The Specifics of Vitamin D Supplementation

Health practitioners including medical doctors are now aware of the importance of adequate vitamin D in the prevention of disease, including many cancers. Perhaps up to 90% of US senior citizens may be deficient in this nutrient along with 70% of the general public.

Get Tested You'll want to get tested before you start loading up on vitamin D supplements. While a deficiency can lead to problems, taking vitamin D when you don't need it can be harmful, and an excess can be toxic. The best test for vitamin D status is 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The best tests are currently being done by Quest labs.

Use Vitamin D-3 (Cholecalciferol) not D-2 (ergocalciferol) Some physicians are prescribing supplemental D to their patients. Prescription-based supplements use vitamin D-2. Vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) is a synthetic analogue of vitamin D with different characteristics. The American Journal of Nutrition(Vol. 84, No.4, October 2006) has recommended that the use of D2 be discontinued in favor of vitamin D3. Vitamin D-3 is the natural form, the form of vitamin D that your body makes when your skin is exposed to sunshine.

You can get the natural form of vitamin D-3 from sun exposure and also from supplements - Cod Liver Oil is an excellent source of this nutrient.

Watch Out for Vitamin A Deficiency when Supplementing with Vitamin D A relationship exists between vitamin A and vitamin D levels.If you inadvertently receive too much vitamin D, vitamin A will protect you (Beta carotene is a different nutrient than vitamin A and will not provide the same protection.) Cod liver oil naturally contains vitamin A - but you can also purchase the nutrient from fish oil concentrates.

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