New Study Suggests Tripling Recommended ... - My MSAA Community
New Study Suggests Tripling Recommended Amount of Vitamin D
Thanks for sharing this information! 😇🙏🙂🤞😽
Thanks for sharing this. I have been taking vit. D for years, mostly for my osteoporosis, but have been reading quite a bit recently about its benefits for M.S. as well as for those of us in the 50+ category. My neurologist has me do blood work twice a year and always includes a Vitamin D level. Some doctors don't routinely do this, but I'm glad mine does.
About 2 years ago my doctor ordered Vitamin D levels on my blood. Medicare refused to pay and I was stuck with a bill from Quest Diagnostics for $624. My appeal failed. If I had osteoporosis instead of just osteopenia it would have been covered. So now I just take a lot of Vitamin D3 and hope for the best. What's really ironic is that now, as a consumer, I can get a Vitamin D level from Quest for $70. No doctor's order required.
$624!!!😖😠😮. It would never occur to me to even ask if a certain blood test was covered. Holy cow! I take 4,000 iu D3 every day and my levels are always good when I check them. I like that self-service from Quest. They offer tons of tests without needing a doctor's order. Very convenient.
Thank you for posting this article for the benefit if everyone here. The Epoch Times is a trusted source of information for me. When my daughter was diagnosed with MS right after she graduated from college, her neuro recommended a Vitamin D level between 50-80 (it had been at 25). Her Vitamin B12 level was in the low 300s, apparently acceptable in the US but considered deficient in much of the world, so she takes B12 daily. It seems most doctors do not discuss vitamins with patients, except Vitamin D and calcium.
BettysMom, I recently read to take a Vitamin D3 with K2 to help with D3 absorption. Is this something you have heard about?
Thank you for posting the article.
Yes. For bone health it is very important to take Vitamin K2 as well as Vitamin D3. Since both are fat soluble vitamins it is not necessary to take them daily. I take my fat soluble vitamins weekly.
Hi BettysMom, as I mentioned, I do take 4,000 iu D3 daily but I am not familiar with the K2. What is the recommended dosage of K2? Can I just take that daily with my D3?
I should have pointed out in my previous answer to your question that Vit K2 is not given with Vit D3 to help with the absorption. It is given with Vit D3 to help the calcium that is transported by the Vit D3 to be incorporated into the bones.
Vitamin D was the first thing the Neurologist put me on when I was diagnosed. I take 2000 iu a day, but my vitamin D levels are always low. When I moved to Atlanta, the new Neurologist upped it to 50,000 iu a week, but in 3 months I developed parathyroid disease. Some people can't take higher doses.
I had similar experience. I started on 2000 a day when first diagnosed with MS and low vitamin D. No improvement in my level so went up to 5000 a day. I got a bladder stone a few months later (I had kidney stones in the past which is why I started at 2000 a day) but my level did go up. I went back to 2000 at that time. A few years later I asked about the weekly high dose and the neuro didn't think it was a good idea.
I have been taking 5000 in gummy form for about a year now because my level was at the low end of normal then, 31. This year it was 40, the neuro would like it at 50. She also told me the gummies don't absorb well so I went and bought 2000iu capsules. I read an article about a year ago that it is best to take with a high fat content meal for better absorption, so I take after dinner. I plan to take 2 capsules twice a week to get a little more.
I have been staying out of the sun since my mid twenties and glad I have since I have had several skin cancers starting at age 45, a couple months before my MS diagnosis, so not related to DMT. So, have to find other ways to get it.
Thanks BettysMom for sharing!
My neuro always checks it when I get a blood test. I was told to take 5000 but my level improved enough to drop to 2000. I was told that too much D can cause issues. I have enough issues to add any more!!
Definitely don't want too much! I have mine checked with my yearly labs but plan to ask for a recheck when I see my neuro again in July to see how the capsules compare to the gummies
2000 iu of Vit D3 is generally too low a dose to keep the blood level high enough for neurological heath. Your blood level will likely get too low after a period of time unless you are getting a lot of sun.
Yes, my PC was concerned about kidney stones and brittle bones. I have to avoid calcium too.
Calcium supplements can do more harm than good. High levels of calcium in the blood can contribute to coronary artery disease. It's best to obtain calcium from food sources. Of course, you are a special case with your parathyroid disease.
I have a question about calcium: from what I understand, a “normal” result of calcium labs could be the result of diet, or if one’s diet is insufficient as far as getting enough calcium, the body then pulls calcium from bones. Is this correct? If so, I suppose tracking calcium intake (food or supplements) would be the only way to avoid losing bone mass since the lab results themselves wouldn't explain a normal level.
