[vjaswal]

I'll add my anecdata. I'm dark skinned and an engineer, so sunlight and me are strangers at best.

I've taken 5000 IU/day (with vitamin K2) and have my blood levels tested every year. I don't remember what my serum levels are but they were on the high end of healthy individuals. Last I checked, my levels matched what a person reaches who spends the day in the sunlight, perhaps like a outdoor worker.

Whatever you try, if you have an annual check up, you should get you blood levels tested to verify you reach sane levels. I think most studies and articles fail to mention how dark the subjects are.

[torial]

Agreed... also anecdotal, I have a autoimmune condition (psoriasis which includes on my face) that taking more Vitamin D helps with (so long as stress doesn't increase). I started taking 50,000 IU's to keep it under control. [I also take the K2 supplement] I also took a DNA test, and it indicated I had problems with Vitamin D absorption. A year later, my blood levels were tested and I was square in the normal range (taking 50,000 IU a day). But the two data points (from DNA and blood test) I think are important considerations.

[red-iron-pine]

Am in Canada, my doctor is Nigerian. He mentioned that for most of his patients, esp. the darker skinned ones, if they come in presenting symptoms of things that could be fixed by Vit D he doesn't even bother ordering blood work anymore -- he just sends em to go buy a bottle of Vit D, and call me if that doesn't work or things get worse.