help with vit D levels

Makratz

Same thing happened to me, Marianne.  I LOVE the sun and really don't use sunblock.  I never burn.  I thought I could stop the Vitamin D for the summer, but my levels dropped too.  I now take it year round, just a lower dose in the summer and higher dose the rest of the year.

Anonymous

Hi all, question here.  I'm just about out of my Vit D3, a 1000 mg chewable tablet.  Was thinking about maybe trying the liquid this time around.    Any thoughts on chewable versus liquid?  All the others I see come in a softgel which, regardless of the thoughts on soy, I'd just rather stay away from them.

Looking forward to all comments.  Thanks.

Char2010

Patoo - Why do you want to stay away from softgel Vitamin D?  I get the one at Trader Joe's - no soy.

juli0212

Hi JO!   We have our issues don't we with this vitamin d3 stuff-o!  (Everyone else too, hello!)

I upped my daily dose of vitamin d3 (softgel) 5,000ius a day, and my parathyroid level is FINALLY normalized~!   AND my bone density came back a bit better, no osteopenia yet.   I will stick with this level as it's really helped me in lots of ways.  (Remember I can't take calcium due to the hyper-parathyroidism)   Glad your dose is helping you out and you feel somewhat better!   ~juli

Anonymous

Thanks for the responses.

Char2010, the softgels I've seen all were soy so I will check further.  I need to take a trip to Trader Joe's just to look around because I've heard so much about it.  It's about an hour away, I think.

JO, the liquid that I saw said you can even put it into a beverage so that may make it easier if just dropping under the tongue doesn't work. 

I just basically want to take the one that is most effective and may help to raise my D3 numbers up.  The chewables I take are 1000 mg and I usually take 3 plus I get another 1200 from my multi and calcium.

Thanks all.

3jaysmom

i get the REALLY cheap stuff here at CVS: my natural foods guy said its just as good.. the lower doses have soft gels caps. i called 2 p;aces, they said all caps were soy based; which led me to my pharmacist ( 2 other of my rxs' are soft caps) she said all are soy based, if they're capsules.. so, i switched to Nature made 2,00 and they have no soft caps, or soy.. just a bit of info from my part of the maze.........getting my levels cked next week i'll let you know...........3jays

Anonymous

3jaysmom, that is what I've found in my, admittedly, limited, checking of labels that the sofgels seem to be soy based, so I stay away from them.

I ordered the drops and will see how they work as I really want my numbers up out of the 40's.

3jaysmom

imtried the drops, a;so, patoo. but have other meds too, they upset my tummy, so the tabs for me. the only way to be sure no soy IS the drps.. some say "cellulose" i think thats how they don't have to disclose soy!!! hope your tummy accepts the drops.......3jays

Kaara

Hummm...I take capsules...guess they have soy?  Levels must have increased a lot from the original 30 because my energy is very high right now.  I planted flowers all around my yard today and normally I would be exhausted from the humidity, but no, I feel great.  Can't wait to see the results of my bloodwork in November.  My doseage is 5,000 right now but thinking of increasing to 10,000 to get my levels to 100 which is optimal level for fighting off cancer.

I go  Monday for another US and if bs can find the spot (which couldn't be found before on US) he will do a biopsy right in the office.  It keeps showing up on the mammo, so something is there.  When I called for the app't, the nurse tried to put me off until November 22...I was having none of that, so I got my earlier date by being a squeaky wheel!  I've learned to speak up loud and clear.

This is all new for me...I almost never go to doctors except for routine stuff.  Not fun! 

Anonymous

Thanks for the tip 3jaysmom.  I will make sure to put it into a drink and take with food.

Kaara, good for you speaking up.  Is that a SE of BC?  Must be because so many of the posts on here show folks fighting for themselves - great.

OG56

Hi I wanted to jump into this discussion because I had to beg to be tested and my level was 9 one year ago so saw an endocrinologist who put me on 50,000 IU's per week after one year my level was 34. I am now taking 5,000 per day and was wondering if the liquid is better absorbed? Where do you buy it? I am taking calcium too because after 3 years on AI my Dexa Scan showed a drop and I am just a couple of points away from Osteopenia and I was wondering if I can stop the progression? Thanks for any advice.

Linda

JanetM

A few months ago my ob/gyn sent me for blood work and my Vit D level was 12.  He was concerned about it and had me follow up with my PCP was totally unconcerned about it.  Not really sure how to deal with these divergent opinions.

lukejessesmom

Last year my level was 62. My O/B said it should be around 60. I was taking 12,000 I/U's daily because I had lots of bone mets. This week, the N/P @ oncologist office freaked out when I told her how much I was taking. She said it can cause liver damage and that you could take too much. I'm laying off til I get my levels checked again next week. I had innumerable bone mets but they have been stable for 3 years and my bone density test showed my bones were stronger than normal. I always thought more was better.

3jaysmom

yeah, the level should be like, 60 or 70; thre dr. told me. there IS a real problem if it gets to high.. i get it cked every month, now, cause i get it up, but then it plummets again.. i got the poilss at cvs; 2,000 or more. lower has soy. and whole foods has it in liquid form... be careful don't let it creep too high.......3jays

Anonymous

lukejessesmom, more of anything is not always better and with some supplements can be toxic.  There are varied thoughts on what the upper level of Vit D3 should be; no one seems to know so I would err on the side of caution, especially since you are already at 62.

