Vitamin D: What you need to know

I ran across this article through a newsletter--otherwise, I wouldn't have been on this site! The article is very detailed: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-frank-lipman/vitamin-d-what-you-need-t_b_308973.html?utm_source=Goop+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cbcfd4a346-Goop55_11_05_2009&utm_medium=email

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone, not a vitamin, has anti-inflammatory effects and bolsters the immune system.

The only 2 reliable sources of vitamin D are the sun and D3 supplements. There is an old Italian saying "Where the sun does not go the doctor does." Always avoid sunburn. Remember to take antioxidants when you sit in the sun, as these can help prevent skin cells from sun damage.

Take vitamin D3, (cholecalciferol) the active form of vitamin D. Do not take vitamin D2 as it is not as biologically active nor as effective, and nor as safe as vitamin D3.

Here are some guidelines

If your blood level is above 45ng/ml and for maintenance, I recommend 2,000-4,000 IU daily.

If your blood level is 30-45 ng/ml, I recommend you correct it with 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day for 3 months under a doctor's supervision and then recheck your blood levels.

If your blood level is less than 30 ng/ml, I recommend you correct it with 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day under a doctor's supervision and then recheck your blood levels after 3 months. It takes a good 6 months usually to optimize your vitamin D levels if you're deficient. Once this occurs, you can lower the dose to the maintenance dose of 2,000 - 4,000 IU a day.

if you are taking 5,000 IU or more daily, you should have your blood levels monitored approximately every 3 months.


The only blood test that can diagnose vitamin D deficiency is a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25 OH vitamin D). The current ranges for "normal" are 20 to 55 ng/ml. These are much too low! The ideal range for optimal health is 50-80 ng/ml.