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Full Answer
What happens if you don’t get enough vitamin D?
In recent years, research has associated low blood levels of the vitamin with higher risks of everything from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer to mood disorders and dementia. The findings have not gone unnoticed.
Is it safe to take vitamin D supplements?
To safely take vitamin D supplements, it's best to stick to some simple guidelines: Watch your numbers. If you're taking a vitamin D supplement, you probably don't need more than 600 to 800 IU per day, which is adequate for most people.
Is too much vitamin D bad for your bones?
Although the research is still hazy, some people will benefit from taking vitamin D supplements, along with sufficient calcium intake, to promote their bone health. But they don't require large amounts of vitamin D to get the benefit. "More is not necessarily better. In fact, more can be worse," says Dr. Manson.
Should you get a vitamin D test?
"Vitamin D testing is one of the top Medicare lab tests performed in the United States in recent years," says Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, the Michael and Lee Bell Professor of Women's Health at Harvard Medical School. "This is really surprising for a test that is recommended for only a small subset of the population."
What are the symptoms of vitamin D overuse?
The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Vitamin D toxicity might progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.
Does anything block the absorption of vitamin D?
Some factors that may reduce or block its absorption include: Conditions such as celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, and cystic fibrosis. These can all affect the intestines, preventing them from absorbing vitamin D found in food.
Why is vitamin D not recommended?
Too much vitamin D can cause calcium to accumulate in your blood, which can damage your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys.
What are the benefits and possible drawbacks of supplemental doses of vitamin D?
Vitamin D: Pros and ConsVitamin D is really a hormone.Vitamin D may improve cholesterol numbers.Patients with higher levels of vitamin D at the time of breast cancer diagnosis may live longer.Studies show it may slow progression, but is not yet proven.Low vitamin D levels carry a greater risk of death.More items...•
What do you have to take with vitamin D to absorb it?
Better Absorbed With Meals Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it does not dissolve in water and is absorbed best in your bloodstream when paired with high-fat foods. For this reason, it's recommended to take vitamin D supplements with a meal to enhance absorption.
What is the fastest way to absorb vitamin D?
Sunlight is actually the most efficient way to get your daily recommended dose of vitamin D, as your skin is quite effective at producing it naturally when exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun. For most adults, ten to twenty minutes in direct sunlight is enough to absorb enough vitamin D for the day.
Who should not take vitamin D3?
Who should not take VITAMIN D3?sarcoidosis.high amount of phosphate in the blood.high amount of calcium in the blood.excessive amount of vitamin D in the body.kidney stones.decreased kidney function.
Can I take 5000 IU of vitamin D3 everyday?
In summary, long-term supplementation with vitamin D3 in doses ranging from 5000 to 50,000 IUs/day appears to be safe.
Can I take vitamin D supplements without consulting a doctor?
“It is very unsafe to take Vitamin D or any supplement without consulting a doctor or health practitioner as there have been cases where patients have shown toxic levels of Vitamin D in their blood,” warns Syed.
Can vitamin D cause calcification of arteries?
Experimental studies have shown that excessive vitamin D activities can induce vascular calcification, and such vascular pathology can be reversed by reducing vitamin D activities. The human relevance of these experimental studies is not clear, as vitamin D toxicity is relatively rare in the general population.
Are there any side effects to taking D3?
Too much vitamin D can cause harmful high calcium levels. Tell your doctor right away if any of these signs of high vitamin D/calcium levels occur: nausea/vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, mental/mood changes, unusual tiredness.
What are the negative effects of vitamin D3?
What are the side effects of Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3))?chest pain, feeling short of breath;growth problems (in a child taking cholecalciferol); or.early signs of vitamin D overdose--weakness, metallic taste in your mouth, weight loss, muscle or bone pain, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.
How do I know if I need vitamin D?
The best way to know whether you need a vitamin D supplement is to check a level. If you’re young, lean, and spend a lot of time in the sun, you may meet your vitamin D requirements through lifestyle alone. But if you’re in one of these higher-risk groups, see where you stand, so you’ll know whether you need a supplement and how much you should take. These are signs risk factors for vitamin D deficiency: 1 Having darker skin 2 Spending little time in the sun 3 Living in a Northern climate 4 Being overweight or obese 5 Being over the age of 50 6 Wearing sunscreen most of the time 7 Having certain medical conditions such conditions involving the digestive tract, kidney disease, or liver disease
How much fat should I take for vitamin D?
To do that, consume a vitamin D supplement with a food or snack that contains fat. The optimal amount of fat is around 11 grams. Too much fat may reduce absorption. Be sure you’re taking an appropriate dose too. There’s less room for error when you take a fat-soluble vitamin, like vitamin D, since your tissues store the excess.
How much vitamin D should I take a day?
If you take a vitamin D supplement, don’t take over 4,000 I.U. per day unless you’re under the care of a physician who is monitoring your levels, and most experts don’t recommend taking more than 2,000 I.U.
What are the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency?
These are signs risk factors for vitamin D deficiency: Having certain medical conditions such conditions involving the digestive tract, kidney disease, or liver disease.
How much sun exposure is needed for vitamin D?
Most people need 15 minutes of sun exposure most days of the week to synthesize enough vitamin D for health, and darker skin people and those who are overweight need even more. That’s why more people are taking a vitamin D supplement these days. However, it’s best to discuss this with your doctor first since it’s possible to get too much vitamin D ...
What happens if you take too much calcium?
When you get too much in supplement form, you absorb more calcium from your digestive tract. This can lead to an elevated blood level of calcium and a build-up of calcium in your urine. When calcium accumulates in the urine, it increases the risk of kidney stones.
Can vitamin D cause kidney failure?
Taking large quantities of vitamin D can also lead to kidney failure. However, this is uncommon and occurs when people take far above the recommended dosage for a long period of time. The risk of toxicity is only a problem if you take a vitamin D supplement. When you get your vitamin D from sun exposure, your body has ways ...
Why is vitamin D deficiency high in northern states?
If you live in the northern states (latitudes north of 37°), you are at higher risk for a vitamin D deficiency because your skin may not be able to produce any vitamin D from sun exposure during the winter months. Your age. Your skin's ability to produce vitamin D drops with age.
What diseases can lead to vitamin D deficiency?
Certain health conditions. People with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, or cystic fibrosis, among others, may have trouble absorbing vitamin D, which can lead to deficiencies.
Why is milk fortified?
The U.S. government started a vitamin D milk fortification program in the 1930s to combat rickets, a bone-weakening disease caused by vitamin D deficiency , which was a major public health problem at the time. Breakfast cereals and some types of orange juice may also be fortified, but this varies by brand.
How much vitamin D do African Americans have?
People with darker skin typically have lower levels of vitamin D than lighter-skinned individuals. African Americans have, on average, about half as much vitamin D in their blood compared with white Americans.
Can vitamin D deficiency cause disease?
Despite the fact that some studies have found an association between low blood levels of vitamin D and various diseases, it hasn't been proven conclusively that a vitamin D deficiency actually causes disease , says Dr. Manson. For example, a person with a serious illness may have a vitamin D deficiency.
Can you see how much vitamin D you are getting?
The FDA has made it easier for you to see how much you're getting, thanks to new nutrition labels that list the vitamin D content of foods. Let your doctor know. "Many people are taking high-dose supplements on their own and their doctors may not even be aware of it," says Dr. Manson.
Is vitamin D good for bone health?
Although the research is still hazy, some people will benefit from taking vitamin D supplements, along with sufficient calcium intake, to promote their bone health. But they don't require large amounts of vitamin D to get the benefit. "More is not necessarily better. In fact, more can be worse," says Dr. Manson.