Superhero vitamins were dealt a super-setback in fall 2012, when the Federal Trade Commission said manufacturers of Spider-Man and other character-branded supplements made bogus claims about what the pills could do for your kids' health.

We know there's a lot of iffy info about vitamins out there, but we're certain vitamin D-3 supplements should be an essential part of your health plan. Unfortunately, almost no one gets enough sunshine-made vitamin D-3 for it to do its job, and it's got a big job: reduce inflammation, regulate cell growth, and protect your immune and neuromuscular systems. And its potential benefits don't stop there.

-Women 65-plus who get enough D-3 have greater brainpower and less risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

-Pregnant moms with healthy blood levels of D-3 may avoid having underweight babies — and the moms themselves are at lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis later in life.

-Plus, enough D-3 seems to cut tooth decay in half and reduce the risk of bladder cancer and type 1 diabetes.

So what do you need to get all this D-3 power? The Endocrine Society says you should have a "D" blood level of 30 nmol/L; new Institute of Medicine recommendations say 20. But we say 50 to 80 is good. So get a blood test to see what your level is. And take daily supplements to help you maintain a healthy level. We recommend taking 1,000 IU of D-3 a day; 1,200 IU if you're over 60. And ask your doc about kids' supplements — everybody needs them.


© 2013 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.