While walking the dog today, my mind wandered and I found myself thinking about nutrient absorption. I’d just had lunch (leftover roast pork from yesterday) and some veggies and salad including rocket (a type of lettuce). My girlfriend dished it up and all I had to do was add a drizzle of olive oil to the rocket before serving. I like the taste and texture of olive oil on salad leaves. However, there is another reason for adding oil to salad – it enhances the absorption of so-called carotenoid nutrients. See here for more on this.
Thinking about this as I walked the dog got me thinking about other nutrients. If someone supplements with nutrients, say, what factors might affect absorption? I generally advise individuals who take vitamin and mineral supplements to take them with food. My rationale is that supplements are more likely to be ‘digested’ and nutrients absorbed when the digestive tract is in the throes of digesting and absorbing food. It suddenly occurred to me to look to see if there was any research on this.
A cursory search of the literature did not immediately reveal anything noteworthy regarding the absorption of nutrients generally, but I did find one interesting study that caught my eye. It concerned the absorption of one particular nutrient – vitamin D [1]. It piqued my interest partly because vitamin D appears to be such an important nutrient. But also, I’m taking it myself, in an effort to optimise my vitamin D levels.
This study focused on a group of individuals who were taking 1000 – 50,000 IUs of vitamin D (that’s not a typo, this upper dose is indeed fifty thousand IUs) each day as part of the medical management advised at a bone clinic in the US. Mean levels of vitamin D at the start of the study were 30.5 ng/ml (76 nmol/l). This level of vitamin D would generally be considered ‘sub-optimal’.
In an effort to boost absorption of vitamin D, individuals were asked to take their vitamin D supplements with the largest meal of the day. After 2-3 months, vitamin D levels were checked again.
At the end of the study period, vitamin D levels had risen to an average of 47.2 ng/ml (118 nmol/l) – an average increase in vitamin D levels of about 57 per cent.
This study is somewhat hampered by the fact that it lacked a control group – in this case a group of individuals who continued to take their vitamin D ‘normally’ (not, explicitly, at the biggest meal of the day). It’s possible, for instance, that the individuals in this study got, say, more sun exposure during the study and it is this that accounted for the rise in vitamin D levels.
Nevertheless, it seems sensible, I think, for individuals who are currently supplementing with vitamin D to take this with their largest evening meal. It doesn’t cost anything, and may provide supplementers with more bang for their buck.
References:
1. Mulligan GB, et al. Taking vitamin D with the largest meal improves absorption and results in higher serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. J Bone Miner Res. 8th February 2010 [epud ahead of print publication]
Just a thought here. I have read and experienced Vitamin D3 disturbing sleep when taken in the evening say with the evening meal which for most people I know is the largest meal of the day. I take mine in the morning and my D3 level has come up to 72 ng/ml from 23 ng/ml, taking 5000 IU per day for the year.
Yes, I have also heard (I forgot where, I should say “read” as it was online) that D can keep some people awake if taken in the evening. Up to the individual – as long as breakfast contains an appropriate amount of fat (I’m talking butter, cream, coconut oil) then I imagine taking it in the morning is fine. It’s sunnier in the morning after all!
Dr. Briffa,
It is good to read another great, and accurate article about vitamin D. I just wanted to call your attention to a great organization that is trying to get the word out about vitamin D deficiency. They concentrate on the science behind vitamin D and educating the world.
Check out http://www.grassrootshealth.net/events for their upcoming seminar. It will have amazing new research about vitamin D.
Thanks!
There has been some discussion that, due to the fact that we make vitamin D during the day, that vitamin D may be involved in some sort of circadian rhythm regulation (which wouldn’t be surprising given how much it is involved in everything else!). Therefore, taking vitamin D too close to bed time may lead to disturbed sleep.
I have taken vitamin D at both ends of the day and can’t say I noticed too much of a disruption. However, I now take vitamin D in the morning with sources of fat (coconut or coconut oil usually) as I figure I may as well give it to my body when it would normally expect to get it anyway.
Jamie
By coincidence, I was talking to a journalist yesterday who told me she had recently spoken to a sleep specialist in Scotland who has found, clinically, the correcting vit D deficiency generally helps sleep. No info on timing, but I thought this was interesting as I’d never heard/read about any link between vit D and sleep before.
