Do I Need To Supplement My Diet With Vitamin D3?

Vegetarian D3

D3 Gummy Vitamin

Are You Vitamin D Deficient?  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 90 million people in the US are vitamin D deficient. Problems converting vitamin D from food or sunshine can set you up for a deficiency. Factors that increase your risk include:

  • Age 50 or older
  • Dark skin
  • Living in northern half of US
  • Overweight, obese, gastric bypass surgery
  • Liver or digestive diseases, such as Crohn's disease or celiac
  • Using sunscreen can interfere with getting vitamin D, but abandoning sunscreen can significantly increase your risk for skin cancer.

How Does Vitamin D Help Support My Body?

  • Vitamin D is critical for strong teeth and bones, from infancy into old age. It helps the body absorb calcium from food.
  • Studies suggest that people with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood may have a lower risk for colon and prostate cancer.
  • Less coronary artery disease and a decrease chance of developing type 1 diabetes.
  • Increased muscle strength and coordination.

Can My Doctor Test My Vitamin D Level?

  • There's a simple blood test used to check your vitamin D level, called the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test.
  • Current guidelines by the Institute of Medicine set a blood level of 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) as a goal for good bone health and overall health. However, some doctors say people should go higher, to about 30 ng/mL to get the full health benefits of vitamin D.

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

  • The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin D is 600 IU (international units) per day for adults up to age 70. People aged 71 and older should aim for 800 IU from their diet.
  • Most children and adolescents don’t get enough vitamin D from drinking milk. They should have a supplement with 400 IU to 600 IU.

Which Form Of Vitamin D Should I Use?

Vitamin D3 is considered the natural form of vitamin D and is the most active.


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