We’ve been taking 10 micro grams daily for some years now. I do wear sunblock on my face every day, and am more likely to be wearing long sleeved shirts to avoid sunburn, so despite being outside for some hours most days, I’m probably not getting my fair share naturally.
Yes, I must admit, that’s what I find a bit confusing - which strength of vitamin D tablet should Mr/Mrs average take? (ie someone who doesn’t have lots of different health issues that may require a stronger dosage).
I’ve read on some health sites that taking too strong a strength (unless specifically prescribed/recommended by your GP), may harm, for example, your liver - but is this true? I suppose it’s making me wary.
I don't think you should take anything without having a blood test and consulting your doctor. In Summer you could be ODing if you're getting enough from the sun and then adding to it. As per previous post, NHS guidance here: Vitamin D - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
"Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.
If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms/400IU a day will be enough for most people.
Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful."
One of my cousins has a doctorate and was very high up in the Pharmaceutical industry, he said your bones and cartilage harden and get brittle as you get older so taking these is a good idea: Osteocare® Glucosamine & Chondroitin | Vitabiotics
People of darker skin usually need more as it's harder to get anywhere near enough from the sun in the UK.
I will do a course of blood tests to check again next year. I was presecribed 5000IU as blood tests showed I was very low, despite regular Vit D supplements and being out in the sun a lot.
Many doctors do recommend Vit D supplements, particularly in winter, when we cannot make it ourselves from the sun. Hight doses may be necessary for certain diseases, but should be at your docs. suggestion. There is certainly no need for a blood test before taking Vit.D, most docs. would not do one for that reason. Levels in the UK are generally low, in some cases dangerously so. Rickets has made a comeback in Scotland.
For what it is worth: I take it, I am a doctor, and no I haven't had my levels checked. I am sure others on here know better, but then everyone is an expert.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Hubby got dosage info from n.h.s page, recommended no more than 4000 iu daily unless told by doctor. We only take that dose twice a week so seen to be inside the limits
It’s very confusing when some packs of vitamin D are labelled in micrograms and some in IUs particularly when the dosage in IUs has so many 00s in it. Ive just looked up the Boots website to see how many IUs are in the 10microgram tablets I take, and it doesn’t give them! It does give the IU value for the 75microgram tablets, but only in a small line at the bottom of the page. On a side note, is it polar bear liver that is highly toxic because of the Vitamin D stored in it? Not a personal problem, not a big fan of liver, but a huge fan of polar bears.
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Vitamin D - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
As per previous post, NHS guidance here:
Vitamin D - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
"Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.
If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms/400IU a day will be enough for most people.
Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful."
One of my cousins has a doctorate and was very high up in the Pharmaceutical industry, he said your bones and cartilage harden and get brittle as you get older so taking these is a good idea:
Osteocare® Glucosamine & Chondroitin | Vitabiotics
It has D in it too.
Hight doses may be necessary for certain diseases, but should be at your docs. suggestion.
There is certainly no need for a blood test before taking Vit.D, most docs. would not do one for that reason.
Levels in the UK are generally low, in some cases dangerously so. Rickets has made a comeback in Scotland.
For what it is worth: I take it, I am a doctor, and no I haven't had my levels checked. I am sure others on here know better, but then everyone is an expert.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Ive just looked up the Boots website to see how many IUs are in the 10microgram tablets I take, and it doesn’t give them!
It does give the IU value for the 75microgram tablets, but only in a small line at the bottom of the page.
On a side note, is it polar bear liver that is highly toxic because of the Vitamin D stored in it? Not a personal problem, not a big fan of liver, but a huge fan of polar bears.