepsis (a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection) [3]. Although it would help patients, no one seems to be doing this.

Consequently, a continuous supply (preferably daily intake during an illness) of the mentioned micronutrient cofactors is necessary to attain optimal potentials of vitamin D and better clinical outcomes [41,183]. The lack of this is another reason for the few benefits reported in some clinical studies, including RCTs. A nutrient RCT (e.g., vitamin D) cannot be considered well-designed without supplementing the mentioned cofactors, especially in studies involving persons with severe acute illnesses, like SARS-CoV-2 infections (e.g., in ICU setup) and in some longer-term clinical trials. Scientists and healthcare workers are unaware of this fact.

Consequently, in clinical practice and clinical studies, including RCTs, no one is yet utilizing this critical factor, resulting in less-than-optimum clinical outcomes. The lack of incorporation of cofactor therapy is another study design error that negatively affects vitamin D in clinical trial outcomes and patient care in routine clinical practice. At the minimum, study subjects (active and placebo participants) and clinical patients should be provided a multivitamin and essential mineral supplement (e.g., magnesium, zinc, selenium, boron) during an acute illness [182,183,184], enabling them to recover faster.

1.2. Consequences of hypovitaminosis D and how to overcome these

Severe vitamin D deficiency impairs immune cell functions and causes immune dysregulation. Consequently, when exposed to a severe infection or sepsis (or an acute illness), they are at a disadvantage for recovery and at higher risk for developing hyperinflammation, oxidative stress, and autoimmunity [85,185,186]—aa a result of hyper-reactive but pathological immune response [187]. The failure to correct vitamin D deficiency could lead to cytokine storms with an increased risk of death [188,189], precipitating ARDS [62] and severe asthmatic attacks [66].

In addition, severe hypovitaminosis D leads to weakened adaptive immunity, which reduces the capacity to generate neutralizing antibodies (including after vaccinations) and impairs the cytotoxic action of immune/killer cells. It also reduces the effectiveness of memory cells and macrophages and causes weaker responses following (any) vaccine. Overall, it causes immune paresis with inadequate antibody responses. Besides, the adverse effects of vaccines are highest among those with vitamin D deficiency. The lower the serum 25(OH)D concentration, the higher the severity of adverse effects. This is due to hypovitaminosis-induced immune dysfunction aggravated by vaccine-induced toxic products, like Spike proteins, in the case of COVID-19 vaccines.

As mentioned, in those with a fragile (weaker) immune system, as in severe hypovitaminosis D, not only SARS-CoV-2 infection but also immunization against it could lead to significant harmful effects [194,195,196,197]. The latter include hyper-immune and autoimmune reactions, generalized hyper-inflammation, and pathological oxidative stress, which increase the risks for systemic complications (blood clots, strokes, etc.) and death—all these complications were reported in severe SARS-CoV-2 infections and following COVID-vaccines, especially in those with vitamin D deficiency. Consequently, in 2020/21, due to the prevailing high incidence of hypovitaminosis among older people and those with comorbidities, COVID-19 primarily affected them, sparing children and the youth [2,3]. However, the vaccine-related adverse effects continue among those with hypovitaminosis D even after 2021 with bivalent COV vaccines.

2.0. Overcoming severe complications from a weaker immune system due to hypovitaminosis D

Cytokine storms are associated with pro-inflammatory and hyper-oxidative stress responses, as seen in severe viral infections. This is one of the prime reasons for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths, as observed during the COVID-19 pandemic [48,49,50,51]. Children infected with SARS-CoV-2, having less than 12 ng/mL of serum 25(OH)D concentrations (i.e., severe vitamin D deficiency), are at very high risk for developing life-threatening hyper-inflammatory conditions, such as Kawasaki-like disease or multi-system inflammatory syndrome [191,192,193]. These complications and deaths could have been promptly minimized using a single dose of partially hydroxylated vitamin D, calcifediol, a dose between 0.5 and 1 mg [1,2].

