My experience:
I have taken 5000IU of vitamin D3 daily for the past year and a half. This is significantly above normal dietary recommendations, but has been suggested to be safe in one study cited below. I do not recommend taking such doses without a doctor’s supervision and checking blood levels.
As is the case with many vitamins, there are strong correlations between deficiency and poor health. However, association does not prove causation. With vitamin D supplementation, many studies suggest benefits for bone strength in the elderly, and better glucose tolerance. However, a few studies suggest that supplementing with vitamin D also allows more calcium to get into atherosclerotic (“hardening of the arteries”) arteries, contributing to heart attacks and/or stroke.
My review of what the literature says:
Thanks for posting this–its a much ignored topic and particularly critical for African Americans who possess a natural defense against the minimal aggregate accumulation of Vit.D levels. I’m convinced that Vit. D deficiency is the genesis of most illnesses and believe its more than coincidential that its the only vitamin that our bodies manufacture naturally. Thanks for all the wonderful nutritional info. What about an article on organic vs. conventional? :):)!