Yes, it is important to take fat soluble vitamins with a meal containing fat or with other fat soluble vitamins and supplements.
I had stopped taking vit D3 to get a baseline for my kidney Dr. She asked me 3 xs if I stopped, said yes. She told me Not to take any because my body makes more than enough, like way more than enough. 🤗💕🌠
That's unusual. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun? Of course, you are likely consuming Vit D from foods that have Vit D naturally or via fortification, like fatty fish, egg yolks, mushrooms, orange juice, breakfast cereals, and dairy and plant milks.
I will be outside in the sun for as long as I can handle it and then longer! I live for the sun😂 No fish,eggs, shoots or oj. Cereal and whole milk.. yogurt, cheese 🤗💕🌠
"I live for the sun." Well, I guess that explains it!
My kitchen oils consist of MTC oil, sesame oil, olive oil (light), and seldom used block of grass fed butter.
I am on the omega three health kick and am much more clear headed and energized.
Tremedous improvement in sleep quality due to regular calcium supplentation.
I am still in a two year que for sleep apnea. Fingers crossed.
Did you mean to post this comment in your RLS group but have posted it here in the Multiple Sclerosis group by mistake? I ask because your comment has no relationship to this thread, which is about Vitamin D supplementation for people with MS.
Neuro advised 3000-4000/day. I took 3000. Endocrinologist for osteoporosis advised to take 2000 one day and 3000 the next as blood level was too high.
Glad to see an article including blood level ranges! 🎉
thank you
The brand I take is Solaray. It contains 125mcg (5000 IU) D3 & 50mcg K2 with MK7. I maintain a D3 level right around 80. I've adjusted the dosage that works for me. My primary care follows my D3 and calcium levels along with my labs. D3 should not be taken without K2 and taken with a meal (fat soluble) for the best absorption.
D is quite the inigma for me as when first diagnosed my level was fine but a couple of years later it had dropped to the single digits put on 50000 iu weekly and tried that for 3 monti, taken off almost immediately dropped back to single digits so put back on the 50000 iu dose and every time the doctor try taking me off right down again
That's why I take Solaray because it has the needed combo for absorption along with a fat meal. In your reply you didn't mention anything about taking K2 along with D. K2 is needed for absorption. I alternate, 1 day I take 1 capsule (5000) the next day I take 2 capsules and so on. This works for me and maintains my D level. I know from my experience, if I skip taking my supplement for a period of time my MS symptoms, especially walking, worsen. I hope you find a regimen that works for you and my help with your MS.
Actually, you are incorrect. Vitamin K2 is not needed for Vitamin D3 absorption. In fact it doesn't aid the absorption at all. Vit K2 is given with Vit D3 because, in lay terminology, K2 ensures that the calcium transported by the Vitamin D is absorbed by your bones where it's needed.
You are likely paying a lot extra for the brand name Solaray. Both Vitamins D3 and K2 can be bought very inexpensively from other reputable manufacturers on the internet.
Why does he try to take you off of Vit D3 supplements? That doesn't make sense. You need to keep taking Vit D3 forever. The dosage needs to be adjusted so that you serum level doesn't get too low or too high. BTW, most neurologists advise that the serum level be about 60 ng/mL or even higher, not the 30 that some of the lab print-outs show to be in the normal range.
It's not my neurologist who keeps trying to take me off d3 In fact but each time I change pcp because they always say nobody stays on mega doses that long, and every time we go through the testing again.
Your PCP is ignorant of the value of Vit D3 in MS (as well as other diagnoses). Perhaps you need to challenge him on this matter or simply ignore his advice to to stop the Vit D3. Since Vit D3 is over-the-counter, you don't need his approval to take the "mega" doses.
Our skin naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight suggest exposing as much of your body as you are comfortable with being careful not to overheat 1/2 hour in the sun daily weather permitting during warm weather D3 supps every day no matter the weather.
Actually, that is not true. It is absolutely not necessary to be in the sun or take D3 supplements "every day." Vit D3 is a fat soluble vitamin and it stays in the body for a prolonged time. The exposure to the sun or the ingestion of Vit D3 can be just one day a week, assuming that the dosage is adequate.
My neurologist just cut mine in half
Was this based on your blood level? Do you know what that level was?
Thanks for sharing. When my Vitamin d levels were first tested by my family dr (neuro at the time never tested them), I was at a really low level so I was put on a prescription strength dose for a month, then 1,000 IU twice a day. My levels have been in range ever since. I had my family dr run the test as part of my physical last year and they are still in a good range.
Honestly I had thought that that high dose was prescription only since I found out I can get it otc I just bought big quantity
Good for you!
