Vitamin D

Essential Intake

By Dr Nigel Plummer, Microbiologist

Published September 3rd, 2010

A surge of new scientific studies have provided unchallenged evidence of the profound effects that vitamin D has on a whole range of chronic diseases. Moreover, this research also indicates that the general population is chronically deficient in Vitamin D and that recommended intakes have been woefully inadequate to provide optimum status.

Evaluation of all types of epidemiological and intervention-based studies now provides unequivocal evidence for the role of vitamin D in helping to lower the risk of developing virtually all types of chronic disease.

It is now recommended that the serum concentration of vitamin D should be at least 75 nmol/l of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). To obtain this serum level, between 25µg and 75µg of vitamin D needs to be consumed daily.

Restriction of sunlight reduces vitamin D status, with the result that 60% of all adults in the UK are not obtaining enough vitamin D naturally.

In fact, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) has recommended that the upper safe limit for vitamin D be raised to 250µg/day (10,000iu) from the current Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) limit of 50µg in the USA. In the UK the (RDA) Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamin D is just 5µg.

Current scientific thinking on the importance of adequate intake of vitamin D is causing a revolution in how this vitamin should be supplemented. Many recommendations of daily intake are now in excess of the upper safe limit previously advised. As most multivitamin products only provide 200-400iu, the only viable option to substantially increase vitamin D intake is to provide the vitamin as an individual supplement. 

Vitamin D3 is the most beneficial rather than Vitamin D2

Ensure the supplement you are taking is bio-available such as BioLife chewable Vitamin D3 with no artificial ingredients

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