[wmhicksjr]

Once you understand the importance of vigorous dosing of D3 to reach sufficient dosing (70 ng%+) the cofactors of D become even more important, specifically K2, magnesium & zinc as well as boron.

The American diet is generally deficient in all 5 of those factors, with supplementation being the most reasonable solution:

1. Vitamin tK2 is present in fermented foods & grass-fed beef & milk & cheese, & in D3K2 supplements.

2. Magnesium is hard to measure as it is an intracellular nutrient but we measure serum. A mag level of 2 mg% (mid-range) or more indicates acceptable levels. Mag deficiency can be triggered by high D levels resulting in symptoms including arrhythmia, so this is important, & deficiency is triggered by drugs (such as proton pump inhibitors) as well as dietary lack of processed foods.

3. Zinc helps with both D metabolism & by direct support of the immune system. The original describer of zinc deficiency said that it was present in 30+% of well to do Americans.

4. Boron is felt to be a necessary nutrient by the WHO, which reports that average boron intake is 1 mg compared to 3 mg deemed necessary. You have to ear a lot of apples & drink lots of coffee to reach this level.

The study of the extra-skeletal benefits of D leads naturally to an appreciation of micro-nutrients which are missing from our processed diets, & an appreciation of the ;nature & necessity of quality diets.

Dr Merrill Hicks

Thomasville. Ga