Vitamin D supplements: how to take and dose

Vitamin D supplements are recommended for people who are deficient in this vitamin, a situation that can occur in the coldest countries where there is little exposure to sunlight. In addition, children, older people and dark-skinned people are also more likely to suffer from a deficit of this vitamin.

Vitamin D strengthens the health of bones and teeth, improves the immune system and helps in the prevention of some diseases such as diabetes, heart attacks and arterial hypertension. Asimismo is also indicated in the treatment of conditions such as rickets, osteoporosis and osteomalacia. Discover all the benefits of vitamin D.

Vitamin D supplements can be purchased in pharmacies, supermarkets, naturist shops and on the internet, and can be obtained in the form of capsules for adults or in drops for children, whose doses vary according to the age of the person.

main indications

Vitamin D supplements are used to treat different conditions such as:

• Osteoporosis;
• Osteomalacia and rickets, which produce frailty and deformity in the bones;
• Deficit of this vitamin;
• Low blood calcium levels due to a decrease in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels;
• Low blood phosphate levels as in Fanconi syndrome, for example;
• Psoriasis to treat skin problems;
• Renal osteodystrophy that may occur in people with chronic renal failure, conditions where calcium in blood is reduced.

It is important that before starting the intake of vitamin D supplementation, a blood test is carried out to know how it is in the body, in this way the doctor will be able to indicate which dose is recommended. Find out how the vitamin D test is performed.

Supplement dose

The recommended dose of the supplement depends on the age of the person, the purpose of the supplementation and the levels of vitamin D identified in the process. The following table indicates the recommended dose for the treatment and prevention of some illnesses:

It is important to remember that the recommended dose will be at the medical discretion, so it is ideal to consult a general doctor or nutritionist before taking this supplement.

Is vitamin D taken in the morning?

However, in general, the nutritionist or the doctor indicates that the vitamin D supplement is taken during a meal with a greater amount of fat, such as breakfast or lunch, so it can be absorbed better; However, this recommendation may vary according to nutritional needs and the type of food that the person poses.

side effects

Vitamin D is stored in the body, so high doses above 4000 IU of this supplement without medical advice can cause an overdose of this vitamin (hypervitaminosis) which can cause nausea, vomiting, increased urinary frequency, muscle weakness and strain. It can cause more serious consequences as a result of calcium deposits in the heart, kidneys and brain.

Contraindications

This medication should not be used by children, embarassed women or during lactation, atherosclerosis, histoplasmosis, hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, hypercalcemia, lymphoma, tuberculosis or in people with renal failure without medical advice.

Watch the following video and find out which foods are rich in vitamin D: