{"product_id":"product_cc5ef8ae-2b19-4518-9127-3a363686af45","title":"Life Pro - Vitamin D3 | 90 softgels (2000iu)","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]\"\u003eLife Pro Nutrition Vitamin D3 is a food supplement in \u003cstrong\u003esoftgels\u003c\/strong\u003e of extra virgin olive oil enriched with \u003cstrong\u003echolecalciferol (Vitamin D3)\u003c\/strong\u003e, available in two strengths: \u003cstrong\u003e2000 IU (50 µg)\u003c\/strong\u003e per softgel and \u003cstrong\u003e4000 IU (100 µg)\u003c\/strong\u003e per softgel. The softgel format is ideal for fat-soluble vitamins like D3: the soft gelatin capsule is hermetically sealed and isolates cholecalciferol from air and light (preventing oxidation), and the extra virgin olive oil content ensures that vitamin D3 (which requires the presence of fat for intestinal absorption via micelles) is in a lipid matrix already ready for absorption. 1 softgel\/day with a meal. 90 softgels. The latest version of the product has been formulated with non-animal source cholecalciferol (obtained by UV irradiation of plant precursors), making it suitable for vegans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients (2000 IU version):\u003c\/strong\u003e Extra virgin olive oil + Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 2000 IU (50 µg). Softgel capsule (gelatin + glycerin or HPMC in the vegan version).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients (4000 IU version):\u003c\/strong\u003e Extra virgin olive oil + Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 4000 IU (100 µg). Softgel capsule.\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\u003eVitamin D3 and the silent epidemic of deficiency: why supplementation is necessary in Portugal and Europe:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eVitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form of vitamin D synthesized by human skin when exposed to solar UVB radiation (wavelength 290 to 315 nm). However, multiple factors make cutaneous synthesis insufficient in most modern European populations: the use of sunscreen (which blocks the necessary UVB radiation), working indoors (most active people spend 8 to 10 hours\/day indoors), seasonality (from October to March, the latitude of mainland Portugal north of 35°N means that the solar angle is insufficient for D3 synthesis even with direct exposure), and skin pigmentation (people with darker skin produce less D3 for the same sun exposure since melanin acts as a UVB filter). It is estimated that 40 to 80% of the European population has vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency (serum 25(OH)D levels below 30 ng\/mL), with deficiency being more prevalent in autumn and winter and in populations with less sun exposure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe metabolic pathway of vitamin D3: from skin (or supplement) to active calcitriol:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eCholecalciferol (D3) is not the biologically active form of vitamin D: it is a prohormone that requires two sequential hydroxylations to convert into the active form. The first occurs in the \u003cstrong\u003eliver\u003c\/strong\u003e (via CYP2R1 and CYP27A1), where D3 is converted to \u003cstrong\u003e25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]\u003c\/strong\u003e (calcidiol), the main circulating form and the serum marker used to assess vitamin D status (optimal values: 40 to 60 ng\/mL; deficiency: \u0026lt;20 ng\/mL; insufficiency: 20 to 30 ng\/mL). The second occurs in the \u003cstrong\u003ekidneys\u003c\/strong\u003e (via CYP27B1), where 25(OH)D is converted to \u003cstrong\u003e1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)₂D]\u003c\/strong\u003e (calcitriol), the active hormonal form that binds to vitamin D receptors (VDR) in target tissues. The VDR is a nuclear receptor that, by binding calcitriol, functions as a transcription factor and regulates the expression of hundreds of genes in multiple tissues (intestine, bone, kidney, immune system, muscle, cardiovascular system, nervous system, among others).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBone health and calcium metabolism: the functions with the longest evidence base:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe most documented and oldest role of vitamin D is supporting calcium metabolism and bone health. Calcitriol (the active form of D3) stimulates the expression of calcium transport proteins in enterocytes of the small intestine (especially calbindin-D9k and the TRPV6 calcium channel), increasing intestinal calcium absorption in a dose-dependent manner. Without sufficient calcitriol, calcium absorption drops to only 10 to 15% of ingested calcium (vs. 30 to 40% with adequate D3 levels). Calcitriol also stimulates calcium reabsorption in the renal tubules and regulates PTH (parathyroid hormone) production, which mobilizes calcium from bone. Severe D3 deficiency causes rickets (in children) and osteomalacia (in adults), and moderate deficiency contributes to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. EFSA has approved health claims for vitamin D regarding its contribution to normal absorption\/utilization of calcium and phosphorus, maintenance of normal bones, maintenance of normal teeth, and maintenance of normal muscle function.