Glyphosate blocks vitamin D.
Glyphosate disrupts vitamin D metabolism through six interconnected biochemical pathways - inhibiting enzymes, chelating minerals, destroying gut bacteria. Standard supplementation alone may not overcome this.
ppb glyphosate in oat cereals
Gut bacteria sensitive to glyphosate
CYP enzyme inhibition at 15 μM
Six pathways of disruption.
1. CYP450 Enzyme Inhibition
Glyphosate binds directly to the heme pocket of CYP enzymes via its nitrogen group, achieving 75% inhibition at just 15 μM concentration. This blocks conversion of vitamin D to its active form.
2. Mineral Chelation
Glyphosate strongly chelates copper and zinc, moderately binds calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. These cofactors are essential for every step of vitamin D activation.
3. Gut Bacteria Destruction
As a patented antimicrobial, 54% of human gut bacterial species are intrinsically sensitive to glyphosate, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium that maintain intestinal integrity.
4. Liver Hydroxylation Impairment
Studies link chronic exposure to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NASH patients show significantly higher glyphosate excretion compared to healthy controls.
5. Intestinal Absorption Damage
Sharp upregulation of zonulin expression breaks down intestinal tight junctions, creating "leaky gut" that impairs absorption of fat-soluble vitamins including vitamin D.
6. Receptor Signaling Interference
Even when vitamin D is activated, systemic inflammation from gut dysbiosis blocks receptor signaling. The process fails at multiple checkpoints.
Contamination levels in common foods.
Oat Products (Highest)
Quaker Oatmeal Squares: 2,837 ppb. Honey Nut Cheerios: 833 ppb. Regular Cheerios: 729 ppb. 95% of conventional oat cereals test positive.
Legumes (Extreme)
Organic Harris Teeter chickpeas: 17,718 ppb. Banza chickpea pasta: 2,876 ppb. Whole Foods hummus: 2,379 ppb. 90% of conventional chickpea products test positive.
Wheat & Grains
Whole wheat bread: 1,040 ppb. School lunch testing: 95.3% of samples positive. Pre-harvest desiccation practice drives much of this contamination.
Beverages
Wine: 5-51.4 ppb. Beer: 20-50 ppb (Budweiser 27 ppb, Coors Light 31 ppb). All five major orange juice brands test positive.
The vitamin D deficiency epidemic.
NHANES data demonstrates vitamin D3 levels fell sharply from 1988-1994 to 2001-2004 - precisely tracking the explosion in glyphosate use following introduction of genetically modified crops in the mid-1990s.
Correlation Research
Coefficients exceeding 0.90 between glyphosate application rates and 22 chronic diseases. Autism rates show almost perfect correlation (P = 0.997) with glyphosate use.
Bone Mineral Density
NHANES 2013-2016 found negative correlations between urinary glyphosate and total bone mineral density, suggesting vitamin D-mediated effects on bone health.
Why supplements alone may not work.
The simultaneous disruption of hepatic hydroxylation, intestinal absorption, mineral cofactor availability, and receptor signaling creates a perfect storm where standard vitamin D supplementation alone cannot restore normal metabolism.
We can take the vitamin D, but if liver CYP enzymes are inhibited, we can't activate it.
We can activate the vitamin D, but if the gut is permeable, we're losing it.
We can absorb the vitamin D, but if mineral cofactors are chelated, the receptors can't function.
Reducing exposure may be the prerequisite.
The research indicates that achieving optimal vitamin D status may be biochemically impossible while consuming foods contaminated with glyphosate at current levels. Reducing exposure through organic food choices and filtered water may be prerequisites for restoring normal vitamin D metabolism.