Vitamin D can be consumed in many dietary sources such as fortified milk, eggs, fish or cod liver oil. Exposure to the sun also encourages vitamin D absorption. There are two forms of vitamin D that are essential to human health, ergoclalciferol or vitamin D2 which is synthesized by plants and vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol which is synthesized in human cells when they are exposed to UVB rays from the sun. Both types of this vitamin can be added to fortified foods, increasing the ease of getting the proper dosage of this vitamin.
Vitamin D is often included in adult multivitamins in 50-1000 IU doses. Research once indicated that you should not consume over 250 micrograms of vitamin D each day to avoid safety concerns while still getting an adequate supply of the vitamin to ensure bone health. A 2010 study indicated that those between 1-70 may consume up to 800 IU of vitamin D with lactating or pregnant women consuming 600 IU to gain the benefits of this vitamin without the risk of adverse side effects.
| Used For | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Deficiency |
At least 1000 IU by mouth daily |
| Anticonvulsant-induced Osteomalacia |
2000 IU of vitamin D2 plus 390mg calcium daily for three months |
| Cancer Prevention |
1000 IU orally each day |
| Cardiovascular Disease |
1000 IU orally or 528 IU of vitamins D2 or D3 daily |
| Cognition |
528 IU of vitamin D2 or D3 daily |
| Type 2 Diabetes |
400-5714 IU orally daily for 2 months-7 years |
| Fall Prevention |
200-1200 IU orally each day |
| Fracture Prevention |
400-1100 IU orally or 100,000 IU of vitamin D2 orally every 4 months for 36 months, 10 micrograms D3 orally for 24 months, 300,000 IU of D2 every 12 months intramuscularly for 36 months |
| Hypertension |
400-8571 IU orally each day without calcium |
| Hypocalcemia |
.25 micrograms daily which may be increased by .25 micrograms a day for 4-8 week intervals. |
| Hypoparathyroidism |
750 micrograms to 2.5 milligrams daily by mouth and maintenance doses of .2-1 milligrams daily |
| Immunomodulation |
40 IU of D3 daily for 20 years, 100,000 IU of D3 bimonthly for a year or 10,000 IU daily |
| Mood Disorders |
400-800 IU daily, 100,000 IU weekly for up to one month. Obese patients take 20,000-40,000 IU by mouth each week for up to a year. |
| Multiple Sclerosis |
10,000 IU orally for 12 weeks or 5000 IU daily, progressive doses of D3 from 700 micrograms weekly through 7000 micrograms weekly plus 1200 milligrams of calcium |
| Muscle Pain or Weakness |
100,000 IU of calciferol orally for 12 months |
| Osteoporosis |
5714 IU of D3 or 10,000 IU of D2 orally each day. Some take 200,000 IU every 2 months for up to 6 months. |
| Parasitic Infections |
40 IU orally for five days |
| Physical Performance of the Old |
400 IU plus 800mg of calcium orally each day. Older adults should take 8400 IU of D3 orally each week for 16 weeks. |
| Psoriasis |
Apply vitamin D analog calcipotriene topically twice a day. |
| Respiratory Infections |
2000 IU per kg of body weight orally for three days |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis |
50,000 IU orally each week for 12 weeks |
| Senile Warts |
Vitamin D analog ointments applied topically for up to a year. |
| Tuberculosis |
A single dose of 10,000 IU of D2 applied orally |
| Viral Infections |
800 IU orally for up to two years followed by 2000 IU daily for one year |
| Vitiligo |
Apply calcipotriol ointment topically twice a day. |
There are discrepancies regarding the proper vitamin D dosage for those under 18. As of 2008 it is recommended that infants, children and adolescents take in a 400 IU of vitamin D daily, which means that breastfeeding infants will likely need supplementation to reach their daily allowance. In 2010 the daily allowance was increased to 600 IU for those between 1 and 70, and an upper intake level of 1000 IU for infants 0-12 months. It is not recommended that children be placed in direct sunlight to achieve their vitamin D dosage as this can increase their risk of other health conditions.
| Used For | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Rickets |
Gradual dosing may increase from 125-250 micrograms daily for 2-3 months until recovery is established. Single doses of 15,000 micrograms by mouth or intramuscular injection in 4-6 doses daily may also be applied. Doses of 12,000-500,000 IU have also been suggested. |
| Anticonvulsant-induced Osteomalacia |
2000 IU of D2 orally plus 500mg of calcium for three months |
| Deficiency |
2.5mg orally every 3 months as prophylaxis during infancy |
| Tuberculosis |
1000 IU orally along with standard therapy |
| Type 1 Diabetes |
2000 IU orally for a year |
| Viral Infection |
60,000 IU orally each week for six weeks. |