Following 2Grey's post about Vitamin D deficiency, here's some more info with critique of the levels doctors usually use to define deficiency. This is via an e-letter about osteoporosis I've been sent for some time but Im posting it here given the publicity of importance of Vitamin to protect against Covid infection. Ive increased my Vit D3 daily supplementation to 4000iu now but see what you think.
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More about Vitamin D
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O2Trees
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I so agree 02Trees. Vitamin D3 costs pennies, there is masses of anecdotal evidence from patients that taking it can vastly improve their quality of life and resistance to infections. And yet it seems that some GPs are simply not interested.
In 2016, following a downward spiral of viral infections which developed into exacerbations, an empyema, two hospitalisations and eight weeks IV at home I finally succeeded in badgering my GP to test my vitam D levels.
I was at 22!
Her government guidance told her to put me on 20,000 iu, three times each week for five weeks, then maintenance of 1600 per day. I am now at 95.
Since I started taking vit D3 I have had a total of three head colds which only lasted a couple of days and three exacerbations. These responded to cipro, which, according to lab results, is not supposed to work in me any more.
Coincidence or the power of vit D? All I can say is that I have felt better and ‘stronger’ since taking it and don’t intend to stop.
As to the dose, I think that is a personal decision, based on what someone believes their needs to be.
If GPs won’t prescribe it is really cheap to buy on the internet.
morehope• in reply to
"And yet it seems that some GPs are simply not interested." If it don't put money in their pocket they are not interested. I am speaking from the US ABOUT the US. I don't know how it is in the UK.
• in reply tomorehope
GPs responses seem to be variable here. At least it is cheap to buy on the internet if you need to.
santisuk• in reply to
A health screening I had 8 months ago at SE Asia's premier hospital (a College of American Pathologists accredited laboratory) states that toxicity is possible at levels > 100 ng/mL. Watch that you don't overdo it Littlepom!
• in reply tosantisuk
Thanks for that. Other people on here may find that useful as many take much higher doses than I do.
I think vitamin D is great and I take one every day. Thank you for the link. Hope you’re doing as well as possible O2. Xxxx😘
• in reply tosassy59
What strength Carole? All this talk of vitamin D had made me wonder whether I should be taking it as I no longer spend as much time outdoors as I used to do. I bought 1,000iu tablets to take one a day, now I'm wondering if it's enough.🤔😘xx
sassy59• in reply to
Hi Don, the vitamin D I’m taking now is the same strength as yours so I’ve taken two. I have others that are 2,500iu so I’ll use those next. I will see how I get on over the winter months.
You should take it but possibly two tablets. You could always check with your GP perhaps?
Take care Don. Xxxxx👍😘🌈
• in reply to
I take 2000 IU during the summer months and up it to either 3000 or 5000 IU* during winter months Don. It all depends how much if any sun exposure I am getting. I think with covid its important to keep levels up especially so if you have watched Dr John's video on vitamin D that BB posted earlier.
* I do have osteoporosis and have in the passed been deficient, I have my levels checked annually, although this year testing is well overdue.
• in reply to
I have to keep out of the sun because of my skin cancer. I’ve had a patch removed from the top of my head and my ears and nose are now affected.
• in reply to
Oh no, sorry Don, you definitely will need vitamin D top ups if you are keeping out of the Sun. Take good care.
Dr John Campbell (see YouTube) swears blind by vitamin d and can’t understand why there’s such a low number of trials with it on COVID patients.
It’s more important to supplement now and even though Vit D levels are much lower in food, I’m trying to ensure my diet includes enough food with Vit D in them.
I suspect we’re in for another mild, but wet winter so you’ll hardly get any of it from the sun.
Can we get too much vitamin d?
• in reply toMeme50
Yes. You can get Vit.D toxicity . Dehydration, apathy, and kidney stones. The dose has to be relatively high over a period of time for this to happen, but I don't think people should be quite so gung-ho about this. One needs to also think about what other drugs you are taking and if there is any added effect here.
Personally I take 20 micrograms Vit. D each day and eat a healthy diet and exercise outdoors every day.
I would rather believe a medical doctor than a so-called nutritionist who writes in womens' magazines.
Meme50• in reply to
Thank you for your reply.
morehope• in reply to
You can avoid vitamin D3 toxicity by taking vitamin K along with D3. I do know the ratio but it's not at hand at the moment. I'll post it later along with 2 very informative books on the subject. They are US written, published and printed but they are available on Amazon UK.
O2Trees• in reply to
The women who write on this news letter are properly qualified. You are very dismissive without knowing the details. Their information is the same as research articles from eminent places such as Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic etc etc.
A women's magazine haha. A little sexism going on here perhaps?? My GP (also a woman) agrees with what this article says. Perhaps we're all just a bit hysterical.
See my reply to Littlepom. Toxicity is possible at > 100 ng/ml per a health screen I had in January.
• in reply toMeme50
As we age we don't manufacture vitamin D as well, but to be sure, get your bloods checked annually for vitamin D deficiency as this will give you an idea on the dose you need.
NHS current guidelines which may well be updated in time:
nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-....
In addition if you take oral steroids regularly or several times a year it is well worth getting your levels checked through your doctor.
Any supplements need to b vitamin D3
I’m in California, lots of sun, but not enough. My GP has had me on 4000 units of Vit D each day for the last 2 years. I have osteoporosis, so think that is the main reason for the dosage. Has to help me fight off the lung bugs too.
They had an article on The One Show about getting enough Vitamin D - I think it was last night . I take 4000 IU not sure what that equates too. Apparently we need to sit outside with limbs uncovered and no sun cream for 15 mins per day. x
I think my GP is probably on the ball. I'm on calcium/vitd supplements due to being on steroids, plus having to protect against sunlight. Anyhow I'd missed some and got told off ! When tested, the level was 50 which the GP said was 'borderline insufficient' (unlike the consultant who said it was well within range). Anyhow I have since added my own supplement to raise levels some more but I need to get tested again because there is a debate re whether high D levels might actually be harmful for my autoimmune condition.
Ever since I started vit D my health has improved 90 %
18 months ago my rheumatologist carried out lots more tests and one of these was a vitamin D test which came back low, she recommended I take vitamin D3 supplements so I asked her what strength, she floundered to give me a reply said she thought maybe 900 and told me to speak to my GP, spoke to GP and he too struggled so I took it on board to research myself and decided on the numbers of my test that I would take vitamin D3 at a strength of 4,000 IU a day, I currently live in NE Scotland. When I asked for another vitamin D3 test I got told the NHS are only allowed to do these once a year, due to the virus I have not had this tested.
On another matter regarding vitamins I was also tested for vitamin B at the same time as Vitamin D and my vitamin B12 came back way too high off off the scale, nobody can account for this, I have had many tests and scans. I take no supplements or food with added vitamins B12 I am still waiting for additional gastric tests and endoscopy biopsies. Does anyone have high vitamin B12 I wonder.
I think in this pandemic we have nothing to lose in taking vitamin D particularly now the winter months are not far away and there seems to be good evidence it helps your immunity x
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