Complications such as cytokine storms can be prevented with an appropriate (high) dose and type of vitamin D. Since cholecalciferol (D₃) takes several days to get hydroxylated and increase serum 25(OH)D concentrations, calcifediol (between 0.5 and 1.0 as a stat dose: calculated as, 0.014 mg/kg body weight) should be in emergencies and severe disease status, instead of vitamin D₃. Due to the impairment of the formation of intracellular calcitriol in the immune cells, hypovitaminosis D also impairs intracrine and paracrine signaling, further weakening the immune system and increasing vulnerability [37,190].

2.1. Different serum 25(OH)D concentrations are needed for different diseases

Many conditions require maintaining serum 25(OH)D concentrations greater than 30 ng/mL for anticipated clinical outcomes. No one has proposed a single optimal serum 25(OH)D concentration covering at least 95% of disorders and providing maximum beneficial clinical outcomes for all body systems [198,199]. While the musculoskeletal system benefits (like preventing rickets and osteomalacia) from low levels like 20 ng/mL, most other body systems require more than 40 ng/mL. Examples include T2D and metabolic syndrome [200,201]. However, alleviating others, such as cancer [202], asthma [66], autoimmunity, infections, and cancer [31,203], etc., requires the maintenance of serum 25(OH)D concentrations greater than 50 ng/mL [4,5].

Over the years, there has been confusion regarding the optimal serum 25(OH)D concentration. Discussion on this is worthless, as different diseases require varying serum 25(OH)D concentrations to obtain the best clinical outcomes and prevent complications [5,31,112]. The arguments and justifications made on whether it is 20 ng/mL (recommended by the Institute of Medicine, USA), 30 ng/ml (the Endocrine Society, USA), or 40 ng/mL (a few other groups) are irrelevant.

The minimum serum 25(OH)D concentrations needed to prevent or lessen the effects of all diseases are illustrated in Figure 1. It indicates the relationships between various disease states and the approximate minimal serum 25(OH)D concentrations needed to improve different conditions [31]. It summarizes the varying steady-state serum 25(OH)D concentrations required to prevent or lessen the effects of common diseases based on many published data.

Figure 1. Different diseases (and tissues) require separate steady-state serum 25(OH)D concentrations to achieve improvement (illustrated as a percentage on the right side). The need for varied serum 25(OH)D concentrations to subdue various disease statuses is illustrated (modified from Wimalawansa, S.J. Steroid Biochemistry [31].

2.2. Dose of vitamin D needed to maintain optimum serum 25(OH)D concentration

Governments and scientific societies’ recommended doses of vitamin D and serum 25(OH)D concentrations are grossly outdated. They are insufficient to reduce incidences and severity of cancer, infections, sepsis, or all-cause mortality [1,2]. Recommended doses of vitamin D need to be multiplied by ten and serum 25(OH)D levels by 2.5 times to make it practical and effective [5]. To agree on a universally agreeable minimum serum, 25(OH)D (and the range) must cover the most common disorders, at least over 95 to 98%, not just one condition or a body system, as the Institute of Medicine (IoM/NAS) [6,7] and National Institutes of Health [8] suggested (and continuing) incorrectly. Especially considering vitamin D is economical to use and a widely available generic nutrient that does not need a prescription and has no adverse effects on recommended doses.

Dark-skinned people in central Africa living traditional lifestyles have a mean serum 25(OH)D concentration of 47 ng/mL (119 nmol/L) (range, 30 to 70 ng/mL) [204,205]. However, with imbalanced macro-nutrient diets, micro-nutrient deficiencies, unwholesome modern dietary constituents and practices (e.g., consisting of processed food, fast food, trans fat, and preservatives, some of which also increase the catabolism of micronutrients), environmental pollution, and passive indoor lifestyles, many people requiring higher intakes of vitamin D than mentioned-above than those recommended by governments and health-related societies and agencies.

