I just bought a bottle of Country Life D-3 softgels. On the label it said 'non-fish liver source', from Lanolin. I checked the Now brand I'm presently using, and it's also from Lanolin. Is this the preferred source for a Vitamin D-3 supplement?

FYI - Country Life is the first line of vitamins to be certified GF (Gluten-Free)

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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~

Well it's the form I use and it works at raising my 25(OH)D. I've got nothing against fish oil sourced cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) except the price (tends to be more expensive) and the fact that people may think that by getting vitamin d sourced from fish in a fish oil carrier they are not only getting all the Vitamin D3 but also all the omega 3 they require daily.
IMO people who use Carlson's Solar Gems 4000iu would still need to take a lot more than 210 mg omega 3. and at $29.19 for 360 x 4000iu they work out more expensive than 2 x 200 @ 5000iu Country life $10.20 x 2 = $20.40 that are carried in MCT oil (longer shelf life less likely to go rancid)
Code WAB666 saves IHERB newbies $5

Is there any studies showing whether supplemental D3 is just as good as the real D3 you get from the sun? I cant help but feel like taking a pill instead of being out in nature cant really compare.

There are benefits from UV exposure apart from vitamin D3 It may be that in the conversion of cholesterol to D3 other substances are also created that we have not yet identified or researched. It's also the case that the effect of bright light through the eyes affects the pineal gland and influences the body through melatonin secretion and that also has multiple effects through the body.

I try to get regular sun/uvb exposure through the year and I use a daily Cholecalciferol supplement.

I don't think there is any difference in cholecalciferol (UV, fish oil, lanolin sourced) I'd be interested to hear why anyone thinks there may be a difference but IMO a cholecalciferol molecule is a molecule of cholecalciferol and that's the end of the matter.

Hi guys,

I have two questions about vit. D intake/production:

1.) I live in California near San Diego (approx. 35 degress longitutinal). Can I make vit. D from being in the sun midday in the wintertime? It's a gorgeous sunny day today. Does my shadow need to be shorter than my height?

2.) I buy sheep feet and necks and at a local Persian market to make broth. Lanolin is a source of vit. D so I was thinking the sheep feet which has approx. 6 inches of skin attached would be an excellent form of vit. D in food. I haven't seen any recipes or sites saying this is true so maybe it isn't. Anyone know?

YES If your shadow is longer than you are tall it's inevitable that the UVB rays will have passed through too much atmosphere and the UVB that does reach ground level will be too little to generate vitamin d.
You have to understand that UVA degrades vitamin D and you can't get UVB without UVA so if the amount of UVA overwhelms the UVB it's inevitable that the downgrading will totally counteract the creation so you end up with a net loss.
That does not mean it is not a good idea to be outside during the day when the light is bright.
Your circadian rhythm is set by bright light exposure and melatonin is in many ways equally as important an anti inflammatory agent as is vitamin d3.
Whereever you live you also have to bear in mind that OZONE blocks UVB penetration to ground level and so if you live in town near a busy road, under an aircraft flightpath or downwind of industrial processing it's possible the ozone created will be preventing sufficient vitamin D creation.
here is one example of the difference between urban/rural vitamin d creation.
UrbanTropospheric Ozone Increases the Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Belgian Postmenopausal Women with Outdoor Activities during Summer
This time of year it's not too bad but if there's no chance of sufficient UVB reaching ground level anyway it's a bit of a non starter.
San Diego Ozone pollution map

I should also point out that where your local agriculture is very industrialized, and a high level of fertilizer is applied, in summer this is suffient to also generate ozone, it's sufficient to reduce crop yields by 10~20% so will also reduce the potential for vitamin d creation.
25(OH)D levels have been declining year on year for many years now.

BUY?
Where I live they give bones away for making stock. For goodness sake don't come to the UK and start butchers SELLING bones. They charge enough for meat anyway they don't want any encouragement to actually start charging for bones as well.

Vitamin D is very robust and certainly survives the heat in the baking process however I'm not certain that lanolin before UVB irradiation actually contains vitamin D3.
Maybe if you left the sheep trotters under UVB (sunbed?) you may stand a better chance. I think it's safe to take a 5000iu vitamin d capsule daily myself.
Grassrootshealth do 25(OH)D testing by post to make sure what you are doing is working for you.

Thanks for all the information Ted. It seems there is chemistry behind everything and the devil is in the details. It's the details that are important.


"Maybe if you left the sheep trotters under UVB (sunbed?) you may stand a better chance. I think it's safe to take a 5000iu vitamin d capsule daily myself." Ted

I just called our local tanning salon and I have 90 minutes there. I could bring the sheep feet with me if I decide to tan in the UVB bed. GREAT idea. lol

Supplementation may be what my family is in need of to help our health. I'm starting to understand that there is a very high chance we're all deficient.

Do check that the tubes emit UVB There are some high pressure tanning tubes that produce very high levels of UVA and little or no UVB. The tubes that produce UVB tend to be more expensive and because they have a limited life (500 ~800hrs) during which UVB production is guaranteed many tanning studios do not use them. Regular UVA exposure through the winter, providing it is kept short does tend to harden the skin so you are less likely to burn and will create the pre vitamin D that speeds up the production of Vitamin D when UVB is available and it is generally the case that people who use tanning beds have higher vitamin D status so maybe it will be fine. However I would rather you considered The Sunbeds Mercola sells that are available from the VITAMIIN D COUNCIL That way you can fit in regular short sessions 2~3 times a week and be certain you are getting UVB and can keep an eye on how old the tubes are.

I'm happier with regular use of effective strength supplements but do like getting the sun and UVB exposure as well. But if you have taken a 5000iu supplement then you can be pretty certain you will have met your daily needs.

OK, I just bought my first bottle of Country Life Vit. D3. I have hopes that it'll be a breakthrough in my health and my family's.

It's a good thing mommysunshine, I believe it's very important for health. Right now I'm using Carlson D3, 2000 IU softgels.

Hey Ted, I have bought the country life vit D3 5,000 I.U. that you have recomended. You seem to be quite knowledgeabl about vit D3. In transport to me, the vit's that I ordered may have been frozen, or at least exposed to sub zero temperature for a good length of time. The bottle does say to store between 59-86 F. Do you believe this will be an issue with potency?