More evidence that routine multivitamin use should be avoided

[intaglio]

61. Please read what I have written here - it might be very important to you

I take it by "units" your doctor is using the US IU scale - which no other country uses

200 - 600 IU are the RDA for humans (depends on source). I had not realised but the UK/European RDA is significantly lower than the US but still your doctor is asking you to take nearly 7 times the US amount. This is the maximum dose recommended by the US Institute of Medicine including dietary intake.

The Mayo Clinic says 600 RDA, that is still only a fraction of what you are being asked to take. Luckily your skin will not produce vitamin D due to the excessive levels in your blood but you will still be getting some vitamin D from your food. Depending on how well you eat up to another 1000 IU per day, you should have been advised of this.

Below is a link to an article by the Mayo on hypervitaminosis D, they say the danger commences at 50,000 UI per day but other countries have significantly lower thresholds

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-d-toxicity/AN02008

I know there is a push in the US to up the maximum allowed dose to 10,000 IU but I know that elsewhere there is significant doubt because there is no evidence that humans need that amount.

There has also been some discussion about a link to long term high doses with arteriosclerosis. This is not proven but it is something about which your doctor should be aware.

In my fathers' words "Be happy - but don't trust any medic," and he was one!