Should vitamin d be taken with food
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Should Vitamin D Be Taken with Food?
Importance of Vitamin D Supplementation
Vitamin D is essential for maintaining bone health and preventing diseases such as rickets and osteomalacia. It also plays a role in preventing non-skeletal diseases like respiratory infections and pregnancy complications 6. Despite its importance, vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide due to limited dietary sources and insufficient sunlight exposure 4.
Vitamin D Absorption and Food
Enhanced Absorption with Food
Taking vitamin D with food, particularly meals containing fat, can enhance its absorption. This is because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it dissolves in fats and oils, which aids its absorption in the intestines. Studies have shown that vitamin D3, when fortified in food items like biscuits and juice, significantly increases serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared to vitamin D2 3. This suggests that consuming vitamin D with food can be more effective in raising vitamin D levels.
Fortification and Supplementation
Food fortification with vitamin D is a strategy to increase intake across populations. Fortified foods, such as milk and juice, have been shown to be effective in improving vitamin D status without adverse effects 12. This method ensures a wider reach and can be particularly beneficial in populations with low supplement adherence 6.
Safety and Efficacy
Safety Considerations
Randomized controlled trials and observational studies have demonstrated that vitamin D supplementation, even at higher doses, is generally safe. Adverse effects like high serum calcium levels are rare, occurring in less than 0.5% of cases 1. This indicates that vitamin D can be safely taken with food or as a supplement without significant risk of toxicity.
Optimal Dosage
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D varies, but generally, a daily intake of 10-20 µg (400-800 IU) is suggested to maintain adequate serum levels 5. For individuals with limited sun exposure, higher doses may be necessary, and taking these doses with food can help optimize absorption and efficacy 4.
Conclusion
In summary, taking vitamin D with food, especially meals containing fat, can enhance its absorption and effectiveness. Fortified foods and supplements are both viable strategies to improve vitamin D status, with food fortification offering a broader public health impact. Ensuring adequate vitamin D intake is crucial for preventing deficiency and associated health issues, and taking it with food can maximize its benefits.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Safety of Vitamin D Food Fortification and Supplementation: Evidence from Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies
High vitamin D levels are rare and associated with no adverse effects in randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
Meta-Analysis
Rigorous JournalVitamin D: dietary requirements and food fortification as a means of helping achieve adequate vitamin D status
Food fortification with vitamin D is a promising strategy to increase intake and combat low vitamin D status, but current practices and new approaches are needed to effectively address low intakes and high prevalence of low vitamin D status.
Literature Review
Highly CitedDaily supplementation with 15 μg vitamin D2 compared with vitamin D3 to increase wintertime 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in healthy South Asian and white European women: a 12-wk randomized, placebo-controlled food-fortification trial.
Vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 in increasing serum 25(OH)D in wintertime, making it a preferential form for optimizing vitamin D status in the general population.
RCT
Large Human Trial
Very Rigorous JournalHighly CitedVitamin D in foods and as supplements.
Current dietary intake recommendations for vitamin D should be increased to at least 10 microg per day for all age groups when solar UVB radiation is scarce, with fortification of common products being a better option than supplements.
Highly CitedPreventing Type 2 Diabetes With Vitamin D: Therapy Versus Supplementation
Vitamin D therapy may be more effective than supplementation for preventing type 2 diabetes, as it involves a combination of oral and intramuscular injections.
Rationale and Plan for Vitamin D Food Fortification: A Review and Guidance Paper
Vitamin D food fortification is an effective and cost-effective approach to improve vitamin D status in the general population, addressing the high prevalence of deficiency and promoting public health.
Literature ReviewHighly CitedVitamin D in Food Supplements: Labeling Survey
Most food supplement labels recommend higher daily doses of vitamin D than the Recommended Daily Allowance, potentially causing health risks.
Comparative analysis of nutritional guidelines for vitamin D
Vitamin D supplementation is essential for calcium and bone homeostasis, especially for infants, elderly individuals, and those with limited sun exposure.
Highly CitedRisk assessment for vitamin D.
A revised safe Tolerable Upper Intake Level for vitamin D should be 250 microg/d (10,000 IU vitamin D3), based on well-designed human clinical trials, as current levels are inadequate for optimal health benefits.
Literature ReviewVery Rigorous JournalHighly Cited