I take one of these daily as part of my supplement routine and my vitamin D levels stay at the high end of the healthy range, even in winter. What prompted this review? Well, I just got the results of my latest bloodwork back. My doctor looked down, then back up at me and commented, "wow, your vitamin D levels are probably the best I've seen" (without me even asking about them). So, we have evidence that this is a quality product. Even better, it's a great valueâ€" one bottle will last you nearly a year! I always appreciate reviews where people can provide hard evidence for a product's effectiveness (or lack thereof), so I hope this is helpful. For those curious, my Vitamin D level was 88.2 ng/mL in a reference range of 30.0-100.0 ng/mL

When visiting my doctor and describing my symptoms of lacking energy, lack of joy, some depression and several other factors, he said that I should consider taking 5,000mg of Vitamin D3 per day. I found it interesting that he said that many of the doctors in his building are taking it since finding that after about 2 months their energy and mood levels are significantly improved. Since I am always interested in what Doctors take themselves, I decided to study why this was true, so when at Bar and Nob, I found the Vitamin D Cure by James E Dowd, MD. ($14.95 or on line e-book for free [if you know where to look])and was very impressed. Nearly all my symptoms were noted in the V D3 deficiency list. As a matter of fact, both my teens and my wife have symptoms of V D3 deficiency as well! When telling my wife about my exciting "find", she said that her doctor had prescribed it for her two months earlier (5,000mg/day.) Needless to say, NOW Brand of Vitamin D3 is the best value that I was able to find! It is pretty inexpensive for an 8 month supply (under $15 including shipping.) I would highly recommend reading the Vitamin D Cure and NOW Brand Vitamin D3 gel caps. Some Vitamin D deficiency symptoms from pg 10: fatigue, joint pain/or swelling, muscle pain pain, cramping, and/or weakness (leg cramps?), chronic pain, uncontrolled weight gain, high BP, restless sleep, poor concentration and memory, headaches, bowel and bladder problems. Unless you work outside most of the time, you are probably very deficient in Vitamin D...that is most of us!...the book says! Be well! NOW Foods Vitamin D3 5000 Iu, 240-Softgels

A couple of years ago, I felt awful. My doctor ran some tests and one of the things she discovered was that I had a dangerously low vitamin D level. She and I went on Amazon and ordered this while I was sitting in the office - it's the vitamin D she takes. After daily dosing for quite some time (after I finished some prescription vitamin D), my levels were back in a normal range. Apparently, low vitamin D levels are extremely common - but not for me anymore! I still take this a couple time a week and it's kept my levels where they should be. This brand is fairly priced and arrives quickly. It's one of those things I won't be without. Bottom Line: Very easy-to-swallow gel caps that don't resemble the traditional "vitamin pill" in any way. Great for raising - and maintaining - vitamin D levels. I've bought this same brand/count for a couple of years now and I love it. :

I had blood drawn as part of a regular physical, and my doctor informed me that my vitamin D levels were low. He urged me to start supplementing it since I'm a third shifter and don't get much sun exposure. It improved my mood, energy level, and sleep. It took some trial and error to figure out the correct dosage for me, but it was well worth it. A word of caution: my doctor initially pushed me to take 100k IU a week. With the dose that high I barely slept. I ultimately started trial and error testing to see what dose was optimal for me from a mood and sleep standpoint, and I've settled in at 5k twice a week. That excludes the 800IU a day coming from my basic multivitamin. Be mindful of the fact that vitamin D is a hormone, not a vitamin, and it can significantly affect you if you take too much of it. Listen to your body and work your way up slowly. Take one of these and pay attention over the next several days to when your mood, energy levels, or sleep start to decline in quality, then take another

