Vitamin D

It is sometimes difficult to obtain a sufficient amount of vitamin D from natural (non-fortified) food sources alone.

Here are some factors that increase the risk: 

Lack of sun exposure. 

Diet: a vegetarian or vegan diet, or a low intake of fish and dairy. In this case, you can take our vitamin D pregnancy, suitable for everyone in drop format, to meet your needs. 

A diet low in magnesium, as it is an essential mineral for vitamin D absorption. Our magnesium bisglycinate helps to meet your needs.

A diet low in healthy fats, as this vitamin is fat-soluble and will be better absorbed in the presence of fats.

Fat malabsorption disorders (liver disease, cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, for example).

Health problems: gastrointestinal and liver diseases (the kidneys are unable to convert vitamin D into its active form).

A greater amount of subcutaneous fat sequesters a larger quantity of this vitamin. People with a higher body weight may need higher vitamin D intakes to reach levels similar to those considered to be of "normal" weight.

There are two forms of vitamin D: D3 or cholecalciferol, and D2 or ergocalciferol. Studies show that the biological efficacy of vitamin D3 is significantly greater than that of D2. A vitamin D food supplement should therefore contain the D3 form. 

This form can be extracted from lanolin (a fat derived from sheep's wool) or from boreal lichen, a plant-based source. The plant-based source is preferable. 

Supplements should contain vitamin K2, which works in synergy with D3 and allows for optimal efficacy.

When taking vitamin D3 + K2, it is recommended not to use this product if you are on anticoagulant therapy. In practice, we advise you to consult your doctor based on your treatment, as it is vitamin K1 that primarily affects coagulation. 

More than 70% of adults in France have insufficient vitamin D intake, and more than 75% of pregnant and breastfeeding women. This is due to a lack of sun exposure, pollution, a processed diet low in vitamins and minerals, and so on. It is strongly recommended to supplement from autumn through to spring, though this depends on where you live and your lifestyle. A daily supplement can be useful to ensure your needs are covered. In particular, during perimenopause, taking a menopause food supplement rich in vitamin D can help ensure your needs are met and support your bone health. Our menopause vitamins contain vitamin D to meet your needs.

In particular, infants and children should take supplements year-round.

The French Society of Paediatrics recommends supplementing with vitamin D all infants, at a dose of 400 to 800 IU depending on individual needs. This is notably due to the fact that milk (breast or otherwise) is a poor source of vitamin D and that children must not be exposed to the sun without protection. 

Even breastfed infants need to be supplemented, even if the mother is already supplemented with vitamin D! A daily maternal vitamin D supplement of around 400 to 2,000 IU (10 to 50 µg) produces concentrations in breast milk that are insufficient to cover the daily needs of an exclusively breastfed infant, and insufficient to correct a pre-existing vitamin D deficiency in the infant through breastfeeding alone. In children, vitamin D is essential for health: bone growth, bone development, prevention of rickets, calcium metabolism (absorption and use of calcium), and a healthy immune system. 

Our baby vitamin D is suitable for infants.

Always seek the advice of your paediatrician before starting any supplementation. 

During pregnancy, the foetus depends entirely on the mother's vitamin D reserves for its development, and the need increases continuously throughout pregnancy. 

Vitamin D deficiency in the mother has been associated with neonatal rickets as well as many adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, premature births, and small-for-gestational-age infants. Studies show that sleep quality during pregnancy, as well as mood and anxiety, are associated with vitamin D levels.

In a meta-analysis of 15 trials involving 2,833 women, vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy reduced the risk of pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, and premature birth. 

Study data indicate that higher doses of vitamin D (1000–4000 IU/day) may be beneficial in achieving better outcomes for both mother and child. ANSES advises not to exceed 4000 IU per day.

Generally, the pregnancy food supplement multivitamins contains vitamin D. Check the dose carefully and supplement as needed.

Increased requirements begin as early as pregnancy, when the foetus is entirely dependent on the mother's intake. Furthermore, the rapid development of the foetus during the latter part of pregnancy tends to deplete the mother's vitamin D stores as calcium incorporation into the skeleton increases during the final trimester. 

During breastfeeding, you need to consume sufficient nutrients for yourself as well as to provide them to your baby through your breast milk. The level of vitamin D in milk, like certain fat-soluble vitamins, is indeed dependent on the mother's intake.

Vitamin D is essential for preventing incomplete or defective bone mineralisation, which can lead to bone weakness. 

One study showed that with a supplement of 6,400 IU/day, the breastfeeding mother would have sufficient vitamin D for both herself and her baby, with no adverse effects linked to overdose, which could make it possible to consider supplementing the mother alone. Maintaining optimal vitamin D status in the mother is the key determinant in preventing deficiency in the child. However, care should be taken with regard to overdose. Currently, there are gaps in the assessment of toxicity risk associated with excessive vitamin D supplementation. ANSES advises not to exceed 4,000 IU/day, as excess has been associated with hypercalcaemia. But nothing stops us from supplementing ourselves first!

Generally, the post-partum food supplement multivitamin contains vitamin D. Check the dose carefully and supplement further if needed.