I am NOT a "medical professional", I would not want to be associated with the majority of them ;-) March 21, 2008 we learned some harsh lessons of the Medical Mafia and Big Pharma when my husband experienced death while in the care of a medical team. After he was resuscitated my husband was given 2 weeks or less to live, we're now at 34 months at the time of this review. Obviously we are doing something right! We fired *all* of our former doctors and went hunting for a new team of doctors. Our new Primary Care (MD who was a former rocket scientist at NASA therefore believes in "diagnostics"!) ran extensive labs on both of us and discovered we both had, among other notable deficiencies, very low levels of Vitamin D. My deficient lab results were a surprise since I am often in the sun and I *rarely* use sunblock. Over the course of approximately 4 years and quarterly followup testing, we have found to maintain proper levels of Vitamin D (~ 80 nmol per many published reports) we each need to take upwards of 10,000 IU / day of vitamin D DAILY in the summer and 20,000 IU / day through the winter (with occasional "boosts" of a few extra periodically) to maintain the proper levels of Vitamin D. We also now give these Vitamin D softgels to our German Shepherd Dogs, especially when they spend much time indoors. They must understand the benefits, they readily eat these softgels as "scooby snack" treats. Hence the 10,000 IU softgels in this 360 count bottle is a GREAT value and convenience for us. Prescription Vitamin D softgels often contain FD&C Blue 1 - the FDA issued warning about this petroleum based food dye having been linked "causally" to FATALITIES. I am highly sensitive to FD&C Blue 1 (extreme ibs type symptoms with even the slightest amount consumed or absorbed) so I am NOT able to take RX Vitamin D supplements without experiencing adverse reactions to the petroleum derived artificial food color. When we were initially prescribed vitamin D it was supplied as a 50,000 IU softgel to be taken weekly. Since taking this vitamin D supplement we have routinely tested in the optimal range therefore we are no longer prescribed Vitamin D - our doctor has told both of us to continue doing what we are doing, especially since we no longer come down with the flu or colds! My husband was an "uncontrollable" Type 2 diabetic for 15 years despite being maxed out on oral diabetes meds (following the "diabetic diet" and maxed out on oral meds at times we had seen fasting BG labs in the 500s!) He has not been prescribed *any* diabetes meds for almost two years now, yet he now consistently has Blood Glucose test results in the range of 100 - 119 in the morning and 110 - 125 postprandial (2 hours after a meal). With consideration that he spent 18 years "fighting" diabetes and now seems to be effectively "cured", obviously we are doing something correctly ;-) I routinely monitor my BG levels as well with consideration both of my parents and all of my grandparents were medically diagnosed with Diabetes of one form or another. I used to typically range 95 - 105, now my BG typically ranges from 85 - 95. Our blood pressures have improved from 17x/95 (or higher, even while taking 4-5 BP meds) and 15x/95 (then prescribed 1 BP med) to now typically 130/65 (2 BP meds) and 106/68 (no BP meds!!!) Obviously we are trending in the right direction which we attribute to our change in lifestyle and our supplementation regimen including high levels of Vitamin D. In my extensive reading I've found many authoritative sources recommend Vitamin D in softgel form versus capsule form for better absorption. Since someone inquired in a comment, according to the manufacturer the ingredients in this Vitamin D supplement are: "Other Ingredients: Pure Olive Oil (fruit), Gelatin, Glycerin, Purified Water." They proclaim the softgels are "free of Sugar, Salt, Starch, Yeast, Wheat, Gluten, Corn, Soy, Barley, Fish, Shellfish, Nuts, Tree Nuts, Egg and Dairy Products. No Preservatives, Artificial Colors and Artificial Flavors." The website further states "NON-GMO". Below is a relevant study consistent with our personal experience: Vitamin d is related to blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged men L. Linda, Corresponding Author Contact Information, A. Hännib, H. Lithellb, A. Hvarfnera, O.H. Sörensenc and S. Ljunghalla aDepartments of Internal Medicine, Uppsala, Sweden bDepartments of Geriatrics, Uppsala, Sweden cInternal Medicine, Sundby Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Received 4 March 1994; accepted 3 April 1995. Available online 20 April 2000. A previous study has shown that serum levels of the active vitamin D metabolite 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D were inversely related to blood pressure levels while the prohormone 25-OH-vitamin D was found to be related to insulin metabolism. Also other clinical and experimental data support the view that vitamin D metabolism is involved in blood pressure regulation and other metabolic processes. The present study was conducted in order to see if the above mentioned relationships between the vitamin D endocrine system and blood pressure, as well as other cardiovascular risk factors, could be found in a cross-section population-based study. Serum levels of 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D, 25-OH-vitamin D, and blood pressure were therefore measured in 34 middle-aged men and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated by means of intravenous glucose and fat tolerance tests, euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, lipoprotein measurements, and lipoprotein lipase activity determinations. Serum levels of 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D were found to be inversely correlated to the blood pressure (r = -0.42, P < .02), VLDL triglycerides (r = -0.47, P < .005), and to triglyceride removal at the intravenous fat tolerance test (r = 0.34, P < .05), while serum levels of 25-OH-vitamin D were correlated to fasting insulin (r = -0.35, P < .05), insulin sensitivity during clamp (r = 0.54, P < .001), and lipoprotein lipase activity both in adiposal tissue (r = 0.48, P < .005) and skeletal muscle (r = 0.38, P < .03). These findings highlight the question for a role of vitamin D metabolism and intake in a metabolic syndrome involving hypertension as well as hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. UPDATE FEBRUARY 12, 2015: In just a few weeks we're celebrating SEVEN YEARS since the team of cardiologists gave my husband days to live. This coming April will be FIVE full years since we "resolved" my husband's diabetes once and for all. RESOLVED is the word his doctors use. We use the word CURED. This past year he ran a crazy political campaign in an attempt to fight local government corruption. Despite repeatedly eating out, drinking HFCS laden sodas, etc, and NOT taking much of his supplements (too busy.. we slacked off...) his A1c was the worst ever - at 5.6. When we follow a healthy lifestyle and he takes his supplements he's repeatedly showing an A1c of 5.1. We'll take it. He's back on supplements, we're tapering back off the soda and we're eating healthier foods at home much more now, so I have no reason to worry about his health. He recently had a bad bad cold, he immediately ramped up on the Vitamin D and quickly shed himself of both the upper respiratory complaints as well as the growing bronchial concern. We also acquired a German shepherd with severe allergies. As long as we give him these vitamin D softgels regularly as "treats" his allergies remain in check without any additional intervention needed