Vitamin D brand and results

Brendatrue

I saw improvement after I starting using KAL Ultra D-3 chewables, 5000 IU, at least every other day; my calcium supplement also has D-3 at 400 IU, which I take daily. I don't remember my scores right now, but I took D-3 for several years before finding the KAL brand. My MD was very surprised that my D-3 level finally started moving up more significantly. By the way, when I asked him about injections, he didn't want to do that, saying that he thought my body would better absorb D-3 in oral form. I have a terrible problem with certain softgels (heartburn type symptoms), so I like the chewable form that KAL has.

LuvRVing

I've been taking NatureMade 2000 iu softgels for about 18 months.  I also take a calcium/D3 supplement twice a day.  My level was in the mid-30's in June 2010 and I'm now consistently in the 60's.  The NatureMade gels are made with soy.  I'm TN so it doesn't bother me. 

MariannaLaFrance

Lucy- you are right about the dosage and its effect on different people. 

I have been taking Carlsons 2000 IU drops for about 2 years now. I raised my levels from 30 to 75 in a matter of months, taking 4,000-5,000 drops daily and exercising in the sunshine.

I stopped taking it last summer, hoping the sun would naturally keep my levels high, and I dropped about 20 points to 52 with A LOT of sunshine (rode 100 miles in the Hotter n Hell 100 mile bike ride, rode and ran every single day in Texas).  That was my turning point, where I realized that I cannot keep my levels up into the upper limits without supplementation.

I put a drop in my water or coffee daily. I don't drink juice, unless I go to Whole Foods, where I order beet/carrot/ginger juice from the juice bar, but I usually take my supplements with water. Grapefruit juice interferes with the absorption of a lot of vitamins and minerals, so I have heard.

debbie6122

What a great idea Mairanna to use the drops and put it in your coffee or water, i will get the liquid kind

Layla2525

Susan02,yep my gen physician also practices alternative and she is practicing with the guy who was my dr before he brought her in to handle the overload, they tested me for Vit D long ago and mine was very low despite living in sunny FL but I spend 10 hr days at the office. I started taking Nature made D3 with 1000 IU and I usually take 4 or 5. My Vit D blood levels have improved a lot since I did that. Also on the calcium,I would ask the dr about taking magnesium and Vit K with it so it can be absorbed better. i was taking all that yr ago for osteopenia cause osteoporosis runs in the family and the dr put me on it. I really need it now with taking Arimidx which I told the MO but he doesnt seem impressed with my faulty bones. Ok,how do i wanna die..hmm from cancer..no,from heart disease,no..from osteoporosis? I dont think it kills directly but you can fall and hurt yourself with fractures and never really recover I've heard??

Omaz

My drops just came in the mail today!

MsBliss

Momof3boys, you are doing yourself a disservice by taking prescription D, which is D2.  D2 is made with quite toxic processes, is not metabolically active, and will probably not be helpful to you in the cancer war.  Your "MO", is that a doctor?  If so, this person is sorely misinformed to push D2 over D3, esp since you have been dx with bc. 

julianna51

I've been taking a D3 w/K2 for the past year (around 5000 units a day) and at my last test my levels were at 76.   My understanding is that K2 is very important also for the proper use/absorbtion of calcium.   From my research it appears most people are low and it is next to impossible to reach healthy levels through sunshine alone.  

Omaz

julianna - What is K2 ?

Lee7

I was curious about which brand to try and I guess I really lucked out. I bought NatureMade D3 2000IU at Walmart and I was thrilled to have my level go from a 27 to a 62 in 3 months.  Six months later I had my D level checked again and it was 67 so I'm staying on the 2000IU strength. I take the tablet rather than the gel ones because I'm trying to avoid soy. (er+) 

Omaz

Wow lee7 that is great!

dunesleeper

I should get my test results this week, so I'll post the results and what I am taking then. I did just recently up it to 8000 IUs daily, instead of 2000 IUs. So that won't be reflected on the test. I can't remember the brand, but I get it from "Your Prescription For Health." I believe it can be ordered.

Lee7

I don't know if this has anything to do with helping my Vit D going up but I take a Super B Complex that is the same NatureMade brand. It has 250% DV of Vit C and 100%dv of Folic Acid in it with the B Vitamins. Maybe it helps with the Vit D absorbtion.  What I really need to find is the right calcium to take. I'm on Arimidex and I'm worried about the bone loss.

Interesting seeing how many of us live in sunny states and still had low Vit D.....

debbie6122

Lee- I was thinking the same thing, i had to push for my vitamin D levels  because my new ono said oh you will get plenty of sunshine here, well i live in oregon so dont know how that is possible but seems it wouldnt matter anyway im beginning to think the sun dosnt have anything to do with vitamin D levels. anyone agree/disagree?

Cyborg

I take my D3 with a jigger of olive oil

julianna51

to get enought Vit D from sun you have to be out I think for a longer period than most of us with at least 40% of your body uncovered.....and everyone uses sun screen so that doesn't help.  Lots of conflict about getting the sun you need versus skin cancer issues.

