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Comment by mindfulhack | Hacker News Reader

I wonder how much a connection there is between levels of vitamin D production from exposure to the sun depending on how much melanin your skin has (and also how much exposure you give your skin), and higher rates of ICU admission and death among people with black and brown skin?

How much of the higher rates are caused by physical health issues due to genetics, rather than social policy issues as has been said in the media (at least the media that I watch)?

Since March I've been taking 5000 IU of vitamin D every day regardless of my skin colour.

This seems like major news and if I were in the health system or in a position of power I would personally not be waiting for larger trials before rolling out vitamin D right now. This is because I don't want people to die. (Do our politicians have the same goal?) Vitamin D is already known to be safe if not taken at too high a dose.

Sometimes solutions to health problems are simple, and it's beautiful.

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>Vitamin D is already known to be safe if not taken at too high a dose.

There were some posts on here by a doctor that have seen problems with people who were inside the norm of D.vit. so I wouldn't trust the above. I have to take D vitamins because there's something wrong with me and doctors want to monitor my blood levels because of it. Calcium levels are one thing that can become too high with normal range d.vit. if taking supplements. Vitamin D supplement is medicine which most people seem to forget. Using medicine means seeing a doctor to make sure it is safe, at least a blood test every 6 months.

Edit: here's one of her threads: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24138590

People see the word "vitamin" and think it's a food like vitamin C. But Vitamin D isn't like that, there's not many foods that are high in vitamin D and most that are are fortified. If we could get sufficient vitamin D from food then we wouldn't have evolved a mechanism to get it from the sun. Vitamin D also accumulates, which is a feature if you are getting it from sunlight but a potential problem if you are taking supplements.

Vitamin D isn't even really a vitamin. It's a hormone.

5000 IUs is definitely high enough that it can be poisonous. Don't do that unless you get regular serum level checks as well.

I don't know why you are getting downvotes. Vitamin D is a hormone. Everything upwards of 4000 IU per day is currently disputed territory.

It may be safe to take 5000 IU a day, some even suggest 8000 to 10000 IU per day. But studies still vary on this and discussions are being held. Don't be the lab mouse.

Take max. 4000, otherwise get blood work done and take over 4000 long term only on supervision until this is really clarified. You DO NOT want hypervitaminosis D.

OK maybe I'll dial it down slightly. Every second day or 2 every 3 days. Cheers.

Its better to take vitamins (that you lack) everyday in small doses. Rather than a lot every few days.

The overflow of your body stores goes straight out of your body. That's why vitamin D hypervitaminosis is causing kidney stones.

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