Calcium and vitamin D are essential for the body to function properly. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need the same amount of calcium and vitamin D as other women their age. Vitamin D supplements can be taken with or without food, and the full amount can be taken at one time. While your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium, you don't need to take vitamin D at the same time as a calcium supplement. If you're looking for help choosing a vitamin D supplement, it's best to consult your healthcare provider.
Recent meta-analyses and randomized clinical trials have failed to find a beneficial effect of vitamin D supplements on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer outcomes. This is because vitamin D is fat-soluble and is stored in the adipose tissue of obese people, reducing the levels available in serum. Milk, orange juice, infant formula, yogurt, margarine, butter, cheese, and breakfast cereals are often fortified with vitamin D. As few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D and cultivated varieties contain lower concentrations, artificially fortified foods and supplements are appealing. These findings, together with the lack of consensus on optimal serum concentrations of 25 (OH), D, have reduced some of the initial enthusiasm for vitamin D supplements. The amount of sun you would need to achieve normal levels of vitamin D in your blood is probably greater than what is safe for your skin, so most people may need supplements to achieve a normal level of vitamin D.
Despite the association between serum 25 (OH) and D deficiency and higher mortality and incidence of CVD, vitamin D supplementation has not demonstrated any observable benefits for CVD in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Therefore, concentrations of 25 (OH), D should not be routinely tested and vitamin D supplements should not be prescribed or recommended to prevent cardiovascular events. In conclusion, taking calcium together with vitamin D is essential for optimal health. Vitamin D supplements can be taken with or without food, but it's best to consult your healthcare provider for advice on which supplement is right for you. While there is an association between serum 25 (OH) and D deficiency and higher mortality and incidence of CVD, vitamin D supplementation has not demonstrated any observable benefits for CVD in RCTs.
