Overdosing on D is a real risk and can be very dangerous. Your body CAN'T overdose from sun exposure, but you can get too much from supplements or (super rarely) dietary sources.

If I were you, OP, I would get D from natural sources -- 10 minutes exposure to sun in summer every day (more if your skin is darker). Fatty fish and bluefishes (like salmon, mackerel, anchovies) in the winter. Don't forget dairy is usually fortified with vitamin D.

DD loves mackerel, so I stopped giving her D Drops a long time ago. We just make sure she eats 3-4 servings of bluefish a week.

The whole concept that vitamin D is a panacea is bullshit, though -- it's important to get enough, but megadosing on it won't make you a super-human who doesn't get colds. Remember when megadosing on vitamin E was supposed to prevent cancer? And then researchers found megadoses of E made people more susceptible to cancer?

Plus, your body doesn't absorb vitamins well in a vacuum - they are best absorbed in the context of food (with fats, other vitamins, fiber, etc).

Bottom line: get your vitamins mostly from a balanced, healthy diet and remember that humans evolved to get small daily amounts from food, not huge overdoses from pills.

There is a study in Japanese schoolchildren that was a randomized controlled trial of vitamin d - the kids given D had significantly less influenza than the control group.

I would not take medical advice from the internet. According to NIH, 1000 IU is more than enough for almost everyone, and prolonged high intake (esp. above 4,000 IU) poses real risks.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these low D levels with regular sun exposure?

Yes. Most people in the United States are low because what we think of as regular (or even high) does not compare to what our bodies have evolved to use.

To answer OP's question, I was deficient, took the 50,000 IU prescription round, then did 10,000 IU daily for about 18 months and have recently scaled back to 7000 IU per day because 10,000 started to make me flush. Vitamin D3 (coleocalciferol) is what you want. I take a 5000 IU pill plus a fish oil supplement that contains 2000 IU.

You really can't overdose on it, but the flush effect is a decent marker of when you have enough. (Your face gets warm and you get a little light-headed like standing up too quickly, similar to how some people react to niacin.)

Please expand or give a link to info on "what our bodies have evolved to use" in terms of necessary vitamin D and what levels we should have.

I do not use sunscreen except when I will be out in the strong sun for extended periods of time (I use it at the beach or pool or a long day outside in the summer) and treat my kids the same. They have never had a sunburn. I have had my vitamin D levels tested and I think it was at the high end of normal. I have fair skin and I realize that people with darker skin require more sun exposure to get sufficient levels of vitamin D so that can be an issue.

As others have said-get tested. I would see what your zinc levels are too since zinc may have an impact on immunity. If your levels are good it's not a great idea to supplement. As PP said, you can get too much.

It is possible to OD on D.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-d-toxicity/AN02008

I take D3 liquid drops, about 2,000-3,000 IU a day. Since people are so nuts about sunscreen we don't get the vit d we need and should be getting just by being outside. I've always thought some day they'll say the sunscreen isn't such a hot idea afterall (I rarely use it) and my dr agreed. She said there are A LOT of other diseases, cancers, fertility issues etc that are caused by D3 deficiencies that are far riskier than going w/o sunscreen.

Anonymous wrote:Are these low D levels with regular sun exposure?

Yes. Most people in the United States are low because what we think of as regular (or even high) does not compare to what our bodies have evolved to use.

To answer OP's question, I was deficient, took the 50,000 IU prescription round, then did 10,000 IU daily for about 18 months and have recently scaled back to 7000 IU per day because 10,000 started to make me flush. Vitamin D3 (coleocalciferol) is what you want. I take a 5000 IU pill plus a fish oil supplement that contains 2000 IU.

You really can't overdose on it, but the flush effect is a decent marker of when you have enough. (Your face gets warm and you get a little light-headed like standing up too quickly, similar to how some people react to niacin.)

Are these low D levels with regular sun exposure?

It is useful but the latest and best study data says it dies not affect colds.

http://bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/10/07/well/YCdGpR4gRziM8TQoUAGMkO/story.html

My Dr put me on 2000 daily after a routine test.

What other PPs said. I did the 50000IU once a week for 12 weeks then switched to a daily supplement. I was taking 1000 daily but just upped it to 2000 daily. I take mine in an Omega supplement as well - preferable at bedtime so I'm not having fish oil burps throughout the day.

Anonymous wrote:You should start by asking your dr for a vitamin D test. A lot of drs are doing them as part of routine blood work now. I found out mine was very low and started taking 5000IUI. Sometimes you needs prescription level D to get it back to the level in needs to be. Its amazing how much D regulates in the body, including depression and also fertility and implantation issues..

This. It's a simple blood test.

Mine was low but I didn't need a prescription. I take an extra 1000 IUI a day.

You should start by asking your dr for a vitamin D test. A lot of drs are doing them as part of routine blood work now. I found out mine was very low and started taking 5000IUI. Sometimes you needs prescription level D to get it back to the level in needs to be. Its amazing how much D regulates in the body, including depression and also fertility and implantation issues..

I've seen a couple of references to taking vitamin D here, and when I posted onfacebook how I get every cold my kids bring home from school a few people told me to take vitaminD. So when I was at cvs last week (rushing to buy cough drops) I paused briefly at the vitamins thinking I might grab one but saw there were 3-4 kinds of vitamin D.

Anyone quickly can give a short summary on what to take if you're feeling run down and susceptible to minor colds/coughs? I know I should research, but starting here first.