JanetM, I (JMHO) think your PCP is entirely wrong.  12 is very low by anyone's standards; I think they think 30 is normal and recent reports is that that is not normal but low.  My MO thinks my 42 i s okay and I disagree with that and am trying, on my own, to raise it higher.  I'm due for a visit with my PCP and will see what she has to say (I'm expecting her to say it's normal as well).  Seems the doctors are just as confused as we are.

OG56, I get my Vit D3 from Puritan Pride, online.  If you register with ebates.com and go to Puritan Pride and place your order you also get, in addition to their special prices, a rebate (check).

Anonymous

JO, you can only do what you can tolerate.  Your levels were going up so do as the doc suggests and continue at the 1750, maybe that's all you need. (our bodies are lots smarter than we are - most of the time anyway!)

3monstmama

I took a round of the 50,000 unit weekly tabs and my Vit D went right up.  Then I stopped and just did the daily.

The last time I was checked it was down to 15.     I have been using the drops--never caused any tummy trouble and can be kept in my desk drawer or purse and used when I remember--which I like but I suspect I am too inconsistant to be getting the most benefit.  And like those in Ohio in the winter, here in the NW, I won't be getting much from daily sunshine. . . .

All these supplements are such a drag.......

cp418

I've also had success with the Carlson liquid drops without stomach upset like gel tabs.  I have used as many as 4 drops daily 8000 units to get my Vit D level in the 50-60+ range.  Winter time I use consistently and a lower dose in the summer.  However, I have to wear lots of sunscreen due melanoma risk and Dermatologist said use the drops to avoid sun burn risks.  He wants me covered up!

Anonymous

QUESTION:  Just had my yearly physical - and my Vitamin D blood test went from 48 last year, to 35 this year - and, get ready for it - that's taking 4,000ius of D3 ( very good quaity, no soy, 3 capsules taken throughout day with meals) a day!

WHAT??  has anybody had their levels DROP that much taking 4,000ius a day???

MariannaLaFrance

Sunflowers,

I have a good friend in the neutraceuticals business, and he told me that the research findings are pointing to the fact that everyone has a natural "saturation point" for Vitamin D, where the body doesn't or cannot add more synthetic Vitamin D.  I stopped taking Vitamin D after getting my levels up to around 70-- I stopped around May and thought that all my outdoor activities would keep my levels high. Well, I dropped almost 20 down to 54. I was disappointed that I couldn't naturally keep my levels high once I stopped. I guess I'm on this supplement for life.... 

Makratz

I take about 4-5000 IUs a day and my level fropped from 48 to 42 in the past year.  Go figure!

Anonymous

Makratz

I wonder what this is about???  At least yours didn't drop too much - mine really did. I take Arimidex - I wonder if that has something to do with it?  Also wondering if my body is just having trouble absorbing the Vitamin D3 I'm taking?  My doc ( PCP) knows zilch about this - she thought 35 was fine.  I would DEARLY like to get it up to 50.

Makratz

My PCP is amazed that I can take so much and the levels arent toxic.  She tells me to go for it and keeps testing me.  I started out at 16 about 3 years ago and have't even hit 50.  I also take 50,000 IU's of D3 twice a month during the fall/winter. I walk outside EVERY DAY during all kinds of weather and my levels still dont rise very much.  I am on Tamoxifen and don't know if that affects your levels.

Thatgirl

If your taking D3 with some sort of fat, you do not have any GERD/Reflux issues, a quality brand that has the actual amount listed on the bottle, than I'm unsure why your levels are not changing.

One thing for sure, if you truly believed D3 was preventing a reoccurance , you would find away to get your levels up.

If your Onco suggested you get your levels up than thats who I would talk to about D3. Most PCP's do not know about cancer therapies. I talk to my Onco about BC. period.

MBoss

After I insisted that my Vit D level be checked my PCP finally ordered the blood work and it was 26. I came to know about the level when I called the office after more than a week  I went for my blood work. I am not sure why they did not call me though my level comes under "insuffciency" range. I asked him if I need to take suppliments, after pausing for some time he said something along the line that I can take 4000 IU Vit D suppliment. He did not elaborate on which brand is good for me and when I should take or anything. I  have mentioned to him prior to my last visit that I take 1000 to 2000 IU, though not regularly. I was pretty upset. I felt like nobody cares.

Thatgirl

MBoss have yu talked to your Onco about your D3 levels?

Anonymous

One thing about thr Vitamin D3 I think is important to check - is that it does NOT have Soy oil in it.  The one I use ( Pathways brand) is in rice bran oil.

Thatgirl - I was wondering if the Vitamin D is being stored in body fat, would it still be shown on the blood test?????

MBoss

Thatgirl-I haven't talked to my Onc recently, maybe a year or so ago. He did not think it was important at that time. I will be seeing him in another month and I will ask him again. But with my insurance I don't think two Drs can check on the same thing. I will have to clarify that.

Anonymous

MBoss - make sure you buy Vitamin D3.  If you have a Whole Foods store near you, they have a large selection of good vitamins.  A health food store will have the best selection.  Also, if you are trying to avoid soy, make sure the Vitmain D3 is not in soy oil.

MBoss

I take Nature Made 1000 IU and Kirkland brand 2000 IU. I alternate between these two. when I was reading the ingredients I see that Kirkland has soy oil. After done with it I am not going to buy that again and I am planning to stick with Nature Made. Since my Dr said I can take 4000 IU I will have to take 4 of Nature Made or 2 of Kirkland brand. I also take Centrum every other day which also has some Vit D. Is there any drug company that makes 4000 IU?. Thx.