Optimum Vitamin D levels

Hi ladies-

when I went to see a naturalpath the 1st test she ordered was a vitamin D level.  My oncologist runs blood work but never checked my vit. D levels.

I just located my lab results sheet and it states the following word for word:

25 Vit D2 & D3

25-HYDROXY VIT D2      5.7

                                     Unit:  ng/mL

25-HYDROXY VIT D3      28

                                     Unit: ng/mL

-- REVERENCE VALUE --

25-HYDROXY D TOTAL (D2+D3)

Optimum levels in the normal

population are 25-80

end quote.

My naturalpath likes to see the Vit D3 levels above 50 and considers 50-100 to be in the normal level.  After she received my results she put me on 2,000 iu's if Vit D3.  She is planning to recheck my levels after 3 months.

I thought I'd share my info.

Best wishes,

Liz

I had blood work done at the end of June after months of chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, weight gain/inability to lose weight, hair loss...and more.  Found out my Vitamin D level was nearly totally depleted!  I was put on daily megadoses of 50,000 IU for two weeks, then 50,000 a week for another few weeks.  My levels came up to just under 30 (still low, but much better than less than 5!).  I'm now taking 5 to 6,000 units per day and trying to get 10-15 minutes of daily sun exposure at peak times.  My PCP said if you live north of Atlanta--which I do--it's virtually impossible to get enough from just sun exposure, especially in the fall and winter.  

Two weeks after finding out that my Vit. D levels were nearly depleted, my routine mammogram came back with calcifications, and to make a long story short, after diagnostic mammos, ultrasounds, and MRI, and 3 biopsies I was dx with DCIS--thankfully only in one breast and in one area.  I strongly believe that my very low Vit. D levels made me vulnerable to this and am glad it was caught early.  I have no family history and no other high risk factors.

Incidentally, I was extrememly deficient even though I was out walking the dog twice a day (early a.m. and p.m., so admittedly not much sun exposure there), and regularly eating things like salmon and walnuts, drinking fortified OJ and soy milk, etc.  I think it's important for everyone to know what their Vit. D levels are.   My PCP, who was very informed about Vit. D issues, said she likes to see levels of at least 60 for patients with any kind of cancer diagnosis.  

I will have my levels checked again in another 3 weeks to see how close I am to that goal.  Incidentally, I'm 45 years old and in general good health besides the low Vit. D and now DCIS.  My best to everyone!

Bump

Yes, ditto. Be sure to get your levels tested! I take between 2,000 -4,000 units per day. That keeps my blood levels at 70.

Other people have taken that amount orally and don't absorb it. Then you need to take it by injection once a month and test to see if that brings it up. I've heard of people in nursing homes getting 50,000 unit shots.