How much vitamin d should i be taking and why?

Depends: How much vitamin d a person takes is dependent on their vitamin d level on routine blood testing. If not deficient, vitamin d does not need to taken. If deficient, i recommend 1000 units daily. This is in the form of vitamin d3. In addition, one also needs 10-15 minutes of sunlight to make the inactive form found in pills into an active form issuable to the human body.

If deficient, ALOT..: Vitamin d deficiency is quite common as most of us are not hunter/gatherers like our ancestors. As a consequence of working indoors and wearing sunblock, many of us are low in vitamin d. If abnormal, we usually prescribe 600, 000 units over 6 weeks, repeat a level 6 weeks after that. If still abnormal, this is repeated for a total of 1.2 million units. After that, maintenance is 1000-2000/day.

600-800 units, maybe: Vitamin d is important for strong bone health, as well healthy nerve, muscle and immune systems. We generally get what we need from the effect of sunlight on our skin, and some foods such as fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel, as well as fortified milk. If you get little sunlight, or where sunblock all the time, you might benefit from a supplement of 600-800 units/day (adults).

Check your level !: I measure a level on every patient that comes in for a consultation in illinois as 99% of the people i see are low. A study in hawaii showed 50% are low! i personally take 7, 000 iu daily with vit k to keep my level at about 80 (normal range 30-100), and studies showing benefit for most conditions are in levels above 50. Guestimate dose is 30iu per pound, then follow levels and adjust accordingly.