help with vit D levels

THis article was released today by Life Extension. It talks about improved lymphoma survival with higher levels of V D.

http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2009/1208_Vitamin-D-Levels-Associated-with-Improved-Lymphoma-Survival.htm?source=eNewsLetter2009Wk50-1&key=Article&l=0#article

Very interesting Makraz, mine was 28 last January, which my Onc says is within normal range.  I will ask to be retested when I go back in 2 months.  If it's not higher, I will then try some higher dose supplements.  Am trying to get outside in the sun more, but it is getting cold here in NY. 

Makraz...the script for D2 is worthless....take the OTC D3 and as much as 10,000 Iu's per day and you will see a rise in your levels. Read the vitamin D council newsletters and you will see what I mean. If you are not taking Magnesium, then your body will not absorb the D3.I posted a few articles somewhere here on D3.

rgiuff...Apparently your onc is not up-to-date on all the latest research on D levels, as 28 is very very low. For a person dx with cancer your levels should be closer to 100 ng. In fact everyone should strive for levels close to 100 ng. Your ....anyone's ...chances of developing cancer or a recurrence are high when your D levels are low. I posted that study also.

Check them out and email your onc's the reports. Time for us to educate them.

Laura,

I will find the posts that I made and direct you to them, and then I will pm you with my email address so that I can send you more. Your onc is very wrong on the levels.

Of course we do know that conventional doctors have about one hour of training on nutrition and vitamins/supplements, because all the text books are written by the pharmaceutical companies, and they would prefer that you take their drugs as opposed to vitamins/supplements.

I know from reading all the articles on D levels that you can safely take 10,000 IU's per day. Get the gel capsules, and most only come in 5000 but an article in the January issue of Life Extension magazine stated that they are going to start making their D3 in 7000. Hang in there sweetie...these conventional doctors need to start reading all the published studies on vitamins and supplements.

BTW...I love this Alternative forum!!

Oh and one more thing ...you need 1000 IU's of D3 to raise you levels by 10ng's, so to get your levels to 100 you really need the 10,000 IU's per day. And...my daughter Lori (dx with TNBC in June 2007), could not get her D levels up until she started on the BHRT. Her levels are now 82.6..and mine...66.

Ladies, my mom just finished chemos and is goint to start rads on January. I'm wondering if it's OK to have vit. D3 during rads or she must avoid it?

Healthy amounts of sunshine (not overexposure!) is the best way to absorb Vitamin D for those who are lucky enough to live in Fla or California. As far as supplements go, the amount that is right for you is going to be different for everyone. At your blood draws, you should always ask for a printout of the results and review them for yourself. The doc & nurse glance at them ever so quickly. But you can ponder your numbers and adjust your supplements. If calcium is getting lower and lower, you probably could stand to be taking more Vitamin D as they go hand in hand. If potassium is creeping upward past normal, this is something you have to ask your doctor about as well...you don't want "tumor lysis syndrome" (rare with BREAST cancer but dangerous).
The signs of too much Vitamin D include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting....excellent signals for healthy people but for chemo patients, as you know, we may be feeling this way half the time, anyway.

Popping a supplement is the easy way to try and get what you need,  but they don't work for everyone, believe me I've seen many a tablet go in my mouth and come out my ass,
intact. During chemo, it's definitely difficult to keep to a healthy
diet but well worth the try. Keep in mind that for Vitamin D and calcium you should try to get in as much of the following foods as you can stand:

1.)Wild Alaskan Salmon ( canned is very easy to find).
Cod, or sardines if you can stand them
2.)Yogurt
3.)Swiss Cheese
4.)Milk or calcium-fortified Rice Milk
5.)Almonds
6.)Wild Salmon Oil if you're not eating fish
7.)Beans
8.) Cereals with calcium and VitD, such as Total Raisin Bran

9.) Eggs

Also I want to mention that apples work to fight the onset of nausea for many many people. Give them a try, an apple a day. Wouldn't it be nice not to have to take Emend, Zofran and Compazine? They all have side effects and apples do not. Who needs more side effects? Anything like this that "isn't going to hurt", I am willing to try, what have I got to lose? Organic is definitely a must when it comes to apples, and organic applesauce is readily available. Also works as a stool softener so try an apple a day, if not everyday then starting two days before treatment and for as long after treatment as you can keep it up, see if it makes a difference.

