Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects 1.5 million Americans and is caused by the immune system’s inability to differentiate between intruders and healthy tissue. A team of scientists from Northwestern Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital has identified a molecular defect that promotes the pathologic immune response in lupus. Lupus does not have a cure, either through medication or natural treatments. However, certain herbs, supplements, and mind-body practices may help people manage symptoms at home.
The causes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain unknown, but there is progress with the FDA approval of two new drugs that treat lupus and lupus. The Mid-South chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America provides answers, support, and hope in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Cheese doctors have identified the cause of lupus and developed a potential treatment to reverse its course. Funding and collaboration with the community have led to discoveries that are improving diagnosis and therapies while enabling researchers to turn complexity into a cure. Dermatologists, rheumatologists, and all clinicians treating patients with lupus play an essential role in dispelling the pervasive disease.
Reversing this defect may potentially reverse the course of lupus attacks. These funds will help expand and intensify research efforts of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to diagnose, treat, and eventually cure lupus. A WKU sophomore who overcame childhood kidney cancer is following her dream of becoming a nurse and using her experience to raise money for the Lupus Foundation.
📹 Reversing Chronic Disease With Dr. Brooke Goldner
Learn how to reverse chronic disease in this episode of the PBN Podcast with Dr. Brooke Goldner. Dr. Brooke Goldner is a board …
Did scientists find a cure for lupus?
Scientists from Northwestern Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have discovered a molecular defect that promotes the pathologic immune response in systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), a disease that affects over 1. 5 million people in the U. S. Lupus can result in life-threatening damage to multiple organs, including the kidneys, brain, and heart. Existing treatments often fail to control the disease and have unintended side effects, reducing the immune system’s ability to fight infections.
The researchers believe that by identifying a cause for lupus, they have found a potential cure that will not have the side effects of current therapies. The study aims to provide a more effective treatment for the disease.
What is the new breakthrough for lupus?
Jaehyuk Choi’s team has used findings from patients with T-cell lymphomas to discover ways to steal the superpowers in lymphomas to supercharge T-cell therapies for cancer. They have been investigating lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease affecting over 300, 000 Americans, with the hope of identifying the root cause of the disease. By restoring an imbalance of a molecule called Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands in patients’ blood, Choi believes it is possible to reprogram disease-causing T-cells into non-pathogenic cells, potentially curing lupus.
Using a’seesaw’ analogy, Choi explains the inverse relationship between B helper T-cells and wound healing cells. Reducing pathogenic B helper T-cells in lupus patients can naturally increase wound healing cells, potentially leading to tissue repair. Choi hopes that this breakthrough discovery could not only cure lupus but also reverse the damage that has already occurred in patients.
Choi believes they can apply the same “roadmap” from their lupus investigations to other autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, by reprograming cells that are causing disease and helping them repair the conditions they are causing.
Is lupus life ending?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects 80-90 percent of people and can lead to normal life spans. However, some people do die due to immune system attacks on organs and tissues. Research has made significant progress in the last decade, suggesting a possible cure in the coming years. In the meantime, patients and doctors can collaborate to develop the best treatment plan to treat symptoms and limit organ damage.
Why do so many Americans have lupus?
Lupus affects 1. 5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide, with experts unsure of its cause. Genes, hormones, and environmental triggers play roles. Lupus and other autoimmune disorders are often passed down through families, with mutated genes potentially increasing the risk. However, not everyone with the disease has these genes, and even if they do, it doesn’t guarantee the disease.
Are they close to finding a cure for lupus?
Researchers have identified a possible cause of lupus that could lead to a cure for the life-threatening condition, potentially stopping the immune system from mistakenly attacking itself. The study, published in Nature, involved comparing blood samples from 19 people with lupus and 19 healthy individuals. The researchers used molecular biology techniques, including CRISPR gene editing and a specialized approach for sequencing ribonucleic acid (RNA), to arrive at their conclusions.
The blood samples from the people with lupus showed an impaired body process related to environmental pollutants, bacteria, and metabolites. When the researchers made changes to the blood samples targeting this process, the lupus-causing cells seemed to be reprogrammed into a different type of cell that may promote protection and repair in the body.
What does Nick Cannon take for lupus?
In 2012, actor John Cannon was re-hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism due to his kidney problems. He took several medications to suppress his immune system’s overactivity, including prednisone, CellCept, and Diovan. He also had to switch to a low-sodium diet for nine months, avoiding red meat and pork. Recognizing the need to prioritize his health, Cannon left his popular radio show, WXRK-FM, which he had hosted since 2009. He now eats fruits, vegetables, some meat, and minimal processed food, exercises five times a week, and has reduced his medication dosage to a few.
Despite his health struggles, Cannon is determined to make a positive impact on the world of entertainment, having always dreamed of being on stage from a young age. He began playing in Hollywood’s comedy clubs at the age of 15.
Is coffee bad for lupus?
Caffeine has been found to increase the release of anti-inflammatory proteins, down-regulate the inflammatory response, and suppress T-cell, B-cell, and antibody production. Studies have shown that individuals with lupus who consume between 154 mg – 377 mg/day experience a lower prevalence of lupus nephritis, neuropsychiatric involvement, hematological manifestations, hypocomplementemia, and anti-DNA positivity. Additionally, these individuals have lower blood levels of pro-inflammatory proteins, which are key players in the autoimmune process.
However, coffee and caffeine can cause stomach upset, heartburn, increased blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and interfere with calcium absorption, which can weaken muscle and bones, contributing to osteoporosis. Caffeine also negatively impacts sleep quality, which is important for those with lupus to manage fatigue and manage symptoms and flares. Many with lupus also experience other serious health conditions that may be negatively impacted by coffee. It is crucial for coffee drinkers or potential coffee drinkers to consult a healthcare practitioner to ensure it is a healthy choice.
Coffee not only stimulates the nervous system but also stimulates research in its health benefits. While more research is in its infancy, coffee may potentially be a tool in managing autoimmune diseases for those with lupus.
