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Safety: Dr. Hollis discusses his decades of research confirming that vitamin D supplementation of 4,000-6,000 IU daily during pregnancy is not only essential but safe, with no cases of vitamin D toxicity observed despite extensive monitoring.
Recommendation: Dr. Hollis recommends 4,000-6,000 IU of vitamin D daily for pregnant women, and notes that this dosage is particularly important for women with darker skin who cannot efficiently produce vitamin D from sunlight.
Testing Importance: While vitamin D testing can be valuable for education and monitoring, supplementation should not be delayed if testing isn’t available, especially for high-risk groups like women with darker skin.
Pregnancy Physiology: Pregnancy creates a unique vitamin D metabolic state where levels of active vitamin D (1,25D) increase dramatically, likely serving immune and developmental functions beyond calcium regulation.
Preconception Benefits: Achieving vitamin D sufficiency (40+ ng/mL) before conception or early in pregnancy may provide the greatest benefits for both mother and child.
Broader Application: Dr. Hollis suggests everyone should consider taking 4,000-5,000 IU of vitamin D daily regardless of pregnancy status, as it may improve quality of life and decrease infection rates.
Are you interested in implementing a vitamin D screening and supplementation protocol in your practice? Let us know – we can help! Reach out today.
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