Gogo,

It's ok to supplement Vitamin D during rads.

Hi Bott

Vitamin D and magnesium deficiencies can lead to heart disease and stroke, so I'd imagine your primary care doc could check for your levels just like they check your cholesterol.

I think they're just starting to do more thorough research on what Vitamin D can do for us, if anything, DURING treatment.  Most of the data, to my knowledge, is about PREVENTING breast cancer and possibly preventing recurrences:

 http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/C_ancer_31/051604362008_Low_blood_vitamin_D_means_high_risk_of_recurrence_of_breast_cancer_or_death.shtml

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166913.php

http://doctorwascher.com/Archives/8-9-09.htmhttp://doctorwascher.com/Archives/8-9-09.htmhttp://doctorwascher.com/Archives/8-9-09.htm

Hi all - so my vitamin D was 23 at diagnosis.  Now it is 55 (so happy!).  My oncl. definately thinks Vita D is an important part of my post diagnosis treatment, but really wants my level to be 50 and said that over 50 has a negative association as far as breast cancer is concerned - kind of like a bell curve.  Too high or too low is equally bad is how she explained it.

She is fairly cutting edge but I am concerned that this is old information - compared to what I read about on here.  I also read/saw a pretty great youtube on this subject - from a UC San Diego study.

Any info. appreciated!

Thanks!

Dear aprilgirl1,

I am curious as to exactly the study/article to which your onc is referring as to Vitamin D? Please know that I am not knocking your onc, I would just like to read the article which contains that information.

Since my daughter was dx in June of 2007 with TNBC, all that I have read has been favorable as to getting the D levels up to 100 ng and above. The following is a paragraph from the link below speaking to breast cancer.

Studies show women with low levels of vitamin D have a 222% increased risk for developing breast cancer. Ecologic studies have shown an inverse correlation between breast cancer mortality and sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake. Blood levels of vitamin D at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer accurately predict a woman's survival. The cancer is much more aggressive in those with low serum vitamin D levels: they are 94% more likely to have the cancer metastasize and 73% more likely to die within 10 years of diagnosis

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/research.shtml

As deni has said, Life Extension is a great source of information and the article to which she is referring will probably not be available online until the middle of January, so make sure you get the free copy.

Some of the calcium supplements have Vitamin D added as well. Most of them, in fact. Apparently Calcium is absorbed better when taken along with Vitamin D.

If you're on Rice Milk like me, you might want to choose one with both Vitamin D and Calcium.

Nan - I am not sure - see my onc. in Feb. so I will find out.  I am still taking plenty and assuming my level will continue to increase - I am at 55 (last test 11/13).

I will get the Life Extension magazine - and bring it to my next onc. visit.

She is cautiously optimistic that Vitamin D is a big part of BC.  She said that in the past 15-20 years first Vitamin C was really considered as was Vitamn B (I think).  Both failed to be the actual cure.  She also said that BC is really 5 or more diseases - which is why we all need an individual approach.

I am so thankful for this board and helpful, positive information!  I learn so much from y'all!!

Nan, that is so disappointing. And, so frustrating, isn't it?

Eating healthy foods is such a big part of the picture.  Sure, diet alone can't boost your Vitamin D levels to 50, but remember that you are getting A LOT of other necessary nutrients by eating well.   Also, there is evidence that the vitamin D in foods is absorbed by SOME PEOPLE much more easily than is the vitamin D in some supplements. 

Did you know that some people can get 20000IU of vitamin D daily, just from being out in the sunshine (arms and legs uncovered)  for 30 minutes a day?  Other people could be out for an hour and not get that much vitamin D....it depends on your latitude, your altitude, the season of the year, the time of day, the tone of your skin, and many other factors.  And some people can't take any sunshine at all.    We are all so different, it's pretty clear that nutrition is not a one-size fits all science.  Also,it's so important to pay attention to your body and how different foods and supplements make you feel. 

 Okay, back to the book I'm reading, "The Vitamin D Revolution".  More later!