I, too, have heard (albeit anecdotally) that large amounts of D3 later in the day/evening can disrupt sleep. I would assume through some type of circadian rhythm disruption secondary to hormonal secretion, like Jamie stated. Personally, I’ve always taken my D3 either post-breakfast (high fat), or split it between morning and post-workout
It would be interesting to hear more about this, Dr. Briffa
Perhaps, as is the case with many compounds in the body, the signs and symptoms of deficiency & excess manifest exactly the same. This holds true to some extent for the likes of iron deficiency & iron overload. Vitamin D could well be the same.
In a vitamin D deficient state, the benefits of vitamin D supplementation improve sleep & the magnitude of this is sufficient to negate any issues with the timing of doses. As vitamin D levels normalise however, or approach upper physiological ranges, a response to dose timing may become more apparent, with doses taken later at night causing sleep disruption?
No data – just throwing some thoughts out there.
Timing is interesting. In natural circumstances the “dose” of D depends on the duration and intensity of sun exposure (UVB) and also on recent history of such exposure (ie due to destruction of excess vitamin D when a lot of recent sun exposure ie in preceding hours has occurred). My interest is in achieving the optimum effect for health and on that basis I think that split oral dosages may be more beneficial (when sensible sun exposure is not possible) ie the argument being that you are trying to simulate variation in sun exposure over the day. However, there may also be differences in effect based on the route of exposure (whether there is or not is not really known at this point, however, Prof Holick has speculated about this and I think he may have a good point)
Using the same mind set taking a lot of D just before bed time may not be the way to go, split between breakfast and evening meal may be better- make sure to eat some fat too as vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and this will assist with its absorption.
OB
I’ve heard that since Vitamin D is fat soluble, you should try and take it with some oil or other fat. Not sure about this, but I always take the vitamin D capsules together with my Omega-3 oil for that reason.
It’s a little freaky to see 30.5 ng/ml referred to as sub-optimal levels of Vitamin D. Mine was at 13 a few month ago. I wonder what terminology relates to that. I did the 50000 units once a week for 2 months. The retest showed I was up to 24. Yea! Now another course and maybe I will surpass sub-optimal.
Interesting to read Karen’s post. Most people thing 50,000 IU per day is ‘extreme’. Given how long it takes people like Karen to get to 24 ng/ml on 50,000 IU a day (still sub-optimal), I think it’s about time we all got away from being frightened of 50,000 IU a day.
‘ve been taking 50,000 IU a day for several years. I decided to go back to taking 10,000 IU a day about five months ago. Guess what? I’ve had all sorts of viral infections in the past three months, ones I’ve not ever had on the highest dose and ones which are still ongoing!
I’m back on 50,000 IU a day. I’m feeling better after one or two days on this highest dose, after weeks and weeks of a viral infection. It’s the only dosage that works for me. Make of that what you will.
When people talk about taking coconut oil alongside D3, what is the ratio of oil:IU’s – e.g, how much oil would be taken with 5,000 IU’s dose?
@ Brian, no 9: I have also heard this and take my vitamin D with fat as well. I met an older woman 2 years ago who has been afraid of fat most of her life and she now has osteoporosis. Her doctor told her to take D3, but after a year she saw very little results. I have now “cured” her from being afraid of fat and she takes her D3 with some coconutoil mixed in warm water every morning. She was excited some weeks ago because the doctor checked her and said her bone strength had increased by 10% in a year! She has of course seen a lot of other health results as well by using butter etc on a daily basis.
Clearly there is a lot more experimentation needed in this area, but this article is a useful start. Here are three possible experiments:
1. comparison of the effect of taking normal vitamin-D tablets with “food-state” tablets (such as sold by Finlandia Pharmacy in Vancouver), and with vitamin-D spray as sold by Mercola.com;
2. an experiment designed to determine if other supplemental minerals such as calcium and magnesium are better absorbed if they are taken with vitamin D. If this is so and supplements are being taken with two main meals (e.g., breakfast and supper), might not it make sense to take some vitamin D in the morning also, even if total absorption of vitamin D might be slightly reduced? If most of the calcium and magnesium are being taken in the evening for improved sleep, wouldn’t it make sense then to take most of the vitamin D with the evening meal, leaving some for the morning for the other supplements and perhaps a small amount of calcium and magnesium then?
3. comparison of the effect of taking vitamin D in the morning or evening, with an equally large meal.
I’d say post workout… as I argue for in point 3 here:
http://www.eatmoveimprove.com/2009/10/a-closer-look-at-vitamin-d/
Of course, you shouldn’t workout at least a couple hours or more before bed because that can screw up your sleep as well.
Something to think about.
