Vit D3 deficiency?

[maria40]

Following blood tests taken at the request of my rheumatologist, I've had a letter from him advising me to take 1 VitD3 1000iu (Cholecalciferol) daily for the next 6 months. I already take an AdCal daily ; do you think the extra Vit D is advisable? Look forward to receiving your wisdom.

[SheffieldJane]

I am on Adcal but was told that I had a severe Vit D deficiency that normal doses wouldn't touch. So in addition I take a Weekly capsule 20,000iu . What interests me is that the symptoms of deficiency are very like PMR so I'm keen to take it. I cannot find any real contraindications on the Internet. I'd take it and be glad that science is on to this deficiency at last, having made the sun a dire enemy. It's ridiculous that an epidemic of vit D deficiency has been found in Australia the land of sunshine because of sunblocks and keeping out of it. Sun still remains the best way to top up vit D levels. Conflicting advice or what?

We really need to protect our bones from the effects of Steroids as you know.

[maria40 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for that. I've done a bit of research about Vit D content in foods and it seems I eat a reasonable quantity of most of those with high content, except those I have to be careful of because of a heart condition for which I try to keep cholesterol low.

Otherwise I could eat half a pound of goat's cheese at a sitting although the effect on my already pear-like profile would be noticeable !

I couldn't find any contraindications with steroids either, but am slightly worried about too much calcium affecting the arteries.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Maria, if your rheumatologist has found you to be Vit D deficient, then he is wise to advise you to take the supplement as the amount of Vit D contained in the AdCal would not be of sufficient dosage to restore low levels to within the normal range. I would assume that he will repeat the test after 6 months and, depending on the result, may either advise you to continue on the 1000 units as a maintenance dose or advise you to get out in the sun during the summer months and perhaps return to a supplement during the winter months. It would be helpful to know the actual reading in order to help you further, but basically the normal range is considered to be somewhere between 75 and 150/200 (depending on your particular health authority guidelines - they can differ slightly, particularly the upper limit).

My levels were tested recently after 5 weeks on Vit D3 Colecalciferol at 1000iu and found to be at 45. After completing my usual advised 3-month winter course, the level has risen to the upper 80's. I am advised to just supplement in the winter months rather than all through the year as I have reduced kidney function - the Vit D supplement allows more calcium from our diets to be absorbed into our bodies which is a bonus for our bones. However, we need to be aware that too much calcium in the body can be harmful, leading to calcium grit deposits and hypercalceamia. For that reason, those on long term, very high dose Vit D supplements should get their calcium levels checked from time to time.

[HeronNS in reply to Celtic]

I do yammer on about this, but taking Vitamin K2 is supposed to help with avoiding some of the problems associated with extra calcium....

[Hindags in reply to HeronNS]

Please tell me more about K2. Do you have any links to any research?

[HeronNS in reply to Hindags]

Read Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox by Kate Rheaume-Bleue

Online you can find quite a lot, but some of it is research which didn't really focus on K2 so the results are not relevant to K2.

medscape.com/viewarticle/50...

nbihealth.com/t-mk7-hip-fra...

authoritynutrition.com/vita...

There is a claim that only Vitamin K2-4 helps reduce fracture risk, but oddly enough it's K2-7 which is found in natto, the fermented soybeans, which are so helpful increasing bone density in the Japanese population which consumes this food. So probably a good idea to get some of both kinds. I think there are small amounts of K2-4 available in our food and we may even make a tiny amount ourselves - not enough to really help. I take a supplement designed to improve bones and it includes both kinds of K2, but I also take a K2-7 supplement.

[Primrose2]

Hi Maria, I gwould just like to reiterated what Celtic has said that if you have been advised to take extra vit D please do, my last reading was 105 and I still take 1000 iu and for a few weeks occasionally take 2000 iu a day, I have a copy of my results and it says that your reading would have to be over 500 to suggest toxicity.

Hope this is helpful.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If they are telling you that it is because your vit D has turned out low - did they tell you the level? As SJ says - if it is VERY low 1000 IU/day won't touch it, 25,000IU a week would be nearer the mark.

You can't get more than about 10% of your vit D needs from food, however well you eat, unless you are eating silly amounts of the very few foods that contain vit D: like a good half pound of wild salmon, 17 eggs and a couple of ilos of UV-irradiated mushrooms. Or a load of liver.

As for supplements - it is said that you would have to take something like 10,000 IU/day for months and months to become toxic.

Take your 1000 IU!

[polkadotcom]

Maria, I too was found to be severely deficient in Vit D 3 years ago and was given a loading dose, and I am now on a maintenance dose of 2000 iu in the winter months and 1000iu in the summer months. I like all of the foodstuffs which contain Vit D, but can't eat them in the quantities required!

[suziq123]

As soon as I was diagnosed, I went from my daily of 1000iu to 2000 iu and I have maintained a completely healthy level in my bloods. 1000 is not a particularly high dose so I can't see any harm coming from it as I was on 1000 prior to pmr for healthy bones etc, since living in a northern climate hard to get vit d naturally

[1Purplecrow]

Yep, what they all say!

My vit D tested low, and my GP recommended daily supplement. When I challenged her on the subject, she said anyone who lives as far north of equator as we, is likely vit d deficient. She said she takes daily supplement and recommends it to most of her patients. Methinks no harm at moderate doses, and I do feel better.

Kind regards, Jerri

[maria40]

Thanks for all your replies and help. I will try to find out exactly what the reading was.

[Rugger]

My vitamin D level was 38mmol, so my GP prescribed 50,000IU once a week for 8 weeks to top me up. Your dose over 6 months is less than half this! I am now back on the daily calcium and vitamin D tablet and my recent blood test was 150mmol - top of the range! Take care of your bones - I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis - I'm assuming you've had a DEXA scan?

[jinasc]

1) before being diagnosed with PMR a Vit D test should be done, it is in the guidelines. Vit D deficiency causes aches and pains exactly like PMR. That is why it is an exclusion test.

2) I was 3 years into GCA only and suddenly had aches and pains..........yes Vit D so low.(GCA into remission after 5 years and still ongoing........... into 7th year.)

40,000 units per day for one month, another test 20,000 units for 2 weeks. Vit D up to speed.

Then 1000 units per day and that has been going on for 8 years. I buy them from Boots (as I can afford to and it saves the NHS) and they were £5.00 for 90 days supply, they have increased in price once to £5.20p.

Whenever I have to have a blood test, they add in the Vit D test, it has to be requested, it is not done automatically.It adds to the cost of the regular blood test........for the basic stuff. Luckily I do not need many blood tests.................now.