Oh No! Not Vitamin D Again!

I know you may be sick of me talking about this vitamin, but I just can't stop myself. Virtually every week new information becomes available that points to the fact that we just are not even beginning to get enough of this incredible vitamin.

Now the Canadian Pediatric Society is proposing to boost the recommended intake by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding to 2,000 IUs per day. (This new guideline appears in a consensus statement published in September by the society in its journal Pediatrics and Child Health).

What does this have to do with you if you're not pregnant? Actually, a lot.

What researchers are learning is how much more vitamin D we need for optimal health than anyone suspected. Researchers writing in a recent issue of the International Journal of Cancer exposed prostate cells to the most biologically active form of vitamin D and found that it significantly increased the activity of a protective anti-oxidant enzyme (called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, just in case you wanted to know!). The enzyme literally mopped up damaging free radicals in the prostate cells, protecting them against injury and death.

Studies have shown absolutely no ill effects or dangers in taking 2000 IUs a day which the prestigious Institute of Medicine considers the "safe upper limit" for daily consumption. But off the record- most experts don't consider that a "true" ceiling for safe use, especially since the body can easily generate 10,000-20,000 IUs a day sunbathing without a whit of harm. But for political and legal reasons most organizations won't recommend anything higher than what the conservative IOM recommends.

OK that's fine. I think if taking even 1000 IUs of vitamin D a day puts you ahead of the game and 2000 IUs is even better. I personally take 2000 IUs every day as part of my own regimen. Best thing of all it's the perfect vitamin for people who hate to take vitamins. It's a tiny little easy to swallow gel the size of a tic tac and it's one of the cheapest vitamins on the planet.