# Doc says I need to take vitamin D supplements, but the Google says vitamins are BS. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110 "2019-09-12T16:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/1 "2019-09-12T16:27:17Z")
Title says it all. I’m fine with taking Vitamin D supplements. But at the same time, I don’t want to be spinning my wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/2 "2019-09-12T16:33:56Z")
What’s your vitamin D blood level? I rarely prescribe supplemental vitamins (beyond what’s in a healthy diet) at all for my patients, nor recommend them. Except for vitamin D. If levels are really low (like under 20), I am aggressive about raising them, prescribing 50,000 units a week of Vitamin D2 for 8-12 weeks to replenish the deficit, then maintaining levels after that with 2000 units of Vitamin D3 a day. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/3 "2019-09-12T16:35:15Z")
Dude, the SDMB does not count as a second opinion. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/4 "2019-09-12T16:38:04Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Dude, the SDMB does not count as a second opinion. Nor does Google, really. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/5 "2019-09-12T16:39:21Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Title says it all. > > I’m fine with taking Vitamin D supplements. But at the same time, I don’t want to be spinning my wheels. I’m guessing that what Google says is that vitamin _supplements_ are BS…because most people aren’t suffering from vitamin deficiency. If you’ve been tested and found to have a deficiency (which you have), then that particular vitamin supplement is not BS _for you._ I’d suggest following your doc’s advice, or consulting a second actual doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/6 "2019-09-12T16:40:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > What’s your vitamin D blood level? > > I rarely prescribe supplemental vitamins (beyond what’s in a healthy diet) at all for my patients, nor recommend them. > > Except for vitamin D. If levels are really low (like under 20), I am aggressive about raising them, prescribing 50,000 units a week of Vitamin D2 for 8-12 weeks to replenish the deficit, then maintaining levels after that with 2000 units of Vitamin D3 a day. Hey, I was hoping you would pop in. Thanks! Yeah, I don’t know my number, but it’s pretty low. (Typical of night-shift workers) I’ll go ahead and do what my doc prescribed. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/7 "2019-09-12T17:26:34Z")
I don’t take vitamin supplements but I do take vitamin D. Since I’m prone to growing things on my skin, my doctor has told me to avoid sun exposure – wear a hat, sunblock, long sleeves, etc. The downside of that is that my vitamin D levels are much lower than normal. I guess I could spend more time outside and risk skin cancer, but I’d rather just down a couple of tablets daily. Which reminds me – time for a new bottle! ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/8 "2019-09-12T17:28:26Z")
For what my anecdote is worth, my doc tested my vitamin D level and it was quite low though I don’t remember exactly how low. The perils of a desk job even with a window office. I felt fine but I started on a supplement of 1000 IU per day. I was surprised at how much less tired, more vigorous, and stronger I felt after just a week or two on the supplement. When retested, my Vitamin D level was close to normal but still low, so doc upped the dose to 2000 IU per day. The higher dose didn’t make me feel any different but my doc is now happy with my Vitamin D level. I think there was some consternation that raising the band of acceptable vitamin D levels pushed millions more people into the place where vitamin D supplements are recommended. (Googling found me this discussion: [Vitamin D: What’s the "right" level? - Harvard Health](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-d-whats-right-level-2016121910893)). So, many people who are above the old level (20 ng/mL) and close to the new level (30ng/mL) probably feel fine and perhaps could skip supplementation without too much ill effect. Others even suggest that 12.5 ng/mL for people with no other health risks is probably fine. However, even they will probably benefit from things like less bone loss and reduced risk of breaks if they take the supplements their doctor recommends. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/9 "2019-09-12T17:47:15Z")
I’m a regular, fit, middle-aged guy who lives in Canada and my doc prescribed vitamin D, especially in the winter months because we don’t get a ton of sun. I expressed similar reservations regarding vitamin intake and he agreed that they were generally unneeded (generally turning pills into vitamin-rich urine), but that he prescribes vitamin D a fair bit because its relatively common to have low levels. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/10 "2019-09-12T18:07:54Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Title says it all. “Google says” is short for “the sites that came up when I googled,” right? Which sites were they? And “vitamins are BS” may be _short_ for something that is at least somewhat accurate; but vitamins are not BS: they really exist, and they really are necessary for health. So, no, the title doesn’t say it all. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/11 "2019-09-12T18:12:06Z")
