Vitamin D dosage for adults

Vitamin D dosage for adults 

We show below the permissible and recommended dietary amounts (in English: Recommended Dietary Allowance) and the RDA for vitamin D that must be obtained daily, as well as the recommended doses of vitamin D in the event of a deficiency:

Recommended daily dose 

The recommended dietary amount of vitamin D depends on the amount of exposure a person has to sunlight, and is difficult to determine due to the variation in sun exposure from one person to another based on several factors such as the time of year and place of living. For this reason, the recommendations assume that the person is exposed to a minimum amount of sunlight, [ 1] According to the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine, the recommended dietary amount of vitamin D to improve bone health is as follows:

• 600 international units (in English: International units) (IU for short) for those between 1-70 years. 
• 800 IU for people over 70 years old.

Vitamin D dose in case of deficiency 

The Endocrine Society recommends that adults who suffer from a vitamin D deficiency of less than 30 ng/ml take doses of vitamin D to restore normal levels, and the doses are as follows: 

• Daily dose: It is recommended to take 1,500-2,000 IU of vitamin D daily.
•  Weekly or monthly dose: Take vitamin D at a dose of 50,000 IU weekly or monthly.

Frequently asked questions about vitamin D

 Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about vitamin D:

What are the sources of vitamin D?

 Vitamin D can be obtained from the following natural sources: 

• Exposure to sunlight: To obtain the daily requirement of vitamin D, it is usually sufficient to expose the arms and legs to sunlight for 5-30 minutes between 10 am and 3 pm for those with light skin, while those with dark skin may need exposure to the sun for a slightly longer period.

• Eat foods that contain vitamin D : Among the foods that contain vitamin D are the following:

Fish that contain fats, such as salmon.

whale liver oil. 

Milk and cereals fortified with vitamin D: These products are available in some countries. 

Egg yolk: Eggs contain small amounts of vitamin D.

Can high vitamin D levels lead to poisoning?

 Yes, vitamin D poisoning can occur , but this is rare. It cannot occur as a result of taking vitamin D from food sources or exposure to sunlight. Rather, it is usually the result of taking large doses of nutritional supplements containing vitamin D. Poisoning occurs when taken at a dose of 60,000 IU daily for several months.  Vitamin D poisoning may lead to hypercalcemia , which together cause the following symptoms to appear: 

• Nausea. 
• Constipation.
•  Increased urination.
•  Increased thirst.
•  General weakness.
•  Anorexia.
•  Mental confusion.
•  Ataxia: (in English: Ataxia) is a neurological condition that may cause slurred speech.