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Vitamind D3 25000 IUI

Cooljay profile image
28 Replies

Hello Members, I am new this site and I am low on Vitamin D. 3 months back blood results was18 nmol/L,. My GP prescribed 25000 IUI and I have been taking this weekly one for 3 months ..Now the bloods has come to 110 nmol/L(after 3 months of supplkements). My GP is asking me to continue with 25000 IUI dose weekly, Can anyone adivse me please .. is it safe to continue or not?

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Cooljay
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28 Replies
Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake

Have you been diagnosed with osteoporosis?

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to Nanaedake

Hi Nanaedake, I am not aware of osteoporosis.. GP said it's just low vitamin d ..

LynneH-19 profile image
LynneH-19

I assume you are talking about D3 and not D2?

My understanding was that the body was better at absorbing a daily lower dose of say 5000 IU, rather than a massive dose weekly dose.

Having said that, it’s worked fine for you, therefore I’m in no position to suggest otherwise. Other than to say it’s important to continue having your regular vit D blood checks, incase it suddenly shoots up to over 200 nmol/L, or falls too much.

Have you noticed any difference in how you feel? Are you happy with this level?

I aim for 150 to 170 nmol/L as I’ve found I personally don’t catch colds or other seasonal infections, since reaching this range.

It’s a case of finding a level YOU are happy with and then trying to maintain it, with the aid of regular checks.

Best wishes

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to LynneH-19

Hi LynneH-19, thank for the info ..I will do the bloods regularly , should I stop 25000iui vitamin D now & take normal dose 400 daily ?

LynneH-19 profile image
LynneH-19 in reply to Cooljay

You need to discuss this with your doctor. I found that a 400 IU dose was way to low in my case. I go on the American National OP Foundation forum and I get the impression that anything less than 1000 IU is a waste of time, in many cases. I certainly found this to be true in my case, which is why I take 2000 IU to maintain my level. It’s really trial and error, as we appear to absorb D3 differently.

Best wishes

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to LynneH-19

Thanks LynneH..Appreciate your help..!!

Met00 profile image
Met00

Many experts recommend taking Vit K2 and magnesium with Vit D, especially when on a high dose. This makes sure the calcium absorbed by the Vit D goes where it should (bones, teeth etc) rather than being excreted via the urine and potentially causing health problems such as kidney stones.

Kaarina profile image
Kaarina in reply to Met00

Oh dear, I thought one had to take K2 at a different time from when taking the Vitamin D3 to help with osteoporosis. Am I incorrect here?

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to Kaarina

Hi Kaarina, I did not know that vitamin k2 should taken along with D3, my GP not prescribed it ..

Kaarina profile image
Kaarina in reply to Cooljay

Hi Coolijay,

The GP will not prescribe K2. It is a supplement and one has to purchase this oneself if one wishes to take it and also the magnesium. I take them because I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.

I am not clear, have you been diagnosed with osteoporosis or oseteopenia or are you just low in Vitamin D so that is why you are taking a high dose of Vitamin D, prescribed by your doctor?

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to Kaarina

Hi Kaarina, yes doctors had checked low vitamins D & prescribed the medicine & he hasn't done any further tests .. actually I have got one episode of tachycardia ..in that investigation he found low vitamin d ,b12 & folate ..

Met00 profile image
Met00 in reply to Kaarina

Yes, best at different time of day, with meal, to ensure sufficient fat for absorption (both are fat soluble)

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to Met00

Hi Met00, I am already on high dose of 25000 iui, should I stop taking now as my levels are 110 and also what will happen if I take k2 & magnesium now ?

Met00 profile image
Met00 in reply to Cooljay

Is that weekly? You'll need to make your own decision about level you want to reach, some say 100nmol enough, many others say 125 nmol or higher Ok, but need to take co-factors, magnesium and K2 (MK7 or MK4). I'm not an expert, just what I've read (and doing for osteoporosis). If it's a weekly dose, it isn't huge, works out not much more than 3500 iu a day. I'm prescribed 2400 daily.

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to Met00

Hi Met00, I have decided to take a daily dose of 1000 iui & howmuch do you think k2 & magnesium I can take & also timings of these supplements please .

Met00 profile image
Met00 in reply to Cooljay

Hello Cooljay. I agree with Lynne that you should discuss the amount of Vit D with your doctor, as he may have a good reason for keeping you on a weekly dose of 25000iu for the time being. Once he says you should reduce it, it will be trial and error to find out what daily amount will keep your blood level up, but it's unlikely that 1000iu a day will maintain your current blood level unless you're also getting Vit D from other sources (for example summer sunshine) and are a good absorber. Did the doctor tell you why he tested your Vit D in the first place? As far as the other supplements are concerned, the recommended dose of Vit K2-MK7 is 90-180mcg a day (MK4 is much higher and has to be taken several times a day, not all at once, I'm not sure what the dose is but you can find out more if you do a google search). Magnesium I can't help you with as I've seen so many different amounts recommended. I'm taking magnesium bisglycinate, and the bottle says take 3 a day, each one is 125mg. You can also buy a magnesium spray that you rub into your skin ( but a lot of people find that stings) and/or put magnesium flakes or Epsom salts (the latter is cheaper, still magnesium) in your bath. It's also possible to get quite a lot of magnesium from diet (eg see healthline.com/nutrition/10..., so you may be able to get sufficient without supplementing if you're only taking a low dose Vit D supplement. I also take boron (3mg a day), but I have osteoporosis and am doing everything I can to improve my bone density without taking medication. I'd like to stress again that I'm not medically qualified, I'm just sharing with you what I've read and decided is important for me, as supplements aren't regulated. There's a lot of conflicting information on the internet, with some people recommending much higher doses, so you really need to read it for yourself and decide what you think is best. When I research, I always ask what the side effects are and what the highest safe dose is. I then read several different sites, where possible not written by the supplement companies, to try to get an informed view. I usually end up totally confused, so this process takes time! But please do talk to your doctor before you reduce your Vit D dose.

