Published on June 11, 2025
Dr. David Berger shares about vitamin D and other protocols, and how he rarely sees ear infections, allergies, eczema and autism in his practice
Key Points
- Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common and often the underlying cause of immune dysfunction in children.
- What matters most is getting vitamin D levels into the optimal range, not just how much someone takes.
- Dr. Berger sees dramatically fewer cases of asthma, allergies, eczema, and ear infections in his pediatric patients.
- Optimizing vitamin D levels makes other treatments like detox and nutritional therapies significantly more effective.
Today’s video features an interview with Dr. David Berger (“Dr. David”), a board-certified pediatrician with more than 25 years of clinician experience who has gained a national reputation for his expertise in holistic pediatric primary care. Dr. David specializes in using nutritional and lifestyle therapies for autism, ADHD, and related disorders, and immune dysregulation such as allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders. Due to high demand from his pediatric patient families, Dr. David expanded his practice to include preconception and prenatal counseling, testing, and treatment to optimize the health of both women and infants.
In the video interview below, he discusses how he uses vitamin D and other interventions in his practice along with the astounding results he has seen over the years.
“Most often, the disease is not the problem – it’s the symptom, and it’s due to something throwing the immune system into a hyper-inflammatory state. Vitamin D deficiency can be considered the diagnosis and the underlying problem to address. When corrected, very often symptoms resolve.”
Watch the Video
Key Points Discussed:
- the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in his practice
- the need for retesting to make sure an individual’s vitamin D level is responding as expected to the dose
“It doesn’t matter to me how much vitamin D a person takes – it’s all about getting the level right.”
- his personal experience with asthma and allergies being alleviated after addressing his vitamin D levels
- the biggest effect of his vitamin D protocol is seen in patients with autoimmune diseases or hyperactive immune systems
- he is a pediatrician who hardly sees ear infections, allergies, eczema and autism! Wow…
- “Also stops recurring illnesses, such as ear infections and colds in the little ones.” – especially important in these cases to also check zinc levels and supplement with both
- other important nutrients and measurements include zinc, iron/anemia, MTHFR, toxins, others based on patient symptoms, lifestyle, and history
- autism rates in his practice are also incredibly low, even among parents who have already had an autistic child – he is pioneering the Preconception to Infancy (P2i) project and certification to share what he does so others can follow suit in practice to have the healthiest pregnancies and babies possible
- the importance of identifying specific types of toxins in the body to do the proper type of detox
“I would never say it’s just the vitamin D. It’s hugely important and one of the first things I want to tackle even with a long protocol – I always tell my patients start with the vitamin D first, get your levels up as soon as possible, and then everything else is going to work better that way.”
About Dr. David Berger
Dr. David Berger (“Dr. David”), a board-certified pediatrician with more than 25 years of clinician experience, has gained a national reputation for his expertise in holistic pediatric primary care, with specialties in nutritional and lifestyle therapies for autism, ADHD, and related disorders, and immune dysregulation such as allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders. He also treats adults with these medical conditions. Dr. David offers preconception and prenatal counseling, testing, and treatment to optimize the health of both women and infants. An expert in the field of medical cannabis, Dr. David is also at the forefront of pediatricians who utilize cannabis to treat patients under the age of 18.
Dr. David goes above and beyond to ensure each of his patients knows he genuinely cares about their well-being. His philosophy is grounded in an individualized approach to medicine that honors each individual’s unique life circumstances.
Dr. David has been in private practice since 1997 and is an advanced practitioner of biomedical therapies, advocating for the Autism Research Institute philosophy since 1999. In 2005, Dr. David opened Wholistic Pediatrics & Family Care, his medical practice in Tampa, Florida. In 2010, he was appointed assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. Two years later, he helped develop and lead the Preconception to Infancy (P2i) Portland Think Tank, from which the international P2i initiative was developed. Dr. David is currently writing a book called “Making Healthy Kids: From Preconception to Infancy and Beyond!”
IG: @choosewholistic
FB: Facebook.com/choosewholistic
YouTube: youtube.com/@drdavidmd
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!
Start Here to Measure Your Levels
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)
