Are Americans Getting Too Much Vitamin D?

By Dr. Mercola

Over the past couple of decades, tens of thousands of studies have evaluated the benefits of vitamin D, linking low blood levels to a whole host of chronic health conditions. In fact, this site was one of the leaders helping to catalyze interest in vitamin D over 15 years ago. Today, many doctors have finally caught on and are taking vitamin D seriously; testing their patients and recommending supplementation when necessary. The progress made makes the present backlash all the more shocking and disappointing.

“Many Americans Taking Too Much Vitamin D,” Reuters recently announced.1 “More people than ever are taking way too much vitamin D,” Popular Science declared, adding, “You may have a deficiency, but overdosing isn’t the answer.”2 ABC News warned its viewers that taking more than 4,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D is “far above safe levels,” and could potentially cause heart disease.3Ditto for Consumer Affairs4 and many others.5,6

Where is this coming from? If you’ve followed the progression of vitamin D science, you will be aware of the fact that recommended vitamin D levels — and the dosages typically needed to achieve those levels if you’re not getting regular sun exposure — have dramatically risen over the years.

Time to buy old US gold coins

Researchers have also pointed out a basic mathematical flaw that led to vitamin D recommendations being underestimated by a factor of 10. Unfortunately, the study now being promoted by the media takes none of these things into consideration, instead promulgating decades’ old fallacies.

Are Americans Taking Too Much Vitamin D?

According to the featured study,7 nearly 20 percent of American adults are taking supplemental vitamin D, and many are taking…

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