Vitamin D3, Lichen
Most supplements sell Vitamin D3 in powder form, or in gummies. These are not absorbable forms. Essential Longevity has shown in many blood results of customers to increase Vitamin D3 levels by as much as 88%.
This efficacy is due to TMW's technology and scientific engineering.
Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for various bodily functions, including maintaining healthy bones, immune system support, and regulating calcium levels. It is primarily synthesized in the skin when exposed to sunlight and can also be obtained from certain foods and supplements.
The impact of vitamin D3 on longevity is still an area of ongoing research, and the exact mechanisms are not fully understood. However, some studies have suggested that adequate vitamin D levels may be associated with a reduced risk of certain age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Additionally, vitamin D3 plays a role in supporting overall health, which can contribute to improved quality of life as people age. Nonetheless, more research is needed to determine the precise relationship between vitamin D3 and longevity. As with any supplement or nutrient, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure individual needs are met safely and effectively.
Lichen
Vitamin D3 can be derived from certain species of lichen. Lichens are unique organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and either a green alga or a cyanobacterium. When these lichens are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, typically from sunlight, the ergosterol undergoes a photochemical reaction, converting it into vitamin D3. The use of vitamin D3 derived from lichen is particularly relevant for dietary supplements, as it provides a vegan-friendly alternative to vitamin D3 sourced from animal products like fish liver oil or lanolin (a substance obtained from sheep's wool). Vitamin D3 derived from lichen (cholecalciferol) has the same physiological effects and functions as vitamin D3 from other sources (also cholecalciferol) because it is chemically identical.
Benefits
Bone Health: Vitamin D3 plays a vital role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism. Adequate vitamin D levels are necessary for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are essential minerals for bone strength and growth.
Immune System Support: Vitamin D3 is involved in modulating immune system function. It is believed to play a role in enhancing the body's defense against certain infections and reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases. Some studies have suggested that vitamin D3 supplementation may help reduce the incidence and severity of respiratory tract infections.
Mood and Mental Health: Vitamin D3 has been linked to mood regulation and mental health. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased risk of depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and other mood disorders. Supplementing with vitamin D3 may help maintain optimal levels and support overall mental well-being.
Heart Health: Some research suggests that adequate vitamin D levels may be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Vitamin D3 may help regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve endothelial function, which is important for healthy blood vessels.
Vitamin D3 effects on 12 Hallmarks of Aging:
Telomere Attrition:
Vitamin D3 may upregulate telomerase activity, maintaining telomere length, which shortens naturally with cell division and indicates cellular aging. Vitamin D3 deficiency is linked to shorter telomeres, while higher levels are associated with longer telomeres.
Epigenetic Alterations:
Vitamin D3 affects epigenetics by altering DNA methylation patterns, influencing gene expression in immune function and cellular growth, and also impacts histone modifications, affecting chromatin structure and gene accessibility to influence gene expression patterns.
Inflammation:
Vitamin D3 influences immune cell production, gene expression, and cytokine regulation, and its deficiency is linked to increased inflammation. Supplementation with vitamin D3 has shown to reduce inflammatory markers in various inflammatory disorders.
Dysregulated Autophagy:
Vitamin D3 may enhance autophagy by influencing signaling pathways, gene expression, and promoting autophagy-related gene expression and autophagosome formation.
Genomic instability:
Vitamin D3 helps maintain genomic stability by promoting DNA repair mechanisms and reducing DNA damage accumulation; its antioxidant properties protect against harmful reactive oxygen species, preventing oxidative stress-induced DNA lesions and genomic instability.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction:
Vitamin D3 influences mitochondrial energy metabolism, enhances respiration and ATP production, and acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing ROS to reduce oxidative stress and protect against mitochondrial damage. Additionally, it regulates calcium homeostasis, supporting proper mitochondrial function.
Stem Cell Exhaustion:
Vitamin D3 impacts different types of stem cells. It promotes bone-forming differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells, regulates blood cell formation in hematopoietic stem cells, and affects neural stem cells in the brain, potentially influencing their growth and survival. Vitamin D3 deficiency may be linked to changes in brain function and an increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
Loss of Proteostasis:
In maintaining proteostasis, Vitamin D3 modulates heat shock proteins (HSPs) to aid in proper protein folding, influences autophagy-related gene expression, autophagosome formation, and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.
Deregulated Nutrient Sensing:
Low vitamin D3 levels are associated with increased body weight, adiposity, and metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, possibly influenced by its impact on adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and insulin signaling pathways.
Intercelluar Communication:
Vitamin D3 plays a role in cellular communication by modulating cytokine production, promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines, and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, which helps maintain immune system balance and function.
Microbiome Dysbiosis:
Low vitamin D3 levels are linked to altered gut microbiota, reduced diversity, and potential implications for gut health and disease risk; vitamin D3's immunomodulatory effects in the gut may indirectly impact gut microbiota through host-microbiota interaction regulation.
Sources:
Vitamin D Deficiency: Effects on Oxidative Stress, Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, and Aging:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627346/
NIH Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals:
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
The Interplay of Vitamin D Deficiency and Cellular Senescence in The Pathogenesis of Obesity-Related Co-Morbidities:
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/11/4127
About the associations of vitamin D deficiency and biomarkers of systemic inflammatory response with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a general population sample of almost 400,000 UK Biobank participants:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37340242
Vitamin D in Neurological Diseases: A Rationale for a Pathogenic Impact:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121649/
The Relationship Between Vitamin D and Telomere/Telomerase: A Comprehensive Review:
