questions about Vitamin D deficiency + supplements
Hi ladies!
I need your expert advice on Vitamin D, please... 
Last week, I saw my PCP for a physical and blood work and everything came back pretty well OK, except for the following: Vitamin D deficiency (my number was 21), my Uric Acid level was elevated, my Folate (folic acid) level was elevated, and Ketones in myurine (5). My PCP (of whom I am not overly fond) seemed to think these were not serious issues, but did recommend that I take 2000 units of Vitamin D per day in addition to my regular multi-vitamins. I bought some Vitamin D gel tablets (1000 units each) and have taken 2 per day since last Friday. Since then, I have had some very uncomfortable gastro symptoms that are abnormal for me-- could that be related to the addition of the Vitamin D supplements?
Also, are there any obvious symptoms of a Vitamin D deficiency? I know in the past few weeks, my hair has literally been like straw, and previously, it had been looking pretty decent after it started regrowth from chemo. I can't seem to find a whole lot of good, simple-to-understand information about Vitamin D deficiency and treatment online.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts, opinions, and advice you can send my way!
Comments
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bluewillow ~ Not sure if the D is what's upsetting your stomach, but some supplements are much more chemical than others. Be sure you have a high quality, natural version of D3 (from a natural foods market or health food store), and be sure to take it after you have food in your stomach. Vitamin D is pretty straight forward, and a blood level of 21 is extremely low. It should be 3+ times that.
As far as the dry hair, are you getting enough good oils in your diet? Also, if you're on Tamox or an AI or anything that reduces our available estrogen, that dries up everything. Be sure you're getting enough Vitamin E, Omega3's and B-Complex. A deep condition (the kind you leave on with heat) will probably also help. Deanna
P.S. I'm bookmarking this thread just to look at that adorable baby, who I assume must be Mason! What a cutie!
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Jo, good luck with your new PCP! And I hope you get a good reading on your Vit D tests. I wish my PCP would quit! It's odd that I didn't ask him to check my Vitamin D level, but had to beg him to check my a1c for diabetes after my onc recommended it (that's all another story, in my other posts/rants) I never would have dreamed the gel caps could be causing the gastro thing-- thanks for the heads up!! Is D3 the same as just plain D?
Deanna, thanks so much for your info! I actually bought these Vit D tabs at my local drugstore, and I think they may even be generic or some off brand. I will go by our local health food store this afternoon after work and see what they have. I am not on Tamox or AI, but I have gone through major menopause and many days I don't think there is a drop of estrogen anywhere to be found!
And I'm not currently taking the other vitamins you recommend, so I will definitely add those! My hair is very fine and straight and I probably don't condition it enough for those reasons, but I will definitely check into that too!And yes, that is my Mason! He just turned two, and in that pic, he and his mom were clowning around with some fabric that was leftover from her clown costume I made her when she was a child. Currently, we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of his big brother or sister, just any day now!
Again, big thanks and big hugs to all!
Mary Jo
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I had burping issues when I increased my Vitamin D dose - gel capsules. So I tried switching to the Carlson D liquid form drops recommended by a Nutritionist and issues resolved.
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Well, just thought I'd report in-- went to the natural foods store in town today, and asked about their Vitamin D supplements. Clerk led me to the shelf where they kept the D, and said there was no difference between D and D2 and D3 except the price (ranged from $5.39 to $26.95) and he'd go for the cheapest one. Geesh, they must be in cohoots with my PCP! I thanked him and left. SO, I will have to drive to the city to Earth Fare or GNC and see what they have, or maybe someone could recommend a good online source? I have an appointment with my radiation onc on Feb. 1, so I may just wait until then to talk to him, since he's always been the one dr. in which I still have any confidence. Thank goodness I can come here and get some great advice from you wonderful ladies!
