Instructions for Synbio are straightforward. Take it once a day, preferably with food. It doesn’t get any more simple than that. The key to get the most out of the treatment is to not skip or forget to take it.

Capsules are swallowed whole with water, but there are also liquid and oral solution versions of Synbio that some prefer if they have problems swallowing capsules or tablets. These can be added to food or taken directly. Drop doses are 0.5 or 1ml, which are the equivalent of 400 IU and 800 IU capsules respectively. For the oral solution, four drops amounts to 400 IU and eight drops to 800 IU.

It’s hard to take a dangerous amount of maintenance doses in one go unless it’s done purposely. Taking too much over a short period of time is more likely to happen with the powerful treatment doses, of which there are none for Synbio.

The biggest risk for supplements is when the recommended daily dose has been exceeded over a prolonged period of time. This can lead to serious health issues that will need immediate medical attention, so it’s important to follow the instructions carefully.

Side effects of Synbio are uncommon and usually relate to having high levels of calcium in the body when they do occur. Calcium levels are directly related to the level of vitamin D you’re taking, so as long as you’re not taking in too much vitamin D for your needs, it’s unlikely you’ll experience any issues.

The most common side effects are hypercalciuria (too much calcium in the urine) and hypercalcaemia (too much calcium in the blood). The symptoms of hypercalciuria include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, urination pain and unusually frequent urination.

Hypercalcaemia can be a serious condition, so it’s vital that if you notice any of the following symptoms you’ll seek medical help: extreme thirst and fatigue, constipation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and apathy.

Even more rare than hypercalcaemia is allergic reactions. Despite the unlikelihood of them happening, it’s still important to know what to look out for in case they do present. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following: swollen lips, throat, face or tongue, problems breathing, hives, severe rashes and extreme itching.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of vitamin D, vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. So what are the differences?

Vitamin D3 is the more common form used in supplements and treatments. This is because D3 is better processed in the body. It’s also the form that’s used to fortify (added to) food stuff, such as cereals and margarines.

Yes, a significant amount of our vitamin D intake is from food. These can also be divided by the two vitamin D forms, with vitamin D2 found in vegetables and D3 in animal products. These include certain mushrooms, oily fish and dairy. It should be noted that you’re unlikely to get all the vitamin D you need from food sources.

Vitamin D3 in supplements are not necessarily vegan unfriendly, despite it being found in animal products. This is due to the fact that vitamin D supplements and treatments are synthetic, in a form called cholecalciferol. That doesn’t mean that products are always vegan friendly, let alone halal, kosher or gluten and dairy free as capsules and tablets can contain ingredients that might be unsuitable for some.

All Synbio products are vegetarian, gluten and dairy free, as well as halal and kosher. Most aren’t vegan, but there is a vegan friendly Synbio range that’s available.

What if I told you there’s a free source of vitamin D? One where you only need to expose your skin, something like your forearms, to the sun. Well believe it or not, that’s where we get most of our vitamin D.

As previously mentioned, that isn’t possible in winter for much of the world, but there’s another issue. The sun damages skin and burnt skin can lead to skin cancer, so while it’s important to get vitamin D from the sun, be sure to protect yourself too, particularly if you have fair skin.