April 25, 2024
2 minute read
Important points:
- Most people in the United States do not get the recommended amount of vitamin D.
- While supplements can help patients reach recommended levels, speakers said it is important not to rely on supplements for general health.
BOSTON — Most people in the United States don’t get enough vitamin D, but supplements can help patients meet their daily recommended dietary intake, according to speakers at the ACP Physicians Conference.
An estimated 20% to 40% of the population takes vitamin supplements. Noah Stratton, DO, FACP; An internal medicine specialist from Temple, Texas, said in a presentation:
“As of 2020 data, this equates to an industry worth over $50 billion,” he said. “[But] data [are] It’s very difficult to get consistent evidence because it’s so nuanced and inconsistent based on dosage and timing. ”
Stratton touched on evidence for various vitamins throughout his presentation, but spent most of his time on vitamin D because it is “considered one of the nutrients that we’re lacking.”
“Essentially, it’s a nutrient that our people don’t get enough of,” he said. “Vitamin D is synthesized within the body, so there is no need to ingest it. What’s interesting about vitamin D receptors is that they’re actually present throughout the body, so they’re involved in a variety of medical conditions. is.”
The recommended dietary intake of vitamin D is 600 to 800 IU per day, but “if you look at the vitamin D intake in the United States, we only get about 160 to 200 IU per day,” Stratton said. To remedy this, an estimated 30% of the population takes some form of vitamin D supplements.
“People who take supplements tend to get more than 800 IU,” he said. “That means people who take supplements are more likely to meet their recommended daily intake.”
The two most common supplements are D2 or D3, both of which are well absorbed in the intestines and increase serum 25(OH)D levels. However, D3 increases them longer and more broadly, so it’s “probably the better choice of the two.”
Overall, Stratton said he knows it’s important to eat a balanced, healthy diet and that taking more supplements isn’t always better. If the patient is healthy, vitamin supplements will not help maintain health. Proper sleep, nutrition, stress management, exercise, and a sense of purpose can help you stay healthy.
He concluded with a quote from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
“Nutritional needs should be primarily met through food, as food provides a variety of nutrients and other components that are beneficial to health,” Stratton said. “In some cases, fortified foods and nutritional supplements can help if he cannot otherwise meet his needs for one or more nutrients.”