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to Met00

Thanks a lot for sharing your details ..can I know which vitamin d brand are you using ??

Met00 profile image
Met00 in reply to Cooljay

I use Doctor's Best.

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to Met00

Thanks Met00

jamr profile image
jamr

My Vit D was 45nmol, I took supplements of 1300-1600iu day as well as daily exposure to summer sun. After 7 weeks my Vit D was 69nmol. Then came winter and mostly no sun, but still taking 1300iu daily supplement, and levels dropped to 53 nmol. My takeaway is that either I need way more supplement than 1600iu/day or need to get more sunshine - now that summer is starting I will try get 10-15 mins in midday sun on body, not face. I assume that Vit D gets used up by the body to do stuff and after 6 months.

Your levels of 18nmol are deficient by every official standard, most say 50nmol is minimum, some saying 75nmol is minimum. Some suggest you really want to have 100nmol/l at least so you should be OK at 110nmol. Also note some countries measure ng/ml not nmol/l conversion is 20ng/ml equals 50nmol/l. Vit D from supplements or sunshine is converted by the liver and kidney before it goes to the various tissues to get used for calcium absorption, brain function, immune system etc, in other words it gets used up for various jobs so we need to continue supplementing to maintain optimal levels. Being a fat soluble vitamin (its really a hormone) is does not need to be supplemented each day (things like the B range of vitamins need to be ingested each day), but does need to be generally available throughout the body. Co factors like Vit K are needed to place Calcium into the bones, and not the kidneys and blood vessels. There are many other minerals in addition to Calcium like silicon, manganese, Magnesium that all play vital roles in a complex process. Supplements might be necessary to get sufficient amounts, but getting a balanced and varied diet, plus sunshine are best if you are able to. Reommendation I had from Osteo scan was to make sure I got 1000mg of Calcium per day, but no mention of Vit D, K2 etc etc. Calcium alone is not a solution to bone density, just as Vit D is not a solution on its own.

In your case, staying on 25000iu per week (3500iu/day) sounds quite high, however depending upon your exposure to sunshine (our food does not give much Vit D unless its fortified milk/juice etc). I suggest you ask for a Vit D checkpoint in 3 months on 25000iu, and see how it goes. There are suggestions you can get too much Vit D and most say that 110nmol is enough. I would do some research on the Vit K, Calcium etc and ensure these are catered for in diet and supplements. As others here note, and its my experience too, higher levels of Vit D seem to improve your immune system (I am guessing my levels got up to around 100nmol, before I had a winter slump), as it started dropping I became more prone to infections. Good luck with it all.

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to jamr

Thank you Jamr for your inputs .. howlong should we use these vitamins d supplements .. I would like to go for daily dose of 1000 iui .. howmuch vitamin k,calcium & magnesium can be used ?

tikigod18 profile image
tikigod18

Cooljay: Depending on your aage, you should probably have a bone density test, AKA Dexa Scan. The earlier you catch it, the better you will be able to control it.

Cooljay profile image
Cooljay in reply to tikigod18

Thank Tikigod18, I will request my gp for Axa Dexa scan..

Savbing profile image
Savbing in reply to Cooljay

I am not a medical expert but my husband had a vit d level of 16 a few years ago. He took massive doses for a few months and is now on a maintenance dose of 1000u daily.

jamr profile image
jamr

There is no specific time period to take supplements like Vit D, you take them as your body needs, this means regular tests. There are different recommended levels of Vit D, I suggest you research the internet and get an idea of the ranges from different authorities. There are also different levels you should aim for. The same applies for Vit K2, Mag and Calcium. Some sources say 90mcg K" for women, 120mcg for men, Calcium around a 1000mg/day, Magnesium around 400-500mg/day. I suggest you do not accept my numbers as gospel, instead start a written plan for yourself that includes your issues, diets, supplement plan, exercise. As you have only mentioned you are low on Vit D, had a tachycardia, low on some B vits, however you should describe any health issues in detail. This will help others on this board help you, and you to help yourself. My best advice is to take control of your health (if you have specific issues) is to educate yourself and make a written plan, then fill in the gaps yourself and from this board. There are many quite detailed posts that have already answered some of your questions.

Hi Cooljay

I've just seen your post.

May I suggest that you Google & have a good read (it's lengthy!) of the:

NICE guidlines for treatment of Vitamin D deficiency.

Last time I read it the daily maintenance dose of colecalciferol (D3) to be prescribed following the initial Loading dose is 800 IU, but can be up to 1000 IU and even as much as 2000 IU in some cases - depending on the individual patient.

I've read that 100 to 150 is a good level so yours seems good at 110.

Vitamin D, as you will know, is fat soluble so is stored in the body. A high level is regarded as toxic (I think that's above 250 not sure would need to check ).

I would make sure your GP or Consultant monitors this.

You could ask why you need to be on such a high dose now that your levels are up. Or wait till next test ??

I would definitely want to he retested within 3 months, whatever you decide.x

Met00 profile image
Met00

Yes, very important to take Vit K2 and magnesium with Vit D, Vit A possibly too, but it's possible to overdose on this. It's a shame the article doesn't give recommended quantities, referring vaguely instead to keeping a balance of calcium and magnesium. And disappointing that it seems to want us to be so impressed that we'll sign up for their course and part with our money - I'm always a little suspicious if their appears to be an ulterior motive!

Seanine profile image
Seanine

Hi yes I've been taking 5000 for years as advised by the US. Our daily recommendations are too low for people living in northern Europe as we are.

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