Check the Vitamin D Council's website. They generally say that we should be taking about 5,000 iu. What you should do is this: And, this is information I've gotten from both Mercola and the Vitamin D Council: Take the dose you plan on using as your maintenance dose for six months. Then, get tested again. If it goes down significantly, it's not enough. If it stays close to the same, it is the right amount. If it goes up too high (most of us won't have that issue, but it does happen), then you're in a different category all together and will have to stop for a while, then get tested again until the levels normalize again. The majority of the population is actually mildly to severely deficient, and the majority doesn't even know this. So, our chances of it being too high are slimmer than most, because most of us have or are dealing with severe vitamin D deficiency. So, we know how critical this is, because many of us have come very close to dying because of severe vitamin D deficiency. And, we're more likely than others to be paying attention to that all important maintenance dose, because no one wants to become severely deficient ever again.
Don't forget your magnesium. Most people are also deficient in magnesium and it's the most critical nutrient for vitamin D synthesization. Most of us actually need more than the RDA, since magnesium deficiency plays a role in other health issues, such as migraines and bowel health to name two. Most of the issues that vitamin D is significant for are the same issues that magnesium is needed for as well. I've had to take as 1500 mg, although, I did back off so as not to stress out the calcium levels. And, contrary to popular belief: You should take your magnesium at a separate time from your calcium. Take the magnesium with your vitamin D in the morning, then take your calcium at night before you go to bed or at least at your dinner time. You should generally take an equal amount of calcium as magnesium. I first got this information from my neurologist who is concentrating mainly on the magnesium, but I have gotten this information confirmed elsewhere. Some on a different forum argued about this one principle, but it's actually sound science, because as the neurologist explained it in more complex terms: essentially the body functions that utilize the calcium reduce the magnesium and the body function that uses the magnesium reduces the calcium. We do need both, but it is less effective to take them at the same time.
Swanson vitamins has magnesium citrate. Also, the Now brand has magnesium citrate. This is the best form of magnesium to take. Citrate is also the best form of calcium to take.
sorry to hear that. i think its all tied together, thyroid gall bladder, one gets pulled down drags the others down.. i've heard that between 5k and 10k is fine as a daily dose. safe ? not sure/ Kevin
I think of maintenacne as maintaining (not raising or lowering) your current level. With 10k you will likley be raising your level. Thats a tough question as everyone is different. Ive been taking 5k daily and my level has been going up. For me Im thinking 2 or 3k? I just found out that I have to have my gallbladder taken out and have read that gallbladder issues can casue vit D deficiency. Hmmmmm