How Much Vitamin D to Take

My GP and oncologist agreed on 2000 iu and my naturopath agrees.

PETESMOM,

I have been taking between 1600-2000mg on most days for almost one year., taking pills is not one of my strongest points. I recently had my vitamin d level checked and it was actually high, being at 62. My Onc was not concerned with it being high, said to continue doing what I have been doing, if it was low he would be concerned. The Vitamin D test was only performed at my request and to my knowledge no one has ever checked it before so I have no comparison to make. My vitamin level could of always been high or good, at least I now have a baseline to compare future tests. If the test is important I don't understand why none of my doctors, present or past have never checked it.

take care,

There is a great deal of good news about vitamin D.  How much you take sometimes depends on where you live.  Also, if one puts on sunscreen one will not absorb Vit D from the sun.

I have changed dosage more than once.  I started taking 2000 IUs.  I upped it to 3000.  My D level was around 47.  I've now upped it (most days) to 4000 IUs.  The norm for is between 30 and 100.  My onc said anything above 40 is good.

Why doctors don't do Vit D test...because most doctors don't read...LOL  I believe int he oncology field they are catching on.  My onc said she was so surprised to see so many people who's D levels were so low.  Makes sense to me..we're told not to go in the sun without sunscreen...to dress appropriately..yada yada. 

Deirdre, you should have a vitamin D level drawn....25-hydroxyvitamin D also called, 25(OH)D. There is another kind, but this is the one you want.  Also, you should be supplementing Calcium and Magnesium.  I use mag citrate and calcium citrate.

There is no need to take magnesium on a different day.  I do take my magnesium at a different time than my D and calcium if I have time.  Also, do not supplement more than 500 mg of Calcium at one time..you need to take it throughout the day.  The magnesium should be half the amount as calcium..if you take 1200 mg of calcium then you should take 600 mg of mag.  If that's too much magnesium and causes diarrhea cut back. 

I haven't found that Vit D makes me sleepy.  I do save a magnesium for bedtime most of the time. 

This gets so confusing. 

Here's one place to read..you can google and find much, much more.

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitamindmiracle.html

Good luck..but get that D serum level drawn!

Shirley

I was on 1,000 IU's per day as recommended by my altlernative/complementary physician.  He then upped it to 4,000 per day and that is what I do currently.

Robin

I've been taking 5000 iu vit D since October after having my level tested and being on the deficient end. I'm having it retested next week. Vitamin D is great for your immune system. My whole family had various viruses this winter and I didn't get any of them!

I've been taking supplemental Vitamin D for a couple of years.  My endocrinologist started testing all of her patients back then - and discovered virtually everyone on her caseload was deficient (levels under 30).  (I'm in Seattle, and this was all patients with health issues like thyroid or diabetes - neither she nor I are claiming that "everyone" is deficient!)  My initial numbers were in the teens.  She put me on 2,000 IUs daily at that time.  My levels crept up to the 20s.  She upped my dosage to 3,000 daily, then 4,000.  I'm currently at 6,000 IU daily.  When my Endo first tested me, she said she wanted me to aim for a level approaching 40.  But over the months, as she's read more, the goal has gone up.  Last fall, with my levels finally in the 50s, she said we'd aim for the 60s, and then leveling off.  But then I had a bc diagnosis.  And she's continued to keep on top of the research.  Now she says she's aiming for a level of 60 as cancer-preventative (and just generally the level our bodies are intended to have) with all patients, and a level between 80-100 for patients actually dealing with cancer.  My last levels, taken in March, were great - 87!  I'm to maintain my current dosage (6,000 IU) until my next blood draw (June), and then we'll see whether it's time to back down a little or not.

Interestingly, my Naturopath was saying about the same thing as the Endocrinologist - but a few months ahead of her.  They're now on the same page, both saying that a level between 80-100 is the goal for someone dealing with cancer, and above 60 is needed for cancer prevention in general.

I don't take pills - I take drops.  1 drop = 2,000 IU.  I just put 3 drops on a bite of food once a day.  The bottle of drops costs around $18 (I get it from my naturopath, but it's also available at some pharmacies around here).  A bottle easily lasts a year, so it's very cheap.  My Naturopath suggested I keep it refrigerated when at home - but it's fine to just bring it along unrefrigerated for travel.

Linda

The kind I'm taking is called "Bio-D-Mulsion Forte" from Biotics Research Corporation.  It's a little white 1 fluid oz bottle.  It comes in a variety of dosages - I have a 400 IU per drop version I give to my toddler, and originally had a 1,000 IU per drop version.  I've been using the 2,000 IU per drop version for maybe a year.  It's probably available online, too - I just haven't needed to look there!

Hope that helps!

I'm jumping in here at the last minute but everything that I 've read has said that 10 to 15 minutes a day of sun is what you really need. Your body produces much more on it's own than supplements if you have access to a little sun. Also, it makes you feel better! Not too much though, no skin cancer!

Paulette, how much time do you spend outside?  I didn't used to think I could possibly be deficient in D in a Texas climate where I do my own yardwork, but now I'm not so sure. 

Wow, this really varies a lot.

I've been taking around 800 to 1000 IU of D3 per day for several years, in Citracal or Centrum or just D3 tablets.  I also have very fair skin and I live in a Gulf Coast state; and I spend time outside most days.  My onco tested my 25-OH Vit D last month, and it was 51.  Woohoo!

Today when I saw my PCP, he agreed that was a terrific level.  He said 15 minutes a day outside should be enough exposure at this latitude and elevation (especially for me--I get pink easily). But, some people just can't make enough Vit D from sun exposure, and some have to take LOTS more as supplement than other people do.

otter 

brena.  May I ask how long you stay in the tanning bed? 

I take OS*CAL calcium supplement with 200 I U of D.   Soon after my bilateral mastectomy I got thyroid problems and had to have one of the four glands removed.  It wasn't cancer thank goodness.  The doctor put me on the OS*CAL which is found in any store.  I'm outside all day so my levels are always good.

I had no idea how much the levels we take of D can vary.

I was tested recently and my levels were quite low...not suprising living in Canada....after a long cold winter.  For the past two years I have been taking 1000 IU of D and 1200 calcium...I have now incresed my Vit D3 to 6000 IU daily...no change to the calcium.  I also plan to try and get 15 minutes on the days it is sunny and then go for a retest in a couple of months.