Although newspapers seem to like headlines that “Vitamins Don’t Matter,” the studies showing no discernible difference in health from taking supplements apply to the average person in an ordinary situation.
For anyone who has cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other health conditions, vitamin D3 supplements matter. It can be important to take them properly for the maximum effect.
Vitamin D Level Is Suboptimal Despite Supplements:
Q. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago and my doctor has recommended vitamin D supplements to boost my immune system. Even after taking a relatively high dose of vitamin D3 (4,000 IU daily), my blood level is mediocre.
What else can I do to raise it?
A. Try taking your vitamin D3 supplements with a meal that contains fat. A recent study showed that a meal with fat increased vitamin D blood levels by around 32 percent compared to a fat free meal (Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Feb., 2015).
We are sending you our Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency for more information on interpreting lab results and deciding on supplements and dosing.
