Vitamin D: amounts needed?

[Orchidflower]

Jerry, I had to get an expensive Complete Blood Count as I hadn't had one in over 6 years. However, there is some firm that test just your Vitamin D count. $40 a month I think it was. I found it on the net. Sorry I didn't bookmark it, but you can easily find it if I did. Worth doing if you have any pains from lack of Vitamin D.

[waltwill8]

Jerry,

$40 self test at GrassrootsHealth | Vitamin D Action - GrassrootsHealth | Vitamin D Action

Do you have friends/relatives outside of NY?

[Dreamer]

My doctor told me to have my Vitamin D level checked last year and the office called to tell me that my levels were too low. They told me to take 1000IU. I also take 1 Caltrate Calcium supplement that has 400IU and a Centrum Silver multivitamin that has 500IU and normally drink 2 glasses of Skim Milk each day. I don't think the doctor's office told me the actual level, just that it was low. I also had my 2nd bone density test done this year and called to find out the result. She told me that she thought she had sent the info to me, but she would check my file. She, the nurse, said that my bone density test results were fine. I said great, does that mean my Osteopenia is gone? She looked at my file again and said no. I go for my physical again in 06/10 and I am going to ask for copies of the bone density tests and the Vitamin D levels test. I hope that they will give me copies.

[Orchidflower]

I'm running myself thru physicals now, Dreamer, and everyone from the clinics to the private physicians have given me copies of my health reports. I want them on hand when I move.
I had a bridge made by the satellite office of the fellow who is the President of the Cosmetic Dental Association in Chicago. I moved to be with my mother 3 hours away when she had a stroke and left Chicago, and called them 3 times or 4 times to send my xrays to my new town.
The Dr. there insisted that I come pick them up in person according to the receptionist. FINALLY, my Dentist here called the Chicago Dentist himself, and the guy insisted I come IN PERSON to pick them up. My current Dentist said, "that makes no sense, since she is 3 hours away--completely across the State of Illinois."

NEVER GOT THE XRAYS. Never again. From now on I take EVERYTHING with me in the form of a copy or else I stage a sit-in in their office from Dentist to physicals.

That Chicago Dentist cost me $150 for new Xrays...grrrrr. Not a happy customer here, and, if I ever went back to Chicago, I'd never use those jerks again. And the guy who owns that office (he has the one satellite office) is the President of the Chicago Cosmetic Dental Assn. for years and years. Go figure? And THIS is his crappy policy?

Get all the information you can and take it with you...unless you want to spend an extra $150 because someone runs his business like a fool.

[Dawg52]

Saw a segment on Don Imus just yesterday about vit D. He had a doctor on there who had brain cancer 17 years ago and fought it through surgery and chemo but the discussion lead to alternative treatments and prevention, vitamin D being one. The doc said D was a big help in prevention of prostate cancer. He also said you can carry over the benefits from the summer sun into the winter when you don't get as much. Of course too much of a good thing can lead to skin cancer.

The discussion also went into how eliminating sugar from one's diet is a big help. No surprise there but this doc believes that it helped him in his battle with cancer. He believes sugar basically feeds cancer cells.

[DangerMouse]

I always a request a copy of any test results. My reason for that is I like to look over them myself. I have found that some labs use suggested ranges that are out of date - ie. Thyroid testing. I also find that Drs let some test results slide because they fall within normal range. For example, last time I had my iron levels tested I think the bottom of the suggested range was 33 and I was 34. Now to me that means I should be aware and keep watch on my iron levels. To the Dr it was simply you are within range.

[Orchidflower]

I may not understand them (the results), but I sure as heck got 'em now...haha!

Looks like liver for you, DangerMouse!

[Meadbh]

This week I heard an interview with a scientist who is researching Vitamin D. He was asked the question which started this thread. He indicated that at the present time we simply don't know what the "right" preventive dose is, but that it's more than 400 units and probably less than 10,000 units per day, which apparently is "safe". His hunch is that the right level it will eventually be shown to be approximately 4000 units. I think that there will be some variation according to circumstances; for example, the Canadian Paediatric Society recommends 800 units per day for children living in the North, compared with 400 units per day for other children. There is a very high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in people living in the Arctic and your risk will be correspondingly lower the closer you get to the equator, providing that you have skin exposure to sunlight.

[DangerMouse]

I think one of the reasons that so many people are being found to be deficient in Vitamin D is due to our lifestyles. Remember the good old days when we used to walk places, or even go outside to partake of activities? Nowadays most people get up in the morning, drive to work, make there way to their cubicle where they stay until the sun is set and they are on their way home.

For myself, I spend far too much time inside watching TV or reading or on the internet. What I really need to do is to start going for a daily walk instead of using my treadmill. However, being in the suburbs I hate walking around because I don't really like creatures such as dogs or deer or snakes. Give me an urban setting any day where all you have to worry about is getting run over by the traffic.

