In September 2024, DrGOpines.com presented an update on the use of Vitamin D by healthy adults and children. In it, I stated that low levels of vitamin D had not been found to have a causal link to the development of many chronic diseases, but were still partially associated with metabolic, cardiovascular, autoimmune, malignant, and infectious diseases. Deficiency of vitamin D in children is the cause of nutritional rickets.
It is not recommended, however, to routinely test for low vitamin D levels in healthy adults. It has also been concluded that healthy adults aged 19-74 do not need to take supplemental vitamin D because there are no proven health benefits. It is still suggested that at a minimum, healthy adults aged 50-70 need 600 IU per day and adults older than 70 years need 800 IU per day to maintain the status quo. The majority of daily need comes from dietary and sunlight exposure sources. Taking additional vitamin D is not beneficial.
Guidelines from the Endocrine Society recommend:
Avoid routine testing for Vitamin D levels
Consider empiric Vitamin D supplementation in children aged 1-18, pregnant women,
patients with prediabetes, and adults 75 years and older
Consider not recommending routine Vitamin D supplementation for healthy adults
aged 19-74 because there are no proven health benefits.
Obesity is NOT an indication for Vitamin D supplementation, there are no clinical
benefits—does not reduce fractures, prevent cancer, or reverse the adverse effects
of hypercalcemia
Dr. G’s Opinion: The vitamin D hysteria of the early 2000’s has died down because time and thorough study have shown the whole supposition was overblown. Low Vitamin D levels aren’t the cause of all chronic diseases as was thought, nor has taking more than the recommended dose of vitamin D been shown to help improve health. If you already take vitamin D, look at your dose, adjust if needed, and continue to take it. If you don’t take vitamin D already, don’t start.
Reference: Dakkak MA, He A, Min He A. Vitamin D for Prevention of Disease: Guidelines from the Endocrine Society. Am Fam Phys 2026 March;113(3):291-293.
