How can vitamin d help you

You can now get 50, IU tablets over the counter. There are patients with specific issues who might need a prescription for high levels of vitamin D, but for most people, that amount will raise your vitamin D level too high. Babies should be getting smaller amounts in their first year of life, between and IU. Most people should be fine. Testing is important only for certain populations: for people who are institutionalized; for patients with a gastrointestinal disorder like inflammatory bowel disease or osteoporosis ; those who have had weight loss surgery; those on anti-convulsant medications; and children who are immobilized and not outside and active.

Breast milk doesn't have much vitamin D in it. That's what spurred a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics that every breastfed infant be given vitamin D if they're being given liquid multivitamin drops, they're getting enough of it. There are claims that one needs to get a certain amount of sun exposure every day in order to produce enough vitamin D to be healthy.

The majority of people can get their vitamin D from nutritional supplements and from vitamin D-fortified foods. There are some people who are typically not dermatologists or experts in the biology of skin cancer who have advocated for tanning to get vitamin D. But we know that UVB light causes skin cancer and that protecting yourself against it makes sense. As a doctor who treats patients who have melanomas, I want the general public to be advised that under no circumstances can use of a tanning bed or tanning in general be justified on the basis of vitamin D.

Take a supplement instead. Click here for more information about Yale Medicine's Endocrinology Department. Or to make an appointment call If Vitamin D deficiency continues for long periods, it may result in complications , such as:.

Getting sufficient sunlight is the best way to help the body produce enough vitamin D. Plentiful food sources of vitamin D include:. Here, learn how to get more vitamin D from the sun. People can measure vitamin D intake in micrograms mcg or international units IU. One microgram of vitamin D is equal to 40 IU. The recommended daily intakes of vitamin D are as follows:. Sensible sun exposure on bare skin for 5—10 minutes, 2—3 times per week, allows most people to produce sufficient vitamin D.

However, vitamin D breaks down quite quickly, meaning that stores can run low, especially in winter. The upper limit that healthcare professionals recommend for vitamin D is 4, IU per day for an adult.

Excessive consumption of vitamin D can lead to over calcification of bones and the hardening of blood vessels, kidney, lung, and heart tissues. The most common symptoms of excessive vitamin D include headache and nausea. However, too much vitamin D can also lead to the following:. Excess vitamin D usually occurs from taking too many supplements.

It is best to get vitamin D from natural sources. If someone is taking supplements, they should choose their brand carefully, as the FDA do not monitor the safety or purity of supplements.

There is a selection of vitamin D supplements available for purchase online. It is the total diet and eating pattern that is most important in disease prevention and good health. It is better to eat a diet with a variety of nutrients than to concentrate on one nutrient as the key to good health. New research examines whether genetic predisposition to high vitamin D levels affects overall health and mortality risk. What are some of the best omega-3 supplements?

Learn about the possible benefits of these supplements and what to look for when buying them. The best vitamin brands are transparent about their testing and quality control practices. Here, find 14 of these brands and learn about what they…. Reviewed: May 7, Medically Reviewed. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. August 7, National Academies Press.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. July Randomized Controlled Trial. Study Design Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library.

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