Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry. “I’ve been hearing a lot about the use of vitamin D. It seems like the dosage that is being recommended is far greater than what my multi vitamin and mineral supplement contains, which is 400 IU. Do you think I should take extra amounts of vitamin D?” Jill A, Marquette, MI A. Dear Jill: I really think it’s worth your while to increase your dosage of vitamin D. The research that we’re relying on for our nutritional RDA’s is 70 years old, and originally was conducted on 25 healthy males. The research did not take women, the elderly or children into consideration. I don’t know anyone today who is driving a car or using an appliance that was manufactured 70 years ago. Our nutritional research is antiquated and may never be updated, as no one has a vested interest. Seventy years ago, vitamin D was incorrectly claimed to be a vitamin and today we know it is one of the most important pro-hormones in the body. This means that Vitamin D converts in the body to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, or 1,25-D, and this is a very active hormone in the body, impacting everything from bone health to brain function to immune system strength, to name just a few. Some of the world’s experts on vitamin D claim that 77% of 17 different kinds of cancer, and breast cancer in particular, could be eliminated with a higher dosage of vitamin D. Most experts believe our dosage should be between 2,000 and 10,000 IUs per day. The optimal dosage for a woman should be 3,000 IUs per day and a man 2,000 IUs per day. A recent report of a new medical study on vitamin D highlighted its critical role, in which it has benefits for obesity, diabetes, heart function and cancer. I personally try to get 5,000 to 8,000 IUs per day. Just think, a few years ago 400 IUs was considered to be highly toxic. Can we really rely on the RDA’s for optimal recommendations? I’m not so sure. I try to get at least five times the RDA for all my vitamins on a daily basis.