Vitamin D

[Karendeena]

I have just read a post that suggests vitamin D may increase palpitations in AF..My GP had suggested I take vitamin D to help with the aches and pains of Polymyalgia. Seems one drug to help hinders another. I don't want to aggravate my afib. Has anyone any facts/opinions on this?

[Teresa156]

Hi Karendeena,

I’m not aware that Vitamin D can cause palpitations.

In my particular case, I have been taking 4000 iu ( which is the highest NHS recommended daily dose and not suitable for everyone) of Vitamin D now for well over a year, after I was told I had a vitamin D deficiency. My levels are ‘normal’ now and still not at the very highest, but I don’t want to be at the very top end, but I continue to take this dose as I don’t absorb Vitamin D very well. I have paroxysmal Afib and my burden is low. Before I took vitamin D, my Afib was slowly increasing, but since taking it, I had one episode only last year and haven’t had any since, so in my case, palpitations haven’t increased. We are all very different though, so what works for me, might not be for everyone.

[sassy59]

I take vitamin D everyday with no adverse affects.

[LordGabriel]

I take it every day - no issues

[CDreamer]

Firstly Vit D is not a drug but a supplement. What is your Vit D level?

The post was about high loading of Vit D & AF episodes decreasing after stopping supplementing.

I was advised to keep to a low ish dose of 400iu which now my serum levels are high side of normal suits me without inducing AF. I take 2/3 days a week only.

My view is that we need data of our levels in order to make informed decisions.

Has your GP given you a prescription or just suggested you but some?

[Karendeena in reply to CDreamer]

Just requested I buy some so I am taking one tablet of vitabiotics vit d 1000. My mum has been taking this for years, she is 95 and has AF

[Dippy22 in reply to Karendeena]

I would recommend an oil-based Vit D + K2 (K2 is necessary for absorption of Vit D in the gut). The oil-based version is easily digestible and the dose can be easily adjusted. I get mine from Amazon.

[saulger]

Vitamin D3 is said to help reduce AFib:

"vitamin D is an emerging risk factor of AF, and is implicated in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[secondtry]

I take Vit D3 with K2 from Lamberts; no commercial interest & no known side effects.

[Windlepoons]

I take 5,000 iu of D3 a day and have done for many years. I haven't had any problems with it. It certainly helps with "sad syndrome" during the winter, but I carry on with it all year as I'm not outside much.🤗

[BabsJ]

I take 2000in vitamin D every day and have done for years and it has no effect on my a fib

[Dippy22]

I suspect my increased AFib last October is due to the fact I got cocky and took my eye off the ball regarding my Vit D levels. Having previously been up around the 150-200 mark, I found to my horror last month that it had plummeted to a pathetic 66! I’m back on the supplements (8-10,000 iu per day) and will test regularly from now on (I do mine via an online company called Thriva). When the level is back up to around 150 again I’ll reduce the dosage accordingly.

NB O’ blood types have a reduced ability to assimilate Vit D. I firmly believe EVERYONE who lives in the northern hemisphere should monitor their Vit D levels regularly, especially at this time of year - “Seasonal Affected Disorder” (SAD) is a Vit D deficiency issue.

[Crystalpalace]

hello, I've been taking Vit D for about 3 years , and it's had no affect on my Afib, in fact I'd say I've had even less occurrences if anything. gtom my view its fine to take

Good luck

[Auriculaire]

I did a cursory search of the literature about this yesterday after reading the post. It appears to have come from articles about a study done on vit D levels and incidence of afib. This was done by T Jared Bunch an EP at a hospital in America - I think Utah which is a known centre of excellence for arrythmia treatment. 132,000 patient records were looked at. Patients were divided into 5 categories for vit D levels - low , low normal , normal, high normal and excess. Most people here will be very surprised at the blood levels they attributed to those categories as they were much higher than the low levels the NHS tells you you are ok with. Eg normal was 41ng/ml -80ng/ml. In the measurement system used in the UK this is 100nmol/l- 200nmol/l. Excess was considered over 100 ng /ml ie 250nmol/l. At all measurements to 100ng/ml there was NO difference in afib incidence. It was only the people who had excess levels of vit D that had a higher incidence of afib - two and a half times as high. The people in the high normal (81-100ng/ml) actually had the marginally lowest incidence .

All the other studies I saw referenced were about greater incidence of afib with insufficient levels of vit D and preventing post operative afib with vit D supplementation. The only way to know what blood level your particular dosage of vit D is giving you is to get tested. It is no use saying " I'm taking a low/ moderate / high dose. " Because of individual differences in absorption this is meaningless. Only testing your level will tell you if you have got the dosage right.

To Karendeema I would say take your GPs advice. If they will not test before you start there are home tests you can buy online. Or you could start off at a low level of supplementation of 2000iu a day and test after 3 months. At this time of year your vit D will be at it's lowest as any you banked last summer with sun exposure ( very little unless you actively sun bathe) will have been used up over the winter. You should take magnesium alongside as this helps the absorption and gives you a higher level than vit D alone. If you take a calcium supplement or eat a lot of dairy you should take vit K2 as well.

[ozziebob in reply to Auriculaire]

What a fantastic reply !!!!!

Your words are a thorough and inspiring clarification of Karendeena's concerns about Vitamin D (in my opinion).

Keep up the good work.

[etheral]

I have read several studies in the past in the New EnglandJournal of Medine and JAMA that had a relatively small number of participants, but suggested that VitD caused increased incidents of Afib.

Out of an abundance of caution I stopped taking Vitamin D supplements.

etheral

[Auriculaire in reply to etheral]

Do you live in a part of the world where adequate sunshine is available year round? Otherwise how do you maintain a sufficient level?

[GeorgeGlass]

taurine helps as well. Look up the NIH study which proved that taurine stopped palpitations in 95% of men.

[Peacefulneedshelp]

I am not aware of Vit D causing issues but like anything go slow and work your way up and pay attention to what you are taking and get a blood test to see your levels.

[needlestone]

I have taken 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 with K2 for over 10 years and never had a problem. This formula with K2 keeps arteries clear too.

[Moongold7]

I take 1000IU daily of D3, no problems.

[Elfiejean]

I have a severe Vitamin D deficiency. The cardiologist prescribed 50,000 units once a week. Been on for 3 months with no problems. When the level rises they will order a lower dose.