New Research on Vitamin D: How much do we really need?

A new report from the Institute of Medicine states that we need 600 international units (IU) of Vitamin D per day, which is 200 IU higher than previous recommendations set in 1997. However, it is difficult to get the new recommended amount of Vitamin D from food and sunlight. We would have to eat the equivalent of 2 servings of salmon, or 1 serving of salmon plus 3 cups of milk on a daily basis. In addition, vitamin D fortified foods such as orange juice and some breakfast cereals have such small amounts that it would be difficult to meet the requirement this way. We can also make Vitamin D from the sun, but it is more difficult to obtain in the winter months, and we often use sunscreen to block the sun’s rays in the summer, minimizing the amount of D we are actually getting.

The bottom line: Eat Vitamin D-rich foods on a daily basis and consider taking a Vitamin D supplement that is US Pharmacopeia (USP) certified to reach a daily dose of 600 IU. Ask your doctor about testing for Vitamin D deficiency so that you can be directed to necessary options for extra supplementation if necessary.

For more information and tips, contact your GPNS Health Coach at http://www.mygpns.com.