So you think you spend enough time in the sun and drink two glasses of milk a day, but how do you know if you’re really getting enough of the sunshine vitamin? Although we may think we are getting an ample amount of vitamin D from natural sources, studies suggest nearly three-quarters of teens and adults are vitamin D deficient and need to rely on a supplement to maintain a healthy level of the vitamin, which is an essential nutrient in our bodies serving an important role in bone strength, mental capability, immunity and lung function. However, few agree on an adequate dosage recommendation for the vitamin.

Although, previous studies suggest the standard for a sufficient vitamin D level is 30 nanograms per milliliter (30 ng/mL) or more of the vitamin in the blood, a new study released by Loyola this year states that nearly all have sufficient levels of vitamin D when blood levels are 20 ng/mL or greater. By adhering to new guidelines released by Loyola, the standard of 20 ng/mL or greater would effectively reverse the vitamin D insufficiency diagnosis of nearly 79 million adults.

The Loyola study is meeting much skepticism from experts in the industry who advocate for higher standard levels of vitamin D. The Vitamin D Council suggests vitamin D concentrations of around 50 ng/mL or higher have proven more beneficial than levels below 40 ng/ML, while the majority of attendees at the vitamin D conference in Warsaw, Poland this month and the Endocrine Society adhere to the 30 ng/mL to 60 ng/mL standard. One study actually suggests that high doses are considered safe and could benefit sufferers of diseases like Multiple Sclerosis.

Loyola’s study may not have been adopted or adhered to as a standard, but it has effectively clouded previous perceptions of what the standard should be. Maybe it’s time to see your doctor to determine your own individual vitamin D requirements. When you’re ready to add a great vitamin D supplement, the geeks have found the right one for you!