I have just had my Vit d results from recent blood test. They were 131 nmol. I get tested annually on nhs. Last April I was 89 nmol, April 17 I was 99 nmol.
This time, I had just returned from 2 weeks in the sun. I had also been taking supplements of 3000 i u. I didn’t take any supplements on holiday.
Now, I’m concerned that this is too high. I asked my Gp but she just looked at me and shrugged. So, I will phone the helpline, but they may say 50 nmol is sufficient.
I’m thinking of stopping supplements over the summer, and getting tested privately in the autumn.
Will the calcium still be absorbed if I don’t have high daily Vit d input?
Thanks for any comments.
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Justme13
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Not too high. Once you go above 150 time to be cautious, but I think 200 is when it's considered to be toxic. i was at 169 when first tested after getting up to 4000 from various supplements for a few months, only 2000 deliberately from D3 capsules. I cut the D3 supplement out altogether and by end of the following winter was down to 80 which is considered low normal. Last reading was somewhere between those two numbers, I take 1000 D3 per day, but do get a bit more from calcium supplements. Don't hide from the sun but neither do I seek it out. My D likely went high because I have (otherwise non-symptomatic) sarcoidosis and that means too much calcium can be activated. Normally the body will only activate what it needs.
Have a look at Facebook group called vitaminD defiency uk open discussion. There they recommend optimum levels being 200 unless you have an auto immune disease when I think it’s 250. Also recommend 3 monthly tests. I did mine through Better You who use a nhs lab in Birmingham. My result sheet from the nhs lab says that levels above 220 are considered high. Be aware that if you’re supplementing vit d you need co factors too. Magnesium, vit k2 and boring. There’s lots of helpful stuff on that Facebook group and many very knowledgeable people .. I’m very new to this. Good luck .
This is interesting. I don't know the difference nor how to convert, but there are commonly two different measures used for Vitamin D blood results so it's important not to confuse them:
You’ll find I think that one is the American system and the other British. I was using British system when I quoted my NHS result sheet. The Vitamin d Council is American. Apologies I see that Justme13 appears to be in the US.
I find it very confusing myself. I'm in Canada and I "think" we use the system which makes up to 150 good, but 200 is entering toxic level, this is what I was told and what I go by. Don't have access to my test results on line so can't actually check the measurement they use, but last test the level was optimum.
Nmol/L is the British NHS measure and that warns that anything over 220 is considered high according to my print out. The problems here are that gp training doesn’t really cover vitamin supplementation and patients are being given random amounts often not on a daily basis rather than a steady regular amount.
Yes I know you are. Sorry. It’s seems gps have no training in supplements. I’ve come off sodium risedronate for osteoporosis after 2 years and am now trying to follow the recommendations for vitD supplementation on the Facebook page i mentioned. It’s a steep learning curve. Not easy!
Yeah, back when my test result was fresh in my mind I think I learned that we use same units as in UK in my Canadian province. It also seems that over the past few years it's been decided that the D levels should be higher than originally believed. A bit like only taking enough Vitamin C to prevent scurvy, we only needed enough D to prevent rickets, but in fact for optimum health we do need somewhat more, without overdoing it!
It’s difficult to say. You could try 1000 IU of D3 and monitor your blood level.
I’ve tended to stick with 2000 IU as a maintenance dose. You will see from some of my results below, that others factors including age may play a part. My ability to make vit D via my skin, has declined as I’ve got older.
In 2013 my first D level was 90 nmol/l. I wanted it higher so started taking 5000 IU most days, except really sunny ones, to reach and then maintain, my personal target of around 170 nmol/L this worked fine and my level remained stable over several blood tests. Then in Oct 15 it suddenly shot up to 219 nmol/l.
I stopped taking it for a few weeks and started taking 2000 IU most days, except when I was getting some sun exposure. My blood level gradually came down and by Feb 18 it was 146 nmol/L.
Because of the periods of good weather we had that summer, I was only taking it when I wasn’t getting any sun exposure, wrongly assuming I would be making it via my skin.
By Sep 18 my level had fallen from 146 to 106 nmol/l. Still normal, but certainly not optimal. For the first time in years I caught a cold!
I then changed back to 5000 IU D3 most days and my reading last month (April 19) had gone from 106 to 130 nmol/L. I plan on sticking with this dose for a few more months then getting it checked again. I’m aiming for a level of 150 to 170nmol/l. as I never caught infections during the yrs I maintained this level.
It can be a bit of trial and error finding a convenient dose for you as an individual and then altering it if necessary, as indicated by your blood levels.
No idea if it’s actually helping my bones, but it certainly helps my immune system, which in turn makes me feel better in myself.
Like you I was 131 nmol last month. I would like to keep it around that or at least up to 150 nmol, at least till I do more research. I haven’t stopped getting colds, albeit they don’t last long. I stopped for a few days when I got this result, as I as worried about overdosing, but think I’ll go back to 1000 iu per day. I am on follow up for colon cancer, in remission, but I just had ct scan results, and my Oncologist mentioned the importance of vitamin d and exercise in helping to prevent recurrence. I had been given my annual ct early as I was worried about having a cough for 5 months. So, if the D helps to keep the cancer away that’s an added benefit.
Will have to get private testing more frequently as nhs only gives annual testing of Vit D.
Glad you are winning the war against colon cancer.
I'm pleased your Consultant mentioned the importance of vit D in relation to cancer. We read so many conflicting reports about vit D and other supplements, that I sometimes worry I'm wasting my hard earned pension, on all the supplements I buy.
At least with vit D, by monitoring my blood level. I know the brand I buy, contains some D and that I'm absorbing it. Its a pity we cannot monitor other supplements, particularly vit K2, to confirm we are not being ripped off.
Regarding vit D testing. My GP refuses to request blood for vit D testing, so I have to go it alone! I use the postal, finger prick blood spot collection method, as arranged by The Dept of Biochemistry, City Hospital, Dudley Rd, Birmingham. I use them approximately twice a year. With it being an NHS Lab, I'm sure they will following all the QC guide lines, having worked in one for 40 yrs.
I phone to order the kit and pay the current cost (April) of £29 via card. They will asked for your email address to post the results back to you. The kit arrives first class post, with full instructions and a prepaid return envelope. They also will email you a short video demonstrating the instructions. After posting the blood spots back to them, the results are usually returned within the week.
I'm always cautious about recommending anything to anyone, but so far they have never let me down and have always been helpful on the phone.
my level is 125 was told that high but doctors say not its normal , last test was 39 ! so was put on high strength tablets then too normal 1000 iu ones x 2 , i felt good then but since taking 1 a day getting very tired and a bit wobbly , docs advice is take 1 a day ,too maintain levels ,,, guess its not safe too take 2 + 4000 iu , theres no help out there ! SO I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAY ... sorry u have suffered
My level in January 2019 was 107.2 and in April 2018, 123.1 The doctor was especially pleased with the 123.1 and said he does not see that many patients with a high Vit D Level. I understand from my reports, the range the docs like to see are between 80 - 150. I am prescribed 800u daily.
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