Generally, adults require between six to ten-fold of standard recommendations) to maintain a higher serum 25(OH)D concentration, such as between 50 and 80 ng/mL, to obtain full benefits from vitamin D-related. That would cover approximately 99.7% of all disorders affecting humans. Achieving the mentioned therapeutic blood concentrations requires a daily vitamin D intake between 5,000 and 8,000 IU for healthy [2,9] non-obese adults of 70 kg or 50,000 IU weekly (or once in ten days), with a tolerable upper limit of 15,000 IU/day [5,13,104].

3.0 Dose-Responses and Vitamin D Requirements for Adults

3.1. Vitamin D Dose-Responses

Administration of high oral doses of nutrient vitamin D in D-deficient persons leads to a meaningful, measurable change in the serum 25(OH)D concentrations within three to four days [115,215,216], causing intended beneficial outcomes. The lower the serum 25(OH)D concentration, the higher the percentage increase (∆) in the circulation and the higher the likelihood of demonstrating better clinical outcomes. However, such a dose-clinical response relationship does not exist in those who are vitamin D sufficient. Figure 2 illustrates a typical dose-clinical response curve for nutrients such as vitamin D.

Figure 2. Illustration of the dose—25(OH)D concentrations achieved in the circulation vs. responses (clinical health benefits and potential risks). The figure also provides the basic pharmacodynamics of a typical nutrient, taking vitamin D as an example. When tissue sufficiency occurred, generally, there would not be additional benefits by raising the circulatory concentration by increasing the intake. However, there are exceptions in a small percentage; pharmacological doses are needed under medical guidance in less than 0.01% of the population to overcome resistance to achieve the desired clinical goals (indicated in the dashed blue line, as described in the previous section) [5].

The data strongly suggests that most (about 80%) health benefits are seen when serum 25(OH)D concentrations are maintained at more than 40 ng/mL (100 nmol/L) [217], with further improvements seen when levels kept over 50 ng/mL (over 99.7%) [24,115]. This can be cost-effectively achieved by providing safe sun exposure guidance and appropriate intakes of vitamin D supplements. The emphasis is on sensible, safe, balanced vitamin D (and other micronutrient intake) that provides cost–benefits to the public [218,219,220].

3.2. Minimum and the range of serum 25(OH)D (ng/mL) necessary to minimize diseases and obtain maximum benefits

Considering broader biological and physiological benefits, changing disease patterns (increasing incidences of metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes, sepsis, and viral infections), the behavior of people (sun avoidance), and additional broader risk factors (pollution, harmful diets, medications, etc.) [206], and passive lifestyles acquired in this Millenium [207], the published evidence justifies the range of serum 25(OH)D (50 to 80 ng/mL). Based on the data, it is reasonable to contemplate that the minimum serum 25(OH)D concentration needed for a healthy life for all ages of humans is 50 ng/mL. The latter is essential because age does not change the threshold of the immune system; thus, vitamin D adequacy helps everyone.

Overcoming different diseases and disorders requires varied concentrations of serum 25(OH)D (see section 1.4). In addition, the evidence also strongly suggests that there are tissue-specific differences in serum 25(OH)D concentration thresholds to elicit its full biological effects. In 2012, the Endocrine Society suggested a minimum serum 25(OH)D concentration needed for humans is—30 ng/mL [10,11]. However, it would only protect about a quarter of common disorders (primarily calcium homeostasis and musculoskeletal). In contrast, based on the data reported over the past decade, we suggest that the minimum serum 25(OH)D concentration needed is—50 ng/mL—with a range of 50 to 80 ng/mL. This would cover 99.7% of health conditions with no adverse effects. One minimum serum 25(OH)D concentration that covered virtually all diseases [5,12].

3.3. A small number of people need much higher serum 25(OH)D concentration to overcome specific disorders

In contrast, if one considers 80 ng/mL as the minimum level (as some suggested), it will cover 99.9% of health conditions. However, with additional negligible benefits (0.2%), it is likely to increase adverse effects; thus, it is not recommended or justified in routine clinical practice. Data supports the idea that less than 0.1% of the population requires very high doses of vitamin D to obtain a high response rate [4,5]. Such disorders include preventing intractable migraine headaches, asthma, psoriasis, specific autoimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis) reactions, tissue/organ graft rejection, and vitamin D-resistant syndromes [4,5].