[ ] WHITE GLOVE REVIEW w/ video (To watch the video or upvote review goto: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R24WTEVRR04JRA) =>Vitamin D-3 is produced by the skin when exposed to sun light. As we age, our skin becomes less effective at producing this critical vitamin. I am an older person, so I could spend all day in the sun and still not be getting enough D-3. I take this to supplement my body to make sure I am getting enough D-3. I have read literature that follows a guideline of supplementing with around 2,000 IU after the age of 35 and around 5,000 IU after the age of 50. I follow this guideline, which is why I take 5,000 IU. There are many manufacturers now that sell D-3, and I am sure that many are good. I buy the NOW brand because I trust this company to give me the highest quality for the most reasonable price. I don't buy everything from NOW Foods, because I assess each product as to what company I should buy from. [ ] INGREDIENTS Active: - Vitamin D3 as Cholecalciferol from Lanolin (125mg : 5000IU : 625%DV) Other: - Softgel Capsule (bovine gelatin, water, glycerin) and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. [ ] WHAT TO EXPECT Vitamin D-3 is not a vitamin that will give you an effect for the most part. I have heard about some people who find their skin to become softer or other such mild effects. But, for the most part, I take D-3 because my body needs it to function properly, not because any symptom I am having. Think of Vitamin D-3 like putting oil in your car. For the most part, even if your car is low in oil, it runs just fine. That's why we check it with a dip stick otherwise who would know. But, if you run your car low in oil long enough, then symptoms will appear. However, then it's too late. The damage to your car has already been done. That's how I think about taking D-3. It's something that needs to be maintained, but if it's not, then your body will eventually break down in some way â€" and as with the car, then its too late. [ ] USAGE/DOSE The suggested usage (from the label) is to, “Take 1 softgel every 2 days with a fat-containing meal, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.” I take one softgel per day; however, there are days that I skip taking it. I am not advocating to deviate from the product's suggested use; I am only conveying what I do. On average, I most likely take this product 4-5 times a week. If I forget to take this product (along with my multi-vitamin) for more than a couple of days, I usually take two the first day. DISCLAIMER: I am not a physician nor am I dispensing medical advice. This review is only conveying my nutritional knowledge, experiences, and opinions in hopes that it provides insight for the reader. GIVE Reviews - my standard for writing reviews. [G]enuine - Honest, trustworthy review only to help people. [I]nformational - Provide concise, product related information. [V]aluable â€" Help the reader to determine if this product is for them. [E]nlightening â€" Reader can learn something they might not otherwise know. ps. Remember to upvote if you like this review or you think this review will help others

With a genetic predisposition for anxiety, I have always struggled with anxiety. However, after moving from the southern US, the anxiety I suffered became debilitating. Not until I had numerous doctor's visits and complained that I felt like something was very, very wrong, and that I felt I was falling apart (uncharacteristic for a motivated individual like myself) did they test me for a smorgasbord of things. The only test that came back abnormal was vit D. My total combined level was less than 25, and I was put on 5,000 IU every day for a month. This helped amazingly! Suddenly, situations that would have me curled into a ball were tolerable, and I could face the world again. Anxiety attacks that would pulsate burning rays throughout my body and result in me running for the bathroom now are almost entirely gone! The product came as described . Great price and product. NOW products are now part of my online shopping. This brand is one of the most recommended here in USA.Excelente

