Like many people, Linda Plattus takes Vitamin D, along with a calcium supplement, every morning.
"It's become a routine. It's like brushing your teeth. You brush your teeth three times a day, I take my vitamins once a day," said Plattus.
Consumer Reports analyzed 32 Vitamin D supplements, including 12 Vitamin D and calcium combinations. The good news is testers found they all contained at least as much Vitamin D as their labels claimed and were within the safe maximum limit set by the Institute of Medicine and they all met federal safety standards. However, analysis of some supplements raised a red flag.
"Our lab tests found lead levels in nine of the Vitamin D plus calcium supplements that exceeded a strict California limit for reproductive risk," said Jamie Kopf from Consumer Reports.
California law requires that these be labeled, but they weren't. Consumer Reports also found prices varied widely. Trader Joe's Vitamin D softgels were the best deal at just 3 cents per capsule and Sundown Naturals Liquid-Filled Calcium Plus Vitamin D softgels cost 8 cents each. About whether you need extra Vitamin D, Consumer Reports' medical experts examined the evidence.
"You probably don't need a supplement if you get some midday sun during the warmer months. But if you have osteoporosis or a gastrointestinal condition that limits absorption, your doctor may recommend a Vitamin D supplement," said Dr. John Santa, M.D., from Consumer Reports.
And if you do opt for Vitamin D, take care to stay within the recommended amounts. Too much can put you at risk for kidney damage.
A government advisory group recently recommended that healthy women past menopause not take daily Vitamin D and calcium supplements at low doses to prevent fractures. And it said at higher doses, more research is needed.
Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union. Both Consumer Reports and Consumers Union are not-for-profit organizations that accept no advertising. Neither has any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.
(All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2011. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
