Vitamin D Deficiency

[dieselgal]

Does anyone here suffer from a Vitamin D Deficiency? I have just received a letter from my Dr's office that shows my level is at 10.7 which is apparently very low. I have a prescription to fill also but what does this mean??? I haven't gotten the chance to speak to my Dr. yet but I thought this group of people might have some insite.

[CorgiGirl]

The medical community is just now discovering that vitamin D does more for us than prevent rickets (the bone disease). And the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is the currently the minimum required to prevent rickets in most people. I haven't been tested but my doc suggested I add a D supplement to my daily vitamin regimen...

It's been in the news a lot. A Google search turns up articles from the National Institutes of Health, Wikipedia, and the Mayo Clinic which all seem to have good info to my non-medical person brain.

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi there---yes, I have had it too--AND I live in Arizona --the sunshine state!! The pharmacist told me alot of people are using so much sunscreen that we are not getting the Vit. D that we need. I try to spend 15 min a day out in the sunshine now and that solved my problem. I only had to take the Vit. D capsules for 10 days ---now it is all sunshine for me and no pills!!!

Carrie

[Slinky]

Vitamin D deficiency in adults can result in osteomalacia (adult form of Rickets in children). Osteomalacia can cause bone and joint pain. It can also contribute to osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis. There seems to be some tie in w/parathyroid hormone. And calcium absorption.

I was scripted 100,000 IU of Vitamin D prior to starting treatment w/Forteo which is a synthetic portion of human parathyroid hormone used to treat severe osteoporosis in women past child-bearing years. I was at that dose for better thann 2 years before my dosage was reduced to 50,000 IU weekly. In two years I benefited in drastically improved bone density of the lumbar spine and some improvement in hip density as well tho not as drastic. 10 years of bone density loss restored w/in 2 years! I'm still on that 50,000 IU of Vitamin D weekly. There are two forms of Vitamin D levels in blood that can be tested for.

[WearyOne]

Yes, I do. I have done a little research on it, but not much, and it's only been in relation to thyroid issues. I have Graves' Disease (thyroid problem), and many times Vit D deficiency is associated with that.

An article I read says that it's showing up a lot more these days, and it seems one reason is that a lot of us don't get out in the sun enough or use too much sunscreen. Yeah, I know, sunscreen is supposed to help prevent skin cancer by blocking UV rays, but the UV ray skin exposure is one way our body gets Vit D. (There are food sources, too.) The article I read states there seems to be an ongoing battle between dermatologists and endocrinologists related to this, but mild skin exposure shouldn't increase the cancer risk that much, and would be helpful for the Vit D issue.

Malabsorption issues can cause Vit D deficiencies, too.

There seems to be growing information that Vit D deficiency is related to many more things than once thought, including not just bone health, but eyes, heart, fatigue, etc. And as most people know, it works with calcium in the body for proper calcium absorption.

I'm on 50,000 units once a week for three months, and then we're going to check to see if it's helped.

Pam

[Goofproof]

I've been taking 1,000 units daily for a couple of montha, as I do with a lot of vitamins. it sounds like 2,000 a day may not be a bad idea. I no longer spend much time in the sun, in fact I probably have spent less than the avg for 40 years, working mostly at night outside. Jim

[Guest]

I am a pharmacist and want to warn everybody that the 50,000 units that have been discussed are a therapeutic dose that should only be used under a doctors care. The current recommended dose is 400 units per day. Much literature is coming out that this dose is too low, and many are recommending 800 to 1,000 units per day. Some even a bit higher. I personally take 1,000 units per day. If I got alot of exposure to sunlight, without using sunblock, then I would reduce my dose to 400 units per day (a multivitamin). But rememer that Vitamin D (as well as Vitamins A,E and K) is fat soluble, and thus will store in the body (other vitamins are water soluble and will not store as long in the body, being flushed out in the urine). Too high a dose of Vitamin D can be very toxic. So don't go out and start taking megadoses without a doctors oversight and blood testing - you can really mess yourself up! On the other hand, there is a lot of good literature that is starting to point to the benefits of a proper dose of Vit D in a variety of health issues. Here is a good spot to learn more about vitamin D, with a holistic approach: http://www.lef.org

[Hawthorne]

The latest research in Canada, suggests that vitamin D can help with bone density as well as prevent many diseases, some cancers included.
I have severe Osteoporosis (thin bones). I have been treated with a once a week drug for it for 10 years now and have always been told to take a vitamin D supplement along with a calcium supplement. I have been doing that.
Last year, when I went for my annual bone density test I was told to take 1,000 mg of Vitamin D a day as well the the calcium supplement I have always been on. While being good for a lot of other things, Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium more efficiently. I'm not sure of any connection with sleep apnea but it could well be the case.