MariannaLaFrance

Debbie,

I think the sun has a lot to do with the issues, mainly because of the lifestyles we are leading in this day and age. We are frequently indoors, using sunscreen, not exercising outdoors, etc., and I have the notion that over use of sunscreen has greatly contributed to deficiencies of Vitamin D.  However, I spoke with a good friend who works in the vitamin industry, and the nutraceuticals industry has done research on the fact that every person has a natural threshold (based on their health status, age, etc) where they fall in terms of Vitamin D  status.  In other words, some people have a harder time getting their levels up due to a natural limitation in their body.

I've tried to sit outside  with my belly uncovered (good grief, cannot imagine going topless at this point) in my backyard (legs, arms, belly in the sun) for about 20 minutes a day. With my lifestyle it's not always possible to do this.  

debbie6122

Marianna- thats a interresting theory about the sunscreen and i can see how that would stop the absorption of the sun not to mention all the crap they put in sunscreens now days too which has somthing in it that i cant pronounce or spell  that they use to de-ice planes Yikess!!

I live on the coast in oregon and dont see the sun very often but i try to be out there as much as i can, i lived in hawaii for over 10 years wish i would of had my vit D levels checked then just so i would know if i was getting addiquit vitamin D then.

Omaz

Check out this website LINK it has a vitamin D calculator!

MariannaLaFrance

debbie--

I've posted this elsewhere on the site, but as we move into the summer season, it's time to post this again.  Avoid Retinyl Palmitate. It's in about every single cosmetic product that has a "sunscreen" additive.  Retinyl Palmitate somehow "opens" you up for exposure to the "bad" cancer causing rays of the sun. http://healthland.time.com/2010/06/15/dermatology-sussing-a-sunscreen-cancer-risk/

Even though I don't particularly like the EWG, here's a post about Retinyl Palmitate from them:

http://www.ewg.org/release/nih-panel-links-vitamin-sunscreen-skin-tumors

http://truthinaging.com/sun-protection/dermatologists-claim-that-sunscreens-with-retinyl-palmitate-do-not-cause-cancer

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/24/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/what-we-still-dont-know-about-sunscreens/

MariannaLaFrance

As you can see, the Retinyl Palmitate cancer news hit about May 2010, and was followed by a slew of commentary around August 2010 by the Dermatology Association that Rentinyl Palmitate was "safe".  Use your own judgement about who has your best interest in mind.

I personally do not use any sunscreens with R.P., as I have my doubts about it.  I use a few brands from Whole Foods that have a primary ingredient as zinc oxide.  Yes, I am the greasy one with the streaky white stripes at the beach. I figure the extra zinc doesn't hurt!! 

MariannaLaFrance

P.S., and if you are still doubting whether or not Retinyl Palmitate causes problems with the sun, please do recall that RETIN-A, which is a similar structure to RP, comes with a host of warnings about getting out into the sun after application!!

Omaz

Marianna - I am suspicious of the chemical sunscreens.  I use the zinc oxide/titanium oxide combos.  I can't remember the name but there are a couple nice products on the market that are unscented and minimally chemicalized - I think last summer I used the version designed for babies!

debbie6122

I got out some of my old tanning lotions and it is pretty scarey all the stuff thats in there i just threw them all away i meant to before but forgot. When i was in hawaii last time the guy at the pool selling sun lotions was telling me about how bad they were for you and although they have banned most sun blocks with all the chemicals they are allowed to still carry them until they run out. I bought a sun block from him that is 100% natural it was $18.00 but worth it.  Great article Marianna!

debbie6122

Here is the link sorry you have to copy/paste as it wont let me www.absolutely-natural.com

the ingredients are: aloe extract, walnut oil, vegetable emulsifiers. rose hips oil, squalane, shea butter, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) potassium sorbate, natural fragrance.

OleOne

You should be cautious as vitamine D is stored in the body and an overdose can cause nasty health problems. The best alternative to taking a vitamine D supplement is taking a Agaricus Blazei Murill supplement. This is a medicinal mushroom also known as ABM and it contains a high level of ergosterol, which is a so-called pro-vitamine D. It is converted to Vitamine D by the body itself when the body needs it. So never too much !!

An additional property of the Agaricus is its normalizing effect on the immune system and its excellent detoxing properties. In Asia it is very popular as an anti-cancer adjuvant, used as a preventive medicine and to compensate the side effects of standard chemo and radiation treatment. Some research also indicates a direct anti-cancer effect. 

dunesleeper

My naturo doc will continue to order bloodwork so that we can monitor the vitamin D level in my body. He is very thorough!

Anonymous

Can't remember who posted it - but I found the DROPS at my health food co-op - so much easier - thanks for posting. Never thought to look for them...in a rice bran oil base, no soy.  Great!!

debbie6122

I also bought the drops got the 2000 iu because i wanted a little lower since im using it a couple times a day dont want to take to much it can be toxic. It only cost about $9.00 which isnt to bad

CamilleL

My doctor recommends Carlson, 2000 iu capsules, now up to 3 times a day.  Remember this vitamin is fat-soluble, so if for any reason you have difficulty metabolizing fat you may not be metabolizing the Vitamin D.   You want your levels up to 50 - 70 but as you get older it gets very hard to get levels that high as you no longer metabolize much from sun exposure.