Harvard Gives Vitamin D Supplementation the Thumbs Up

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According to Harvard Medical School, supplements are the safest and easiest way to boost vitamin D levels. Though their recommendation, which appeared in a recent article in the Harvard Heart Letter, is for a mere 800 to 1,000 IU a day, this is a big step for acceptance of the importance of vitamin D supplementation by mainstream medical institutions.

While the popular newsletter says that getting more sunlight helps raise vitamin D levels, it points out that taking a daily supplement is the safest and most effective way to boost levels. It also suggests that the current recommendations of 400 IU per day won’t reverse the increase in symptoms of faltering health and death related to vitamin D deficiency, such as broken bones, cancer, depression and memory loss. The authors suggest making a goal to consume approximately 800 to 1,000 IU per day, which can be easily provided by a supplement.

Stop Aging Now, along with many experts, recommends higher levels of vitamin D3 supplementation, in the range of 1,000 to 5,000 IU. The Vitamin D Council suggests taking 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 every day for three months, and then getting a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test to determine if your levels are in a healthy range. Optimal blood levels are between 50-80 ng/mL year-round. Blood testing is the only way to know for sure whether your regimen is appropriate.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Harvard isn’t the only institution to tout dietary supplementation. Late in 2009, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) released an updated position paper titled “Nutrient Supplementation,” in which they acknowledge that supplements may be needed to help fill dietary gaps for some. Even though they haven’t diminished their position that the best way to obtain nutrients is from the consuming a variety of foods, this change acknowledges that supplements have a place in our diets is a step in the right direction.

Tags: Harvard Health Letter, vitamin d