Carlson Vitamin D3 2000 IU

by Carlson

Product Features

• Helps regulate and control the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus
• Aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine
• Affects the rate at which these minerals form and maintain bone

Product Description

Size: 360 sgels

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 4 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B001LF39UG
• UPC: 088395014635
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,285 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)
  • #55 in Health & Personal Care > Diet & Nutrition > Vitamins & Supplements > Vitamins & Multivitamins

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carlson is an excellent company. 2,000 iu is a good dosage level for most people, May 22, 2008

By 

Milton Hare "Sunlight-Vitamin D" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I am a layman. I have provided Vitamin D3 at this dosage to a number of individuals with auto-immune diseases such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis and congestive obstructive pulmonary disease. In almost every case, these individuals have experienced a reduction of symptoms. There is a very extensive literature supporting the theory that Vitamin D reduces auto-immune symptoms. Most human cells have a Vitamin D (VDR) receptor and these cells do not mature unless Vitamin D is available. This in itself may explain why Vitamin D3 provides such a wide range of health benefits.

It is also important to assure that you get minimums of calcium (1000 mg), magnesium (500mg) and zinc (15mg) from diet or supplements as Vitamin D "uploads" these minerals from the diet. Many manufacturers provide an inexpensive three (large!) pill daily cal-mag-zinc supplement based on these minimums. You can find these formulations at Walmart and large chain drugstores. They will also carry liquid formulas providing calcium and magnesium.

Vitamin D regulates gene expression, appears to be essential for proper immune system function, fights infection including bacterial infections such as bacterial colds, tuberculosis and bacterial pneumonia, reduces the incidence of cancer, and strengthens bone and muscle. Carlson informs me that the Vitamin D3 this product is made from lanolin (sheep wool fat) irradiated with Ultraviolet B light. As a vegetarian, I appreciate the fact that life is not taken to produce this product.

Spring, fall and summer noontime sunshine exposure provides adequate Vitamin D. Stay out a short time if your skin is light, but stay out longer if your skin is dark. Very light-skinned individuals can make adequate Vitamin D from arm and face noontime exposure in 15 minutes or less. Very dark-skinned individuals may require up to 2 hours to achieve the same level. Skin color is adaptive to sunlight levels, so that people from equatorial regions are darker-skinned and people from Iceland, who are starved for sun and Vitamin D, are very light-skinned. Get it? That's all there is to skin color. It's interesting that primitive cultures living far from the equator prize the few foods that naturally concentrate Vitamin D3, like fish liver oil and sea mammal blubber. Cod liver oil is about the only food supplement that provides a lot of Vitamin D. Milk has a little added and you can get 2000 a day by drinking 20 8-ounce glasses!

It is important that individuals who are not frequently exposed to the sun, who regularly wear sunblock or who are dark-skinned take Vitamin D3 supplements. Also, individuals who are elderly or obese generally require more Vitamin D3. Many researchers feel these groups should take 5,000 i.u. daily. As you get older you have more difficulty absorbing D and fat cells tend to sequester (trap) Vitamin D. If you are too poor to get tested for Vitamin D deficiency but are not frequently exposed to direct sunlight on your skin, I would encourage you to take 2000 i.u. daily of Vitamin D3. The FDA says a daily dose of 2,000 i.u. is completely safe. Other competent researchers feel a dose of 10,000 i.u. is generally safe, and very beneficial in some conditions such as multiple sclerosis. If your physician has not read recent literature about Vitamin D, encourage a thorough review of widely-available research findings on D. One source is [...], Dr. John Cannell's site. You can do your own research. There are many research articles and abstracts available on the Net. Search for "Vitamin D" deficiency to get started.

52 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vitamin D 2000 #360 softgels, February 25, 2008

By 

Thomas - See all my reviews

This is a great value!

One year of vitamin D for $15.00!

Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies. And yet, it does not receive the glamour or media coverage as many of the other supplements. Many of these more popular products have much less science behind their alleged benefits than does vitamin D.

Besides being important for optimum bone health and calcium metabolism, vitamin D is being studied for a number of potential beneficial effects on disorders as varied as cancer, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes and others. The research is still too preliminary to know how (and if) vitamin D will ever be considered useful for disease prevention (other than osteoporosis). However, the emerging science is exciting all the same.

The conventional wisdom of the long recommended dose of 400 IU day as being adequate is beginning to be disproved. In addition, sun exposure is also often not enough for most individual's requirements. This is true not only in the cold north during the winter but even in sunnier climates.

Many people enjoy nonfat milk and yogurt, which are excellent sources of calcium (about 300mg/cup). However, even though dairy products are one of the best sources of vitamin D in our diet, there is only perhaps 100 IU vitamin D per 8 oz glass.

Many calcium/bone/vitamin D experts, including myself*, recommend 800 to 1200 IU day as the minimum daily dose of vitamin D for most people. Some even recommend more.

Myself, I take 2000 IU day because I was deficient a few years ago. This dose has maintained my blood levels within the optimum range. I do not recommend 2000 IU day for all of my patients unless they too have been shown to be deficient and have had difficulty maintiaining their vitamin D levels with lower daily doses.

Like any vitamin, it is possible to overdose and get too much of a good thing. If you have any question of what your vitamin D status is, or how much vitamin D you should be taking, you should discuss with your doctor. Perhaps laboratory blood testing might be indicated.

The blood test that is used to assess vitamin D status is 25-OH (or 25-Hydroxy)vitamin D. Optimum levels are 25-OH vitamin D levels of between 30 and 80 mg/dl.

*I am a physician who is board certified in: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism; Clinical Lipidology; General Internal Medicine; and Nutrition. The above comments are my general insights into vitamin D deficiency as well as a review of this product. They are not intended to diagnose or be specific medical recommendations for the care of any given individual. If you have questions, please consult with your physician.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lanolin-based Vitamin D3 - Good company, good strength, June 6, 2007

By 

Milton Hare "Sunlight-Vitamin D" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

The source of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in this product is lanolin, which is sheep wool fat. Lanolin is irradiated with ultraviolet B (UVB) rays to create Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is the best source of supplemental Vitamin D. Vitamin D2 which is plant-source, does not metabolize predictably in the human body. This animal-source Vitamin D does not take life. I have found Carlson to be an excellent manufacturer. I believe 2000 iu a day is an appropriate minimal dose for an individual who does not get much direct noontime sun. 2000 iu is the highest safe dose according to the FDA, but current research suggests that 4,000 iu daily of Vitamin D3 is safe and may be essential for dark-skinned individuals or individuals who get no midday sun. There are ample references on the Internet to this issue of dosage.

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