On the subject of Vit D and sleep. My best guess is that anybody experiencing sleep problems while taking vit D in the evening are likely to be magnesium deficient. Magnesium and vit D work together. High intakes of vit d are likely to unmask a serios lack of Magnesium which is regarded as a sedetive mineral alongside calcium and zinc.
Have noted this in a few of my patients on vit D supplements.
I wonder how long these high dose forms of vit D3, and all the other supplements will last if the EU food supplements directive goes through. This directive will restrict many items freely sold at present, because there is little clinical trial evidence that they work. Not only will this cover vitamins but many mineral supplements as well eg. selenium at 200microgram tabs zinc etc.etc.
Come on Dr B, I’ve mentioned this before…you are one of those who embrace what is depricatingly called ‘alternative ‘medicine’. You ought to be supporting our freedom to choose what we take and how much!!! but perhaps you do, but very quietly!
Please read the bumff on this and contact your MP to get these proposals stopped.
There is a (was) a PM’s petition available to sign, but sorry dont know the web address.
Recent study in the BMJ involving half a million people showed those with highest vit d show 40% reduction in colon cancer risk. Can we ignore studies like this? At your peril.
So Peter to suggest there is no evidence that vit d is not effective is based on being poorly informed.
My lab only measures 1,25 OH vitamin D, which I understand is not as desirable as measuring 25 OH vitamin D. Still, is it good enough for practical purposes? Is my own level of 36 picograms/milliliter likely to be adequate? That was my level after two months of taking 4,000 units of D3 daily. The lab’s reference range is 18-72. I am old, get little sun, and probably not much D from food.
The only reason i found this website and thread was because last night i happened to take a vitamin D tablet (don’t normally take them) and this morning i woke up feeling as though I imagine how you might feel if you’ve taken a sleeping tablet. Very groggy and very tired. Normally, even if I haven’t slept I still feel wide awake very quickly. That prompted me to google vitamin D and sleep, hence how I wound up here. So i don’t know if that contributes to this thread. Could be a coincidence. I did sleep, had loads of dreams too though I wouldn’t say I had a ‘good’ sleep as such. Recently I haven’t been sleeping at all. I probably feel slightly worse than if I hadn’t slept at all.
I have been taking 20000 IU daily for the last two weeks. It has been life changing. My arthritis has been really bad since I was 26 (am not 44) and I spent years on crutches and even in a wheelchair at one point. Last week I jogged 12 miles. No kidding. Have not been able to do this in 18 years. No swollen knees and hardly any pain. Backpain is reduced by 80%. Psoriasis is receeding. I had breastcancer 5 years ago as well so it appears I tick a lot of boxes for vitamin D deficiency.
Everybody around me has a bad cold at the moment. Not me, not this time. I am usually the first one to go down with anything.
My mood has lifted (suffer from SAD as well) to really high levels. I actually wake up felling happy. Don’t even care if it rains.
It only took 2 days of vitamin D3 before I noticed a really big change.
As for the sleeping bit, I don’t sleep very well if I take half my dose around 2100. I am restless during the night and I wake up very early. Not tired though. Oddly enough. Still fresh as a daisy after only 6 hours of sleep (this would normally kill me). I think I will start taking my pills in morning and see how that works. Been going to bed around 1 am as I haven’t felt tired at all.
Possibly eating a larger meal towards the end of the day is more of a contribute to sleep disruption than the Vitamin D. And since people mention taking Vitamin D with their larger meal at the end of the day, then common sense is (either Vitamin D is causing sleep disturbance, or is it a larger meal – so my perspective is to have your larger meal in the morning, or lunch/afternoon and light meal at the end of the day. And to still take a Vitaimin D with the largest meal. Just a thought.
Too much vitamin D is bad for my sex drive as its serotonergic function increases serotonin to the extent that my sex drive is decreased (high serotonin can induce that). Has anyone else experimented a similar effect? I get such effect at a few thousands of IU per day
I’ve been taking vitamin D for several years now but always with breakfast. Last night, for the first time in my life, I took one at 10pm on a somewhat empty stomach then went to bed. Well, I spent the entire night wide awake, only falling asleep at about 6am. This never happens to me — I felt like I was on speed. I couldn’t imagine what was happening and only started to guess after hours of tossing — the only thing I’d done differently was take that 1000 mg vitamin D pill. (I’m also not magnesium deficient.) My mistake to take it without any food — as the bottle said — but there should also be a warning about the potential to disturb sleep!
I recently read where one should take vitamin D supplements with the largest meal, usually dinner, because it requires alot of fat to work well. Since starting to do that, I have not been able to fall asleep AT ALL until near the 5 to 6 a.m. time range. I decided to question this and see others have sleep issues. I will now go back to taking it in the morning and see if my sleep improves.
