I have just been told I have low vit D and I have been prescribed vit D5 4000iu per day. Does anyone have any advice about anything else I should take? I have R A and take humira and methotrexate. I try to eat a healthy diet and get out in the sun but this deficiency seems an ongoing problem.
Thanks in advance for for any advice.
I would ask your GP to check your vitamin B12.
Vit D is absorbed better by the body if taken in the evening ith your meal, rather than morning.
I take a whole load of stuff, but the two things my rheumy nurse told me to take was Omega three fish oils and glaucosomine sulphate .xxx
I had very low Vitamin D too (my level was 17). Was prescribed 5000IU a day for three months. What a difference it made to me! Lots of aches and pains, especially in upper arms went. My mood also lifted.
After the 3 months I was advised to take 100IU a day which you can buy over the counter in most health food shops, I take Lamberts D3 100IU. Around Christmas time I had some pains in back of my hands starting up and generally felt a bit blah, started taking 200IU a day for a few weeks and it went.
I don't know whether it's the Vit D, or placebo effect; whichever it is I feel much better! I've since read that vit D plays a part in calming the inflammatory process.
I asked my Rheumatologist whether low Vit D could be the cause of my rheumatoid condition and was told no, not the cause, but could contribute to symptoms. Why they don't do a Vit D test as part of their normal blood screening I don't know!
Best wishes and hope the Vit D helps you!
Fiona
I wonder if your calcium levels are a little low too because vitamin D and calcium go hand in hand really and a low vit D may mean your calcium levels are not optimum either.
Thank you everyone. I have read that RA causes problems metabolising vit D. Has anyone else heard this?
4000ius is a 'high-ish' dose. I think I was on either that or 5000ius when I was first diagnosed. That should get your vit D back to where it should be sharpish hopefully.
I was told by my Rheumatology Prof that because it's at the higher end of dosage, that it was best to split my dose across the day with each meal. As this increased uptake. It certainly did the trick for me. And I am now on a maintenance dose.
As a food scientist I can tell you that it is also a good idea not to have caffeinated beverages around the time you take any vitamins as the caffeine reduces the body's uptake up vits.
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