Health
Popular vitamin D supplement may have an unexpected effect, experts warn
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Vitamin D is known to be essential to many aspects of human health — but a new study suggests that taking a certain form of it can have a negative effect.
The more potent and longer-lasting form, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is produced naturally when the body is exposed to sunlight and is also found in animal products, while vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) comes from plant or fungal sources, per the National Institutes of Health.
Researchers from the University of Surrey in the U.K. found that taking vitamin D2 can cause reduced levels of vitamin D3 in the body.
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They made this determination by analyzing 11 randomized controlled trials including 655 adults, which showed that people taking vitamin D2 supplements had less vitamin D3 than those who did not take D2, according to a university press release.
The findings of the study — conducted along with the John Innes Centre and the Quadram Institute Bioscience in Norwich, England — were published in the journal Nutrition Reviews.
Vitamin D is known to be essential to human health — but a new study suggests that taking a certain form of it can have a negative effect. (iStock)
“Vitamin D supplements are important, especially between October and March, when our bodies cannot make vitamin D from sunlight in the U.K.,” lead researcher Emily Brown, a Ph.D. research fellow from the University of Surrey’s Nutrition, Exercise, Chronobiology & Sleep Discipline, stated in the press release.
“However, we discovered that vitamin D2 supplements can actually decrease levels of vitamin D3 in the body, which is a previously unknown effect of taking these supplements. This study suggests that, subject to personal considerations, vitamin D3 supplements may be more beneficial for most individuals over vitamin D2.”
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Previous research has suggested that the two forms of vitamin D are not interchangeable. A study published in Frontiers in Immunology, also conducted by the University of Surrey, found that vitamin D3 is more effective in boosting the immune system and protecting the body from viral and bacterial diseases, the release noted.
Some foods containing vitamin D3 include fatty fish, egg yolks, cod liver oil and fortified dairy and animal foods, health sources confirm. (iStock)
“We have shown that vitamin D3, but not vitamin D2, appears to stimulate the type I interferon signaling system in the body – a key part of the immune system that provides a first line of defense against bacteria and viruses,” stated Professor Colin Smith, who led the above study. “Thus, a healthy vitamin D3 status may help prevent viruses and bacteria from gaining a foothold in the body.”
Professor Martin Warren, chief scientific officer at the Quadram Institute, confirmed in the release that vitamin D deficiency is a “significant public health concern,” particularly during the winter months.
“This collaborative research effort aligns well with the Quadram Institute’s mission to deliver healthier lives through food innovation to enhance the nutrient density of the food we eat,” he said. “Tackling this with the most effective form of vitamin D supplementation or fortification is of the utmost importance to the health of the nation.”
More research is needed to determine whether vitamins D2 and D3 affect the body differently — and whether that could change doctors’ medical advice on which type to take, the researchers concluded. (iStock)
More research is needed to determine whether vitamins D2 and D3 affect the body differently — and whether that could change doctors’ medical advice on which type to take, the researchers concluded.
There were several limitations to the analysis, the study findings noted.
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For example, there were only a small number of studies with many differences among them, such as their duration, the amount and timing of doses, and how results were measured. There was also the potential for biases due to incomplete reporting of details.
The results could also be affected by factors such as the amount of sunlight exposure, as well as some people taking supplements and others eating vitamin-fortified foods, the researchers noted.
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Some foods containing vitamin D3 include fatty fish, egg yolks, cod liver oil and fortified dairy and animal foods, health sources confirm. Vitamin D2 can be found in mushrooms, fortified foods and some plant/fungal-based supplements.
The study was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
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Chronic kidney disease has been named the ninth leading cause of global death.
Record numbers of men and women are currently estimated to have reduced kidney function, according to new research following a study published in the journal The Lancet.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health, the University of Glasgow, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington analyzed the rise of kidney disease worldwide.
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They examined 2,230 published papers and health datasets from 133 countries, searching for diagnoses, mortality and the toll of disability from the disease.
From 1990 to 2023, cases rose from 378 million to 788 million, landing the disease in the top 10 of most deadly diseases in the world for the first time.
The largest risk factors for kidney disease include high blood sugar, high blood pressure and high body mass index (BMI). (iStock)
The research, conducted as part of the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study, also revealed that about 14% of the world’s adult population has chronic kidney disease. About 1.5 million people died from kidney disease in 2023, an increase of more than 6% since 1993.
Most people in the study were in early stages of the disease, which can be improved with drugs and lifestyle changes before dialysis or surgery becomes necessary, the researchers noted.
The research, which was presented last week at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual Kidney Week conference, marks “the most comprehensive estimate of the condition in nearly a decade,” according to the authors.
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Chronic kidney disease causes the kidneys to lose the ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, NYU Langone detailed.
Mild cases may not show any symptoms, but those in the most advanced stages can require dialysis, kidney replacement therapy or an organ transplant.
Chronic kidney disease causes the kidneys to lose the ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. (iStock)
Impaired kidney function was also identified as a key risk factor for heart disease, contributing to about 12% of global cardiovascular mortality.
The largest risk factors for kidney disease, based on the study findings, include high blood sugar, high blood pressure and high body mass index (BMI).
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Study co-senior author Josef Coresh, M.D., Ph.D., director of NYU Langone’s Optimal Aging Institute, said these results classify chronic kidney disease as “common, deadly and getting worse as a major public health issue.”
“These findings support efforts to recognize the condition alongside cancer, heart disease and mental health concerns as a major priority for policymakers around the world,” he said in a statement.
Kidney disease may show no symptoms, yet can ultimately require dialysis or organ transplantation. (iStock)
Study co-lead author Morgan Grams, M.D., Ph.D., the Susan and Morris Mark Professor of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, also commented that chronic kidney disease is “underdiagnosed and undertreated.”
“Our report underscores the need for more urine testing to catch it early and the need to ensure that patients can afford and access therapy once they are diagnosed,” she wrote.
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New medications have recently become available that can slow disease progression and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, although it may take time to see the global impact, Grams added.
A doctor urged physicians to be more aware of kidney function and the impact of certain medications. (iStock)
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel commented on the “dramatic increase” in an interview with Fox News Digital, agreeing that kidney disease is “vastly underestimated and underdiagnosed,” in part due to lack of symptoms in early stages.
“The kidneys are filters of waste and managers of electrolytes and acid/base balance,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “They are very sensitive to changes in blood pressure and blood flow, and can lead to loss of protein and electrolytes when damaged.”
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“High blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and low blood pressure all impact basic kidney function, so there is a high degree of secondary kidney disease and failure in addition to primary damage to the kidneys themselves,” the doctor added.
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Siegel urged physicians to be more aware of kidney function and the impact of certain medications.
This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Gates Foundation and the National Kidney Foundation.
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