Vitamin D Bottom Lines

Awareness about vitamin D has certainly surged the past few years. More people than ever are getting their blood levels tested and using it in their daily supplement routine. Unfortunately, many are still confused about how much a person needs, how much is too much, and what the best forms of Vitamin D are.

Bottom Line #1: Everyone should be tested. Especially in climates where sun exposure is limited.

Bottom Line #2: Vitamin D3 is the most appropriate form of the Vitamin. (1)

Bottom Line #3: Your body makes about 10,000 IU of vitamin D a day with full body exposure to the sun for one half hour. (2)

Bottom Line #4 : It is very difficult to take too much vitamin D. Some research suggests you would have to take over 40,000 IU/day for years to have any problems*(3) For every person that takes too much there are probably thousands who are deficient. The average adult with little or no sun exposure should consider 5000 IU/day as a reasonable starting point, then refine your dosage based on your blood test.

Bottom Line # 5: Optimum blood levels are 50-80 ng/Ml. (4)

Bottom Line # 6 : Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to a wide array of very common symptoms. Make a point to get your levels checked and then corrected. You owe it to the ones you love and yourself. We are happy to provide a very high quality vitamin D supplement at KMHC at a very reasonable cost. Stop by anytime.

(1) Armas LAG, Hollis BW, Heaney RP. Vitamin D2 is much less effective than Vitamiin D3 in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2004; 89(11):5387-91.

(2) Holick MF. Environmental factors that influence the cutaneous production of vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Mar; 61 638S-645S.

(3) Vieth R. Vitamin D supplementation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, and safety. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:842-52.

(4) Cannell, J The Vitamin D Council.

*people with parathyroid gland problems, cancer, and granuloma based disease need to consult an endocrinologist before using vitamin D supplements