I was shopping for a vitamin D supplement this past weekend and noticed that there was three options; 2,000, 5,000 or 10,000 IU per capsule. My economic mind reasoned that 400 capsules of 10,000 IU seemed to be the best deal. The directions on the back say to take 1 capsule daily with food. I was a bit concerned that 10,000 IU a day might exceed the upper limit.
Then, today I was given this article by Bob Wright. The study, conducted at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, showed that in people whose vitamin D levels rose beyond normal had a greater risk for heart problems. Thus, it is important that you speak with a physician about your vitamin D levels so that you can be properly advised. Because, as study leader Dr. Muhammad Amer says, “at some point it can be too much of a good thing.”
I have been advised to take 2,000 to 5,000 a day by my doctor on a regular basis. My guess is 10,000 a day is intended for a short term therapeutic dose for those with known deficiencies. Just being in the sun isn't necessarily enough. My 12 year old daughter, here in Hawaii, after a comprehensive battery of blood tests for her fatigue and dysthemia was found to be very Vitamin D deficient, and things have been clearing up dramatically with 4,000 units a day short term. I have a good friend whose doctor had her take 100,000 in one month, then drop down to the 2,000 a day, and she has had dramatic improvement in her health overall, especially with fatigue. Good point, though, more of a good thing is not necessarily better, right?
ReplyDeleteJust like calories!