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bluewillow, i just got my PCP to check my Vitamin D level after months of asking. My level was 20 which is quite low. He prescribed what he called a "load dose" for me----a pill containing 50,000 units of Vitamin D that i take one once a week for 8 weeks only. He knows that i take a calcium supplement that contains 500 units of Vitamin D once a day. I can keep on taking that during the 8 weeks and then continue it after the 8 weeks of the "load dose". I think you should definitely check with your PCP about the amount that you are taking. It could be too much. I had done some research on Vitamin D and overdose, but i don't remember much (my memory is getting bad these days).
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bluewillow ~ Unfortunately, many health food store clerks are not at all educated re. nutrition, nor do they know anything about the kind of deficiencies and imbalances that can be involved with health conditions such as bc. In fact, sometimes the information they give us can be downright incorrect and dangerous.
You absolutely want D3, and I pay $5.00 or $6.00 at Whole Foods for either their own brand or whatever quality brand is on sale. This time I'm using Kal, which I really like. Of course, that's for the lower 400IU. Some excellent natural brands (in general) include Carlson, NOW, Solgar, NaturalFactors, BlueBonnet, LifeExtension, Paradise Herbs, MRM, and several others. I don't personally use this on-line source, but several girls on Natural Girls do, and it looks like their prices are very good:
And yes, Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means its stored in your body, so technically, someone could get too much. But that's very difficult to do. Here's a quick explanation I just pulled up for you:
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/Overdose-on-Vitamin-D.html
D2 is a synthetic version of D3. It's frequently what food manufacturers "fortify" foods with. It can be more toxic in higher doses and has a shorter shelf-life.
Hope this helps! Deanna
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The D2 that my onc prescribed, and for which I paid very high, was not only worthless for the four months I took it, but downright toxic. The liquid capsules have PROPYLENE GLYCOL!
I now double check everything that is told or recommended to me, including any doctor's advice, naturopath's, integrative doctor, or pharmacist. I will no longer delegate my life into other's hands.
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Ms Bliss, you are my hero!
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Celia, since you have been taking the load dose, do you feel any different/better? A co-worker of mine said her mom was prescribed the load dose and she was really surprised that my PCP said nothing about it (she used to go to this same PCP but changed years ago-- no wonder!)
Deanna, thank you so much for the vitacost website and for your time and trouble in researching the Vitamin D info. That is a great website-- I even got some helpful info there about gluten sensitivity (hubby has it). I found some liquid Vitamin D3 on the vitacost website, so I think I'll try that.
Mollyann, I echo your post-- MsBliss, you are very wise to double check everything! That is why I come here, because obviously doctors are not always "in the know" or take the time to get there!
Thanks again, all!
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Had my oncology appt this past Tuesday... and foir the first time in my life had my VIT D levels checked...... Received the call today I was told the range is 30-80 and mine was a reading of ........ 24 .... so the NP indicated I should start taking 2000ius of VIT D3 .. and will be rechecked again at my next 6mth appt ....
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bluewillow: I don't know what the clerk at your health food store has been thinking of: Deanna is right, You absolutely want D3, which any doctor, integrative or not, can confirm.
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bluewillow, I have only taken one pill of the load dose and next sunday will be my second load dose. I did not notice anything different at all, negative or positive--no symptoms so far. i will let you know if i do develop any suspicious signs.
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lol celiaaaaaaaaa when I saw u had written on this thread I thought perhaps you were going to say ..... unlimited if you would only eat your vegetables you probably won't be LOW on Vit D !!
But rereading these entries I see you are also low on Vit D ...... Hope is all is well with you
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celia088, unlimited and bluewillow...
I bumped up another thread on vitamin D3. Go read all the posts there. I posted links for the Vitamin D council, and others have posted links also. I just posted another article tonight.
The load of 50,000, which is D2, is totally worthless. It will take forever to get your levels up with that. For a person dx with cancer, your levels need to be in the 80's to 100 ng/ml. To achieve that you add 1000 IU's of D3 for every 10 ng/ml. So if you are at 24, which is very very low, you need to take at least 5000 IU's of D3 every day. Just read all the articles. Especially the ones on toxicity. You have to take about 400,000 IU's every day for months and months to develop toxicity.
