Vitamin D

The RDA for adults is 600IU daily with an upper limit of 4,000IU per day. For most adults, 1000-2000IU per day is adequate; vitamin D3 can be taken in larger doses once per week. Full Answer

Two forms of vitamin D supplement exist: D2 (ergocalciferol, derived from plants) and D3 (cholecalciferol, derived from mammals). D3 is more rapidly absorbed, but either is sufficient for treatment. Interestingly, small studies showed that sunlight... Full Answer

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel concluded that a total intake of 600 IU/day vitamin D from food and supplements would get most North Americans to a level of 20 nanograms per milliliter (the blood level of vitamin D that is considered... Full Answer

Ways to increase your vitamin D intake: 15 minutes of sun exposure a day Take 1,000 IUs of Vitamin D daily Eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, salmon, mackerel and tuna. Full Answer

Vitamin D3 or the sunshine vitamin is one of those multitasking vitamins that are thought to protect you from osteoporosis, cancer, and possibly diabetes. It is also essential for calcium absorption, another super nutrient. Your skin makes vitamin... Full Answer

Also called cholecalciferol, vitamin D3 plays a number of roles in our bodies, including: Promoting absorption of calcium and bone health Boosting immune function Reducing inflammation Healthy neuromuscular function Protecting against some... Full Answer

Constipation is a possible side effect of taking too much vitamin D3 (the form of D that the body produces from sunlight). According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, the maximum daily amount of vitamin D3 that... Full Answer

The best sources of vitamin D3 are salmon, tuna, mackerel (especially the flesh), and fish liver oils. Beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks also contain small amounts. If these foods don't sound very appealing to you, there is good news: your body... Full Answer

Prescription forms of vitamin D3 can be used in small amounts when psoriasis affects less than 20% of the body's surface. These drugs, such as calcipotriene (Dovonex) and calcitriol (Vectical), slow the rate of skin-cell growth and are very... Full Answer

A vitamin D deficiency can weaken your bones and put you at risk for osteoporosis. In this WisePatient video, internist Carlos Rios, MD, of The Mount Sinai Medical Center, describes how a simple blood test is all it takes to check vitamin D levels. Full Answer