What is lupus life expectancy?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects 80-90 percent of people and can lead to normal life spans. However, some people do die due to immune system attacks on organs and tissues. Research has made significant progress in the last decade, suggesting a possible cure in the coming years. In the meantime, patients and doctors can collaborate to develop the best treatment plan to treat symptoms and limit organ damage.
What is the best lupus treatment in the world?
Benlysta, the first drug approved to treat lupus in over 50 years, is the first developed specifically for the disease since its discovery over a century ago. The FDA approved Benlysta in 2020, in combination with standard therapy, as a therapy for adult patients with active lupus nephritis. This is the first drug approved by the FDA to treat lupus nephritis. Benlysta was also approved for treating lupus in children in 2019 and 2022. Successful treatment of lupus requires a range of safe, effective, and tolerable treatments.
What is the new treatment for lupus in 2024?
CAR T-cell therapy is a revolutionary approach to targeting B cells, according to David D’Cruz, MD, PhD, a consultant rheumatologist at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. This autologous therapy involves removing a patient’s T cells through leukapheresis, transfecting them with a CAR T vector, and then returning them. D’Cruz believes this is a major revolution in treating rheumatic conditions like lupus and systemic sclerosis, which have been difficult to treat.
Has anyone ever cured lupus?
Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disorder, is a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, leading to inflammation and damage to various organs. Researchers at UC Davis Health are aiming to improve the quality of life for people living with lupus through a clinical trial evaluating CAR T-cell therapy as a treatment. Currently, there is no cure for lupus, and current treatments include medications to prevent flare-ups and manage symptoms.
📹 #1 Vitamin D DANGER You Absolutely Must Know!
There was a mistake on the vitamin D levels: ng/dL should be ng/mL. Please refer to your blood work result for the actual numbers …
Wonderful piece and extraordinary work Dr. Goldner is doing. My favorite line “you inherit your parents’ genes, but you don’t have to inherit their habits”. Mom had type 2, Dad had heart disease, both had dementia in their later years. I’m doing everything I can to keep those genes in check. That means a plant based diet, exercise, yoga and meditation.
So great to have one doctor like you sister! You have a better than normal understanding on how the body works and the enthusiasm to explain it to people. You are right, the autoimmune diseases are caused by over toxicity in the body. I am not a doctor, but anyone who has studied Hygiesm and experienced in his/herself, knows that this is true. 👏👏❤
I have been eating an Organic Vegan diet for the past 20 years. The reason for my autoimmune diseases was due to chronic stress over a 5 year period of time from a job I should have left!!! PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH TOO!!! STRESS CAN ALSO KILL YOU DESPITE EATING A HEALTHY DIET!!!!
I have watched several of your articles, talks, presentations now and I want you to know that you’re making a positive difference in my life. I’ve been so sick with a VARIETY of awful sx’s that mirror vertigo and heart issues. It’s been the most awful time of my life. Oh how we take our health for GRANTED when it’s good! I pray that I NEVER, EVER take a “good day” for granted again. I’ve been taking some of your suggestions and I’m viewing my hyper-nourishment and hydration as my daily “medicine”. How I wish that I would have been introduced to you earlier (like prior to 2019 when my health took a drastic dive)! Yes, I’m doing the hyper-nourishment and hydrating, yet, I am still struggling with the foods that I enjoy. I am not a great cook and that doesn’t help. On the bright side, I’m not addicted to sugar or to fried foods. But, if I understand the protocol accurately I need to completely cut out meat? I had a taco yesterday (organic beef). I guess I just wonder why I still feel hungry even after my smoothie. I drink 1/2 of the smoothie a few hours after waking up and the other 1/2 in the evening. I have ramped up my H2O intake as well. I just still need help! I looked for the group/course but I don’t have that much money (b/c I can’t work as many hours due to my health). Feeling encouraged but discouraged at the same time 🙏🏼
Western diet is essentially ultra processed packaged, ultra sweet food and fast food . it has nothing to do with plant based or animal based . its not like people were not eating meat and diary before in non-western countries . Infact, countries like india which are over 85% vegetarian,consume huge amounts of diary products,they never faced any issues till the likes of kellog’s and mcdonalds penetrated deeply in to country after 1992.
About triggers in food world. When I switched to eating a lot more fruit with vegetables and leafy greens turned things around. I used to be adicted to chocolate and now I walk past the sweets section in the shops and I don’t even realize that it’s there. It’s totally got to do with the glucos rich food. I got the information from Anthony William and his books. So the greens ARE vital yes AND so are the fruits!
Is it possible to already feel better day 2 on Hypernourishment protocol? I have Myalgic encephalomyelitis (if they diagnosed me right) and the second day I already had significant improvement with brain fog and energy levels. Day 3 and it contues, I haven’t felt this clear in my head for a long time.
If a person is WFPB and has had Covid, why would they need the vaccine? They don’t!!! Their body is already protecting them at that point. Doctors even disagree about the vaccine. Tell both sides. When doctors disagree, people don’t know what to believe. When the people who are harmed from the vaccine are no longer being censored by the media and the government, people will be more trusting. It is not a lack of understanding by the general public, it is the vehement disagreements from th medical community and the censoring Dr. Goldner simply has not seen enough people damaged from the vaccine, or she is lying. I choose to believe she has not seen enough. I know people in the medical profession who have seen plenty. The gov’t hides too much.
Love veggies & greens, I’ve felt so much better and kept 60lbs off for 7 years with whole food diet! But hold up, the intro argument is that her cholesterol is down? We’ve known that “cholesterol”, assuming she means LDL-B, is actually not a strong predictor of ☠️ unless you get it too low or sky high.. then risk goes way up. Triglyceride to HDL ratio is a better predictor of heart disease. Veganism is good for some people, but tricky (and invites illness) unless you’re very well studied and know what vitamins & minerals you’ll need to supplement that you’re eliminating. Just eliminate most processed foods and sugars and veg seed oils, do plenty of strength training+ cardio, get good sleep, lower stress, build friendships!!!!
