Q. My doctor prescribed 50,000 IUs of vitamin D a week for about five weeks. After reading the recent news on vitamin D, I’m concerned that I am getting way too much.
A. A panel of experts recently modified their recommendation for daily intake of vitamin D from 200 International Units to 600 IUs. The Food and Nutrition Board suggested that most people do not need to take any extra vitamin D or calcium and should get their daily needs met through sun exposure or diet.
Your doctor is best able to determine if you are still deficient in this crucial nutrient. That is why he prescribed the large dose you have been taking.
So you can better understand this complex issue, we are sending you our Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency with an in-depth discussion of pros and cons, supplementation and the dangers of overdose.
The new guidelines suggest an upper limit of 4,000 IUs of vitamin D per day for healthy people. A weekly dose of 50,000 IUs exceeds that but is prescribed for a limited time to correct a serious deficiency.
