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Published on July 29, 2025

By Dr. Sunil J. Wimalawansa, MD, PhD, FRCP, FACP, FCCP, FACE, FRCPath, MBA, DSc.
Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology & Human Nutrition

This summary highlights a crucial policy paper by Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa, a globally respected expert in endocrinology and human nutrition. For decades, he has emphasized the importance of micronutrients, particularly vitamin D, in preventing chronic diseases and improving public health outcomes.

In his June 2025 publication in Foods, Dr. Wimalawansa outlines the need for urgent reforms in food, drug, and nutraceutical regulations to improve public health and cut healthcare costs.  Click here to read the full article

Current Regulatory Failures:

Many harmful food additives still permitted in the U.S. are banned in the EU, including:

  • Titanium dioxide, Red Dye No. 3, etc.
  • Potassium bromate
  • PFAS and parabens
  • Excess sugar and bleached flour

Meanwhile, essential nutrients like vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and K2 remain underutilized and poorly regulated.

FNA Responsibilities Would Include:

  • Transparent labeling and tighter regulation of additives
  • Research on contaminants like glyphosate and microplastics
  • Updated guidelines on nutrient intake
  • Use of real-world community data in addition to clinical trials
  • Promotion of evidence-based nutraceuticals

This agency could help prevent chronic diseases and reduce healthcare costs by up to $1 trillion in four years.

 A Shift to Root-Cause Solutions:

The healthcare system must shift from treating symptoms to addressing root causes, including:

  • Micronutrient deficiencies (especially vitamin D, C, magnesium, Zinc, Omega-3, and K2)
  • Toxin exposure (minimize toxin overload from diet, environment, and medications)
  • Diets to overcome Metabolic, Hormonal, Gut microbiota, and Mitochondrial dysfunctions

Dr. Wimalawansa recommends:

  • Low-carb, toxin-free, nutrient-rich diets
  • Eliminating high-fructose corn syrup and ultra-processed foods
  • Minimize food additives; Eliminate intermediaries
  • Restoring metabolic and hormonal balance
  • Building cost-effective functional systems

Split FDA would: To improve nutrition and health: a novel, practical, and effective approach

  • Prioritize nutrition and lifestyle in disease prevention
  • Promote “Food as Medicine”
  • Add formal nutrition education in schools and medical training
  • Eliminate conflicts of interest in health regulation
  • Restore public trust and physician autonomy

Conclusion:

Dr. Wimalawansa’s call to action is bold and necessary. The U.S. faces two choices:

  • Enacting new healthcare laws, restoring public trust in regulatory institutions
  • Continue down the path of chronic disease and soaring costs, and improve nations’ health
  • Embrace transparent, prevention-based, nutrient-powered public health
  • Creating an independent Food and Nutraceutical Agency marks a step toward science-led, health-focused policy reform that could significantly improve national health outcomes.

 References below

About Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa, M.D., Ph.D.Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa, M.D., Ph.D., is a renowned physician, scientist, and expert in the field of endocrinology, particularly known for his work in the areas of vitamin D and its clinical applications. He holds multiple academic positions and is recognized for his extensive research on the role of vitamin D in health and disease prevention. Dr. Wimalawansa has contributed to numerous scientific publications, exploring the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in various medical conditions, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. His work emphasizes the importance of optimal vitamin D levels for overall health and wellness, and he has been a vocal advocate for broader public health initiatives regarding vitamin D deficiency. In addition to his clinical and research expertise, Dr. Wimalawansa is also involved in education, speaking at international conferences and authoring books on the subject of vitamin D and its impact on human health.

Measure Your Levels Today!

Check your vitamin D, CRP, omega-3s and 6s, magnesium, and other important markers today as part of the vitamin D*action project.

Measure your:

  • Vitamin D
  • Magnesium PLUS Elements (including zinc, copper, selenium, mercury, cadmium and lead)
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids
  • hsCRP (for Inflammation)
  • HbA1c (for Blood Sugar)
  • and more

Did you know that each of the above can be measured at home using a simple blood spot test? As part of our ongoing research project, you can order your home blood spot test kit to get your levels, followed by education and steps to take to help you reach your optimal target levels. Start by enrolling and ordering your kit to measure each of the above important markers, and make sure you are getting enough of each to support better health and wellbeing!

