How much Vitamin D do you take?

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slanderson
slanderson Member Posts: 152
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

I am just wondering how much Vitamin D supplement, if any, everyone takes.  My doctor checked mine and said it was "normal".  I have been reading and find that what is considered normal now is not enough. But, I don't want to take too much.

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  • Morgan513
    Morgan513 Member Posts: 664
    edited November 2009

    It was recommended to me by a nutritionist who specializes in cancer to take 1000 mg's daily.  She also recommended getting my levels checked which is where you should start.  

    Good luck!

    Lorrie 

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  • samedaynurseJan
    samedaynurseJan Member Posts: 192
    edited November 2009

    I was Vit D deficient when I was diagnosed. I take 2000U daily, D3 and it needs to be in Gel Cap Form. I now have normal Vit D levels.

    Best wishes !

    jan

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  • Abbey11
    Abbey11 Member Posts: 335
    edited November 2009

    I take 3000 IUs of D-3 each day.  If you spend a day at the beach in the sun in a bathing suit, your body can produce 10,000 IUs of vitamin D.  So, I'm not too worried that 3000 is taking too much.  My levels are in the 50's (ng/ml.)

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    I take 5000 IU of D3 each day in capsule form.

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  • makingway
    makingway Member Posts: 799
    edited November 2009

    I take 5000 IU daily. It's a tiny capsule. My level was 26, which, is insufficient. The range should be at least 40-60 ng/ml and I've been reading higher than that is now the recommendation.

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  • SharonJ1234
    SharonJ1234 Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2009

    Mine is prescribed by my doctor.  I take 2 tablets once a month and that equals 100,000 I.U.  My vit D levels were normal.  But this is added protection and there is a lot of evidence out there now that Vit D can help prevent cancer and if you get cancer, then it can help preventing recurrence. 

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    Dear Sharon,

    The Vitamin D that is prescribed by your doctor is MOST LIKELY D2 not D3. I am told that your body needs and absorbs D3 more than D2.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    I take 5000 IU daily of Vit D3 in liquid format under my tongue.

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  • ChrissieD
    ChrissieD Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2009

    I take 4,000iu's of D3 nightly just after dinner.  It is best absorbed with magnesium and calcium too so I take it with my cal/mag supplement.  For people who have had breast cancer the recommendation is to get your level above 65.  My naturopath suggested closer to 90 is best! 

    My son's pediatrician suggested he take up to 5,000iu's/day and he is only 9.  He is asthmatic and has had swine flu and the stomach virus in the past month.  Check out Dr Mercola site.  He has published a lot of information on D3. 

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  • slanderson
    slanderson Member Posts: 152
    edited November 2009

    Thanks everyone!!!!  I am going to make a point to interrogate my onc on this subject when I see her next.  I am taking a 2000 unit D3 now, but it sounds like there is not a consensus on what our levels should be.

    Thanks again, Shannon

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    Dear Shannon,

    The general consensus of experts is that you can go up to 5000 IU of D3 a day without any risk of harm.

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  • ookii
    ookii Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2009

    65-90 ng/dl is what Mercola recommends for cancer. I'm taking 20,000 IU daily at the moment. My last level check 3 months ago was 57 ng/dl on around 8,000-10,000 IU.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    Dear Ookii,

    Are you taking D2 or D3? Prescription or OTC?

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  • Enjoyful
    Enjoyful Member Posts: 3,591
    edited November 2009

    Prescription 50,000 IUs 6x/month.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    Dear Enjoyful,

    Are you aware that the prescription D is really D2? Ask your onco whether that's as good as taking 5000 (just 5k) units of OTC of D3 daily.



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  • Enjoyful
    Enjoyful Member Posts: 3,591
    edited November 2009

    I'll ask - thanks, onty!

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    Thanks Enjoyful, let us know when you find out. My husband tells me after extensive research but I'm anxious to hear a doctor's opinion. I shall also ask my onco at the next consultation.

