Two really common questions I receive in the office are:
How much vitamin D should I be taking? How much calcium?
The answers are surprisingly complicated. Calcium and Vitamin D are like star crossed lovers, horse and carriage. The answers depend somewhat upon the individual’s health history, risk factors, sex, and presence of osteoporosis. Previously I wrote two deep dives (1, 2) on Vitamin D alone. We can really get lost in the weeds. There are hundreds of international health society guidelines. The UpToDate chapter on this references 99 sources ranging from randomized controlled trials to meta-analyses. It’s awful, and paralyzing!
So for this edition of the Quick Boost Series, I decided to take some notes on a yellow pad and post all five on the wall of my office. Daily allowances, sources, supplements, special considerations for vitamin D deficiency screening and treatment. These numbers are built upon evidence and consensus, the many underpinnings of which I will spare us for the sake of simplicity. Then I took some pictures of the crib sheets. Then I shredded them. Sure, it’s a little Homeland Carrie Mathison.
It’s as simple as I can make this whole contentious topic, but trust that I have drawn from the Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes for calcium and vitamin D, and guidelines from the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (formerly the National Osteoporosis Foundation).
Calcium
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Examined to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.