Answer: from Warren
We feel that the current levels of Vitamin D recommended by the FDA are not too far off the mark. Probably a bit low but more sensible than some of the levels being touted in the media.
It is quite easy to overdose with Vitamin D, in particular the D2 form which is what many of the high dose supplements are. Vitamin D is an interesting nutrient and the supplement form is quite different to that which your body makes.
For example, when you expose yourself to sunshine, your body makes Vitamin D but not the activated form. It builds up in your fatty tissues and remains there and is released as your body needs it. This is why it is possible in the summer time to get enough Vitamin D from sunshine to last you through the winter.
In contrast Vitamin D in supplement form has a totally different action and acts differently in the body than the Vitamin D produced by sunshine. The body is designed to get its Vitamin D from the sun as opposed to ingesting it.
The liver is not familiar with having to process high doses of Vitamin D orally and this may be a factor why some people have problems with it. I am very much of the opinion that if levels of a specific ingredient are not possible to get by food intake then you are likely to put added stress on the body by forcing it to accept these levels.
High dose Vitamin D supplements come into that category as does high dose Vitamin C. Embrace the sun…sensibly… and then you won’t need to take high doses of Vitamin D. And, to answer your question whether we will increase the amount of Vitamin D in our products at this stage the answer is no, as we remain unconvinced on the long term benefits of doing so.
For those people who believe they should take more it is a cheap ingredient to buy and they can always take it in addition to their Total Balance.
Life Extension in the USA has raised their advice to ingest daily Vit D3 to at least 5000iu. This is based on a great deal of research that continues to emerge on the importance of this vitamin.
Your advice appears to be based on no evidence, but is your subjective belief.
The evidence has become overwhelming in favour to increase the daily dose of Vit.D3,as it appears to have a very favourable influence on our health.
Are you suggesting that all the multiple research in the past two years that suggest a higher dosage is required is incorrect?
I would strongly suggest readers to look up the LE website and their subject matter on this subject.
Personally I follow the evidence and take approx. 4000iu daily of Vit D3 ( less if I have been in the sun). Agreed that sun is the best way – we are lucky this summer in NZ! However many people avoid sun exposure due to the skin cancer risk. I try for 30 to 40 minutes daily to expose my trunk and legs which should give about 1000iu’s.
John April 09 2010