The consequences of supplementation with excessive doses of vitamin D are considerable, leading to intoxication with severe complications, such as kidney damage and potentially fatal outcomes.
The Endocrine Society in the USA recommends supplementing with a daily dose of 1000 IU for children who are over a year old and 1500–2000 IU for adults, so as to achieve a concentration of at least [25(OH)D] 75 nmol/L [48].
It is important for bone and muscle strength, immune function, and healthy skin. It may also help prevent numerous diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, and infectious diseases. You can get vitamin D from food or supplements, and your body can make D3 when exposed to sunshine.
Higher doses may be needed for some people, such as those with vitamin D deficiency, hypoparathyroidism, and other conditions. However, most people do not need more than 2,000 IU of vitamin D a day. For most people, vitamin D toxicity only occurs with vitamin D doses above 10,000 IU per day.
Studies have shown that taking between 40,000 to 100,000 IU (1,000-2,500 micrograms) each day for several months can cause vitamin D toxicity. This causes a build-up of calcium in the blood, a condition known as hypercalcemia, which leads to a wide variety of symptoms.
Mayo Clinic recommends that adults get at least the RDA of 600 IU. However, 1000 to 2000 IU per day of vitamin D from a supplement is generally safe, should help people achieve an adequate blood level of vitamin D, and may have additional health benefits.
Is it better to take vitamin D every day or once a week?
The recommended amount of vitamin D to take daily for adults aged 19–70 is 15 micrograms (mcg), or 600 IU. You can get vitamin D in food and supplements, and your body naturally makes vitamin D when you're exposed to the sun. Food sources include beef liver, cheese, and fatty fish.
Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years. Children aged 1 to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day.
The average intact parathyroid hormone levels were 24.2 pg/ml (D3) vs. 30.2 pg/ml (no D3). In summary, long-term supplementation with vitamin D3 in doses ranging from 5000 to 50,000 IUs/day appears to be safe.
1,000 IU is not the same as 1,000 mg. As of now, no vitamin or mineral has a conversion factor that is equal to one. Therefore, there is no case in which these two values could equal one another. With that in mind, you should always check the conversion factors of the vitamin(s) that you're considering.
In people with vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/mL, they often start with 50,000 IU of vitamin D3, once a week for 6 to 8 weeks. After that, a dose of 800 IU to 2,000 IU per day can help maintain vitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL.
Don't take very high doses of vitamin D, as if you do this over a long period of time, it can cause too much calcium to build up in the body, which can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and heart.
How much vitamin D3 should I take daily if I have a deficiency?
The amount of vitamin D you need to treat your deficiency depends on how deficient you are and your risk factors. Your doctor may start you on a higher dose of 6,000 IU of D3 a day. Once your level goes above 30 nanograms per milliliter, you will usually take a 1,000-2,000 IU supplement per day.
What happens if you take vitamin D3 and you don't need it?
In addition, taking a supplement that contains too much vitamin D can be toxic in rare cases. It can lead to hypercalcemia, a condition in which too much calcium builds up in the blood, potentially forming deposits in the arteries or soft tissues. It may also predispose people to painful kidney stones.
Ask a doctor before using cholecalciferol if you have allergies, diabetes, or phenylketonuria (PKU). Too much vitamin D could harm an unborn baby or a nursing baby.
Yes, it is generally safe to take 1000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. This dosage falls within the recommended range for maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D, especially for individuals who may not get enough sun exposure or have specific dietary needs.
This study demonstrates that the administration of oral cholecalciferol 5,000 IU daily is superior to 2,000 IU daily for 3 months to treat mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency. These dosages are safe and effective and results in improvements in parathyroid hormone activity and muscle strength.
The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU) for children up to age 12 months, 600 IU for people ages 1 to 70 years, and 800 IU for people over 70 years.
Ideally it's best to quit gradually in order to give your body a chance to adjust. You're least likely to struggle through the withdrawal process if you take several weeks to decrease how much you take.
Extremely high vitamin D levels are harmful and can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, excessive thirst and kidney stones. Vitamin D supplements can interact with certain medications, so check with your doctor before starting one.
At-home vitamin D tests enable you to collect a blood sample at home for testing and then mail it to a laboratory for analysis. Test results provide information about whether your vitamin D levels are too low, too high, or in the ideal range determined by the laboratory that analyzes your sample.
