Heart valve calcification & Vitamin D supplements?

[DinoCat]

Question for those who have Aortic (or other) valve stenosis (AS), or have already had Valve replacement surgery (Tissue or Mechanical) as a result of AS! Have you had any specific advice about Vitamin D supplements, e.g., type & IU 'strength? Separately, NHS guidance is that most adults should take a Vit D supplement during winter months, when insufficient Vit D is absorbed through sunlight. However, I think some such supplements contain calcium, so do they potentially add to the risk of accelerating the calcification of the valve or its replacement? I don't seem to have had a clear, consistent answer whenever I've raised with my cardiologist, GP or Pharmacy!

[10gingercats]

I asked my cardio. about taking calcium and vit D re. bone structure ...osteoporosis.... and heart stenosis and she said taking it outweighs the disadvantages.So I decided to take one tablet a day instead of two.I take it at night as I have heard it also acts as a suporific. But i am not a medic and this is only heresay.I do get out every day and am pretty active so that helps.

[wilsond in reply to 10gingercats]

Thank you for that. I wondered the same,have biscupid aortic valve mild stenosis, and osteoporosis recently diagnosed, left hip and sufficiently low numbers to need alenduric acid,calcium and vit d tablets!

[Cliff_G]

My understanding is that you should take vitamin K2 as well to help calcium enter bones properly. There should be no calcium in Vit D supplements, but you should be getting enough from your diet.

As far as Vit D dosage is concerned, the lesson I have learned is: don't guess, get tested. I recently did this after a couple of years of supplementing at 4000 IU/day (the maximum recommended continuous dose) and was surprised to find I was only in the "adequate" range rather than as hoped in the "optimal" range. Yet some people manage satisfactorily on the conventional dose of 400 IU/day. Your own metabolism, meds you're on, food you eat, sun you get, all affect it.

NHS practice, and NICE advice, is based only on bone deficiencies and rickets, and most GPs won't test unless you have visible signs of this sort of problem. There are many skin-prick based tests available, and my experience with Neovos was excellent.

I don't know that Vit D or calcium helps sleep, but I have heard magnesium does.

[Judithdalston in reply to Cliff_G]

Yes vit D with K2, I use drops…mine is a 4,000 iu dose because despite taking this high ish dose most days my blood tests still show vit D in 70-90 range.

[DinoCat in reply to Cliff_G]

Many thanks. I also posed my query to the BHF Nurse helpline and had this reply: "The best option for vitamin D supplementation would be to seek a prescription from your GP for the correct dose and supplement for you, and following the clinical advice from the NHS to help regulate both your specific deficiency and your calcium levels".

So, this comment seems to corroborate what you say about a need for specific personalised testing for potential Vit D deficiency.

Conversely, the NHS guidance about Vit D seems more of a 'one size fits all' approach?!

nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-...

Clearly, some individuals with AS or post-AVR, may also need Calcium supplements for other non-related health conditions. But if not, it seems prudent to opt for a non-Calcium Vit D supplement in Winter, especially if Vit D levels have definitely been measured as low?

[Cliff_G in reply to DinoCat]

The BHS/NICE advice is based on bone health / rickets alone. The contribution Vit D makes to immune health is by and large ignored by mainstream medicine.

[Taviterry]

Your dilemma, I'm afraid, is one that many of us face. Some of us are on a particular form of medication that can lead to depleted magnesium. Because I need to protect against the sun, I take 400iu Vit D in the winter, but recent tests at the Same Day Emergency Care Unit at my hospital showed I was still low. The following Sunday I was amazed when the hospital arranged for a taxi to deliver some over-the-counter 1000iu.

[SandraLlew]

I have had AS for many years (15+) and had a TAVI in August no -one has ever mentioned Vitamin D supplements. I found this interesting research paper from the BMJ that might help, scroll down to the conclusions: heart.bmj.com/content/108/1...

[DinoCat in reply to SandraLlew]

Many thanks. You've probably also seen the other helpful replies to my Post. Also see my reply to Cliff.

Yes, I'd seen other similar research findings to that BMJ report. Clearly, some individuals with AS or post-AVR, may also need Calcium supplements for other non-related health conditions. But if not, it seems prudent to opt for a non-Calcium Vit D supplement in Winter, especially if Vit D levels have definitely been measured as low

[Yumz199725]

I often wonder the same thing because I have mixed aortic valve disease but I've never asked my cardiologist x

[Murderfan58]

You need to take a combined calcium and vitamin D tablet you need the calcium to absorb the vitamin D or the other way round . But it's needs to be a combined tablet. When I had my first mammogram aged 50 the radiographer told me I need to take the combined tablet in the correct dose everyday. I actually take a combined calcium,vitamin D and vit K tablet 2 a day. I am 66 born disabled with rare hereditary neurological condition but didn't find out what it was until 2022 after my new neurologist had my whole genome genetically tested. First patient at the Walton Centre to have it. Plus 2020/2021 found out I was also born with small hole in the side of my heart and have PAF . Just diagnosed after a bone scan as having Osteopenia but doesn't mean I will get osteoporosis.

My mom had osteoporosis for 40 years and only ever broke one bone it was a tiny fracture in one of her vertebrae when she was 87. She lived until she was 90.

I also take folic acid as I was deficient in it a few years back and had to have 3 months course of tablets. So take it daily to make sure I don't have problems with it , also vitamin B12 as I don't eat meat ,cod liver oil and vitamin C tablets . All daily . Hope this helps .

[scentedgardener]

You need to get some sort of vit D test to know the level, as too much vit D is toxic. GPs are limited as to how often they are permitted to order a vit D test as they are relatively expensive, at least my local practice is.Personally I can't tolerate normal vit D supplements, taking them coincided with the start of my heart issues, but I know my level is deficient, so am currently exploring vegan vit D, made from lichen as opposed to vit D derived from lanolin, as the lanolin may be the problem.

[HamishBoxer]

100% Correct re Vit K2 MK7, takes the Calcium from the arteries to the bones where it belongs.

[Taviterry]

After three or four years of "protecting" in sunshine, I suggested to my GP surgery that it might be a good idea to have my Vit D level tested, only to be told that was only possible if symptoms suggested a deficiency. After six or eight lots of comprehensive blood tests in the past 15 months, a doctor though to include one for Vit D, which showed mine was very low. Since taking supplements, I had two other lots of blood tests that included requests for Vit D to be checked, but in both cases the lab declined, to allow three months for the pills to show meaningful effect. As it happened, I had yet more tests one day after the three months had ended, so got a (reasonable) result.

[Persevere99]

Hi

Vit K2/Mk7 takes calcium out of the blood and deposits it in the bones , where it belongs

All the best

Persevere