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImmune system: the immunomodulatory role with increasing evidence:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eCalcitriol has multiple effects on the immune system via binding to VDR in virtually all leukocytes. In macrophages, it stimulates the synthesis of \u003cstrong\u003ecathelicidins\u003c\/strong\u003e (broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides, including LL-37) and \u003cstrong\u003edefensins\u003c\/strong\u003e, which are innate immunity molecules with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity. In T lymphocytes, it modulates the differentiation of T helper cells (favoring the anti-inflammatory Th2\/Treg phenotype over the pro-inflammatory Th1\/Th17), reducing the risk of excessive autoimmune response. The relationship between D3 deficiency and a higher incidence of respiratory infections (colds, flu, pneumonia) is well-documented epidemiologically, and the meta-analysis by Martineau et al. (2017), published in the BMJ with data from 25 randomized clinical trials and 11,321 participants, documented that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory infection by 12% globally, with a 70% reduction in people with severe deficiency (25(OH)D \u0026lt;10 ng\/mL).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMuscle health and sports performance: documented ergogenic effects:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eVDR receptors are present in skeletal muscle fibers, and calcitriol regulates the expression of muscle structural proteins, muscle protein synthesis (via IGF-1 and mTOR), and calcium absorption by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (essential for excitation-contraction coupling). Multiple studies document an association between low 25(OH)D levels and reduced muscle strength, increased risk of muscle injury, and poorer sports performance. The meta-analysis by Chiang et al. (2017) documented that vitamin D supplementation improved muscle strength in adults with D3 deficiency. For athletes who train indoors or in climates with low sun exposure (such as in Portugal during the autumn\/winter months), maintaining optimal D3 levels is especially relevant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMental health and well-being: the relationship with serotonin and mood:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eVDR is expressed in neurons of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and raphe nucleus (the main serotonergic pathway in the CNS). Calcitriol regulates the expression of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene (TPH2, the rate-limiting enzyme for serotonin synthesis in the CNS) and the serotonin transporter (SERT), modulating serotonergic neurotransmission. This mechanistic relationship has a clinical correlate: D3 deficiency is associated with a higher risk of seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder, SAD), and several clinical trials document improved depression scores with D3 supplementation in people with deficiency, especially during the winter months with less sun exposure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExtra virgin olive oil: the ideal lipid matrix for maximum absorption of fat-soluble vitamin D3:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eVitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that requires the presence of fat in the intestinal lumen to be efficiently absorbed (via micelle formation with bile salts and fatty acids). The extra virgin olive oil present in the softgel formulation creates a lipid matrix that ensures vitamin D3 is always co-encapsulated with fat, optimizing absorption regardless of the fat content of the meal with which it is taken. In addition to its role in D3 transport, extra virgin olive oil has antioxidant properties (polyphenols such as hydroxytyrosol and oleocanthal) and anti-inflammatory properties (oleocanthal inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 with a mechanism similar to ibuprofen) that complement the effects of vitamin D3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2000 IU vs. 4000 IU: which to choose:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe dose of \u003cstrong\u003e2000 IU\/day\u003c\/strong\u003e is the recommended maintenance dose for healthy adults without documented deficiency who aim to maintain serum 25(OH)D levels in the optimal range (40 to 60 ng\/mL). The dose of \u003cstrong\u003e4000 IU\/day\u003c\/strong\u003e is the recommended dose for deficiency repletion (25(OH)D \u0026lt;20 ng\/mL) or insufficiency, for people with risk factors for deficiency (obesity, malabsorption syndromes, use of drugs that interfere with D3 metabolism such as corticosteroids), for athletes with a high training volume, and for use during autumn\/winter months when cutaneous synthesis is minimal. The maximum tolerable level (UL) established by EFSA is 4000 IU\/day for adults, which makes the 4000 IU version the maximum documented safe limit without medical supervision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\"\u003eUsage\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended dosage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Take 1 softgel\/day with the main meal (which should contain some fat to maximize absorption). Taking it with fatty foods (olive oil, eggs, fatty fish, nuts) maximizes the intestinal absorption of cholecalciferol. To determine which of the two strengths is most suitable, it is ideal to perform a blood test that includes serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D: values \u0026lt;20 ng\/mL (deficiency) indicate the 4000 IU version; values between 20 and 30 ng\/mL (insufficiency) may benefit from 2000 to 4000 IU; values between 30 and 60 ng\/mL (adequate to optimal) can be maintained with 1000 to 2000 IU\/day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Life Pro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52705359724891,"sku":null,"price":9.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1005\/0250\/3771\/files\/LifePro-VitaminD3_2000iu.png?v=1776791228","url":"https:\/\/brothers-club.com\/en\/products\/product_cc5ef8ae-2b19-4518-9127-3a363686af45","provider":"Brother's Club","version":"1.0","type":"link"}