itamin D3 deficiency is common in older adults and has been implicated in psychiatric and neurologic disorders. For example, in one study of 80 older adults (40 with mild Alzheimer's disease and 40 nondemented persons), Vitamin D3 deficiency was associated with low mood and with impairment on two of four measures of cognitive performance.6 Back Pain Musculoskeletal disorders have been linked to Vitamin D3 deficiency in a number of studies. One of the newest studies explored the role that low Vitamin D3 levels play in the development of chronic low back pain in women. Sixty female patients in Egypt complaining of low back pain lasting more than three months were studied. Researchers measured levels of Vitamin D3 in the women with low back pain and compared those levels to those of 20 matched healthy controls. The study revealed that patients with low back pain had significantly lower Vitamin D3 levels than controls. Low Vitamin D3 levels (25 OHD < 40 ng/ml) were found in 49/60 patients (81 percent) and 12/20 (60 percent) of controls.7 Bone Health One of the best known and long-established benefits of Vitamin D3 is its ability to improve bone health and the health of the musculoskeletal system. It is well documented that Vitamin D3 deficiency causes osteopenia, precipitates and exacerbates osteoporosis, causes a painful bone disease known as osteomalacia, and exacerbates muscle weakness, which increases the risk of falls and fractures. Vitamin D3 insufficiency may alter the regulatory mechanisms of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and cause a secondary hyperparathyroidism that increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.8 Cognitive Enhancement Scientists are developing a greater appreciation for Vitamin D3's ability to improve cognition. In a recent study, Vitamin D3 deficient subjects scored worse on mental function tests compared to individuals who had higher levels of the Vitamin.9 The researchers wrote, “In conclusion, the positive, significant correlation between serum 25(OH)D concentration and MMSE [mental state examination scores] in these patients suggests a potential role for Vitamin D in cognitive function of older adults.” Immunity Scientists have linked various aspects of immune health to a Vitamin D3 deficiency. Vitamin D3 regulates T cells, which are important to the functioning of a strong immune system. Vitamin D3 acts as an immune system modulator, preventing excessive expression of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the killing efficiency of macrophages. In addition, it dramatically stimulates the expression of potent anti-microbial peptides, which exist in immune system cells such as neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in cells lining the respiratory tract. These Vitamin-D3-stimulated peptides play a major role in protecting the lung from infection.13 In addition, Vitamin D3 deficiency may influence development and progression of various autoimmune diseases.14 Multi-Talented Nutrient Vitamin D3 deficiency has been linked to a host of other conditions such as high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and insulin resistance during pregnancy.11,15-16 Most recently, low Vitamin D3 levels have been linked to an increased prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration.17 Proper Dosage In many of my patients, even after consuming 2,000 to 4,000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day, their test results indicate that their Vitamin D3 levels have not increased. These patients needed to consume 8,000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day to achieve proper blood levels of the Vitamin. Patients should, therefore, have their physicians test their serum 1,25-dihyroxy D3 levels to determine the proper level of supplementation required. Testing is very important due to the fact that, in a small number of patients, Vitamin D3 supplementation can raise calcium levels to an excessively high level. I have found this to be especially true in African American patients. Testing for 1,25-dihyroxy Vitamin D3, PTH and calcium blood levels should therefore become a part of every woman's regular blood work. Conclusion A growing number of researchers who have widely studied Vitamin D3 are almost begging the general public to consume more of this important nutrient. Due to Vitamin D3's high safety profile in doses up to 10,000 IU per day and because of the wide role it plays in our health, consuming 2,000 to 4,000 IU per day of this nutrient at times of the year when sunlight is scarce is a prudent way to improve overall health

These are a good value with no crap ingredients. The Vitamin D is Lanolin based, so if you're allergic to sheep wool, you're going to have issues and will need a vegan D sourced from lichen. Also understand that with D supplementation, you will be able to absorb more calcium. If you are not getting enough Vitamin K2 in your diet, all that extra calcium you absorb will go to your arteries and cause atherosclerosis. Heart attacks are eventually caused by this, NOT cholesterol. K2 tells the calcium to go to your bones and teeth instead of your soft tissues. Do yourself a huge long-term health favor and read "Vitamin K2 And The Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life" or at least research Vitamin K2