I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and have been vegan for 3 years. Several doctors have already told me that I have to stop eating because I have to give up legumes (they inflame me), gluten, soy and derivatives. And that I can’t continue to maintain it, that at least I have to be a vegetarian to be able to improve my symptoms. I can’t find anyone who is vegan and has this disease and can guide me. I would love to continue with this lifestyle, as we know veganism is much more than a diet, but the doctors do not support me, they are the ones who have to help me the most, I am without support anywhere. I need books that contain veganism and that are specific to this disease, I need people who have both. And this article has fallen from the sky. If someone knows of more people like this doctor I would love to know, thank you very much.
Hi. Just came up on your talk with Dr. Brooke two days ago. My mom is diabetic. Have chronic kidney disease and sadly my mom went to the hospital to check why she was having blood in her urine. They put a telescope in her and after that, she went into cardiac arrest and is on the breathing machine. Now, by listening to doc., I was wondering can I give her fresh smoothies and juice everyday while she is there.
The carnivore community says exactly the same things, with thousands of testimonies of people getting healed from autoimmune diseases after changing to meat and fat. Both the herbivore and carnivore schools seem to make the mistake in inference that their switching to only plants or only animal products is the key. No, the thing is that both cut the crappy American standard diet full of sugars, transfats and ultra processed foods. This is enough to make many people to heal from the autoimmune diseases, not plants or meat per se. Human being is omnivore, period!
To me, Brooke is the prettiest but I know it’s subjective. Concerning covid, I got 3 covid shots and I’ll be using a mask at a hockey game that’s sold out with 20,000 people. I don’t need to catch anything from that place. I’m pretty sure all the other people who I will be in contact with had covid already so one main place I have to protect myself. It’s not just covid though it’s other airborne diseases, also.
I like this talk because I’ve followed her impressive work and she’s the first one to have successes through diet with patients with lung disease (which is what I was recently diagnosed with). Also glad to hear her endorse vaccines. But I was sad that she is calling people herbivores as opposed to carnivores. Anthropologists of ancient diets classify us as omnivores. (See the youtube talks by an anthropologist “Debunking the Paleo Diet” and “How Paleo is Your Diet?”. The latter in particular states that humans are classified with other omnivorous primates.) We eat varied types of omnivorous diets all over the planet depending on our ecosystem. (For the record, I’ve been a vegetarian since 1976, and mostly plant-based for the last ten years.) The biggest exception is India which produced a good percentage of vegetarians albeit by keeping dairy in their diets, and not surprisingly the Harvard Health Publishing pages online (see the page “Are You Getting Enough B12?” “Vitamin B12 | The Nutrition Source” ) states that dairy is the most bioavailable form of B12 for humans (and veganism is one of the major causes of B12 deficiency) Actually, I can’t find the part that says dairy B12 is more bioavailable. That’s either on another page or updated research caused them to remove it from the articles; just to be straightforward/). Indians were doing vegetarian diets successfully centuries before anyone else, long before anyone even knew what B12 was (it was discovered in the early 1900s, B12 shots became available in the 1940s, the same decade veganism was given its name.
I was vegan for 9 months and eventually felt weak and looked unhealthy, even with supplementing B12, D3, and plant-based protein powder. While my diet is still plant-forward, I occasionally eat grass-fed/finished beef, wild caught salmon and sardines, and some cage-free eggs. I’m feeling better now and friends say I look good too.
What about heart transplants and the life time of anti-rejecting organ meds? Is there a solution to no longer needing those drugs? What about nano particles in the vax that may relate to tinnitus? Poor eat handouts. Hydrolyzed corn gluten (WEEDKILLER) is in the food. Christ ate fish albeit the water wasn’t as polluted!
I was enjoying this until the interviewer started talking about COVID at less than ten minutes in. I’m so bored of the political views of fear pushers and lockdown lovers. Had to switch off which is a shame as I was enjoying listening to the Doctor. She sounded like she had some practical, natural suggestions for health. I’ll find her on another website..
How about people that have candida? And have an A1C of 5.2….not bad but need to get it under 5 working to 4.5. So I heard fruit feeds candida? I would love to do the shake you make but just checking on your experience with others about this? I have a few things going on in digestion, no enzymes, no acid..never been on any meds for acid reflux. Just when younger at a lot of sugar & wheat grains. I lost a lot of weight 1 yr ago because my body wasn’t absorbing anything from the lack of enzymes & acid.
I have not been diagnosed for autoimmune disease but I am dying every day don’t know panic attacks anxiety and much more I am keto for couple of years cut all dairy carb intermittent fasting I can’t have any fruits even not sweet one how do I know if it is right for me .can I have a consultation with you
I love that Dr. Goldner are aligned with a balanced solution. Vaccines and nutrient dense foods! I’m still confused about the idea of no meat or other cooked foods at all. I keep hearing contradicting thoughts. For instance, Dr. Mark Hyman touts the “Pegan” diet. A lot of vege’s with small amounts of grass fed meat and wild caught fish. People seem to heal on those diets as well. There are so many conflicting thoughts which is very confusing.
Do you know, have seen or found any studies from this find that looked into how the spread of GMOs could be involved with spread of these diseases? Along or paired with the fact that the spread of Western diet is also having? So yes, we are not changes as a species, but could GMO’s be impairing our gut at all?
Bet if you ate meat that you hunt yourself and prepare, you’ll be even better off. The problem isn’t meat and protein, the problem is the processed meats we are sold at grocery stores. In America, a part of the processing for chicken is washing it with chlorine. There are many other chemicals used to “preserve” the meat to last longer on the shelf at the grocery store. Go. Get. Your. Own. Meat! Get a gun license and some training, get a hunting license, get a bow or a gun and go get some organic meat, cured by Mother Nature herself. It’s full of nutrients and enzymes that will benefit you. Humans historically have been eating meat for thousands of years. Since 1929 everything you get from a store is basically poison.
Gary null on his radio program natural living years ago had a woman who worked in the industry that makes these vaccines. She said she could no longer with integrity stay in that job there were things like rat hairs in those products. I would not put that into my child’s body. Six decades later, I know many people, including myself that didn’t have those vaccinations and are just fine.