[citrine]

I take the 2000 IU every day and have noticed a significant improvement in my mood and well being. I also love 90 degree weather and soaking up the rays in the summer time....can't wait for summer!

[DangerMouse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower I may not understand them (the results), but I sure as heck got 'em now...haha! Looks like liver for you, DangerMouse!

You had me in a panic there for a moment as my first reaction was you were telling me I was going to experience liver failure. However, soon realised what you were saying and have to say no way will I eat liver, hate the foul smell of the stuff, too many childhood reminders of my mother and her awful cooking.

[Buckeye]

I'll be able to provide another data point on Feb 2 which is when we have our follow-up appointment to review our blood test results including Vitamin D level. After living in northern OH for 5 years and only taking a Vitamin D supplement for the last month, I'm pretty sure we will both show up as deficient. It will be interesting to see what level of supplementation the doc will recommend.

[Buckeye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by waltwill8 Jerry, $40 self test at GrassrootsHealth | Vitamin D Action - GrassrootsHealth | Vitamin D Action Do you have friends/relatives outside of NY?

Following WaltWill8's link, I found an excellent video on Vitamin D. The speaker (Dr. Robert Heaney) talks about healthy blood levels and about safe supplementation levels. If you don't want to watch the whole video, he recommended 2000 IU's as the daily level of supplementation. It's 44 minutes long but it's very interesting.

YouTube - Whats a Vitamin D Deficiency?

[Meadbh]

Thank you Buckeye, that's exactly the kind of science I can use! Tomorrow morning I'm going to double my daily dose of Vitamin D to 2000 units.

[mark500]

Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol is the precursor measured in the serum to check a vitamin d level. My level was 25ng/ml in November (lower normal), so I took 3000 units per day for a few weeks. My level went up to about 45ng/ml. Currently, controversy exists regarding the optimum serum level and effects of supplements. Do some research. The waters are still muddy.

Vitamin D

[marvholly]

I am somewhat surprised not to see Rich in Tampa responding here. Maybe he is on vacation.

I suspect this is much like the dairy, margarine, beef, eggs & shrimp cholesterol discussion back about 40-50 years ago. These have somewhat changed in the last 10-15 years. This is a result of new research and lifestyle studies. I am sure the same is ongoing now w/ D. Personally, I take a multi w/ woo IU, a Calcium w/ 600 IU and added D w/400 IU every am and repeat the calcium & D late afternoon. Total/day = 2200 IU. This was the regime Dr. put me on and has been tested. The body can only absorb so much any vitamin/mineral at any one time. Also I live in the north and don’t have much/any sun time any part of the year w/work & home stuff.

[Whisper9999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower Wasgotfire, maybe if you get naked you can get away with 10 minutes. Seems I heard something like that, anyway. Not unusual to grow out of the ADHD around 15 or so, Wasgotfire. Maybe you did that, too?

Not necessarily. Sun exposure in the first part of the morning and last part of the afternoon produce very little endogenous Vitamin D.

[Whisper9999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvholly I am somewhat surprised not to see Rich in Tampa responding here. Maybe he is on vacation. I suspect this is much like the dairy, margarine, beef, eggs & shrimp cholesterol discussion back about 40-50 years ago. These have somewhat changed in the last 10-15 years. This is a result of new research and lifestyle studies. I am sure the same is ongoing now w/ D. Personally, I take a multi w/ woo IU, a Calcium w/ 600 IU and added D w/400 IU every am and repeat the calcium & D late afternoon. Total/day = 2200 IU. This was the regime Dr. put me on and has been tested. The body can only absorb so much any vitamin/mineral at any one time. Also I live in the north and don’t have much/any sun time any part of the year w/work & home stuff.

Calcium and Vitamin C can cause prostate and GI cancers, respectively, which is one of the reasons they probably have not done well in some of the studies. This is the opposite with Vitamin D: it decreases risk for multiple types of cancers and is an immune booster. You need way more than 400 IU. Btw, Vitaimin D also lowers arterial inflammation.

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronc879 No. I have an annual blood test done but Vitamin D level is not on the list of things tested.

Other than cholesterol and basic stuff, I don't think the test for much of anything. My aunt and uncle go to an MD who is also trained in homepathy and had extensive blood tests done that showed vitamin and mineral deficiencies, etc.

[WhoDaresWins]

I'm getting a physical tomorrow and plan to ask my PCP to add the Vit. D level to the usual bloodwork. Last June my gynecologist discovered that I was deficient(I think it was 20) and I have been taking a supplement daily. I'm curious to see if my serum level has improved. I am just back from 3 weeks in FL where I got sun daily most days so I hope I am in the normal levels. If I am not, I plan to ask her if she can prescribe some super duper vitamin concoction if such is available as opposed to the 2000 OTC units I am currently ingesting.