Do you need to take vitamin D supplements every day?

Contents:

Medical Video: Vitamin D Supplements

The human body does need vitamin D. Because, vitamin D functions to absorb calcium and phosphorus in the bones, strengthen relationships between cells, and enhance the immune system. Apart from sunlight and food, vitamin D can also be obtained in supplement form. However, should you take additional vitamin D supplements? Find out in the following review.

What are vitamin D supplements?

Vitamin D is known as sunshine vitamins. Yes, you can get this vitamin for free only by regularly basking in the morning. In addition, vitamin D can also be obtained from foods rich in vitamin D and supplements.

Vitamin D supplements are available in various doses, ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 IU per day, 50,000 IU per week, or sometimes even more. A study shows that taking vitamin D supplements can help reduce pain and depressive symptoms in women with type 2 diabetes. Not only that, intake of vitamin D is additionally proven to prevent cognitive impairment in people with Parkinson's disease and strengthen muscles in pregnant women.

Do you need to take vitamin D supplements every day?

benefits of vitamin D for women

Just like other vitamins, excess vitamin D intake can cause health problems. This applies also if you take vitamin D supplements without advice from your doctor.

Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. That is, any excess vitamin D will be stored in the body, not discarded. Now, when you take vitamin D supplements every day even though you don't need them, vitamin D in your body will accumulate.

Reporting from Reader’s Digest, according to Madeline Basler MS, RDN, CDN from Real You Nutrition, people who are overdosing on vitamin D supplements will experience symptoms such as:

nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. In fact, not a few supplements that contain vitamin D3 are up to 22 percent higher than the amount listed on the label. This is why the supply of vitamin D in the body becomes more and more.

Let's look at one of the functions of vitamin D, which helps absorb calcium in the bones. If the body has excess vitamin D intake, then the absorption of calcium will automatically follow excess. Furthermore, this condition can trigger kidney stones and digestive disorders. In severe conditions, the body can get vitamin D poisoning when you consume 50,000 IU of vitamin D every day.

Therefore, basically you don't need to take vitamin D supplements every day if your body's condition is healthy and don't experience any medical problems. Because, only certain people are advised by doctors who can take vitamin D supplements as needed.

Vitamin D supplements are only recommended for certain people

cancer pain reliever

According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people aged 70 years and over tend to have a reduced ability to produce vitamin D by 75 percent. This is why the elderly are allowed to take vitamin D supplements.

In addition, obese people tend to need more vitamin D. This is because the fat cells that accumulate in the body tend to absorb more vitamin D so that the supply of vitamin D in the body is insufficient.

Here is a group of people who need vitamin D supplements, including:

  • Postmenopausal women
  • Men and women who need long-term steroids
  • Pregnant and lactating mothers
  • People with chronic kidney disease
  • People with parathyroid disease

Some foods such as fatty fish, eggs, beef liver, cheese, and mushrooms contain vitamin D, although the amount is very small. However, you really do not need to worry about vitamin D deficiency. The reason is, consumption of foods rich in vitamin D will still meet your daily vitamin D needs, especially if offset by the habit of basking in the morning sun.

So, you don't need to worry about vitamin D deficiency if you don't take vitamin D supplements, as long as you are not among those who need additional supplements. However, to make sure again, consult a doctor to find out what levels of vitamin D in the body and whether you need vitamin D supplements.

Do you need to take vitamin D supplements every day?
Rated 4/5 based on 1351 reviews
💖 show ads