Over the past two decades, hundreds, if not thousands, of studies have been published touting the wide array of benefits offered by the “sunshine vitamin.” At the same time, research has discovered that as many as three-quarters of Americans may be deficient in the vitamin. This information has convinced a lot of doctors and scientists that we all should be supplementing Vitamin D. …

Yet other doctors and scientists aren’t so sure. Notably, in November 2010 an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel conducted an in-depth systematic review of over 1,000 studies and found that reducing bone loss was the only definitive advantage of supplementing vitamin D. Moreover, they concluded that much of the research that had been conducted on the topic was unconvincing, lacking large subject groups, controls, randomization, and a placebo. Despite their findings, the panel still recommended that daily vitamin D intake be increased be increased from 200 to 600 international units per day for the majority of the population. Not enough, say vitamin D proponents. …

The vitamin D dilemma continues to this day. But many large studies are currently underway which should shed additional light on the subject within the next couple of years.