Gregory Chandler on Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is not found in in abundance in many foods. Vitamin D is also made in the body when the skin is exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The current recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200 IU, but many health experts recommend an intake of at least 1,000 IU, especially during winter when production from the sun is not feasible because of limited sunlight. Dark skin individuals also have a need for an intake above 1,000 IU. Again, it should be noted that 1,000 IU of vitamin D is virtually impossible to get without supplementation.

Vitamin D helps support calcium in the body. Vitamin D is also thought to promote strong bones and put a check on diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease.

In fact, a 2007 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that subjects who supplemented with a daily dose of 300 to 2,000 IU of vitamin D had lower mortality rates.

Because vitamin D is fat-soluble, supplements with the vitamin should be consumed with a source of dietary fat for maximum absorption. One can take vitamin D with healthy fat from sources such as nuts, avocados or olive oil. Whole milk is a double plus because it contains fat and typically has added vitamin D.

GREGORY CHANDLER, Attorney at Law