Edwin Y. Endo, OD Optometrists, Eye Doctors Of Honolulu

 

Today we’re going to talk about how long to take vitamin D and vitamin D dosage. There seems to be a lot of confusion around vitamin D3 that I want to help clear up. Most people take 600 IUs to 2,000 IUs of vitamin D3, and they think that’s enough. But is it? About 75% of the population is deficient in vitamin D. I believe vitamin D is the most important fat-soluble vitamin—especially for the immune system. Studies on vitamin D: 1. In the first study, the group took 1,000-2,000 IUs of vitamin D 1-2 times per week for 1 month and did not increase their vitamin D levels at all. 2. In the second study, the group to 1,000-2,000 IUs of vitamin D, and it took 4 months to elevate their vitamin D. 3. In the third study, it took 3 months to achieve the normal level of vitamin D by taking 1,600 IUs of vitamin D. • It takes a lot longer than you think to fix a vitamin D deficiency. • There are various things that prevent the absorption of vitamin D. Various things that can prevent the absorption of vitamin D: • Gut damage • Age • Skin pigment • Subcutaneous fat • Sun exposure • Metabolic issues • Season • Polymorphism • Chronic infection Vitamin D dosage: • You may want to consider taking 10,000 IUs of vitamin D per day for maintenance, but you may want to take more if there is an autoimmune issue involved. You would have to consume something like 100,000-200,000 IUs of vitamin D for months or years to create complications. The biggest complication of vitamin D toxicity could be hypercalcemia. Still, to help minimize the risk of hypercalcemia, you could drink 2.5 liters of water per day. You could also simply avoid consuming calcium in supplements as well as cheese.