I don’t think it’s what we are eating but how we are preparing the food from pesticides, to the chemicals in our drinking water and the chemicals that seep into our food from plastic. I’ve never eaten the western diet, I’m in great shape (5’4″, 125lbs.) love to exercise, follow a plant based diet and I’ve just been diagnosed with pre-diabetes with elevated glucose levels… they’ve put me on metformin. I have no idea how I got here except that I drink tap water, still use plastic (pretty unavoidable) and my food has been grown with pesticides. I think that’s the true cause.
Plaquenil is produced since 1949 and used as first line for Lupus for over half century more precisely since 1956! It’s important to give an accurate account when one promotes unilateral approach such as plant based diet for people who can be very sick from autoimmune illnesses who have very strong genetic base!
Type II Diabetes is reversable with a carbohydrate, aka sugar free diet. Grains are a modern concept. Just eat our ancestral human diet. Eat only meat and meat products including high saturated fat. Every cell in our body, including our brains have cholesterol, and the body has an amazing way to regulate it. Meats have fats. Plants have oils. Humans can only absorb a small amount of nutrients from plants. We are supposed to eat the animal that processes the plants. Eating plants is what has created chronic disease in us, including cardiovascular diseases, depression, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, GI disorders etc… Humans should not eat plants or fiber. We cannot process it or tolerate the carcinogens in them. They want to live and spread their seeds and have created defense mechanisms for thousands of years because they can’t run away. Why are most plants on earth toxic and will make you sick or kill you immediately? Why can we only tolerate a few mushrooms in the fungus family? The rest will kill you. All plants have toxins and carcinogens to us, but some have it in lesser amounts. Meat has no toxins for humans. When the poisons accumulate is when we get chronic dieases. SUGAR( carbs) which is grains and plants cause it all. Look up Dr. Kellogg to see when the PR shift started.
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I have been taking 4000IUs of Vitamin D3 along with K2 for several years. My bloods are maintained st around 250 nmol/l . I have reversed osteoporosis. Last September I tested positive for Covid. I had a ticklish cough for about five days. I had a fever one night that lead to me being tested positive. Two days later I felt fine snd tested negative. I a 75 years old and compared to all my peers I am very fit and energetic. I enjoy walking/ hiking. I walk Caminos every year. In May I walked the 300 mile Camino Fonseca. On August 20th I will set off to walk the 500 mile Camino Frances.
My daughter had a D level of 5. her provider put her on D2 50,000 units once a week for years with no benefit. After doing some research I found out how important Vitamin K was to absorbing D. I purchased Vitamin D3 with K2 daily dosing and within 3 months her D levels were within range and has stayed that way.
Great presentation!! The title should have been vitamin D deficiency danger. When I first saw the title I thought taking vitamin D was dangerous 😀😀 glad I listened up to the end. You are such an amazing asset for me. I learn a lot from you and share to my loved one. May God bless you with good health and many many years to live. Thank you🙏🏽🙏🏽
Thanks for your good work dr Ekberg. Please do not use tricky article titles to get people to watch your articles—you really do not need misleading or catchy titles to get your fans to watch your articles—we have confidence that most of your articles have vital health advice. Just because everybody foes that you don’t need to jump on their bandwagon. Thanks! 🙏☀️🙏
For anyone who lives in Ireland, take note that the medical practitioners never check Vitamin D, even if you are very ill and admitted to hospital. I asked a GP about this and she said that they don’t bother testing for Vt.D in Ireland because, and I quote, “everyone is always low”. And this GP refused to prescribe a higher dose supplement. This led to a heated exchange to say the least. My advice, if they don’t take this seriously is to change your GP.
I was diagnosed with MS in 2016, went on an immunosuppressive, and then found out how important Vitamin D was for the immune system. In particular, it is critical for decreasing inflammation which is a key component of MS. I went through increasing intake and measuring my blood level for months until I figured out I need 8000 iu per day to stay at 100 ng/ml, which is optimal for MS. (For most people, 10,000 iu per day gets you to 100 ng/ml, 5000 iu per day gets you to 50 ng/ml, etc. So you can see that 2000 iu/day only raises your level by 20 ng/ml, which may still leave you insufficient.) Just before the Covid-19 outbreak, my doctor told me to stop the immunosuppressant because my B-cell level made me as low as an AIDS patient, and I was in danger of a viral brain infection. I did get Covid-19 but not bad enough to be hospitalized. Ever since then, my only MS medication has been Vitamin D! And I have had no more MS symptoms during the last 5 years.
Interestingly, in Ontario Canada, approximately 10 years ago, standard free bloodwork stopped including vitamin D on the panel. It became a patient expense, based on presuming most people had “enough”. And I believe that most people “trust” the medical system and forego paying for this vital information. It’s about $60.00. I’m wondering if it was a long range plan to prepare the population to become immune deficient therefore more reliant on pharmacy in the long run. Call me a theorist. But it’s just tooooo coincidental knowing what we do now and what’s happened in the last 4 years. I’ve never trusted the medical establishment. Have supplemented with D3 K2 for decades, mostly in the winter. 3,000-5,000. THANK YOU DR. EKBERG FOR THIS VERY USEFUL INFO. ❤
Started vitamin D after reading study on old people in ICU early on during the pandemic. The study included 100 old people, 50 received vitamin D and 50 didn’t only 1 person died in the vitamin D group and 23 died that didn’t get vitamin D. That was enough for me. I’m 62 years old and I take 5k of D during the winter months. I had covid twice and each time it was very mild. Every one I know had the vaccine, I didn’t and my family and friends all had severe problems without D . Vitamin D helps with your immune system.
I have been taking vitamin D3 and K2 since the Covid pandemic started to boost my immune system. Last week, I met up with a friend who had a cold. A few days later, I thought I was coming down with a cold, sneezing and coughing more than usual. That night, I started shivering in bed ( with an electric blanket on). The shivering was my immune system fighting the cold virus. Because the next day, I was symptom-free! In addition, I was going through menopause when I started taking Vitamin D and K2. I used to wake up sweating, even in the winter. The sweats have stopped because of the vitamin D, which helps to regulate your body temperature. So, to any woman considering going on HRT, try taking Vitamin D3 and K2.
