Having a greater intake of vitamin D can prevent or reduce the chance of breast cancer and other major diseases according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha.
The study reports on volunteers who were taking Vitamin D supplements in the dosage range from 1000 to 10,000 International Units (IU) per day. Blood tests were conducted to ensure the level of 25-Vitamin D was maintained, this is the form in which most vitamin D circulates in the body. To fully understand the size of the supplement taken in the study, the recommended minimum intake of vitamin D is 600 IU/day, with 400 IU/day required to prevent rickets.
Research into larger doses of vitamin D became of interest in December 2010 when the National Academy of Sciences Institute identified that 4000 IU/day of vitamin D was safe for adults and children of nine years or older.
An alternative to oral supplementation is sensible sun exposure while taking care not to burn and this is all that is required to maintain adequate blood levels and avoid the winter drop in vitamin D.
For more information on vitamin D please see the article by Mr John Christofides, Principal Clinical Scientist.
