How Much Vitamin D Should You Take?
By Deborah Kotz
Posted 6/8/07
How much to take? The government's dietary recommendations are 200 IUs a day up to age 50, 400 IUs to age 70, and 600 IUs over 70. But the new thinking puts these guidelines way too low. In 2005, officials suggested that African-Americans and the elderly might want to take in more than the guidelines suggest, but it has set 2,000 IUs as its ceiling for safety. Most experts think the limit is too conservative, noting that there's no evidence of toxicity at much higher doses and that 2,000 IUs is a worthy goal for everybody. Consuming 3 ounces of tuna, two glasses of milk, and a glass of fortified orange juice will get you to 500 IUs, and a supplement or two will get you the rest.