Excellent information, but the title makes it sound like Vit. D is a danger, rather than emphasizing how important it is. People might see the title and think there’s no danger to them because they don’t take Vit. D, and then they wouldn’t watch the article. I would also emphasize that they should take D3 rather than D2.
Thank you! I’ve been indoors for several years, taking care of my dying husband…but started to take Vitamin D. The Ankylosing sponalitis in my foot went away. The EXTREME pain in my fused spine & right hip subsided. My pain meds have been lowered again & this time I survived. But after he died I was paralyzed with grief & became a total hermit, for 3yrs now and must change my ways & get up & out. I’m very weak! I stopped my brief sojourn w/K2 this month when my feet swelled & got purple. I have blood problems from the vaccine, and must take aspirin now. Amazingly my feet are improving with elevating them & wearing compression socks, in a matter of days w/no K2! Not out of the woods, but plan to sunbathe with NO SUNSCREEN at least 30 minutes a day now that the sun hits the back yard. I’m going to try not to kick the bucket before I turn 79 in June, and spend more time exercising & trying to walk again. I’d be dead by now without Vitamin D. Now let’s get my SKIN to stop shedding so much! And I’m growing back muscles by using weights & bands & marching in place 100steps at a time, holding onto my Walker, MANY times a day. This was an excellent article. Thanks so much.
I was practically forced fed vit D by my grandmother via cod liver oil as a kid. 41 now, haven’t been to a doctor in over 20 years, apparently look much younger than my age and usually feel really good. I’m convinced Vit D is a major reason because my grandmother lived into her 90’s and was strong as an Ox and rarely sick.
Thank you, Dr Ekberg. I know people often summarise your articles in the comments, which I do read, but I watch your articles right the way through as well. And people should, because you took the time to kindly make them to help people. I always enjoy perusal your articles, they are incredibly helpful and informative. Thanks Dr E!
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, along with A, E and K. A while back we were informed that low fat milk was the best, so that is what I drank. I used to get a lot of headaches as well as explained bruising on my thighs. I took the common analgesic of the time, aspirin, along with the “healthy” milk. The result was a severe deficiency in vitamin K. My blood would not clot properly and I was told I could bleed to death if I incurred even a small injury. Mammalian babies need this milk in order to survive and grow during their most vulnerable few months of life. Clearly some of the most Vital components necessary for life are found in unadulterated milk fat. Dairy companies should stop messing with the milk!
Just one tiny criticism in an otherwise excellent article: I don’t think it was good to already warn people about potential toxicity at just 10000 IU. You corrected it later by mentioning the big individual variation and need to measure, but that was too strong of a warning imo at that point. I know alot of people who would get scared off by hearing that. The #1 danger in regards to Vitamin D is not taking enough of it. I know alot of people who need to take those 10000 or even more to reach optimum range, while I know not a single person who overshot at only 2000-4000. It’s also not like it immediately becomes toxic the moment you go above 200nmol/l. From what I’ve seen in toxicity studies there’s still quite a plateau above that where no negative effects can be detected, even with lab measurments. The chances that 10000 is already going to be toxic to somebody seems extremely unlikely. Individual extreme outliers always happen, but if it’s rare a generalized warning like that without details can scare alot of people away and right now the average person is far far closer of taking too little Vitamin D than too much.
Being an African who has recently moved to Sweden, winter has been very tough on me. The cold and darkness was not easy to handle. During my second winter here, I started feeling tired and depressed. I thought that maybe I was just being homesick. Some swedish friends told me though that it might be vitamin D deficiency and I needed to start taking the vitamin D supplement. I was not getting any before that. I took it during the whole winter last year. After perusal this article, I understand that I need to make my level of vitamin D checked to know the intake I actually need! Thanks a lot for the article. It really was helpful!🤗
Thank you for the detailed explanation about vitamin D. I do have a small critique regarding how you titled your article. Upon reading the title, it seemed as if you were going to discuss the dangers of vitamin D. I couldn’t believe someone would challenge everything I thought I knew about the beneficial effects of maintaining the right vitamin D levels in the blood. That’s why I clicked on the article. Fortunately, you ended up reiterating information I was already familiar with from other sources! I’m aware that many people only read the titles, and in this case, they could have gotten the wrong idea about vitamin D.
I am African American and I take a daily dose of 40,000 IU of vitamin D3 along with 400 mcg of vitamin K2. It’s crucial to note that among African Americans and individuals with darker skin tones, the rate of vitamin D deficiency skyrockets to 70%. The pigment in darker skin can hinder the absorption of sunlight, which is a crucial process for vitamin D synthesis.
I like it how simple you can talk about health. During whole article I was thinking that almost the same effects on body have omega3. It is essential, body cannot make it, the cells need it to divide, absorb vitamins and get rid of toxins. When these two are together(other vitamins too) they can do magic in our bodies
After being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2017 and doing my own vigilant research. I had to ask my Oncologist to check my vitamin D after reading a study out of the University of San Diego that said direct correlation between D deficiency and colon cancer. When we checked it, it was 5. I found that their synthetic D3 never got me over 35. After finding a quality D3 on my own I can say I’m ALIVE!!!Last blood work checked in September 2023 I was sitting at 61. My goal is yes, to hit or be somewhat closer to 70. Great topic that yes more people need to know about and have checked. You need to tell your Dr you want to check it. 💗✨
Dr. Ekberg, You’re incredibly right about it being a biomarker. I was low on Vitamin D before I got tongue cancer 10 years ago. An acquaintance of mine was low on Vitamin before she got colon cancer. The Dangers of Vitamin D are not getting enough of it! It’s Dangerous if you are Low in it. I can see why you named your article the way that you did💜Thank you 🤗
I eat meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish and beer. I take the supplements of outdoor, fun and relationships. Limit stress and rejections. I avoid pills, supplements, vaccines, injections, processed foods like the plague. I feel fine. I only ever got sick when I became complacent on these principles. No idea what my ” levels” are in anything. My body seems to regulate that just fine without meddling.