The mentioned disorders respond to higher doses and maintain more elevated serum 25(OH)D concentrations than those noted above. Such persons must be treated by specialists experienced with using higher amounts of vitamin D. These high-dose vitamin D regimens [13], like the Coimbra protocol [14], should not be undertaken by primary care physicians, internal medicine, general and nurse practitioners, immunologists, endocrinologists, etc., without expertise (and immediate availability) in handling them properly. These patients should be managed under close medical supervision by expert clinicians (or centers) to maximize benefits and minimize adverse effects, benefiting them. Per medical ethics and common sense, healthcare workers must balance safety (vs. harm) and cost-effectiveness. Such an approach with the correct dose for a given person (i.e., highly selected individualized therapy) with specific conditions can provide them with significantly beneficial clinical outcomes while avoiding adverse effects.

For those taking higher vitamin D doses (e.g., above 7000 IU/day or 50,000 IU/week), additional precautionary steps need to be followed to prevent potential soft tissue calcification. These include avoiding calcium supplements and high calcium-containing food and taking vitamin K₂ (MK-7: Menaquinone-7, present in fermented food), 100 micrograms/day or 800 micrograms, once a week, etc. The latter diverts ionized calcium from the blood to skeletal tissues and, thus, prevents soft tissue calcification.

3.4. What is required now?

Population serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 40 ng/mL can control several acute and chronic conditions [208]. Therefore, it is logical to aim to maintain the population serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 40 ng/mL, which covers approximately 85% of disorders [5]. In comparison, keeping individuals’ serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 50 ng/mL covers over 99.7% of conditions, including cancer, infections, and all-cause mortality, and keeps people healthy and minimizes absenteeism [24,26].

Doubling the current prevailing population serum 25(OH)D concentration of approximately 20 ng/mL is needed to benefit the population and reduce morbidities and all-cause mortality [209,210]. This is achievable by increasing the current government recommendation of vitamin D for adults from 400 to 800 IU to 4,000 to 8000 IU (i.e., an increase of tenfold). This would mitigate the ongoing low-grade inflammation and chronic diseases in the people. It would also open doors to achieving broader benefits from vitamin D, such as wider control of inflammation and oxidative stress [85]. As an indirect benefit, such an approach will also reduce myocardial infarctions and strokes, with huge cost-benefits. It would also enhance beneficial cellular effects, such as membrane stabilization, protection from DNA damage and repair, improving the efficiency of mitochondria functions (e.g., energy metabolism), and minimizing infectious outbreaks and sepsis.

4.0. Conclusions

Overall evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency, as determined by maintaining serum 25(OH)D concentrations of more than 40 ng/mL, is associated with increased risks of illnesses and disorders and higher all-cause mortality, even among otherwise healthy individuals [269]. The proper functioning of the vitamin D endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine systems is essential for many physiological activities and maintaining good health. As discussed, data addressed critical functions of vitamin D that extend beyond its calcium and phosphate homeostasis and prevention and treatment of rickets, osteomalacia, and bone loss.

The dosages of vitamin D prescribed for non-obese deficient persons of average weight of 70 kg should be between 4000 and 7000 IU/day, 20,000 IU twice a week, or 50,000 IU once a week or once in 10 days [4,5]. Such doses would allow approximately 9.5% of people to maintain their serum 25(OH)D concentrations above 40 ng/mL [5,30]. However, intermittent doses at intervals longer than once a month are unphysiological and thus ineffective. Studies have shown that daily vitamin D supplements are more beneficial than supplementation administered less frequently.

Declaration: The author has no conflicts of interest.

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5.0 References

The new reference in the text is indicated by BOLD, square brackets (also see in the attached Doc).

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