A Message from Dr. Lyles: How Much is Too Much…Vitamin D?

More and more doctors are recommending bloods tests to determine vitamin D levels for all adults. Not only does vitamin D help your body absorb calcium but low levels have been connected to muscle pain, high blood pressure and even some cancers.

But, be careful how much you’re getting, cautions Dr. Boyd Lyles, Chief Medical Officer of U.S. Preventive Medicine. “More is not necessarily better,” he said. Studies have also shown significant toxicity in people who have consumed too much (2,000 IU or International Units) of vitamin D daily.

“We should all have a ‘healthy’ respect for vitamin D and its potential benefits and likely consequences if it’s overlooked or underutilized,” he said. “When visiting your physician, ask about a vitamin D checkup to determine your personal risk for vitamin D deficiency and how much sun or supplements you should be getting. Even though guidelines exist for how much vitamin D to take, the dose should be personalized and the best person to consult is your doctor.”

Recommendations for daily vitamin D consumption established by the U.S. Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences are: 200 IU for those under age 50; 400 IU for those ages 50 – 70; and 600 IU for people over age 70. 

(Dr. Boyd Lyles is the Chief Medical Director of U.S. Preventive Medicine and one of the physicians at
The Prevention Plan dedicated to helping members take some long strides toward “more good years.”)