I've been taking Astaxanthin since the end of March and it is an excellent supplement. I take 10 mg. daily. I can already tell a difference in my skin. Antioxidants are so important - especially to those of us with compromised immune systems.

Magnesium is a cofactor for proper D metabolism.

Vit D is what is called a pro-hormone.

This explains in more detail:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D

A hormone is a chemical molecule made in the body that is released at a distance to affect metabolism of something or to enable something. We think of hormones as "drugs" because cortisol, and sex hormones are frequently given this way. But hormones are also very diverse and do many jobs all over the body. In this case Vit D is synthesized in the skin. It is converted in other organs to do specific jobs. Much like thyroid T4 hormone is synthesized in the thyroid and then moves around the body and is converted at tissue sites when needed to active T3.

Vit D was called a vitamin back when "deficiency" studies were conducted on animals to find out why certain diseases occurred with various dietary malnutrition. Pellegra and niacin, Beri Beri for thiamine, scurvy for Vit C... etc. Vit D was linked to rickets back then. But as time as passed, and the biochemistry figured out, then the actions of Vit D and its structure, was discovered to be non-vitamin in nature.

What happens with nutritional serum testing is that 1) it may not reflect much ---red cell testing is better, 2) doctors still often misinterpret the results because of antiquated lab ranges, and also sketchy training in preventive medicine and nutrition.
Lab ranges were made based on statistical "normal" people...but at the time, not much was understood about what was "normal". Also many nutrients were never given ranges during supplementation. So naturally taking things, would raise a basic "normal" range out of that range because the test subjects were taking NOTHING. Very high and very low ranges in electrolytes like magnesium reflect disease, but the large middle "normal" range can really be useless. What is needed or normal for one person is not necessarily normal for another. That is just an example for magnesium.

I agree! It's just picking out which antioxidants to supplement with that becomes the trick. Between my morning OJ and eating apples or pears and tomatoes daily, I get a lot of vitamin C - in fact, more than the RDA. The same is true for vitamin A. So, I don't think supplementing them is necessary since I always get more than the RDA daily. But, as I mentioned, I don't get enough vitamin E - some days, not even close to 100%. So that is something I probably need to supplement. Nuts are a great source of vitamin E but I just can't tolerate them. I made my own almond butter and do better eating almonds this way. Nuts have been very hard for me to digest lately and I love nuts - all kinds.

mrsD - I read that the best way to check magnesium is through urine testing as blood levels don't give a good picture of a deficiency. I believe it's a 24 hour urine test. I will say though, again, that on the days I don't use my magnesium cream, I don't do as well. On the days I use it, I do much better. It has helped me out so much and in so many ways that I am sure I am deficient.

I am going to request my vitamin D levels get check when I go to the dr today. I know I drink fortified OJ with D3 and do my 15 min of sun time without sunscreen every day but this may not be enough for me plus, one of the drs I worked for always told his patients to get some sun "where the sun don't shine." Meaning sit in the sun without your clothes on. My neighbors may not like that. But I do pull up my shirt some to get some sun on my stomach. It's my butt that gets tricky.

I ordered 3 for the price of one D3- 5000IU from Puritans Pride. A nice buy.

My question is. It's in soy oil. Isn't that supposed to be bad for us?

The Puritan's D is a very tiny capsule.... a minute amount of oil carrier. You can fit 5 or 6 of them on your thumbnail...that is how small they are. Not gimongo like a typical fish oil, or large vitamin.

Oh, good..thanks!!

On the topic of free radicals and antioxidants, just know that new research shows that the best antioxidants are those the body makes. On a scale not anywhere close to direct antioxidants (those you eat).

Do some research on free radicals and Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione, and supplements that bump that stuff up.