Your Gut Health Might Be Sabotaging Your Vitamin D Absorption: 4 Tips To Help

When it comes to optimizing D levels, we'll take all the help we can get!

Jul 14, 2022 - 21:02

0 14

Your Gut Health Might Be Sabotaging Your Vitamin D Absorption: 4 Tips To Help

Woman standing in front of a wall covered with shadows

Over 90% of American adults are struggling to consume adequate levels of vitamin D from their diet, and less-than-ideal gut health might be further inhibiting your ability to absorb this essential nutrient. Luckily, there are some concrete tips that can help you enhance your gut microbiome and vitamin D absorption so you can be cruising at healthy, sufficient levels in no time.* (Of course, assuming you're consuming adequate amounts of the nutrient.)

Gut health and nutrient absorption.

When we discuss the gut, we're primarily talking about the small intestine, where 90% of food is absorbed. The quality of health in the gut is dependent on the microbiota (aka gut flora), which is made up of microscopic organisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, and fungi) living in the intestines. Healthy gut flora—often called "good bacteria"—help with digestion, support immune function, and are even linked to cognitive function and mood.

For proper nutrient absorption, a healthy gut needs microbial diversity, a healthy intestinal lining (which, by the way, vitamin D plays a key role in supporting immune function of the gut mucosa), and the right conditions or buddy nutrients (e.g., some fat for fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin D!).

The link between vitamin D and gut health.

Considering their shared activities—such as providing support to the immune system, assisting in nutrient absorption (specifically calcium and phosphorus, in the case of vitamin D)—it's no surprise that vitamin D and the gut have been intrinsically linked in research over the last decade.*

Abundant and diverse gut microbiota are the sign of a healthy gut that is able to properly absorb micronutrients (including vitamin D), and recent studies reveal nutritional inadequacies likely affect the gut microbiome and the gut's ability to function properly.*

A 2016 study published in Frontiers indicates that vitamin D deficiency (which affects 29% of the U.S. adult population) is associated with gut bacteria disruption, such that sufficient levels of vitamin D may improve gut health (and vice versa).*

4 ways to optimize vitamin D absorption.

Now that you know how intertwined vitamin D and the gut are, you might be wondering how to support your gut health in order to improve your vitamin D absorption. This is a two-pronged issue: Gut health is a priority so micronutrients can be properly absorbed, but adequate levels of vitamin D are also required daily (Learn how much vitamin D you truly need here):

1. Diversify your diet with fiber-rich foods.

The gastrointestinal microbial habitat contains about 300 to 500 species of microorganisms. That's a lot of tiny bugs to keep fed and happy! The easiest way to do it? Eat lots of different types of nutrient-dense foods that provide fiber—especially fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, etc. The prebiotic variety of fiber is your gut bugs' favorite type to consume. Additionally, cooked foods are often easier for the gut to digest and can further support your gut health.

2. Take your vitamin D with a healthy fat.

Vitamin D is absorbed 32% better when eaten with a fat source (like a built-in organic oil trio of olives, avocados, and flaxseed, in the case of vitamin D3 potency+).* Vitamin D is fat-soluble, which is why health care professionals often recommend you take a D supplement with a meal. It's also important to point out that the vitamin D3 variety (instead of D2) is superior in terms of bioavailability and bioefficacy in the body.*

3. Elevate and diversify your gut microbiota with a high-quality probiotic.

Regularly replenishing your gut microbiota with probiotic strains will help promote diverse functions (i.e., digestion, absorption, motility, regularity, etc.) of your gastrointestinal tract.* To get the most out of your probiotic, choose one that contains science-backed doses (i.e., typically billions) of organisms and targeted strains (like mbg's probiotic+).*

Sufficient magnesium levels are essential to properly transport and activate vitamin D. "Suboptimal magnesium status is relevant to vitamin D because the mineral is required for binding 25(OH)D to the vitamin D binding protein (VDP) for circulation around the blood and delivery to tissues throughout the body," mbg vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, explained in a previous article. "Magnesium is also required for the conversion of 25(OH)D to the active 1,25(OH)2D hormone form. Both of these mechanisms will affect vitamin D status," she concludes.

With 93% of Americans missing the mark on daily vitamin D intake, we could all benefit from extra gastrointestinal support to ensure we get the most out of our vitamin D supplementation.* To knock one item off the list, take a sustainably sourced vitamin D3 supplement with premium built-in oils (i.e., absorption technology) so you don't have to stress about working your vitamin routine around your meal schedule.*

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/vitamin-d-gut-absorption