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Vitamin D2

Honey1978 profile image
20 Replies

I start taking vitamin d2 my doctor prescribed it because my vitamin d levels was so low so but I did not no u can’t stand in direct sunlight....I got over heated are it boost up the vitamin d in my system

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Honey1978
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20 Replies
Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

The best way to get vitamin d is from the sun. You need face arms and upper torso exposed. Only in short bursts so you dont burn. In the uk the sun isn't strong enough from seot to March. D3 is normally taken.

Honey1978 profile image
Honey1978 in reply toNackapan

Yes but I’m already on vitamin d2 so I have to avoid direct sunlight

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator

Honey1978 not really clear what you are asking about.

This is an article on vitamin D

yalemedicine.org/stories/vi...

D2 is the form found in supplements and fortified food. D3 is the form your body makes in response to exposure to UVB in sunlight. However, UVB exposure is also a risk factor in skin cancer so overexposure isn't recommended.

I am not aware that 'getting overheated' is a symptom of too much vitamin D - more likely to be overexposure to sun.

Honey1978 profile image
Honey1978 in reply toGambit62

I’m not asking I’m saying I did not no u can’t stand directly in the sunlight when taking vitaminD2

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply toHoney1978

Personally I am not aware of anything that would mean everyone taking D2 should avoid being in sunlight. It is possible that some people may experience sensitivities but I haven't come across any blanket need to avoid being in the sun specifically related to D2

This patient advice article makes no mention at all of avoiding exposure to the sun

drugs.com/mtm/ergocalcifero...

This patient advice leaflet does mention the possibility of sensitivity to light as a consequence of taking D2 but it doesn't appear to be a common side-effect.

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

I take vitamin D3 as better absorbed.

Honey1978 profile image
Honey1978

No I’m saying I takes it on a Saturday I take it weekly vitamin d2 50,000 ergo and I was directly in the sunlight and it was hot so I guess they say if u take it don’t be directly in the sun for a long time

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply toHoney1978

It doesn’t matter what day you take it. If you’re in strong sunshine, cover up or use sunscreen. I’m not the only person I’ve seen with sunburn this week.

JMN2017 profile image
JMN2017

Honey1978

I've never heard of supplimenting with Vit D causing problems when standing in the sun and, having tried, am unable to find any reference to this.

However, recently, the sun has felt very hot when directly in the sunshine and, seeing as we're not used to having much sunshine during our winter's, I suspect you would have felt hot standing in the sun, whether you'd taken a Vit D suppliment or never taken such a suppliment. Purely coincidence ;)

Honey1978 profile image
Honey1978 in reply toJMN2017

This vitamin d2 vitamin is a strong vitamin and someone told me if u have to avoid are have smth on your arms

Honey1978 profile image
Honey1978 in reply toJMN2017

This vitamin d2 is a prescription not a regular vitamin d2

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply toJMN2017

JMN2017 have to say my experience is the same though I did find this patient information leaflet which lists sensitivity to light as a potential side-effect

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

JMN2017 profile image
JMN2017 in reply toGambit62

Thanks for clarifying, Gambit ;)

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply toGambit62

I used to burn in 20 minutes & even before 10am. I wonder if that’s another deficiency or D2/D3 issue?

BadHare profile image
BadHare

Ask your GP to prescribe natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) not synthetic D2 (ergocalciferol). D3 is more effective, D2 not effective at all. Better still change the doctor who didn’t know this & ask your new one for a supplement that works.

Neither type will cause sunburn, but being in the sun for too long will. I burned last weekend. It’s nothing to do with vitamin D intake, but how long you stay outdoors in sunshine.

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply toBadHare

please note this article from Yale suggest that there is no scientific evidence to support the suggestion that D3 is more effective than D2.

yalemedicine.org/stories/vi...

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply toGambit62

Most vitamin D research states the opposite, & I’m sure that’s the article AlpROo sent me when I complained about their expensive but low quality products.

I found out the hard way when extremely ill. My levels were below range despite both daily D2 supplement & foods consumed specifically for added D. When I checked the labels after severe deficiency diagnosis it was D2 also. My results were just within range after taking a prescribed dose of D3, then became optimal on my current dose.

I have other health conditions needing optimal levels for symptom amelioration as well as being high risk for cancer. Vitamin D is as essential for our health & well-being as B12 so I’d not consider the cheap stuff an option over a moderately priced supplement that works more effectively.

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply toBadHare

This article - from 2017 - suggests that there may be some differences in the way the two are metabolised - including differences between male and female metabolism -

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

but it is, as often is the case, calling for more research to confirm this.

This article from 2019 does report that bolus treatment (liquid rather than tablets) D3 was more effective in raising total serum D than D2 but the study only looked at people who were at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

struggling to find anything on pubmeds that suggests that D3 really is more effective than D2

humanbean profile image
humanbean

This vitamin d2 is a prescription not a regular vitamin d2

It doesn't matter whether vitamin D2 is prescribed or bought as a supplement, it's the same stuff from both sources. It isn't a good choice of vitamin D to take, and you should really be taking vitamin D3.

saveourbones.com/the-huge-d...

You mentioned in your previous post that your vitamin D level was 13. You didn't mention the units of measurement. In the US the units used are generally ng/ml. In most of the rest of the world the units of measurement are nmol/L.

13 nmol/L is approximately equivalent to 5 ng/mL.

If your result was 13 nmol/L then the dose of vitamin D3 that you need daily is

5000 - 7000 iU

If your result was 13 ng/mL then the dose of vitamin D3 that you need daily is

4000 - 6000 iU.

To work out the above I used the following two links :

grassrootshealth.net/?post_...

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

In the final link above I assumed you weighed 10 stone or 140 lbs.

If you take the suggested doses above you should do a test in 3 months to see how well you are absorbing the vitamin D3 supplements.

You can buy vitamin D3 supplements from lots of supplements websites, including Amazon.

Vitamin D raises the body's absorption of calcium from the diet. You need that extra calcium to go into your bones and teeth rather than end up lining your arteries. To encourage this to happen it is important to take vitamin K2 and magnesium supplements as well. For more info on K2 and magnesium than I can provide you could read posts on the subject written by SeasideSusie on the Thyroid UK forum :

healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

healthunlocked.com/user/sea...

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator

This thread is off topic for this forum and has been closed.

Whilst supplementation may be necessary for some patients with digestive track issues this should be done following the advice of a qualified medical professional. Individual factors can affect the safety and efficacy of some supplementation. A pharmacist rather than a GP may be a better source of information in these instances.

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