{"product_id":"product_66ddb3a9-894c-474f-990a-5100073ec352","title":"HSN - VITAMIN D3 1000 IU | 120caps","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003eAbout the Product\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eHSN's EssentialSeries Vitamin D3 1000 IU is a food supplement in softgels based on cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) of natural origin (lanolin, derived from sheep's wool), suspended in flaxseed oil as a fat-soluble vehicle. Each softgel provides 25 µg (1000 IU) of pure Vitamin D3, at the most commonly used standard daily maintenance dose for adults with insufficient sun exposure in European latitudes. A clean formula with only four ingredients: flaxseed oil, cholecalciferol, gelatin (capsule), and glycerine. No aesthetic additives, no flavourings, no sweeteners. Suitable for vegetarian diets (not vegan: animal gelatin + lanolin). Dose: 1 softgel per day. Available in 60 and 120 softgels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003eBenefits\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCholecalciferol (D3): the most proven effective form of Vitamin D for increasing plasma 25(OH)D levels:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eCholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) is the form physiologically produced by human skin through the action of solar UVB rays, and the most effective form of Vitamin D supplementation to raise and maintain plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, the reference marker of Vitamin D status in the body. The meta-analysis by Tripkovic et al. (2012), published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that cholecalciferol (D3) is approximately 87% more effective than ergocalciferol (D2) at increasing plasma 25(OH)D levels, with D3 being the form recommended by the vast majority of international supplementation guidelines. After oral ingestion, cholecalciferol is absorbed in the small intestine with the help of lipid micelles formed by fatty acids from flaxseed oil, transported to the liver where it is converted into 25(OH)D (calcidiol, the storage form and analytical marker), and subsequently converted in the kidneys (and in other peripheral tissues) into the active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), which exerts its effects through nuclear VDR (Vitamin D Receptor) receptors present in almost all cell types in the body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVitamin D deficiency in Portugal and Europe: prevalence, structural causes and health impact:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eDespite Portugal having one of the best sun exposure conditions in Western Europe, studies on the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in Portuguese adults reveal worrying values: studies conducted in the adult Portuguese population document that 30 to 50% of adults have 25(OH)D levels below 50 nmol\/L (20 ng\/ml) during autumn and winter months, and a significant proportion maintain insufficient levels even during summer months. The structural causes are common to all modern Europe: indoor work environments with minimal sun exposure during working hours, widespread use of sunscreen during months of higher insolation, increasing preference for indoor activities, and a dietary pattern where food sources rich in Vitamin D (fatty fish, egg yolk, fortified dairy products) are not consumed in sufficient quantity to cover daily needs. The consequences of chronic Vitamin D deficiency are multisystemic: increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures (via reduced intestinal calcium absorption), increased susceptibility to respiratory infections (Vitamin D modulates innate immunity by inducing antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin), muscle weakness and pain, and an epidemiological association with increased risk of autoimmune, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore than 10 EFSA health claims approved for Vitamin D:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe EFSA has approved health claims covering an exceptional physiological spectrum for Vitamin D: it contributes to normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus; it contributes to normal blood calcium levels; it contributes to the maintenance of normal bones; it contributes to the maintenance of normal teeth; it contributes to normal muscle function; it contributes to the normal function of the immune system (in both adults and children); it plays a role in the process of cell division; and it helps to reduce the risk of falling associated with postural instability and muscle weakness in adults over 60. The latter is of particular clinical relevance given that falls in older adults are one of the main causes of hospitalisation and severe morbidity in the European population over 65 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlaxseed oil as a fat-soluble vehicle: optimised absorption of fat-soluble Vitamin D:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eFlaxseed oil is used as a fat-soluble vehicle for cholecalciferol in this softgel formulation. Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin that requires a lipid matrix to be efficiently absorbed in the intestine: the fatty acids from flaxseed oil stimulate bile secretion and the activation of pancreatic lipases, which form the lipid micelles necessary to incorporate cholecalciferol and transport it to the intestinal mucosa. By pre-dissolving cholecalciferol in flaxseed oil within the softgel, HSN ensures that the vitamin is in a lipid matrix ready for absorption, which is especially relevant for people who take the supplement outside of meals (on an empty stomach or between low-fat meals). Flaxseed oil also has its own nutritional interest, being rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, vegetable omega-3), although the quantity present in a single softgel is negligible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1000 IU (25 µg): the most suitable standard maintenance dose for daily use:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe dose of 1000 IU per softgel represents the balance point between safety, efficacy, and practicality for daily use without medical supervision. Most European public health guidelines recommend 1000 to 2000 IU\/day as a maintenance dose for adults with insufficient sun exposure, which can be easily obtained with 1 to 2 softgels\/day of this formulation. For safety reference: the maximum tolerable intake level (UL) established by EFSA for adults is 100 µg (4000 IU)\/day with continuous daily use, which means that the dose of 1000 IU\/day represents only 25% of the UL, with a wide safety margin. The small-sized softgel format is easy to swallow and suitable for regular long-term daily use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormula with only 4 ingredients: clean label with a focus on essentials:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eFlaxseed oil, cholecalciferol, gelatin (capsule), and glycerine. This formulational simplicity is a deliberate feature of HSN's EssentialSeries range: to eliminate all unnecessary ingredients and focus exclusively on the functional components. No titanium dioxide (a common white colouring agent in gelatin capsules), no unnecessary flow excipients, no preservatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003eUses\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended dose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Take 1 softgel per day, preferably with a meal that contains some fat (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) to maximise the absorption of fat-soluble Vitamin D. Taking it with meals containing dietary fats enhances the formation of lipid micelles and increases intestinal absorption compared to taking it on an empty stomach.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HSN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52705357988187,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1005\/0250\/3771\/files\/1_32eec6b1-982e-42c2-adab-34c19e247163.png?v=1780699066","url":"https:\/\/brothers-club.com\/en\/products\/product_66ddb3a9-894c-474f-990a-5100073ec352","provider":"Brother's Club","version":"1.0","type":"link"}