Do you really need a vitamin D supplement

Do you really need a vitamin D supplement

The Lancet Endocrinology study has been all over the news because of its results — that there are zero to little benefits to be gained from taking vitamin D supplements. What?! So many other studies have shown that more than 80 per cent of the population is vitamin D deficient — which is a big problem because D improves everything from disease prevention (immunity) to fat loss. Ah, but a closer look at the Lancet study reveals the truth.

According to nutrition researcher Jerry Brainum, “The dose of D in the Lancet examination was 400 to 800 units a day; however, the majority of studies that do show health benefits from D suggested…an intake of about 2,000 units a day.” In other words, the flawed Lancet study undershot the beneficial dose of vitamin D by more than half. (It reminds me of the study done in the ’80s that showed that anabolic steroids don’t work — again, because the researchers used miniscule amounts that did nothing. C’mon, guys. Sheesh.) Now, the 800 I.U. of vitamin D in the study may sound like a lot, but get this: only five minutes in the summer sun produces about 1,000 I.U. of vitamin D in our bodies. Most people should be taking 2,000 to 5,000 units per day, depending on sun exposure, especially in the winter, when we need to boost our immunity against colds and flu. And it’s not expensive.

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