you are already taking, or are prescribed, a medication that contains vitamin D by your GP or healthcare professional Guidelines for blood levels of vitamin D from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are as follows ( 7):

Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world. In the United States, around 35% of people have low vitamin D levels. In comparison, one study found it affected over 90% of infants and older adults in India, Turkey, and Iran. But between October and early March we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight. Read more about vitamin D and sunlight. That’s because your body makes dietary vitamin D3 out of the cholesterol in the skin when it is exposed to the sun’s UV rays ( 1). Fat malabsorption syndromesg. coeliac disease, lactose intolerance and cystic fibrosis – result in an inability to absorb vitamin D from the gut. The same problem occurs after bariatric surgery.

But others may not have any symptoms until it's too late, for example bowed legs or poor growth in children. Everyone is advised to take a vitamin D supplement containing at least 10 micrograms (400IU) a day during winter months, and those more at risk of deficiency should take it all year round. In the United States, current guidelines suggest that consuming 400–800 International Units (IU), or 10–20 micrograms (mcg), of vitamin D should meet the needs of 97%–98% of all healthy people ( 14). The capsules are easy to swallow, with sunflower seed oil to further aid vitamin D absorption. Vitamin D gummies

is a common 'high-strength' option from supermarkets, discounters and pharmacies, but supplements containing 50 or even 100mcg are also widely available. You can take it in the morning or at night, but if you tend to skip breakfast, take it in the evening, just before your evening meal. Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year. To put this in context, eggs are a good source of vitamin D – but you would still need to eat 22 eggs to equal one 25µg tablet (equivalent to 1000iu vitamin D). Vitamin D capsules This can be done before you start, as a baseline, and then be repeated 3-6 months after starting treatment. Side-effects of vitamin DA minty spray that you pump under your tongue may not be the first image that springs to mind when you think of vitamin D supplements, but an oral spray is an efficient way to deliver a nutrient to your bloodstream. If you’re choosing a vitamin D supplement, be sure to find one that contains D3 (cholecalciferol), as it may be more effective at raising your blood levels of vitamin D ( 7). summary Skip ahead to find out which vitamin D supplements we recommend, or read on for more tips on choosing the right type and dosage for you and your family. People with darker skin have increased amounts of melanin in their skin. This absorbs more UVB. This then means they need longer hours of sun exposure than people with pale skin, to produce adequate vitamin D levels.