Taken in appropriate doses, vitamin D is generally considered safe. However, taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements can be harmful. In addition, taking a supplement that contains too much vitamin D can rarely be toxic. It can cause hypercalcemia, a condition in which too much calcium builds up in the blood, which could form deposits in the arteries or soft tissue.
It can also predispose people to painful kidney stones. Heart disease Vitamin D is important for heart and blood vessel health and for normal blood pressure. Some studies show that vitamin D supplements may help lower blood cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, two of the main risk factors for heart disease. If you're overweight or obese, taking vitamin D in doses greater than 20 mcg (800 IU) a day plus calcium could, in fact, increase blood pressure.
Overall, clinical trials indicate that vitamin D supplements do not reduce the risk of developing or dying from heart disease, even if you have low blood levels of this vitamin. However, some experts say that people with healthy levels don't need vitamin D supplements, as is the case with most people. In other words, they argue that, in healthy people, vitamin D is not, as some expected, a way to prevent diseases. You can't get too much vitamin D from sunlight because your skin limits the amount of vitamin D it produces.
Both can help correct vitamin D deficiency, but most doctors recommend vitamin D3 because it's a little more active and, therefore, a little more effective. However, some people may need a higher dose, including those with a bone health disorder and those with a condition that interferes with the absorption of vitamin D or calcium, says Dr. It is clearly unlikely to be beneficial to give more vitamin D to people with normal levels of vitamin D. Although some studies have found an association between low levels of vitamin D in the blood and various diseases, a vitamin D deficiency has not been conclusively demonstrated It actually causes a disease, says Dr.
However, the study was not designed to address the many people with vitamin D deficiency, for whom vitamin D might be useful. There is also conflicting research on the relationship between vitamin D and other diseases, including aging. According to the NHS, people only need to be outside for a short period of time, with their hands and forearms uncovered and without sunscreen, to get enough vitamin D between March and October. Still, most experts generally agree that even vitamin D supplements can benefit those with very low levels.
Suma Uday, co-author of the article and a doctoral researcher at the university, says that these deficiencies are due to vitamin D supplementation programs for infants not being properly implemented in the United Kingdom and not being controlled. Other studies show that vitamin D supplements don't stop most people with prediabetes from developing diabetes. However, if you live far north or south of the equator, your vitamin D levels may fluctuate depending on the season. Maximum daily vitamin D limits include intake from all sources of food, beverages and supplements, and are listed below in micrograms (mcg) and international units (IU).
