Mechanism
Vitamin d3 or cholecalciferol is an essential hormone in the human body and is the most biologically available vitamin d supplement. It is converted in your liver and kidneys to prohormone calcidiol and is further converted into calcitriol; this hormone possesses a number of functions: from acting as immuno-cytokines to regulating the amount of blood-calcium and remodeling of bones structures. Studies have proven that Vitamin d activates and deactivates enzymes in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid that are involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and nerve growth; deficiency is directly linked to impaired cognition. More importantly… does vitamin d3 function as a nootropic? Let’s find out.
Uses
•Promotes healthy bones
•Increases immuo-response and decreases the risk of developing certain cancers.
•May elevate mood
• May improve cognition if deficiency is present
•Regulates calcium levels
Issues
Daily intake of vitamin d3 exceeding 10,000iu has been shown to cause toxicity and dosages should be discussed with your doctor. As a majority of vitamin d3 metabolism occurs in the kidneys, people with a history of renal problems and sensitivity should be particularly careful with this supplement.
Dosage
It is recommended that you take between 600iu and 2,500iu as the upper tolerable dosage. You should tailor your regime to correspond daily sunlight exposure – with lower doses being sufficient for individuals with longer periods of exposure.
Experiences
I take 800ui of vitamin d3 daily – although I have experienced no definite effects, it goes without saying that a number of clinical studies have proven that regular vitamin d3 dosing will improve health across a wide spectrum; with this in mind, I will continue to take vitamin d3 for the foreseeable future. Update:a recent study demonstrated that vitamin d had little nootropic effect in teenagers – I will paste the link to article shortly. Still, nootropic or no, please continue taking vitamin d3 for its myriad of health benefits.