Some medical problems need more than 5,000 IU to get any results
Some peoples, like Eskimos/Inuit, have intestinal systems evolved to extract less vitamin D ClICK HERE for Hypothesis
People who are obese get approximately 1/2 the blood level of increase for a given dose of vitamin D
People who are very deficient need to first replenish their vitamin D levels, sometimes with a high single or short term dose, before going on a maintenance dose
Very deficient include seniors, submariners, women wearing burkas, people avoiding the sun !
Had taken vitamin D2 instead of vitamin D3
Doctors in the US can only prescribe D2, which lasts about 1/2 as long in the blood stream and in many cases seems to be 1/3 as useful