help with vit D levels
Comments
-
I almost forgot, dried dates and watermelon believe it or not are also high in iron.
-
Watermelon, I love watermelon. My D is only an 8 so I am happy for all the hints I can get.
Ginger
-
Gingerbrew,
Its not just in spinach and greens - I found some date /coconut roll ups at Trader Joes that are like eating a really lush dessert. I'm trying to find things with the best nutrients while still satisfying a sweet tooth. Are you talking about your vitamin D or iron level being an 8? I've researched both.
-
Speaking of watermelon...
I'm a watermelon addict. After my long evening walks ...I come home and drink lots of water and eat ¼ of a watermelon every night. I had not realized the plethora of nutrients in watermelon and how good it was for detoxing.
"Watermelons are a rich source of the important antioxidant lycopene. The flesh contains citrulline, an amino acid, and is one reason why watermelons have been used for many years by Naturopaths for detox. Citrulline plays an important part in the body's urea cycle preventing the build-up of a lethal level of ammonia in the blood. Watermelon also contains valuable nutrients such as chlorophyll, beta carotene, Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, silicon, lycopene and glutathione which is used by the liver for detox."
For about eight months of the year I refuse to buy fruit...as I grow enough on my property, and try to eat what's in season. But I don't grow mangos or watermelon...so I have to buy those, because they're two of my favourites. And in the warmer months of the year, I basically live on fruit and water.
Victoria
-
ValGal it is my D that is an 8. I took 50,000 iu for 6 weeks 1 time a week now I am taking D daily. I will get a recheck in February.
Thanks.
Ginger
-
Dear Ginger,
I am still taking the 50,000 units from my orthopedic (knee) Dr. I got tested after the first week and it only went up 5 points. You may need more of the strong stuff. Next time you get any blood work just tell whatever Dr. you're at to run the D test. My onc didn't seem happy when I asked for it but then she's not the one dealing with all this is she? Good luck... P.S. The tendonitis comes back to my foot whenever the D wears off every week so I know it's helping the aches and pains area and there are numerous studies about D deficiency and breast cancer.
-
Jo-
I have seen that article, and just had a long discussion around this with my brother. He thinks supplementation is bogus, and that it's yet another industry looking to cash in on illness. However, I think that Vitamin D is necessary, and that we don't live lifestyles conducive to absorbing sunshine in the manner that keeps us healthy. How many of us spend hours outside? Who doesn't use sunblock?
Anecdotally, it has helped me enormously to get my Vit D levels up. I digest my food better, I feel better,moods are better, I don't have joint pain, etc., etc. I intend to supplement in the winter months, and rely on my outdoor exercise the rest of the year for adequate vitamin D. It took me 4 months to get my levels up to 70, and that's where I'd like to stay, hopefully not having to rely too much on supplementation.
It's exhausting trying to keep up with the spin cycles of information, isn't it????
-
I just got my levels up from 31 to 39 - by taking 4000IUs daily over a four month period. Would like to get it up to 60.
-
Yes, I know the new news is the jury is out on vitamin D and breast cancer. But my health over all transformed utterly when I started supplementing it. I didn't realize how much aching and exhaustion I'd been putting up with as just "normal". For me, it is part of improved health, regardless of my BC status.
-
I'm still doing 3000-5000 IUs daily, depending onw whather or not I remember to take half early in the day. I also intend to continue as I do believe it's been beneficial. However, the hip pain appears to be back and I'm also thinking that I'm not consistent with the D and so maybe that's the cause. I see med onc in March and will ask to have my D checked again (he usually gives me a funny look but does it anyway).
-
I do 5,000 daily and my onc checks my level every three months. I'm now up to 57! I'm shooting for 80. My onc is very supportive of supplementation with regular blood level checks.
-
Thanks for the info on gel for vitamins being soy based. So many way soy gets into products and sneaky little estrogens are everywhere like in the tea tree oil I had ordered for may daughter's nails during taxotere tx. Good thing I found out about the plant phytoestrogen in it through these message boards. I will be checking all of my daughter's vitamins and other meds that have gel caps.
-
http://inventorspot.com/articles/vitamin_d_must_be_taken_disease_prevention_amounts
New Research Reveals How Much Vitamin D You Need To Prevent Disease
-
I read a Canadian study on over 500 women with breast cancer and Vit D below 50 at time of dx. These women had a twofold higher incidence of recurrence than those with levels below. I dont know how many controls were in place, but I sure want to get mine above 50, just in knowing it's within range even if it might andt he big word is "might" be higher than necessary to fight cancer. Reading way too much about low D (below 30 and cancer) and about how good D is for fighting the dragon.
