Private MD News

Vitamin D supplements among top selling nutritional aids

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Numerous studies have illustrated the importance of vitamin D in recent years and knowledge about the health benefit of the nutrient continues to grow. Many more people may not be seeking blood tests to measure their vitamin D levels, as a new survey suggests that supplements containing this nutrient are among the most popular.

Researchers from ConsumerLab.com surveyed 10,000 supplement consumers from across the country. One-half of all respondents reported using vitamin D supplements, making it the third most common supplement taken. Only fish oil and multivitamins ranked higher.

Vitamin D was once thought to simply support the absorption of calcium. However, knowledge of the full role of the nutrient has grown in recent years. Now, experts say that vitamin D is active in boosting cardiovascular health and the immune system. It is now considered one of the most indispensable vitamins.

Doctors across the country have reported seeing an increase in the number of patients seeking vitamin D blood tests in recent years. This may partially explain why sale of the supplements has increased so significantly.