I started taking vit D (2,000) in the morning with a large breakfast about a month ago. I suddenly noticed my sleep pattern change. I fall asleep immediately but wake again in 3-4 hours and lie awake for 2-3 hours then sleep briefly again. NOT enough sleep to have a good work day. I am stopping toe vit D to see if my normal sleep returns. Some people react severely to supplements. I am one, apparently. I also lost sleep when I tired Chromium. Not worth it!
I was totally ignorant of any relationship between vitamin D and insomnia. I have been taking a 500 mg calcium citrate supplement with 200 mg of magnesium and vitamin D3 in the morning and in the evening before bed. I have had insomnia for years, and lately I have had it so bad that I considered prescription sleep aid. But about 2 weeks ago, I ran out of my calcium supplenment. I substituted a calcium supplement that only had magnesium in it and I have been taking this morning and evening. And to meet the vitamin D need, I take a 400 IU (mg?) tablet in the morning. I have slept soundly every single night sine then! Vitamin D most definitely prevents me from sleeping.
Affects my sleep too. No trouble falling asleep, but I can’t sleep in. I wake up after about 6 hours. strange.
I’ve been on V-D 50000 for almost a year my levels were at 4 then went to 19 then went to 11 why is that I’m a big lady I’m diabetic and I just passed a kikney stone a week ago what am I doing wrong I take it every sunday with a full glass of water what am I doing wrong?
please help me
Obesity is associated with vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism (Wortsman, Matsuoka, Chen, Lu, & Holick, 2000. Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72, 690-693). “Obesity-associated vitamin D insufficiency is likely due to the decreased bioavailability of vitamin D3 from cutaneous and dietary sources because of its deposition in body fat compartments.”
Have been taking 3000 i.u. of D3 for the past 2 months as my blood test showed a D3 deficiency.
Have been finding that it is best taken with Jello, soup, noodles, potatos, bread, etc.
Have found that the worst foods to take it with are Banana, Tofu, Bean Curd; In fact, it’s a good idea not to consume these foods at all if you are taking D3, as these products set off an incredible amount of pressure/pain in the abodomen and lower intestine, sometimes lasting for up to 48 hours. There may be an issue with the amount of Potassium in the Banana; likewise with the amount of Soy in the Tofu and Bean Curd.
Didn’t Dr. Oz say on his program to take vit d before bedtime???
I have found my vitamin D level to be quite low, which had a knock on effect on my other conditions like fibromyalgia increasing the joint and muscle pain I have been getting and especially causing my HRT tablet to be completely void so my hot flushes are out of control and which has also increased the intensity of the pain even with medication. I can agree that if you are unable to sleep due to taking the vitamin d in the evening it is probably because your calcium and magnesium level is also low as you need vitamin d to absord calcium & magnesium in your system. I learnt this from experience and studying about nutrition.
I have just discovered I have vitamin d deficiency and have just been prescribed one alpha tablets from my doctor. I haven’t been taking them with food containing fat because although I knew it was fat soluble, I assumed that a bit of fat would be put in the capsule in some form. Do you think I was wrong, and should be taking it with fat?
I need it to work – my vitamin d is really low, at the level associated with rickets or osteomalacia. I have had health problems and musculoskeletal pains for a while so I am keen to find out if the vitamin D could help any with those.
wasnt Oz Oprah’s guru? and because he didnt tell her to lay off all soy products she blew out her thryroid and thats why she cant lose weight. Soy is a powerful xenoestrogen..I have NO respect for OZ because he is an a hole who should be talking about what soy is doing to this country…Seeems we cant get a clear ansswer on when to take Vit D but most say it disturbs sleep so will take in morning
I am 72 yrs old and have had 2 total hip replacements. I also has arthritis. My doctor has prescribe d-tabs, 10,000 mg. and I take just 1 week. Today August 1, 2011 is my first tablet. I have read the reviews and I am a bit confused. Before taking the d-tab I could not fall asleep. Now you are all saying that it could keep me from fallling asleep. Should I talk to my doctor about this problem or should I wait and see how it goes, as this is my first tablet.
Lynn
Based on my online and book study. Vitamin D is better absorb if taking with oil ie. Omega-3. Taking Vitamin D with a bigger meal is something new to me. Thanks for the info.