New test results came in for the Vitamin D3 25-hydroxy levels. I was taking 40,000 IU of another brand in order to get my level to the optimal level (around 85 ng/mL), but even at 40,000 IU I was still too low (43 ng/mL). But with this brand of D3, I only have to take 15,000 IU to get to the optimal level. I did all of this under doctor supervision. My doctor also highly recommend to take Vit K with the Vit D3 pills. Hypercalcemia (calcium toxicity) has been shown to arise from Vit K deficiency, and Vit D3 causes your body to metabolise Vit K like crazy. So unless you want hardened arteries and a bunch of other possibly deadly side-effects, you need to take Vit K! Better yet, go see a doctor that knows about the recent studies (published around 2010, 2 years ago) on Vitamins D3 and K, and get your levels up with medical supervision, like I did. REASON FOR MY SUPPLEMENTATION: I developed late onset asthma, mainly during exercise and during seasonal allergies. I went to several specialists to see if this could be corrected. All I got were inhalers from these doctors. Then, I found a sports medicine doctor that was also into health and rejuvenation. He has been a God-send. He has helped me discover that Casein protein found in milk products (and some body-building supplements) and my low D3 levels were to blame. I no longer have asthma attacks, and haven't been sick in over a year - even when my kids and wife were sick. To be fair, Casein was the real culprit to the asthma and seasonal allergy issues, but the benefits of Vit D3 cannot be ignored. I have found that my knees don't hurt anymore (which is damage from my years in the Army), I sleep better at night, and I have a more positive outlook. One only has to search on PUBMED (an online library of scientific experiments) to see what the amazing benefits of vitamin D3 (and K) can do. Best of luck

It seems that 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 will raise your blood levels by 5 ng/mL. At least in my case. My Vitamin D level was 18 ng/mL. I took 20,000 UI of Vitamin D for 2 weeks and then I increase it to 40,000 UI for 4 weeks and my levels went up to 136.3 ng/mL. The reference range for Vitamin D is 30-80 ng/mL (this is the normal-range lower and upper limits) so my levels were HIGH. An increase of about 3 ng/mL per 1,000 UI of Vitamin D supplementation in a very short period of time so if I took it for longer (8 weeks) I will guess it will be a lot higher. I took that much because I am supposed to not be able to absorb it because I am supposedly not generation enough stomach acid and taking ursodiol which affects the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, I was wrong… When I was taking a supplement with 2,000 UI of Vitamin D my level was 30 ng/mL when I stopped taking it my level went down to 18 ng/mL. An increase of about 5 ng/mL per 1,000 UI I want to be at 70 ng/mL (which is the hight end of the optimal level) because I have autoimmune thyroid disease and autoimmune gastritis. So to go from 18 ng/mL to 70 ng/mL (raise my levels by 50), I should have taken 10,000 IU of Vitamin D and not 40,000 IU as I did. Just in case you did not know, the Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) you take is converted by the liver into calcifediol (a prehormone) also know as 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This is the substance that is measure when you take a vitamin D test. So if your liver is not working properly or you are taking medicines that affect the liver your absorption will vary. After it is converted by the liver, it then needs to be converted to the active form our body can use and this is done by the kidneys. The active form is called calcitriol. So again if you kidneys are not working well, your blood levels might be high but you are in reality still deficient because your kidneys can't convert it to the active form. There is a test to measure calcitriol too but is not given often. I am going to start taking 10,000 UI now along with Vitamin K2 but I will wait 10 days as my levels are too high now. Vitamin K2 is a must if you are going to maintain your vitamin-D Levels in the high end of the optimal range. I use the Menatetrenone (also know as MK-4 form) form of Vitamin K2 (check Wikipedia). Why? Because the MK-7 from Natto makes me itch like crazy and makes me feel sick. Also, Menatetrenone/MK-4 is the type use in Japan to treat osteoporosis. I am using the Thorne brand and I buy it here in amazon. Just in case you are curious the dosage to treat osteoporosis with Vitamin K2 (as Menatetrenone) in Japan is 15 mg, three times daily. That is exactly the high end of the suggested dosage mention in Thorne Vitamin K2 Liquid. I only wish Thorne had a softgel form of this supplement so I can place it in my pill holder. Carlson also makes this form of Vitamin K2 but is not liquid. It is a dry powder. I do not like that because K2 needs fat to be absorved and the Thorne brand is dissolved in Medium Chain Triglycerides (oil). I am going to update this review at 8 weeks after I have my Vitamin D levels tested again