I’ve taken Vita.D my whole life. T1 diabetic kids often have low D. Mine has remained low. If I go off it within days I’m gonna be experiencing tiredness and bone/muscle pain. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/12 "2019-09-12T18:15:59Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > “Google says” is short for “the sites that came up when I googled,” right? Which sites were they? > > And “vitamins are BS” may be _short_ for something that is at least somewhat accurate; but vitamins are not BS: they really exist, and they really are necessary for health. > > So, no, the title doesn’t say it all. Good grief. If the title is too confusing for you, you’re welcome not to post. I was engaging in hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/13 "2019-09-12T18:39:04Z")
My PCP, oncologist, and naturopathic doc have me taking D3 because they want my level to stay in a particular range based on my medical history. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/14 "2019-09-12T18:54:19Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Good grief. If the title is too confusing for you, you’re welcome not to post. > > I was engaging in hyperbole. I know, but I was actually curious who, if anyone, was specifically saying that vitamin D supplements were BS for people diagnosed with low vitamin D. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/15 "2019-09-12T18:57:43Z")
The anti-supplement people aren’t really all that anti-supplement. From what I’ve seen, few of them are opposed to mothers taking prenatal supplements and many are onboard with processed foods being fortified with vitamins/minerals. Most are adamant that municipal water supplies be supplemented with fluoride. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/16 "2019-09-12T19:25:37Z")
I don’t think anybody is really “anti-supplement.” But it’s true that most people don’t have any particular need for supplements, because they get all the vitamins they need from a reasonable diet. Usually supplements are only medically necessary if you have a deficiency due to a weird diet, medical condition, pregnancy, etc. In which case you should be consulting with a doctor anyway, not the dude at GNC. I also take a D supplement since I get little sun exposure. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/17 "2019-09-12T19:28:22Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I know, but I was actually curious who, if anyone, was specifically saying that vitamin D supplements were BS for people diagnosed with low vitamin D. I didn’t read anything like that. When I “Googled”, I didn’t exactly do a deep dive. I just needed to reaffirm what I vaguely remember reading years ago. Which was, vitamin supplements have few, if any benefits. I didn’t get into the “if you have a deficiency” part. **QTM** and **Machine Elf** cleared that up for me. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/18 "2019-09-12T19:34:43Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > …because they get all the vitamins they need from a reasonable diet. Not according to the most recent NHANES data: > **[Risk of Deficiency in Multiple Concurrent Micronutrients in Children and...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5537775/)** > > Certain population sub-groups in the United States are vulnerable to micronutrient malnutrition. Nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) describing the biochemical status of vitamins A, B6,... > [@](#): > > The risk of vitamin deficiency or anemia is common in the U.S., and vulnerable groups include women, particularly those of child-bearing age, non-Hispanic Blacks, people of low socio-economic status, underweight and obese individuals, and individuals with poor diets. Adequate dietary intakes and the use of DS, particularly FSMV, are associated with a lower risk of deficiency. Nutrition intervention programs should use an approach targeted at vulnerable groups to reduce the overall burden of poor micronutrient status. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/19 "2019-09-12T19:54:59Z")
My doctor suggested Vitamin D to help with restless leg syndrome. I’m pretty sure it’s a placebo suggestion, but, meh, what the hell, I got a big bottle on sale. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/20 "2019-09-12T22:53:40Z")
My blood tests showed consistent Vitamin D deficiency, so my doc put me on a low dosage. The tests improved only slightly, so the dosage was increased. Long story short, I’ve been taking 50K units/day for a few years now, and blood test results have been normal. What bothers me, though, is that there seem to be fads in medical deficiencies. It seems that lately, everybody’s diagnosed with D deficiency. Before D, it was testosterone. What’s next? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110.md?page=2)