When covid began, before there were vaccines, I looked at the NHS admissions printouts online. (I’m in the UK). Those low on vitamin D were flagged as ‘over represented’. I upped my vitamin D3 and K2 intake. Later a house member got COVID and a week later so did I. I was quite sick for 3 days. Never took the jabs. Approaching 80, still AOK.
Most doctors are clueless about vitamin D dosages, I have multiple direct examples of such incompetence: for instance, in 2020 an andrologist who didn’t know anything about my vitamin D levels literally warned me not to take more than 2000 IU per day… If only he’d known that I can only keep my vit D levels higher than 60 when my daily intake is at least 15000 IU, and even at 25000 IU my body will take several months to get closer to 100, and only occasionally will surpass it. PS. where I live I get no significant sun exposure, not even in summer.
Excellent presentation – the most comprehensive I’ve ever seen. I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency (26 nmol/l after five years of what felt like burnout. Just walking 1,000 yards felt like a mountain & it seemed I was always getting bronchitis & sinus infections. It took about ten years to break into the sufficiency zone (76 nmol/l), but I started feeling much stronger after about five years. My doctor said take 1,000 iu, then 2,000 iu, then 3,000 iu, then told me I wasn’t taking the right type. Then it was 3,000 iu, then 4,000 iu, & then 5,000 iu & then we started seeing better improvement. I started taking 10,000 iu for a year & when last tested, I was at 198 nmol/l. My blood calcium was just under the low end of normal, so that’s not a concern – I’ve been taking K2 MK7. I’ve since dialed my vitamin D3 back to 7,500 iu. Today, at 58 years of age, I can walk as far as I want & I tolerate stress way better. Vitamin D deficiency stole about ten years of what was supposed to be the best years of my life. I can’t recommend testing enough.
I discovered the importance of it when I started seeing a pain management doctor for severe nerve damage in my spine and a few years later, after my Fibromyalgia diagnosis. I’m still slightly under the levels I am supposed to be at, but it is so much better now than what I started out with which was 7.
My doctor recommended Vitamin D with Vitamin K. He said that vitamin D will be better absorbed with the vitamin K. Since Vitamin D improves Calcium absorption. Vitamin K helps to regulate Calcium. It works. I was low on vitamin D and I was taking a Vitamin D supplement. I started taking the Vitamin D with K as ordered by my doctor and now my blood test turned out normal. Do research on it for yourself.😅
One of your best, Dr. S. AND, your average is way above the best, of most, in the global health arena. Many thanks for your compassion in making these articles, so those that are willing to listen & comprehend can get the information, to make changes, with a view to improving not only their lifestyle, but their life, as well. 👍👍👌
Several years ago I was all the way vitamin D deficient. I took 50,000 IU capsule of vitamin D3 & K2 3 times per week for 2 months. Then I took a 20,000 IU capsule daily for 6 months and finally my hydroxyD blood test came back with a reading of 75 (the range is 30-100). My doctor thought I should keep it there, and lower my dose to 5000 IUs per day. So I did, for 6 months. I had my blood test done again 3 days ago. After taking that 5,000 IUs a day for 6 months religiously, and I am now depleted again… 31 reading to be exact. All that work only to listen to a doctor and be back right where I started, smh. Should’ve listened to my body because I was gradually feeling tired and run down and achy and skin dry again, etc. So two days ago I’m now back at taking 50,000 IUs. Never again. Once I get it back up to between 70, 5 and 90, I’m going to take 20,000 a day and check it every 3 months. Because clearly I need well more than 5,000 a day to maintain a healthy D level in my body.
Last week when I did the lab work ordered during my annual physical, I had to sign forms indicating that Medicare may not pay for the Vitamin D test and the HBA1C. Talk about being 100 years behind the times! With the majority of Americans suffering from diabetes and chronic illnesses, those two tests are probably the most important for Medicare to cover.
I’m a physician. I have fought keeping up my vitamin D level for a long time. In the beginning of the pandemic, sadly it was 18. I took 10,000 IU for a year, got out in the sun as much as I could. Rechecked it and it was only 19. Researching, I added K2. Six months later, during the winter months, it went up to 54. Then to 81! My adult daughter went from 31 to 90 in 3 months of 5000 IU daily. K2 was the key for us. K2 and also vitamin A help with the absorption of D3. (That is why you find vitamins with “A,D,K.)
I watched a article of a doctor who was a cardiologist. He said of his patients who were diagnosed with covid, he kept very careful records. When the worst was over and he was able to sort through all the data, the patients with low Vit D had the most complications and were more likely to die of covid. The ones with normal or high levels of Vit D were the ones who healed the fastest and had the least complications.
“Thank you so much for providing me with this valuable information on Vitamin D. Although I had come across this information before, your article provided me with greater clarity and understanding. I now know how much Vitamin D I need to take and when to slow down or stop. Your article truly stood out as it answered my questions in detail, something that other articles failed to do. I am grateful to you, Dr. for the time and effort you put into creating such an informative article. May God bless you and your family!”
I’ve been on Vitamin D since early 2020 as it seemed the logical answer to the problem of the time. I’ve got six blood tests and my levels are now holding at 147nmol/l, previous tests are 143, 136, 135, 84, 57 nmol/l. Not had a cold, flu or any other respiratory virus! Side note: verrucas disappeared as soon as I was over 57?! Truth is the majority of the population prefer to treat an illness rather than prevent it.
I have been taken 5,000 IU’s of vitamin D3 a Day for around 10 years. I went to have a hip replacement 5 months ago and the surgeon said that my bones were as hard as a rock, that he never saw bones so strong and when he drilled into my leg bone to do to hip replacement his drill started smoking and the drill bit broke off into my bone. He said he never saw anything like it.
After being alerted to the dangers of seed oils. I was checking the ingredients in my vitamin D3. I always wondered what oil was being used in the small capsules. I thought they were using fish oil in the D3 and my fish oil supplement. What they were using is stat oil, with various spellings. I now take ocean cod liver oil in it’s place.
