Have you started taking vitamin D supplements based on research that it is a cure-all?  Studies indicated that if you didn’t get lots of it you would not only have weak bones and develop osteporosis but contract a host of other health problems including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, severe asthma, and an increased risk of cancer, specifically of the breast, colon, prostate and pancreas.  Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to Type 2 Diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.   A new report released this week by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) states that there is not enough evidence to support this long list of illnesses.

The report, which reviewed over 1,000 previous studies, concludes that the only definitive benefit of calcium and vitamin D is bone health and that the new levels the IOM developed will provide enough of the nutrients to do that.  The IOM indicated that although these health problems may be related and should be researched, the evidence that exists regarding the side effects of too much vitamin D doesn’t outweigh potential benefits.  Just as studies in the past found that hormone replacement therapy caused serious negative side effects, the report “challenges the notion that ‘more is better’ “.  The new RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) for vitamin D for adults 18-50 is 600 IU and for adults over 50 it is 800 IU.  Levels in the blood are measured in nanograms per milileter and acceptable levels for most people are defined as 20ng and 30ng.

Recent studies touting the benefits of megadoses of vitamin D had claimed that adults should have levels  over 30 nanograms per milileter to reap the full benefits of the vitamin.  However, the upper limits listed in the RDI are not meant to be strived for or the amount that people really need.  Large numbers of physicians began conducting vitamin D tests for patients as a matter of course along with other standard physical tests.  Although it is important to know that you are getting enough vitamins and minerals,  it is just as critical to know that you’re not getting too much of anything instead of pushing the upper limits!

Written by www.labtestingnow.com