Many functional medicine Toronto providers agree that vitamin D (aka the ‘sunshine’ vitamin) is a key component for optimal functioning – and it should be supplemented all year round!

Vitamin D is naturally absorbed by the skin when we’re exposed to sunlight. But due to the cloudy winter months, Canadians tend to stay indoors often – this can affect how much of the vitamin we absorb from the sun. And if you aren’t supplementing with the nutrient through food or oral vitamins, you can be susceptible to forming a deficiency. 

If you still think you don’t need vitamin D supplements, reading this article may change your mind! Here, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre highlights surprising key facts about this vitamin’s beneficial effects. 

10 Surprising vitamin D facts to know

1. 1. In the human body, vitamin D and calcium have a unique friendship. Ideal D levels are mandatory because they help the digestive tract absorb calcium, which is needed for optimizing bone health. 
   2. Bone tissue undergoes daily remodeling, with calcium being continually released and deposited. Vitamin D ensures adequate calcium absorption to maintain this balance. When you have low D levels, this directly affects your calcium intake, making you potentially vulnerable to weakness and forming osteoporosis. 
   3. Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. This nutrient supplementation “…may facilitate insulin function by regulating its receptor expression, so it may [support] increases [for] insulin sensitivity,” reported an Iranian Journal of Public Health article. 
   4. A diverse microbiome is significant for supporting immune function and protecting the body from harmful pathogens. Emerging research suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be advantageous for helping to boost microbial diversity. 
   5. Air pollution can impact the amount of D you absorb from the sun. According to a study from Nutrition Research, it’s been shown that pollutants can block your exposures to UVB photons, which can contribute to forming a vitamin D deficiency.  
   6. Vitamin D is actually a nutrient and a hormone! It’s transformed into an active hormone called calcitriol, the active hormone form inside the liver and kidneys. Calcitriol is needed for preventing calcium shortcomings and bone disease.  
   7. Studies have implied that low D levels in older adults are associated with muscle weakness, reductions in physical performances, and high chances of suffering from falls. According to Stanford Lifestyle Magazine, vitamin D supplementation could be valuable for seniors and athletes for recovering from injuries. 
   8. Gestational diabetes, bacterial vaginosis, and preeclampsia may be  correlated with vitamin D deficits in pregnant individuals. “Low maternal serum vitamin D during pregnancy was also linked to an increased risk for small-for-gestational age infants and low-birth-weight infants, but not for Cesarean section,” explains Oregon State University. 
   9. If you love sushi, then you’ll enjoy this fun fact: you can increase your D levels by eating oily fish, such as salmon! Try to opt for wild-caught salmon, as it’s been shown to contain 25% more vitamin D than salmon from farms. 
   10. The vitamin can also be sourced from egg yolks, mushrooms, fortified cow’s milk or soy milk, canned tuna, and yogurt. But if you have food sensitivities/allergies or a chronic condition that affects digestion, dietary sources may be limited. We recommend consulting with a health provider who can customize a dietary treatment plan for your needs. It’s also advised to discuss oral supplementation before taking any new vitamins, whether it be vitamin C or D; this is especially important to rule out medication interactions and underlying health conditions. 

If you’ve been suffering from a lack of energy, muscle weakness or mood swings, have you thought about testing for nutrient deficiencies? Our integrative clinic offers a wide range of functional lab tests that can help pinpoint the root of your health issues. Depending on your needs, vitamin D intramuscular  injection therapy may be prescribed. Visit our functional medicine clinic today. 

Suggested reading : Why Choose PC IV Therapy In Toronto + What To Expect

Visit the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre’s IV Lounge

Functional medicine is a healthcare model that personalizes treatments for your needs only. Patients with unresolved discomforts, such as hormonal imbalances, poor cellular functions, inflammation (oxidative stress), and declining cognitive function, may experience beneficial effects from this patient-centered approach.

Located in the Yorkville neighborhood, our private downtown clinic has been practicing functional medicine and administering intravenous drips since 2012. We opened the first IV Lounge in the city and have expanded our practice with additional health providers and modalities, including naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, psychotherapy, herbal medicines, and more. We’re also affiliated with the Canadian Centres for Regenerative Therapy and the Athlete’s Care Sports Medicine Centres.

