Vitamin D and Immune Function

Rhonda Patrick: vitamin D deficiency is widespread and linked to immune dysfunction and all-cause mortality

Rhonda Patrick

“Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide, affecting an estimated 40% of Americans and a higher proportion in northern latitudes. The active form of vitamin D functions as a transcription factor controlling over 1,000 genes, including critical regulators of innate and adaptive immune function. Low vitamin D status is associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory infection, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality — making regular testing and supplementation a priority for most people who cannot achieve sufficient sun exposure.”

Rhonda Patrick: vitamin D and K2 work together to direct calcium to bones rather than arteries

Rhonda Patrick

“Vitamin D increases intestinal calcium absorption, which is essential for bone density but can contribute to arterial calcification if not properly directed. Vitamin K2 activates matrix Gla protein (MGP) and osteocalcin — proteins that inhibit calcium deposition in soft tissues and promote its incorporation into bone matrix. Co-supplementation with vitamin K2 (particularly MK-7 form) alongside vitamin D3 therefore addresses the concern that high-dose vitamin D supplementation alone may increase cardiovascular calcification risk.”

Rhonda Patrick: vitamin D regulates over 200 genes involved in immune defense against pathogens

Rhonda Patrick

“Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in virtually all immune cells, and the active form of vitamin D directly regulates genes encoding antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin and beta-defensins, which punch holes in bacterial and viral membranes. It also modulates T-cell differentiation, suppressing inflammatory Th17 responses while promoting regulatory T cells — helping to balance immune activation against autoimmune risk. This broad immune regulatory role explains the association between vitamin D deficiency and both infectious and autoimmune disease.”

Rhonda Patrick: Mendelian randomization links low vitamin D to dementia and cognitive decline

Rhonda Patrick

“Mendelian randomization studies — which use genetic variants affecting vitamin D metabolism to approximate lifelong vitamin D status — provide causal evidence linking low vitamin D to increased dementia risk and accelerated cognitive decline. Unlike standard observational data, this approach is less susceptible to confounding, strengthening the case for maintaining optimal vitamin D levels as a modifiable risk factor for neurological aging. Achieving serum 25(OH)D above 40 ng/mL through supplementation is a reasonable target for most adults.”

Vitamin C: Oral vs. Intravenous, Immune Effects, Cancer, Exercise Adaptation & More

Rhonda Patrick

“…taken every four hours peak blood concentrations with oral vitamin C only reached 220 micro moles per liter but they reached 1760 micro moles per liter for a single 3 gram intravenous dose as I mentioned earlier vitamin C is critical to immune function immune”

Vitamin C: Oral vs. Intravenous, Immune Effects, Cancer, Exercise Adaptation & More

Rhonda Patrick

“…otes oxidative stress a key driver of many chronic diseases vitamin C can donate electrons to oxidize molecules to D oxidize them officially known as reduction in chemical terms hence the term antioxidant even in small quantities vitamin C can protect critical”

COVID-19 Q&A #2 - Antibody-Dependent Enhancement, Cross-Immunity, Immunity Duration & More

Rhonda Patrick

“…y a larger conversation around the incredibly broad role of vitamin D. Vitamin D three is made in the skin upon UVB exposure from the sun. Anything that blocks UVB radiation from the sun also blunts our skin's ability to produce vitamin D. That includes clothi”

How Vitamin D, Omega-3s, & Exercise May Increase Longevity | Dr. Rhonda Patrick

Rhonda Patrick

“…s many different reasons why people are not getting as much vitamin D in our modern day world. And vitamin D is one of the cheapest and easiest supplements to take. There have been studies that have basically tried to figure out, like, how can you take a perso”

Dr. Roger Seheult from MedCram on COVID-19 Vaccines, Vitamin D, and Heat Hydrotherapy

Rhonda Patrick

“…a number of years ago now, showed that supplementation with vitamin D decreased acute chest infections by 50% significantly. uh in in that study also in the the longer aging uh health study called Tilda in in Ireland showed that uh vitamin D supplementation wa”

COVID-19 Q&A #1 with Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.

Rhonda Patrick

“shed light on the conversation regarding vitamin D upregulating ace two receptors and its influence on susceptibility to Coba 19 infection this is such an important question and I'm so glad to get a chance to talk about vitamin D I think it is a very important”

Dr. Roger Seheult from MedCram on COVID-19 Vaccines, Vitamin D, and Heat Hydrotherapy

Rhonda Patrick

“on the the the studies on vitamin D were involving calcium, bone metabolism. And so they came up with all of these things because they didn't know what else vitamin D did really. I mean, they had some idea, but they came up with these standards. Oh, you need s”

How Diet & Lifestyle Influence Aging & Brain Function [UCSF Healthy Heart Talk Oct. 2014]

Rhonda Patrick

“…50 to 54 nanograms per Mill which is considered adequate so vitamin D gets converted into a steroid hormone a hormone that regulates the expression of over a thousand different genes in your body that's a thousand different physiological processes in your body”