What Is Calcifediol & What Foods Can I Find It In?
Calcifediol is also known as 25-hydroxycholecalciferol.
It is a member of the vitamin D group and a pre-hormone to vitamin D3.
When a physician measures your vitamin D level, it is the calcifediol value that is measured.
The blood concentration of calcifediol is considered the best indicator of vitamin D status.
A sufficient intake of vitamin D3 is fully converted in the body to calcifediol in about seven days.
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Calcifediol In the Body
Calcifediol is also known as calcidiol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol.
It is a member of the vitamin D group.
It works as an intermediate metabolite that forms in the liver. (source ◳)
It has potential immunomodulating activity and also has mineralizing properties. (source ◳)
Calcifediol is a pre-hormone that is produced in the liver by hydroxylation of vitamin D3. (source ◳)
It is the calcifediol level physicians measure to determine a persons vitamin D status. (source ◳)
Benefits Of Calcifediol
Calcifediol can be used to treat anxiety disorders, depression, stress, mood disorders, and menopausal symptoms.
It can also be used to increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medications.
Calcifediol has been used to treat type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer.
Calcifediol is also being studied as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.
You can find some researched-backed benefits from calcifediol in Calcifediol: 5 Research-Backed Benefits .
Calcifediol as a supplement
Calcifediol can be used for vitamin D supplementation. (source ◳)
Supplementation with calcifediol has shown evidence of efficacy in the prevention of bone loss and fractures.
Calcifediol supplements are the second most popular dietary supplement in the United States, after vitamin C.
How Calcifediol Works
Calcifediol works by increasing the activity of serotonin and decreasing the activity of serotonin receptors in the brain.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is found in the brain and in other parts of the body.
It helps control body functions, such as sleep, mood, and appetite.
Serotonin receptors are located in the brain and throughout the body.
Calcifediol may also decrease the activity of norepinephrine, which is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure, and dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that regulates movement.
Deficiency Of Calcifediol
Deficiency of calcifediol occurs in almost 50% of the population of the world. (source ◳)
The high risk of calcifediol/vitamin D deficiency is related to limited outdoor activities, avoidance of sun exposure, air pollutants, living at high latitudes, dark skin, frequent use of sunscreens, and the impaired ability to produce vitamin D in the skin in response to sunlight. (source ◳)
Approximately 80–90% of our vitamin D levels come from the effects of sunlight on the skin. (source ◳)
Calcifediol deficiency can cause both mild and severe forms of osteoporosis.
Deficiency of calcifediol is an underdiagnosed cause of rickets in children and adults.
Foods You Can Find Calcifediol In
You find Calcifediol mostly in dairy, egg, and beef products.
Examples of food sources include
- Egg Yolk
- Egg
- Whole Egg
- Top Loin Steak
- Top Round Roast
- Butter
Foods in our nutrition tool
You can find regularly updated top-ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.
We currently have just a few foods in our nutrition tool that contain Calcifediol.
Here's our short list of foods that contain Calcifediol.
