Measuring Vitamin D Needs through a Personalized Vitamin Assessment

Many shoppers walk past those bottles of Vitamin D and have no clue about the amount that would be right for them. Many of those same shoppers do not know if they are walking around with a Vitamin D deficiency. The role of a personalized vitamin company is to perform an assessment to determine how much Vitamin D you should take in your daily vitamin routine.

The role of vitamin D in general wellness and fatigue has been recently touted. Over the years, we have seen in our practices case after case of patients who feel better once they have optimal levels of vitamin D. The challenge is sticking with taking the vitamin long enough to see its effects. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, it often takes six to twelve months to build up circulating blood levels. This means taking it day in and day out to slowly let it accumulate in the body’s stores is important. However, once vitamin D levels normalize it is remarkable how much better people feel.

Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic. The most common way we obtain it is through sunlight. Through the common use of sunscreen (for good reason—preventing skin cancer is so important!), we have minimized our sun exposure. Likewise many people do not get sun because they live in climates where year-round sun exposure is scarce; they spend most of their days indoors; or they are dark skinned and

their natural skin color actually prevents vitamin D from penetrating it. Very few natural food sources provide us with vitamin D (the main ones are cow liver or wild-caught salmon—farm raised does not count). A few foods are fortified with D, such as milk and some orange juices, but the amounts are trivial. The majority of us need at least 800 to 1,000 IUs of supplemental vitamin D3 (its most active form—important, because many supplements contain other forms) to maintain a normal blood level.

Determining how much vitamin D you need depends on a variety of factors. Where you live, your skin color, and any conditions that may interfere with vitamin D absorption (such as IBD, celiac, etc.) are important determinants. Blood testing can determine your level. Over decades of seeing thousands of patients, we have found that blood testing is helpful, but rarely mandatory. The majority of our patients are vitamin D deficient unless they are taking a supplement, and the amount needed to correct their deficiency can usually be determined based on the aforementioned factors—diet, pre existing conditions, medications, and current supplement type and amount. When in doubt, D is key.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of this vitamin in maintaining your ideal health. Its role in bone health is incomparable, and it seems to be involved in cellular function in many parts of the body. Having a vitamin personalized for your needs makes a world of difference.

Therefore, it makes sense that you feel fatigued when you lack vitamin D. It takes months to years to build up your levels, but when you do, its effect is noticeable and important. Choosing a personalized vitamin option is a good method to ensure that you are getting the right amounts of Vitamin D for your profile, and always consult your physician about your vitamin needs in this area.