Trop compliqué je renonce. 78 ans jamais malade, j’ai l’âge de mourir, cette vidéo fait plus de mal que de bien car je me sens impuissante à suivre vos indications les médecins gardent leurs patients 5 mn ils ne se casse pas la tête. Les malades sont les garants de leurs salaires. Alors ? A la grâce de Dieu.
I live in the low 40’s latitude with between 9 and 15 hours of sunlight year round. I take 2000 IU of vD in the summer months from April to September, and 4000 IU in October to March. This typically keeps me in the ~60 range for ng/dl. I’m generally happy with those numbers. I also take vD with grass-fed yogurt and avocado breakfast in the AM, very fatty and filling and allows for fat solubility.
Probably one of your best articles ever (and you have some great ones). MD’s don’t tie diabetes with other disease processes (gout, HBP, asthma, etc) but certainly there is a pretty hard link with diabetes and Vit D deficiency. Yet, never once has an MD requested my D level to be checked. I discovered it pretty much on my own. I’m the only family member to live far north and the only one with Type II, and when I spend even a few weeks in a sunny warm place in shorts and short sleeves, my BG is very much controlled – even with some bread and pasta (yes I know). So now winter setting in – the great dark north – I just upped my Vit D via liquid drops (capsules don’t seem to allow good absorption) plus fish oil and cod liver oil. And my “pirate coffee” and 2MAD (noon and 6PM, animal protein, health fats, green veggies only). I’m giving it a couple months so too soon. BUT VERY Timely vid, thanks. You are great and inspiring!
Hello Dr. Ekberg, I really appreciate your straight-forward lectures- thank you! Question, there is a YouTuber out there claiming that taking vitamin D “depletes Magnesium levels”. Since you didn’t address this concern in the article I’m wondering what thoughts you have on this claim. Is this a concern that requires some sort of work-around? Thanks, RG
I took 35,000 to 40,000 IU a day for three plus years to get my level up to 130 as suggested by a doctor on YT. A recent article I saw said having your level between 130 and 170 was best. So I have started taking it more regularly so I can push towards 170. I had backed off the daily high dose after reaching 130.10. I read a Kindle book several years ago that was written by a doctor who took 20,000 IU a day to see what would happen to him. I also heard about a guy who got ahold of a mislabeled bottle from a compounding pharmacy and reached a toxic level because he was taking one million IU of vitamin D daily for about six months! I’ve known for about two years that vitamin D should be taken with Magnesium which helps it get into your cells better. I take a Magnesium (10 in 1) complex.
Fantastic presentation. Thank you. I just got my blood work results last week and for the first time Vitamin D was included in my blood work. My reading was 39 ng/ml so technically “in range” but less than ideal. I was looking for how much to take in a supplement and came across this article. LOVE your all-encompassing explanation of how Vitamin D does or does not work in the body. Seems pretty straight-forward for me now. Take 5000 IU daily and get my blood checked in three months and see what my number is. With a starting point of 39, 5000 IU’s a day is not going to push me into any kind of danger zone (>100) in three months. Thank you very much.
My level was at 4 and I had been suffering with symptoms that mimicked ALS and MS. I can’t tell you how much I was ridiculed by doctors including the neurologist who ran multiple tests and said vitamin D has nothing to do with it. they caused me so much stress and I developed health anxiety which put me in a vicious cycle of symptoms. I still have low vitamin D, but man, did i feel so great when i was on the 50,000 IU every week for 3 months. My numbers went up to 18, I believe. My doctors gave up on me, and I went to see a therapist. It’s been 2 years of fighting for my own health and sanity. I am so thankful for articles like this that affirm my research and conclusions. I was offered a muscle relaxer for my newfound migraines, and they didn’t tell me it was actually depression medication. I specifically told them I did not want to take depression medication. I wanted answers and the root cause. I ended up having a severe reaction from it. All of this is to say. I still have no idea where I land with my vitamin D, but im still fighting to fix this on my own. Thank you for your knowledge.
One major and important aspect that influences the dose someone would need and was not mentioned is body weight. Heavier people or people with more fatty tissue need higher doses to achieve the optimal level because the vitamin D is absorbed by fat. According to Brazilian Doctor Cicero Coimbra 200IU per kilogram is a good and safe way to measure how much to take.
I’m glad you broke down the levels. During Covid I was taking regular daily vitamins and some supplements and ended up in the D Toxicity range (over 100) with high Calcium Serum levels. On a article conference with my Dr I brought out my many bottle of supplements and we figured out with various combos (daily, k2d3, calc/mg/zinc w d3) I was waaay overdosing. Pulled me off everything for 60 days and retested back to normal. Just be careful out there
I used to watch the Vitamin D Council on YT twenty years ago. Dr. Cannell was well aware of many of the non-classical benefits of vitamin D. He was saying it was important for the immune system and mental health, as well as other things, at least as far back as 2003. It’s a great shame it was closed down, apart from a Twitter account.
After reading a study in February of this year I increased my vitamin D intake to 10,000 IU’s every morning. I have had no bad side effects with this increase, and on a positive note, it seems to be helping my Arthritis. Be careful to limit how much calcium you get, though. High vitamin D with lots of calcium is known to cause hypercalcemia. That’s bad news for your joints and can cause kidney stones. That’s my personal experience.
I find this article very informative and have got a better understanding of the importance of getting enough sunlight. In NZ, where I live, I suspect there may be less deficiency than elsewhere because of the higher concentration of UV light. For a long time, we have been told to use a lot of sunscreen, but I don’t if I am only out in the sun for a few minutes even when it is really hot. I am of Celtic/Anglo-Saxon and have fair skin and hair. Thank you for explaining how long you need to be in the sun. I’m glad I seem to have been doing the right thing.
Studies done on Hawaii residents who get maximal tropical sun exposures (professional surfers, beach lifeguards) revealed them topping out naturally at 60-80 ng/ml. That seems to be the limit the body will produce on its own, given all the sunlight it could want. That suggests 80 ng/ml is a good maximum target.
I started taking 5000 Vitamin D3 & it has TREMENDOUSLY helped me! I live in the NE of United States & I can say nothing but great experience of increasing my Vitamin D since I tested for low levels. Too much of any good thing is not good! I grew up at my local swimming pool w/my siblings. None of us had broken bones or fractures so I believe this is due to our exposure to the sun.
