Vitamin D plays a vital role in bone maintenance and growth, but when it comes to other health conditions, like respiratory tract infections (e.g. COVID), the jury is still out.
Lately I have been hearing a lot of people sharing their tips about how to “boost” your immunity and, frankly, I’m a bit concerned. One frequent claim is that taking high or mega doses of vitamin C and D can help keep infections at bay. Let’s focus on Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine” vitamin because it’s produced by your body after you’ve been in the sun.
1.- Vitamin D is not a silver bullet. The crucial role of Vitamin D in bone maintenance and growth has strong evidence behind it, but when it comes to other health conditions, like respiratory tract infections (such as COVID), the evidence remains patchy. The jury is still out as to whether this vitamin helps prevent or fight these infections.
2.- More does not mean better, in fact, more can be worse. Too much Vitamin D can be toxic and in some cases even predispose you to painful kidney stones.
3.- Go natural. If you’re not getting a healthy amount of sun exposure, you can get Vitamin D from natural sources rather than supplements. Some foods rich in Vitamin D are salmon, tuna, sardines, milk, eggs and orange juice.
If you are taking vitamin D supplements, you probably don’t need more than 800 IU per day. Unless your doctor recommends it, avoid going beyond the safe upper limit of 4,000 IU.
Let’s stick to the evidence we have without making any rash decisions and put ourselves at unnecessary risk. Always consult a healthcare professional before making choices about supplements.
Always at the service of your wellbeing.
César