Vitamin D for Cold Tolerance
No good evidence that vitamin D improves cold tolerance; its relevance is limited to winter deficiency and general muscle function.
Overview
Verdict
No good evidence that vitamin D improves cold tolerance; its relevance is limited to winter deficiency and general muscle function.
How It Works
Dosing & Protocol
Typical dose
- Recommended dose
- 1000-2000 IU daily if deficient
- Expected timeframe
- Not established
Protocol
- form
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) with a fat-containing meal, if taken for general adequacy
- duration
- Not applicable
- co factor
- Evidence is insufficient. There is no established mechanism linking vitamin D to cold tolerance or thermoregulation, and no randomised trial has measured shivering threshold, cold-induced thermogenesis, brown adipose activation or subjective cold sensitivity after supplementation. The loose association arises because vitamin D levels are lowest in winter, when people also feel cold, and because deficiency is more common in people who are unwell, sedentary or housebound - both confounded relationships rather than causal ones. Cold intolerance as a symptom points to other causes entirely.
- titration
- Not applicable for this outcome; 4,000 IU/day is the tolerable upper intake level
- starting dose
- Not established. No trial has tested vitamin D for cold tolerance or thermoregulation
Evidence
What the studies say
No studies are yet linked to both Vitamin D and Cold Tolerance.
Safety
Caveats
Correcting deficiency is worthwhile on its own merits, but do not expect a thermoregulatory benefit.
Less likely to help if
Medical Disclaimer
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Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.