Our IV Lounge is located in our functional medicine practice, where patients can nutritionally rejuvenate with intravenous therapy drips. Our IV drips are administered for adjunctive purposes only. Each custom-made IV drip is crafted with your needs in mind – this means that IV doses of nutrients are personalized for your body only! Our vitamin drip menu contains an array of natural ingredients, such as vitamin A, C, E, amino acids, antioxidants, essential minerals, as well as NAD+ IV and other key nutrients. We can also prescribe nutritional intramuscular  booster injections with either vitamin D, glutathione, or B12. If you have specific health goals, a targeted drip can be arranged for you with key ingredients; for example, we can blend an anti-aging IV drip, a sports-related nutritional drip, and even a post-surgical drip to support healing. 

Note: we do not add preservatives to your treatments. When you attend your drip session, rest assured that your vitamin infusion is freshly blended in-house. All drip therapy appointments are monitored for safety by our wellness team. Let us know if you have any questions!

Along with other personalized therapies and a healthy lifestyle, supplementing with optimal nutrients via vitamin IV therapy can foster healthy energy levels, mental clarity, and muscle recovery. Learn more about this safe treatment by contacting our Toronto IV Therapy Lounge here.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

“9 things that can undermine your vitamin D level” from Harvard Health Publishing, posted on May 17, 2018, viewed on December 26, 2024. 

Akimbekov NS, Digel I, Sherelkhan DK, Lutfor AB, Razzaque MS. Vitamin D and the Host-Gut Microbiome: A Brief Overview. Acta Histochem Cytochem. 2020 Jun 26;53(3):33-42. doi: 10.1267/ahc.20011. Epub 2020 Jun 16. PMID: 32624628; PMCID: PMC7322162.

Bouillon, R., Manousaki, D., Rosen, C., Trajanoska, K., Rivadeneira, F., & Richards, J. B. (2022). The health effects of vitamin D supplementation: Evidence from human studies. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 18(2), 96-110. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-021-00593-z

Deluca HF. History of the discovery of vitamin D and its active metabolites. Bonekey Rep. 2014 Jan 8;3:479. doi: 10.1038/bonekey.2013.213. PMID: 24466410; PMCID: PMC3899558.

Gittoes, N. J. (2016). Vitamin D – what is normal according to latest research and how should we deal with it? Clinical Medicine, 16(2), 171-174. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.16-2-171

Kwak, J. H., & Kim, H. J. (2024). High air pollution exposure, vitamin D deficiency and ever smokers were associated with higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia: A cross-sectional study from the 2008–2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutrition Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2024.12.002

Mousavi, S. E., Amini, H., Heydarpour, P., Amini Chermahini, F., & Godderis, L. (2019). Air pollution, environmental chemicals, and smoking may trigger vitamin D deficiency: Evidence and potential mechanisms. Environment International, 122, 67-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.052

Pojednic, R. M., & Ceglia, L. (2014). The Emerging Biomolecular Role of Vitamin D in Skeletal Muscle. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 42(2), 76. https://doi.org/10.1249/JES.0000000000000013

RAD, E. Y., DJALALI, M., KOOHDANI, F., SABOOR-YARAGHI, A. A., ESHRAGHIAN, M. R., JAVANBAKHT, M. H., SABOORI, S., ZAREI, M., & HOSSEINZADEH-ATTAR, M. J. (2014). The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Glucose Control and Insulin Resistance in Patients with Diabetes Type 2: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 43(12), 1651. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4499086/

Rebelos E, Tentolouris N, Jude E. The Role of Vitamin D in Health and Disease: A Narrative Review on the Mechanisms Linking Vitamin D with Disease and the Effects of Supplementation. Drugs. 2023 Jun;83(8):665-685. doi: 10.1007/s40265-023-01875-8. Epub 2023 May 6. PMID: 37148471; PMCID: PMC10163584.

Sandboge S, Räikkönen K, Lahti-Pulkkinen M, et al. Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation in the First 2 Years of Life on Psychiatric Symptoms at Ages 6 to 8 Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(5):e2314319. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14319

Singh, P., Rawat, A., Alwakeel, M., Sharif, E., & Al Khodor, S. (2020). The potential role of vitamin D supplementation as a gut microbiota modifier in healthy individuals. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77806-4

“Vitamin D” from Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, viewed on December 26, 2024. 

“Vitamin D: Benefits, Sources, Deficiency” from Stanford Lifestyle Magazine from Stanford Center on Lonegvity, viewed on December 26, 2024. 

“What’s the Deal with Vitamin D?” from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, posted on August 24, 2022, viewed on December 26, 2024. 

Yang C, Li D, Tian Y, Wang P. Ambient Air Pollutions Are Associated with Vitamin D Status. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 27;18(13):6887. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136887. PMID: 34198962; PMCID: PMC8297026.