Increasing vitamin D does seem to be one of the easiest ways to improve and/or maintain health. I’ve recently begun supplementing with an FDA approved vitamin D light. I prefer this method for a few reasons, not the least of which is that the body regulates how much it produces through the skin. Oral supplements, as you noted, can lead to toxicity. Thank you for all you’re doing to help people improve the quality of their life.
I’ve been having so many inflammatory issues that i thought i had severe arthritis at 41. I noticed in a blood test i had pretty low Vit D. I started taking vit d, k, taking in a little more calcium and adding magnesium per another vid by Dr eckberg and suddenly, my joints stopped hurting a few days later. I had already gotten injections in my hands due to the pain. Taking these vitamins did more to help than anything else. My mood is also better which is important, since i have a pretty high stress job. His vids helped me so much!!! ❤❤❤❤
After I had bariatric surgery my Vitamin D levels dropped to 17-18 ng. I also am over 70 and I have had multiple skin cancers, so I hide from the sun. I was still in the high 20s with 10000 mg daily. I changed from “dry” tablets to capsules of D3 dissolved in MTC oil. I have dropped back to 5000 IU and I am now above 30. I think the MTC oil gives the D3 a running start when it enters my shortened digestive track. I also take K.
There is some real serious danger in taking larger doses of vitamin D3, in certain circumstances. I know, because I fell into this trap head first. I have a neighbor, a woman, that lives in the same house in an idyllic part of Ljubljana. There is another family of two living in the house, and that’s it. This neighbor, she is mad. Some ten years ago she convinced herself that she owns the whole house, and she actually sued me and the other family to get us out of ‘her’ house. Since in reality we own the flats we live in, the court explained to the woman that she is mistaken. That did not make any impression on her: she is still convinced that we, that’s me and the other family, illegaly live in ‘her’ house without paying her anything. Since she cannot get us out legally, she has made herself an enormous nuisance in the hope that we will run away on our own, screaming. Among oher things she is trying to deprive me of sleep by making terrible noise every minute I am home; her flat is above mine, so she has an easy work of it. I have become quite an expert in making myself almost deaf. Nobody can relieve me of this. Police? Police are just mewling that they are powerless to do anything. In order to keep myself sane I often repeat the mantra “I am stronger than this. I am stroonger than this”. As it turned out, I am not. My situation is known as chronic unrelieved stress. My heart was the one that was not strong enough. It began with palpitations, which progressed to ventricular extrasystoles, and a year or so ago I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Starting to understand your ‘presentation style’ Dr Ekberg (you funny!) You just love to teach! I kept trying to figure out “So what is the “No. 1 thing…”? Lol… You often start with a nonsensical ‘catch phrase’ then proceed to deconstruct the “non-sense”, step by step… You remind me of my old school teachers whom I really loved and respected… good solid, structured knowledge, laid out and organized… all I had to do was “show up” and “take notes!” Thank you! The fact this is based on “current” knowledge is profound and insightful… I’m glad for real doctors and teachers like yourself… I remember picking up Dr Earl Mindell’s book “Vitamin Bible” back in 1993-94? forever grateful for people who take the time to share their practical knowledge
Many thanks for such a well presented article on the often overlooked importance of Vit D. 👍 The only thing missing was mention of: 1) the best type of Vit D (D3 – cholecalciferol) to take 2) the risks of hypercalcemia from taking high doses of Vit D supplements, and 3) how this can be mitigated by taking it with Vit K2 (preferably MK-7)
That is a very good explanation. As a person with CKD I understand that the disease causes low production of Vit D and the kidneys need Vit D to help them heal. A viscious circle! 2 years ago my blood test showed very low Vit D and I started taking Vit D3 800IU per day which put into the good range. Lab tests are due again this month.
I’m in north Sweden. For roughly half the year, the chances of me getting enough sunlight are nil. 🙁 I supplement D3 and K2. Going to be brutally honest, I don’t notice any difference…but I continue to take it because I’m fairly certain I’m deficient, despite the nationwide addition of Vit D (they don’t say if it’s D3 or any other D) in milk and other foods. I try to get outside every day but right now it’s snowing heavily and we have to have the lamps lit all day just to see. So fairly sure I’m getting zero D3 from the sun.
I really needed to hear this right now! I know I’m low on Vitamin D. I have supplements, but I’m lazy about taking them. I’m going to be a lot more serious about it now. I live in the Middle East, but because it’s so hot most of the year, I tend to stay indoors with the air conditioning on. Having unlimited access to sunlight does not guarantee that your body is making enough vitamins!
Dr Sten …you are amazing …I have self diagnosed with Bartonella a few yrs ago and also have other health issues which due to my research Im on the slow climb back to where I was. I dont know if your own health inspired you to research the value of VitD3, but you have basically validated the results of all my own research, and YOU are the ONLY medical, scientific person I have come across to date, who has such a huge grasp of the importance and value of VIT D3 ….. Thank You so so much
I am 70 and I’ve been taking 11,000 IU of D3 daily for 3 years. My vitamin D level is 67 ng/dl, and it has been stable at that level the entire time. Because of the high dose, I get tested every 2 months. I’m in Montenegro (42 degrees north latitude) where I get very little direct sunlight in the winter. I had one episode of COVID19 in December 2020 and no reinfections (and no booster immunizations) with a positive PCR and a high antibody count thereafter. The course of the disease was unremarkable with complete recovery in a week. I also reversed type 2 diabetes (my original goal for taking a D3 supplement) with a HbA1c now of 4.8 (the bottom of the “normal” range).
I lived in Saudi Arabia in childhood and into early adulthood and consequently suffered many serious sunburns as a blue eyed blonde not the ideal climate. Anyway because of my extreme exposure to sun in my youth I began to over use strong sunscreens every morning out of the shower I slathered on 50 spf and developed osteomalasia which my doctor told me was rickets in children. I started taking large doses of D3 with magnesium and it corrected within a year my bone scans were normal. Now however I’m thinking I need to back off as I am having lots of back and hip pain.