Vitamin D: The “Sunshine Vitamin” Australia Still Doesn’t Get Enough Of

Angela Gioffre Nutritionist with 25 years of experience.

Read More

Vitamin D is one of the most critical yet commonly insufficient nutrients worldwide. It acts less like a conventional vitamin and more like a hormone, influencing gene expression, immune signalling, inflammatory pathways and cellular communication throughout the body.

Despite the abundance of sunlight in Australia, we are on a whole whole vitamin D deficient. The reasons are varied from widespread due to fear of the sun, indoor lifestyles, sunscreen use, seasonal variation, darker skin pigmentation, ageing, gut dysfunction and impaired liver or kidney activation.

Key Roles of Vitamin D in the Body

Vitamin D receptors are found in nearly every tissue, highlighting its systemic importance. Adequate vitamin D status supports:

• Immune system regulation and resilience

• Healthy inflammatory balance

• Bone density and calcium metabolism

• Muscle strength and neuromuscular function

• Hormonal signalling and endocrine balance

• Cardiovascular and metabolic health

• Mood regulation and cognitive function

Low vitamin D levels are frequently associated with immune dysregulation, chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, recurrent infections, fatigue syndromes and poor musculoskeletal integrity.

Two types of Vitamin D

Vitamin D exists in two primary supplemental forms:

• Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)

• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)

Vitamin D2 is derived from plant and fungal sources, particularly mushrooms exposed to ultraviolet light. Vitamin D3 is typically derived from synthetic, lanolin or animal sources.

Both forms can raise serum vitamin D levels when used appropriately. However, vitamin D2 offers several distinct advantages.

The Benefits of Mushroom Derived Vitamin D2

Vitamin D2 sourced from mushrooms, is a clean, plant based and biologically active form of vitamin D with unique benefits.

1. Whole food aligned and vegan friendly
Mushroom derived vitamin D2 is suitable for plant based and vegan individuals and aligns with whole food and ancestral fungal nutrition principles.

2. Naturally occurring with co factors
When derived from mushrooms rather than synthetic isolates, vitamin D2 is accompanied by naturally occurring fungal compounds that may enhance biological compatibility and immune signalling.

3. Immune modulating synergy
Mushrooms are rich in beta glucans and other immunologically active compounds. When combined with vitamin D2, this creates a synergistic effect that supports balanced immune responses rather than immune overstimulation.

4. Gentler for sensitive individuals
Some individuals with histamine intolerance, autoimmune conditions or supplement sensitivity report better tolerance with vitamin D2 compared to higher dose synthetic D3.

We created a blend of UV exposed Shiitake mushrooms (Australian Grown) with Marine magnesium sourced from red algae.

We combine the Mushrooms containing the vitamin D2 with magnesium, because magnesium is a critical cofactor required for vitamin D metabolism. In simple terms: your body needs magnesium to activate and utilise vitamin D properly. Without adequate magnesium, vitamin D can remain under-activated and less effective, especially in people under stress, those with poor sleep, high caffeine intake, athletes, or anyone with low dietary mineral intake.

This pairing supports the entire pathway:

• Vitamin D2 provides the signal (immune regulation, inflammation control, calcium metabolism)

• Magnesium helps your body turn that signal into action (activation, conversion, and functional use)

The result is a supplement that fits a functional health framework: steady, supportive, and aligned with how the body actually works, helping you maintain vitamin D levels while supporting the mineral balance needed for long-term resilience.