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| It was listed as a vitamin for its anti-rickets activity in dogs. After years of debate about the origin of neanderthals, this is still one of the most viable explanations. As darker skinned men and women left the sunny climates of the southern hemisphere, they were able to convert less Vitamin D from their skin, rickets set in changing bone structure and eventually killing them. Source This fat-soluble vitamin can be obtained two major ways. The first is through exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is obtained from plants. It can be supplied by eating approximately 1.5kg of beef, 2.0kg of corn oil - or 100kg of cabbage! The RDA can also be supplied by eating roughly 50gm of salmon or 2.0gm of cod liver oil, and since fortified milk contains 400 IU per quart, half a quart of milk provides the RDA. One IU (International Unit) is equal to 0.025mcg of crystalline cholecalciferol. When taking doses of vitamin D3 in excess of 1100 IU per day, regular blood chemistry tests should be taken to monitor kidney function and serum calcium metabolism. Symptoms of toxicity include nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and lack of interest in eating food. |