Newspapers seem to like headlines shouting that “Vitamins Don’t Matter.” However, the studies showing that people taking supplements get no discernible health benefits really apply only to the average person in an ordinary situation. And even then, some studies show value from supplements.
For anyone who has cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other health conditions, vitamin D3 supplements matter. If you need them, you’ll want to take them properly for the maximum effect.
How to Take Vitamin D3 Supplements:
Q. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago and my doctor has recommended vitamin D supplements to boost my immune system. Even after taking a relatively high dose of vitamin D3 (4,000 IU daily), my blood level is mediocre.
What else can I do to raise it?
A. Try taking your vitamin D3 supplements with a meal that contains fat. A recent study showed that a meal with fat increased vitamin D blood levels by around 32 percent compared to a fat free meal (Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Feb., 2015).
It doesn’t have to be French fries or fried chicken, though. A salad dressed with an olive oil-based dressing would work. So would avocado in guacamole or half-and-half in your coffee.
Are Vitamin D3 Supplements Too High a Dose?
Q. My doctor has prescribed vitamin D3, 5,000 IU, for me to take daily. I was not concerned until I read that 4,000 IU should be the maximum one takes. What will happen if I take the prescribed dose?
A. Excess vitamin D over time could lead to kidney stones and high calcium levels in the blood. Symptoms could include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and pain, dehydration and thirst.
We suggest you check back with your physician to confirm the dose and ask how long you were supposed to take it. Many people do fine for a limited time on a dose above the upper limit, and that may be what your doctor had in mind. Sometimes people need that kind of high dose to raise low blood levels into the desired range.
The doctor may have based this prescription on a blood test showing your level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is too low. 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the form of vitamin D circulating in the bloodstream. After all, the best way to tell if you are getting enough or too much vitamin D is with a blood test.
Learn More:
You can learn more about vitamin D supplements from our eGuide to Vitamin D and Optimal Health. This online resource provides more information on interpreting lab results and deciding on supplements and dosing.