Here's an article on my website about Vit D and Breast Cancer ...
The latest on Vitamin D and breast cancer
The link between Vitamin D deficiency, breast cancer, and recurrence is not new. But now Vitamin D has actually been shown to kill breast cancer cells.
I was so intrigued by what I read, I had to get on the phone with the clinical investigator myself, especially since I, and most of the women I know with breast cancer have a Vitamin D deficiency, and I hear it more and more.
JoEllen Welsh, PhD, a professor at GenNYsis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics in Albany, NY, has studied Vitamin D and breast cancer for 30 years, but for the first time, has incubated fresh human samples with Vitamin D. She took samples of early and late stage tumors, those with and without receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2.
"Within days, half the cells shriveled and died in every tumor," she said.
"Eighty percent of people have a vitamin D receptor, and if they have a tumor with this receptor it has potential to respond to Vitamin D, just as estrogen-positive breast cancer responds to tomoxifen," says Welsh.
Vitamin D actually becomes a hormone in the body, meaning it is transmitted through the blood to any and or all tissue.
Five human samples were tested, reflecting the following types and stages of breast cancer:
- Stage IIIC ER and PR Negative
- Stage IIIA HER2 Negative
- Stage I ER and HER2 Negative
- Stage IIA ER PR and HER Positive
- Stage IIIC Triple Negative
What next?
Currently Welsh is doing genetic engineering in mice to understand the mechanisms that trigger a response.
"For example, we need to look at what levels you need? Is there a difference in how it works on triple negative breast cancer? Does it work in the presence of tamoxifen? What if the tumor has a BRCA mutation? Answering these questions is how we can predict who is most likely to benefit from optimal Vitamin D status," says Welsh.
So upping Vit D sounds like it's worth a shot to me....
Rachel
-
Careful RachelKa, those Vit D figures in the Canadian study were measured in nmol/L (nanomoles/litre) rather than the way they do it in the US in ng/ml. Here's the Globe and Mail story about the findings, note the caution about the possibility of taking too much Vit D, though as this was written in 2008 opinions may have changed.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article687292.ece
Anyway my test came back in September 2010 at 100 nmol/L, (which is approx. 40 ng/ml) which made me very happy and I don't plan to try to raise it any higher until we know more. I had a friend who died of pancreatic cancer just before I was dx with breast cancer - there were some findings of an association between high serum Vit D and this cancer, but whether it is cause or an effect of cancer is not known.
-
Rachel: the claim you made in your post is so extraordinary "...within days, half the cells shriveled and died in every tumor" that you would need to support it by adding a direct link to an actual scientific study.
I also noticed that you referred in the first paragraph to a Canadian study and you are in Maryland, but didn't distinguish between the different measurements used. I agree with Kathy that we need to be careful about overdoing Vitamin D. Remember that it's a fat-soluble vitamin, so the excess is stored in our bodies, unlike Vitamin C and the B vitamins where the excess is excreted.
-
I see this thread has languished for 2 months, but I wanted to come back since I finally have something to report. In May 2010, I had the 25 Hydroxy D test and my levels were 39ng/mL at that time. After that I began to supplement daily. During the summer mos., when I did get some sun, I took 3,000IU of Vit D3. (a gel cap of 2,000 + 500IU x2 already in my calcium tabs.) During late Fall & Winter mos. I increased to a total of 5,000-6,000IU daily. Since about April of this year, I went back to 3,000IU total a day. I was retested in May 2011, and my level rose to 61ng/mL. Success!
Although I was supplementing with a lot more than the RDA amount, it was a lot less than many of you had been taking. I just wanted to try a moderate approach to see what I could do. I do feel better overall and think that the Vit. D3 supplementation has improved my sleep.
My plan is to now take 1,000-3,000IU total during this summer, and 5,000IU total during the 4 mid-Winter mos. I would like to increase a little closer to 80ng/mL or at least maintain and now I have some idea of how my body reacts to the supplementing. If it helps to fight future B/C, great; if not, I've not been extreme in anything so no harm done. Probably have my levels checked again in another year. As a B/C patient, my ins. does pay for it.
I've seen a few Vit D threads out there, but I have enjoyed this one. Thanks for all the info.
-
Ladies, there is now a new section on BCO under Day to Day Matters called "Bone Health and Bone Loss" where those of us with osteoporosis (or in danger of it) can gather and find all relevant information about bone health. As most of the more conventional members use "complementary" supplements such as calcium and vitamin D, and the conventional treatment is so scary, we may find that we "natural girls" and the more conventional ladies have more in common. Maybe we can find ourselves on the same page and end some of the bickering.