My daughter Lori's levels are 82.6, and she is hoping to get them to 100. Don't forget that you have to take Magnesium with the D3 or your body will not absorb the vitamin D. If you take them at bedtime it will help you have a more restful night's sleep also. D is a prehormone. You need to have your D levels checked every 6 months. Demand it!! Don't leave it to your doctor to decide.
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hiya unlim!! If we are both low on vitamin D, then, since you eat only meat and no veggies, and i eat only veggies and no meat, then....the lack of vitamin D must be because you and I don't get enough sunshine!!!!!
All is well with me, thanks, and i hope you are doing well too.
Don't forget to eat SOME veggies once in a while!!! xoxo
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Nan, thank you very much for that info on the load dose. I just looked at my prescription bottle and it only says, "Vitamin D 50,000IU CAP (0140)". It doesn't say what kind of Vitamin D it is. I am assuming from your post that "load doses" are always vitamin D2--- Is that true? I am going to have to ask my doctor about what he prescribed for me.
I am going to go read the other thread that you bumped up. Thanks so much for the heads-up on this.
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Celia like you I was prescribed 50,000 iu and when I had it filled at the drug store, I asked if it were D2 or D3. I was told it was D2 as D3 does not come in this high a dose. I have been taking it for 10 weeks and just had my followup blood check for any new level. I expect the results in the next few days. I am anxious to find out if it raises my level. I requested that the lab also get a reading on my calcium so that I will know.
I found a D3 vit. of 2000 units at Allergy Research Group. I will be asking my doc about it.
caring Cathey
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Thanks NAN
I just read the 10 pages of the other Vit D thread that u bumped for us gals...I will look to start taking the 5000ius of VIT D3 so that by 6mths to be tested again I hope to be in the 50-60 range for VIT D since I'm only at 24 now....
Perhaps this will really help my thinning hair, weight loss , and help my thyroid to work as it should along with my thyroid meds since I'm hypothyroid.
And since I just started to take Aromasin after 2.5 yrs on tamoxifen ... maybe I will get lucky now and not exp bone joint pain on aromasin since I am working to get my VIT D levels up where they should be
thanks for your information ...........
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cathey, i will be interested to hear how your lab tests go. Please let us know.
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Nan, you wrote: ".....For a person dx with cancer, your levels need to be in the 80's to 100 ng/ml....."
My understanding was that 100 was the absolute upper limit to reach (before it gets toxic)?
Unlimited and celia088: you guys are so funny! I am still laughing out loud at your posts. Indeed, celia, unless I missed something, Vitamin D3 is best obtained from sunshine (better than any pill, but Hey! I also have to go with the D3 pills to increase my level, which is currently 40
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For those of you with problems absorbing D3 - I just found out yesterday from my NP that there is a cream form of D3.SHe said it is very well absorbed, especially for people like me who have shown to have a genetic weakness in my Vitamin D receptors. SHe drew my blood to check andto see if the 5000 IU of D3 I have been taking for 6 months have raised my levels, if not I will check out the cream. I live in Florida, so I was pretty shocked when I had low D3. It may be possible that those of you with trouble getting your levels up, may have this same genetic tendency.
Beth
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Beth
I will anxious to see what ur new VIT D values are... now that u have completed 6mths with 5000 ius ....... the cream is a nice idea............ ( but I have a hard time finding time to put on the normal bath and body creams on LOL ........) Where do u apply this VIT D cream ... arms ... legs ??? Here in WI with this week being single digits and neg wind chills, hard to find bare skin. Whenever its sunny out I sit in my recliner with the sun shining thru the picture window and warming my face ahhhhhhhhhhhhh ..... my hubby thinks I'm a cat ..... but it feels sooooooo good the warmth and I tell him I'm trying to get VIT D into my body LOL...
