23/01/2026
Vitamin D - was the RDA miscalculated… and does it matter?
A few years ago, researchers identified a statistical issue in how vitamin D guidelines were originally calculated. In short, population averages were used in a way that didn’t fully account for individual variation. That raised a valid question: are current recommendations enough for everyone?
Since then, more research has followed. Some newer analyses suggest that 600–800 IU daily may not reliably get most people to commonly used blood targets, especially in low-sun environments. At the same time, large clinical trials have shown that giving higher-dose vitamin D to generally healthy adults doesn’t automatically lead to better outcomes across the board.
So where does that leave us?
It tells us two things can be true at once.
Current guidelines may prevent severe deficiency for many people.
But they don’t guarantee optimal levels for everyone, especially when stress, gut health, body composition, immune load and lifestyle come into play.
Vitamin D isn’t a miracle nutrient. More isn’t always better. And one-size-fits-all guidance has limits.
This is why testing, context and individual needs matter more than chasing blanket numbers or megadoses.
Have you ever had your vitamin D labelled “normal”, yet still felt flat, run down or inflamed?
Let’s talk 👇
