Supplements 101: Vitamin D
important vitamin, but it’s found in very few foods and is hard to obtain through diet alone. As a large percentage of the world population is at risk of deficiency, vitamin D is one of the most common nutritional supplements. This article explores the best time to take vitamin D to maximize its absorption and effectiveness.
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May 17, 2018
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How Does Your Body Absorb Vitamin D?
The way you absorb vitamin D depends on whether you’re getting it from food or sunlight:
Food/supplements: After you eat food or take supplements with vitamin D, your body stores it in fat cells until it is needed. After you eat food or take supplements with vitamin D, your body stores it in fat cells until it is needed. The main difference is that the sun first triggers a type of cholesterol found in the body called 7-dehydrocholesterol.
This starts the process of vitamin D production and transport where it moves to the liver and kidneys, much like after you eat foods with vitamin D.
However, not everyone can easily obtain or absorb vitamin D.
Why Am I Not Absorbing Enough Vitamin D?
There are also at-home tests that require a finger prick for a very small blood sample. Related 6 healthy foods rich in vitamin D and easy ways to incorporate them into your diet
Health providers typically prescribe a high dose of vitamin D supplement only for a short time to avoid the risk of vitamin D toxicity, Prest says.
It is possible to get too much vitamin D, so talk to your doctor about the proper individual dosage of supplements. Insider’s takeaway
Some factors that may inhibit your vitamin D absorption include taking certain medications and conditions such as Crohn’s or kidney disease. “Working with a registered dietitian nutritionist can help you to ensure that you are getting adequate amounts of vitamin D, especially if you are someone who may be at risk of a vitamin D deficiency ,” Prest says.