Let us know what u find out BETH !!!
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unlimited-
I'm afraid I didn't ask her many questions about the cream - I will have to get more info. My guess is that it is a very small amount, like the bioidentical creams. I do remember that she gestured to her wrist when she was talking about it - I'll keep you posted.
I feel your pain about the wind chill- I lived in Michigan for 50 years, do not miss it one bit!
Beth
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Yaz, I read recently that 100 is not toxic, though not advised. This article said that you would have to get over 200 to get a toxic overload. I cannot remember where I read it. Mercola maybe?
I have been using the drops by Carlson. A bottle is not cheap, around$20, but it lasts for months. Each drop is 2000iu. I keep it near my desk and put a drop in my tea. I started out with 6000 iu a day, per my doctor's recommendation because my level was 23 after tx. After 6 months, I got it up to 45. It took another 6 months and it was over 100 so I now cut down to 4000iu. It really helps to keep up your energy.
You might look into eating lots of dried or fresh cherries, and pure cherry juice for that uric acid problem.
Also, there are a whole bunch of threads on vit d. They just keep circulating. Too bad there is not a way to just keep the same one going all the time because getting Vit D levels up is essential. Low levels of D are almost always hand in hand with cancer. As I mentioned, Mercola.com has a lot of great info on D. So does the vitamin D council.Check it out.
Sun? What sun? Is the sun shining somewhere?
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Vivre: Thanks for clarifying. Now, I am getting the Carlson drops. Actually, you are right: I think what I did read was about the 200 level being toxic (but I was thinking 100, for whatever reason).
....And: Low levels of D are almost always hand in hand with cancer. You are so right on that one: I just received a follow-up letter from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America-Philadelphia, urging me to follow-up on my Vitamin D levels with my Primary Care Physician. And when institutions like the CTCA start insisting THIS HARD on Vitamin D, that means we are on to something, here.
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I may have missed it, but how much magnesium should be taken with the D3?
ta!
Lox
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Dear fairy49,
From the articles that I have read, the dosage for Magnesium is 320mg. I believe it is in one of the links which I have posted somewhere on the forum. If I have time today, I will search for you.
Now I am not saying this is the gospel truth...you have to decide for yourself.
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Nan! Fabulous! Thank you!
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Yaz, Unlimited and I are like Mutt and Jeff in the meat and veggie world! That girl won't even eat a single thin mushroom slice that is in the gravy on her meat!!! And I'm a vegetarian who is totally amazed by her food habits, and she is equally shocked by mine.
I am interested in getting the drops by Carlson. Vivre, that sounds so easy to use. I do not even go in the sun much since i have inherited Type 1 skin from my carrot-topped grandfather and i do not tan ever, only burn. I have had skin cancer removed from my scalp, face and arms and have been told to stay out of the sun.
I still am working my way thru the 10 page thread on vit D. Thanks to all of you for the info.
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OMGoodness.... Celia LOL!!!!! I can't believe how u remember me once saying I won't even eat a mushroom that is in my gravy over my meat TOO FUNNY
Now I have to share one more thing about mushrooms ... yesterday I made this wonderful chicken hotdish .... normally it takes a can of cream of chicken soup .... GUESS WHAT ... none in my cupboard EXCEPT cream of mushroom soup grrrrrrrrrr.... I make the hotdish .. kids are like mom I love this hotdish soooooooooo much ........ as I eat it yes every angleworm texture mushroom is found and moved to the edge of my plate ......!!!! Yes by the time I had finished my small portion of hotdish .... probably had about 12 eraser pencil size mushrooms gathered that I found so I didn't consume them via my mouth .....Gosh it probably has been a solid TWOyears ago that I shared my mushroom incidence within my gravy .....
HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS you're great Celia
oops ... I should share too how my hubby ruins this wonderful hotdish on his plate --- he squirts ketchup all over and then eats it ......
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