-
Joy, I don't remember any bickering on this particular thread. Differing opinions perhaps, but nothing nasty. I know you asked and got the new forum category today. Too bad they can't round up a lot of the pre-existing calcium, Vit D., hormonals + bone loss threads, etc. and group them all together, but that would be tough since they are sprinkled throught quite a few different forums. Well, at least we will know where to look for future bone topics!
I'd like to see this thread reactivate to continue to explore benefits of Vit. D supplementation.
-
bump...
-
Hope this bump unklezwifee etc encourages a look at Vita d-----------we have all beeen so well taught to avoid the sun. Vita _d is a panacea---------it is becoming as well known as Omega 3. Knowledge of both has been growing for many years before the public knew. Similar to folic acid and neural tube defects in fetus's
What levels we should be at is-------------So the question-----------I'm right at midrange, endocrinologist doesn't want to take it higher because it could trigger bone loss b/c of the affect on phospherus(sic)---------sorry he just told me the other day--------bummer------I hate memory loss. I do remember that if you go into the higher ranges his recommendation is that you should have kidney function checked every 3 months.
-
Good for you Elimar and thanks for the update! I also was deficient and also had parathyroid issues. I had taken 5,000ius of vitamin d3 for months, tested at 46, 4 months later, level only increased to 49, but that's do-able. The most remarkable thing is that with the more normal/higher levels of D3, my parathyroid level has gone back to normal which it hadn't been in years! A huge relief for my hyperparathyroidism. Calcium has always been normal, so no calcium supplements. I AM curious about bone health, as I'm losing bone density (not in danger zone just yet) and my docs agree that at age 52 (forced chemo-menopause at age 47) they don't wish me on the bone drugs just yet. We'll check after next bone density in August.
Also, it's now 5 years post-dx for me! Whether that really means anything, who knows! I'm just glad for me and all of us who are moving beyond b c, though probably most of us have the lingering side effects of our treatments, hope it was all worth it. Best to all~~~juli
-
Hi, all --
This thread has been running for more than 1-1/2 years, and it's a treasure trove of great information about Vit D, calcium, and all things related. The Moderators can move entire threads to different forums -- they did that with one thread ("bones bones bones ...") that was originally in the Hormonal Therapy forum and was moved to the new forum. IMHO, though, it's not always a good idea to move active, long-lived threads to different forums. This thread, for instance, works nicely in this forum; and it would be a shame to take it out of here unless its participants want it moved.
But, ... I do hope everyone who hangs out here will keep an eye on the new "Bones" forum and help out over there when you have the time and inclination. You've been researching and discussing these bone-related topics for a long time. Your experience would be very helpful to BCO members who don't understand Vitamin D measurement, the changing opinions about adequate blood levels, and supplementation guidelines. Etc.
otter
-
Otter,
Where can we find the bones thread? Under which forum?
-
lucy, the new forum is "Bone Health and Bone Loss – Talk with others about bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis, and ways to keep your bones strong."
It's the first forum on the list in the "Day to Day Matters" section of the Boards, right above the forum on Depression, Anxiety, & PTSD. So far, there are just 2 threads (topics) in the new "Bones" forum. One of them is "How much vitamin D needed to raise levels?". The other is "bones bones bones: osteoporosis and related concerns," which was started on May 30 in the Hormonal Therapy forum and moved to the new "Bones" forum yesterday by the Moderators.
Enjoy!
otter
-
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/120
Here is one of the links
-
oops, can't edit for some reason link:
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/120/topic/770036/2435961
??works better??
-
I've been hanging around these Boards for almost 3-1/2 years, and I've never been able to get a link to a BCO discussion page to work. Thanks for trying, though.
otter
-
LOL...thank you otter! (Good to 'see' ya again too!
~juli -
I'm not pre or perimenopausal, I don't suffer from hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, loss of libido, weight gain, itching, PMS that lasts most of the month, anxiety attacks, mood swings, palpitations, fatigue... bone loss or osteoporosis. Not yet and hopefully not ever. I'm still quite young.
My vitamin D levels when first diagnosed were extremely low. I bought D drops and got my levels up to around 67...then 78, and my doctor said she would like to see me get them up a little higher if I could. I started taking about 5000IUs...and developed a migraine. I then lowered my dosage to 4000IUs...and still had a dreadful headache. Went back down to 3000IUs...and small doses of natural sunlight...and have maintained my levels around 85-90. I'm going to listen to my body...it tells me when enough is enough - The same with magnesium and selenium...headaches and diarrhoea.
Anyway...nice to see there is a new forum called "Bone Health and Bone Loss"
The more discussions and info ...the better...x
Victoria
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team