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Reference:  (Prof Wimalawansa’s, Peer-Reviewed Publications 2023-2025):

  1. Wimalawansa, S.J. Prophylactic use of vitamin D to maintain a robust immune system against infections like SARS-CoV-2. Glob J Endocrinol Metab 3(5). GJEM. 000571. 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31031/GJEM.2023.03.000571
  2. Wimalawansa, S.J. Physiological basis for using vitamin D to improve health. Biomedicines 11, 1542. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061542, https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/6/1542
  3. Wimalawansa, S.J. Vitamin D: Cost-effectively overcome infections and chronic diseases. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/48753, 2023, DOI: 10.3390/nu15163623
  4. Sthanadar, IA, Zahid, M, Siraj, S, Malik, O, Wimalawansa, S.J. Impact of Type-2 diabetes (T2DM) on cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients with COVID-19, positive family history of diabetes and consanguinity. J Xi’an Shiyou University (Natural Sci Ed.), 19: 4, 558-572, 2023. https://www.xisdxjxsu.asia/viewarticle.php?aid=2145
  5. Wimalawansa, S.J, Dissanayake CB. Nanocrystal-induced chronic tubular-nephropathy in tropical countries: diagnosis, mitigation, and eradication. European Journal of Medical Research, 28, 221 (2023) DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01162-y https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40001-023-01162-y.pdf
  6. Wimalawansa, S.J. Controlling Chronic Diseases and acute infections with vitamin D sufficiency. Nutrients 2023, 15, 3623. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/16/3623
  7. Polonovita, AK and Wimalawansa, S.J. Molecular quantum and logic process of consciousness—Vitamin D big-data in covid-19—a case for incorporating machine learning in medicine. EJPBS, 10(12), 24-43, 2023. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10435649 https://storage.googleapis.com/journal-uploads/ejbps/article_issue/volume_10_december_issue_12/1702368786.pdf
  8. Wimalawansa, S.J. Infections and Autoimmunity—The immune system and vitamin D: A systematic review. Nutrients 2023, 15, 1-33. 3842. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/17/3842#B115-nutrients-15-03842
  9. Polonowita, AK and Wimalawansa, S.J. The impact of withholding cost-effective early treatments, such as vitamin D, on COVID-19: An analysis using an innovative logical paradigm. World J. Adv. Pharma. Life Sci., 05(2); 13–34, 2023. doi.org/10.53346/wjapls.2023.5.2.0080 https://zealjournals.com/wjapls/content/impact-withholding-cost-effective-early-treatments-such-vitamin-d-covid-19-analysis-using
  10. Wimalawansa, S.J. Decoding the paradox: Understanding elevated hospitalization and reduced mortality in SARS-CoV-2 variants. Int J Frontiers in Sci and Technol Res., 6(2): 1-20, 2024. DOI: 10.53294/ijfstr.2024.6.2.0031  https://frontiersrj.com/journals/ijfstr/sites/default/files/IJFSTR-2024-0031.pdf
  11. Wimalawansa, S.J. Unveiling the interplay—Vitamin D and ACE-2 molecular interactions in mitigating complications and deaths from SARS-CoV-2. Biology, 13(10), 831, 2024. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/10/831
  12. Wimalawansa, S.J. Physiology of vitamin D—Focusing on disease prevention. Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1666; https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/11/1666
  13. Wimalawansa, S.J. Unlocking insights: Navigating COVID-19 challenges and emulating future pandemic Resilience strategies with strengthening natural immunity. Heliyon, 10 (15), 2024L e34691. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34691
  14. Wimalawansa, S.J. Weiss ST, Hollis, BW. DOI: 10.3390/nu16223969: Nutrients, 16(22), 3969, 2024.  Integrating Endocrine, Genomic, and Extra-Skeletal Benefits of Vitamin D into National and Regional Clinical Guidelines. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/22/3969
  15. Wimalawansa, S.J. Vitamin D deficiency meets Hill’s criteria for causation in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, complications, and mortality: A systematic review, Nutrients, 17(3), 2024. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/3/599 , DOI: 10.3390/nu17030599
  16. Ambagaspitiya, SS, Appuhamillage, GA, Wimalawansa, SJ, Impact of vitamin D on skin aging and age-related dermatological conditions. Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed.) 2025; 30(1): 25463; https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/1/10.31083/FBL25463/htm
  17. Grant WB, Wimalawansa, SJ, Pludowski P, Cheng RZ. Vitamin D: Evidence-Based Health Benefits and Recommendations for Population Guidelines.
    Nutrients, 17(2), 277; 2025.  https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/2/277
  18. Razzaque M, Wimallawansa, S.J. Minerals and human health: From deficiency to toxicity. Nutrients,17(3), 454, 2025. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/3/454
  19. Wimalawansa, S.J., Enhancing the design of nutrient clinical trials for disease prevention —A focus on vitamin D: A Systematic review. Nutrition Reviews (nuae164), 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae164
  20. Wimalawansa, S.J., A Reduction of Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Systematic Review” https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/14/2333
  21. Wimalawansa, S.J., Reforming food, drug, and nutraceutical regulations to improve public health and reduce healthcare costs. Foods, 14(13), 2328 2025, DOI:10.3390/foods14132328, https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/13/2328

How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?

Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!

STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health

STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study

STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there

STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)

Enroll in D*action and Build Your Custom Test Kit!