My levels were diagnosed low this week. I took 7000 IU a few days ago, around 3PM. Didn’t sleep well that night and felt really fatigued yesterday. I’m trying it earlier in the morning today. Just took 2500 IU this morning (7:30 AM)along with a multivitamin. Took it with food. Hopefully, this will be better than waiting. Doctor has prescribed 50000 IU once a week, but I’m afraid of being sensitive to the larger dose. Will see how I react today. Good comments to read from everyone.
I forgot to mention I’m taking D3.
So I usually take D3 from thorne research 10k iu and ran out. So yesterday got them again and took it @ lunch after a meal. At night I slept ok but it was a dream theater all night long! Even after I woke up for bathroom and went back to sleep dreams continued! Maybe its D or maybe I am back home for X-MAS. Either way D is good for you. what brands does everybody take?
Why would the pharmacist give me D2 instead of D3 when Dr prescribe vit D 50,000 one a week?
I feell much better since taking it (D2) even start going to the gym taking Zumba due to high energy level since taking it, I take it in the morning with an Omege3
I’ve struggled with vitamin D deficiency for many years. Naturopath told me to take it with fat. I take in the am along with my all-one smoothie and a tsp of fish oil. I had Lyme disease three years ago and still carry the antibodies and was recently told I have an auto-immune disorder as a result of the Lyme.
There are many veggies that affect the thyroid (kale which acts as a beta blocker and all cruciferous veggies can cause inflammation). Vitamin D in my opinion is best in the morning.
Anyone can help me please as to why I am having difficulty absorbing vit d3? I take 5000 iu a day with a hearty breakfast along with my omega 3 for almost 2 years now when I first found out I was low on vit d. I am still at 24 count even after all this time.
I tried supplementing an additional 2000 IU in the evening hoping to bring my levels up. it ended up affecting my nighttime sleep that is what brought me to this message board. I have been to a couple of endoctrinologists but were unable to help me with my issue.
Thanks in advance
Chris
Hi Chris,
The reason you might not be absorbing D3 could be lack of Vitamin K2 in your diet.
I noticed Dr Briffa’s article talks about the importance of Vitamin D without specifying what type of D is needed. My research has shown me that all Vitamin Ds are NOT the same, and you and other commenters here have recognized that by specifying you take D3.
Vitamin D3 is what we get from the sun and what most of us are seriously deficient in. Recent studies have shown that D3 must be taken with Vitamin K2 MK-7 (MK-7 being a natural not synthetic form of K2) for optimum results. Taking D3 without K2 long-term causes Vitamin D toxicity, including calcium plaque build-up in the arteries that causes heart disease and other health problems. Taking D3 with K2 MK-7 allows the body to put calcium where it’s needed in your body and removes it where it’s not needed.
I don’t know if we can post links here, but you can read and see video about it here: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/16/vitamin-k2.aspx
OR
Google “Vitamin D3 with K2″ and check out link from “Mercola”.
I only recently began taking Vitamin D3 with K2 MK-7. The only D3 with sufficient amounts of natural K2 I was able to find online and order is called “Buried Treasure – Liquid D3 with K2”. I take it early in the day for the simple reason that it’s replacing the D3 that should be made in our bodies when we’re exposed to the sun — which is during the day. It seems unnatural to me to take D3 at night when our system is going into rest and repair mode (and should not be working to absorb a vitamin it should have got earlier in the day), and I wonder if that’s why you and many others here are reporting sleep disturbances when taking D3 at night.
Hope the link above helps.
Hi again Chris,
Meant to ask what form of D3 you’re taking. Tablet or liquid? All D3s are not formulated equally, and it might be you’re taking a brand your body doesn’t like. Try switching brands. If you don’t see results in three months, switch again. Also, liquids are more easily absorbed by the body, so you might want to try a liquid if you’ve been taking the table form.
Cheers
Mog
Thank you very much for your kind and informative reply. I have been taking Nature’s Bounty soft gels from Costco.
I have tried the liquid drops before by Mercola even, I believe.
But thanks to you I have another avenue to go after with the K2 and the brand you mentioned. Like you, I take my vitamins first thing in the morning for the very same reasons you mentioned.
I did take 5000-10000 iu last winter since I suffer from seasonal affective dissorder and after one month I could not sleep I litteraly felt as somebody had turned on a strong light inside my head and I had so much energy! that was weird but with less dosis I do sleep good
Well. It doesn’t seem like the Buried Treasure Vitamin D3 with K2 is the one for me. Got my levels checked this past Friday and I’m much lower now at 20 compared to before at 25. Starting range is 30.
It’s back to the drawing board for me.