[Snoredog]

I read a paper once indicating that we don't absorb vitamin D well in pill form and if you are to get it from that source to take vitamin C along with it so it is absorbed better. vitamin C is also good for cardiovascular health, good for nerves, good for making those blood vessels that are stiff and hard from plaque soft and flexible again.

[Bearded_One]

I have read articles that are questioning the old studies that showed the toxicity of large doses of vitamin D. Some people now believe that the toxicity was from impurities in the vitamin D that was used during testing. I am currently taking 4,000 IUs of vitamin D daily.

[Guest]

Bearded One: Don't risk your health on the basis of what "some people" say. It is well established that very high doses of Vitamin D can be toxic. What is changing is what the definition of high doses is. It used to be that 1,000 units was considered a high dose and potentially toxic, but now it is thought that is too low to be toxic. I personally would not advise any patient to take above 1,000 per day unless they know their vitamin D blood levels. Remember, you are also getting high doses of Vit D from the sun, and perhaps from milk or other fortified foods, your multivitamin, etc. I think your current dose of 4,000 is certainly the highest I would ever go without blood levels and a therapeutic purpose. Remember, This is a textbook case where too much is not better.

[WearyOne]

Vitamin D works to help the body absorb calcium. Because of this, higher D in the body can cause higher calcium, which could be good. But, it has to be watched.The article I read states that, "The MAIN side effect of Vitamin D therapy is overtreatment leading to hypercalcemia."

Hypercalcemia: A higher-than-normal level of calcium in the blood. This can cause a number of nonspecific symptoms, including loss of appetite, nausea, thirst, fatigue, muscle weakness, restlessness, and confusion. Excessive intake of calcium may cause muscle weakness and constipation, affect the conduction of electrical impulses in the heart (heart block) lead to calcium stones (nephrocalcinosis), in the urinary tract, impair kidney function, and interfere with the absorption of iron predisposing to iron deficiency. (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art ... lekey=3834)

Just be careful on high doses of Vitamin D, having your levels of D and calcium checked regularly.

If you ever want a blood test and can't get your doc to order it, you can order one online http://www.healthcheckusa.com/ and have the tests performed at a local lab (LabCorp, for example). The costs vary from $35 to up over $200. There is one that includes calcium (don't know about Vit D). Can't use insurance for this, though.

Pam

[wireless]

I have long-standing vitamin D deficiency with osteomalacia and many other symptoms. The pill form has helped me every day since I began taking it. I was advised by experts to take 4,000 IU's a day. I am pretty sure that 6,000-8,000 a day would be better for me, but I should get my levels checked again. If they are still low, then I want to get shots of 20,000-30,000 or possibly more.

You must make sure the pills you take have D3 and not the other form of vitamin D. These days, most are D3 especially if the D vitamin is only one in the pill, or one of the main ones it is promoting.

[Slinky]

Yes, I would reiterate that my 50,000 IU weekly are SCRIPTED and that I do have a blood draw every 3 months for not just my Vitamin D level but also my calcium level and other things. It was the blood levels that determined my being dropped to 50,000 weekly from 100,000 weekly after 2 years of the higher dose. In addition, I do have Crohn's disease which often has absorbancy problems for various nutrients and vitamins.

Fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D & E can become toxic very quickly vs the water soluble vitamins such a C, etc.

[dieselgal]

I just picked up my prescription and it is for 50,000 IU Monday , Wedneday & Friday for 8 Weeks. Then blood tests again.
What I am wondering is how does this suddenly happen? I have a complete check up every year and this is the first time this has been mentioned?