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  • MsBliss
    MsBliss Member Posts: 536
    edited December 2009

    Wonderful ladies:  Please heed Unkle's admonition about prescription Vitamin D--IT IS NOT D3.  Breast cancer patients need D3.

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  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited December 2009

    My August level was 43 on 1500 IU daily of D3 - I increased my dose to 2500IU daily..plan to re-check a level to see what effect it had.  I went to Mexico for a week and boosted it significantly I'm sure.. so I'm waiting til I get to my December baseline to see what it is.

    Did suggest to my med onc that he write a presecription for 1 week on a beach every month --LOL! 

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  • ookii
    ookii Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2009

    I'm taking a regular vitamin D3 supplement, not a prescription.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    To be perfectly honest I am not 100% sure. I think D2 may work also. You have to take super mega doses of D2 and it is not absorbed as well by the body. That's why I prefer D3. I'm going to ask my oncologist and post an update. You do the same.











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  • bf2009
    bf2009 Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2009

    What I would like to know is:

    what is the best form of vitamin D3 to take ? as all supplements are not the same and some do not get absorbed. I read in a few posts on this thread, some of you take a liquid supplement? what is the brand name and where do you get it?

    Vitamins are always better when they come from food, anyone eat any specific thing ( besides milk) to help boost Vit D3 ? and in what amounts do you eat them?

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  • 123Donna
    123Donna Member Posts: 49
    edited December 2009

    I take 5,000 iu of D3 a day.  They checked my D3 levels after chemo and it was 19.  I'm rechecking in a month to see if levels have gone up after taking D3 for about 8 weeks.  From what I've read, D3 is absorbed better in the body than D2.  Probably why D2 is prescribed in such larger quantities than D3.

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  • kt57
    kt57 Member Posts: 425
    edited December 2009

    123Donna,  Any idea how long it takes to see an increase after you started the 5000iu?  I know a blast of sunshine can give a significant dose, but I don't know how it effects blood levels.   Keep us posted on what it is when you re-check a level.

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  • 123Donna
    123Donna Member Posts: 49
    edited December 2009

    Kathy,

    I'm not sure how long it will take to see an increase.  It will be interesting to see if there are any changes within the 8 weeks of taking D3.  I hope it's more than just a slight increase since my levels are so low.  I'll let you know what they are after my test.

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  • SoapMaker
    SoapMaker Member Posts: 157
    edited December 2009

    I take 2,000 IUs of D3, along with a scoop of Calcium Citrate...however mg's are in there.

    Where is the cureCry

    www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Donna,

    After 8 weeks of daily 5K, I'd be surprised if you don't see a significant increase in the D levels in the blood. Do let us know what the test shows.

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited December 2009

    I take 4000 IU D3 per day..plus 1600 caltrate, plus one One a day for women...My blood was tested and I was at 41...(just recently)  I am not happy with that (even though it is in the normal range)..that is not normal for us TN's...if "IT" is going to come back it is going to be sooner...rather than later...I would rather get my d level up NOW than wait to be retested 6 months from now.. called the ONC and said I was upping the dose...sometimes you have to do these things..they said that 100 was the toxicity level...fine..I'm at 41...I still have a ways to go.

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Good for you Titan. It's not at 100 all of a sudden you get poisoned so do what you think is right for you. Also, is the test itself expensive?

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited December 2009

    I take 5000 IU cholecalciferol/day.

    This is a link for vitaminDcouncil.org, which claims to use research from many world class scientists on vitamin D.  This site was promoted by the doctor who makes the podcast Medpod 101.

    http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

    The Vitamin D Council is a group of concerned citizens who believe many humans are needlessly suffering and dying from Vitamin D Deficiency. We have been incorporated as a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(e) educational corporation in the State of California since 2003.

    They also have info about test cost, timing of levels,  dosage forms, etc.

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