Table 1.

Main arguments supporting a vitamin D supplement dose of 2000 IU (50 µg) per day for the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.

Previous publications and guidelines may have partially underestimated the vitamin D requirements to achieve certain target serum 25(OH)D concentrations.

The high safety of a daily vitamin D supplementation dose of 2000 IU (50 µg) has been well established by recent RCT data documenting this over several years of treatment.

Clinical studies support a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL) and higher as the optimal level.

Some RCT data support clinical extraskeletal benefits of vitamin D supplementation with 2000 (IU) (50 µg) per day.

IU, international units; 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D; RCT, randomized controlled trial