Blood results for Vit D and Cholesterol

[Sophiestree]

Can someone interpret this for me. I requested a bunch of bloods and all have come back within range, from this lab, other than these two. The Vit D is confusing me as I have taken, for years, 4000iU every day religiously. So now wondering if I need to increase? Or maybe I am misunderstanding the result.

Cholesterol I can see the HDL is good, but don't understand the LDL as there is no reference for that. My diet, even more so now, is good, although I do now eat more cheese and yoghurt than I ever have in my life. But hope it's not because of that. I was told by a doctor once that it can be higher on Levothyroxine, I think it was 5.6 at that point and he wasn't too concerned?

So just really want to know if there is anything I should be doing, or just ignore it and carry on as normal.

Many thanks in advance!

Serum lipid levels

Serum triglyceride levels 1.11 mmol/L [0.0 - 1.7]

Triglyceride reference range applies to fasting

samples only.

Serum HDL cholesterol level 1.6 mmol/L [1.2 - 1.7]

Serum LDL cholesterol level 3.7 mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 3.6 [0.0 - 5.0]

Serum cholesterol level 5.8 mmol/L [0.0 - 5.0]

Above high reference limit

-

There is no reference range for cholesterol;

results should be interpreted according to

cardiovascular risk.

Serum non high density lipoprotein cholesterol level 4.2 mmol/L

25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 level

Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level 88 nmol/L

25 Vit D Comment 25-OH vitamin D measured by Roche immunoassay.

25 Vit D Comment ~

TARGET Vitamin D

<25 nmol/L Deficient, treatment recommended

----

25-50 nmol/L

Insufficient in some people e.g. those with documented

osteoporosis or high fracture risk or those at increased risk of

developing VitD deficiency because of reduced exposure to

sunlight religious/cultural dress code, dark skin.

----

>50 nmol/L Sufficient for most people

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Your vit D is at the low end of the deficient range - it should be above 50 nmol/L to be considered adequate with your background (age and UK location, i.e. hardly a sunworshipper, and on pred which depletes vit D)

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/V...

The usual approach is 8-10 weeks of 60,000 IU per week either in a single dose of 3x20,000 IU - i.e. about double what you are currently taking. At the end of the course, the vit D needs to be checked, and really also again a few months later as the blood level can fall again if the body stores still aren't good.

The cholesterol level is better than mine!

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2...

There is said to be no advantage in taking statins for women who have not yet had a cardiovascular event - my cardiologist agrees. I did take statins for about 10 days and it was horrendous! It took me months to get back to the level of fitness I'd been at when discharged from hospital. So I wouldn't be worrying about that!

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

Ah brilliant, thanks for that re cholesterol. I wasn't really concerned, but just wanted to check, and yes, I am certainly NOT going to start anything like statins.

Frustrating about the Vit D though when I have taken the dose I have been over many years. I will see if the doctor contacts me about it, and if not, will ring and see what they say.

Years ago the rheumatologist I was seeing for my osteoporosis, prescribed me those high doses, so will say that to the GP.

I seriously don't think I would cope as well without this site! Even with a niece who is a GP at the Royal Free!

Huge thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

My vit D is just into the OK range at that level and I also take 4000 IU a day. I think a lot of doctors are still working on old figures - they have gone up a lot in recent years. But it can take a LOT to become replete. jinasc had symptoms her vit D was so low. Did one complete course and the blood level was OK. Six months later the symptoms were back - so they checked her vit D and it was low again. It stayed OK after another course though.

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I have had two of those super high doses over the years, but not had it checked for ages, hence requesting it last week.So, keep on the 4,000 and not increase?

Assuming the doctor gives me the super high ones?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

IF he gives you the high dose shove, then 4000 might be OK but it is obviously falling even at that level isn't it? Might be worth considering 5000 IU.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I read the test result as vitamin D level 88 nmol/L although I found the whole list rather confusing in the way it is laid out along with the random comments, so I may have misunderstood.

[Sophiestree in reply to piglette]

it is really confusing.... 😐

[piglette in reply to Sophiestree]

In fact 88 is pretty good for vitamin D if that is what it is!! Mine is currently 75 and I have been on vitamin D for ages. It was 25 before I started.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

I think you are probably right - must have had my eyes crossed!!!! Ignore what I said!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Don’t worry, I have just done a similar thing with a friend’s mobile number and could not understand why she was not replying to my texts. It was totally wrong not a mixed digit even, definitely getting worried about my senility!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

My excuse was a severely disturbed night!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Perhaps I should think up a better excuse!

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

Oh so understand that. I can't sleep at all with my hip issues at the moment and give up eventually. Hope you are OK!

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

I think I was reading the wrong thing as well to be honest.

[prunus in reply to PMRpro]

With regard to statins I would never take them. My dear husband was given statins after his first stay in Harefield and as a result can barely walk through muscle weekness. The second time he went in he refused to take them but the damage had been done by then.

[Sophiestree in reply to prunus]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that. How awful for you both. No, I have no intentions of taking anything I don't think it is high enough for that, and wouldn't anyway.

[Hidden]

I don’t understand the above comments. My reading of your vit D result is that it is 88, which puts you comfortably above the “adequate” level according to the reference ranges given.

[MrsNails]

You may find this helpful, it’s in FAQ

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

MrsN

[Sophiestree in reply to MrsNails]

thank you - I did do a quick search but think the third on this list is likely what I needed

[Boss302Fan]

Just an aside, years ago my total cholesterol was very high and the company would send me for a stress test each year as a result. At one of those visits while the Cardiologist was reading the output he says, “ Why are they sending you for this every year, there’s nothing wrong with you!” I told him my numbers and he indicated people get so wound up on the total. As long as the HDL/LDL ratio is good that’s what really matters.

My last vit D was 33 nmol/L which for my age in the USA is just above the minimum recommendation of 30. I had to increase my D3 to 3,600 IU per day to get it there.

[Sophiestree in reply to Boss302Fan]

thank you. Yes I think a doctor mentioned that to me before regarding the levels of HDL and LDL

[Nagswoman]

My Vit D has never been tested. Wonder why? 5 years before GCA and PMR finally got diagnosed, I got sudden onset psoriasis. Will not go into details but with the agreement of the GP after a load of b......s from a consultant, I put me on 10000iu per day. 3 weeks later the psoriasis had gone. Makes me think that the NHS dose that I have been on for 5 years is not enough.

[Sophiestree in reply to Nagswoman]

That's a high dose. Do you still take that much daily?

[Nagswoman in reply to Sophiestree]

No. Just 2000iu D3 for the past 5 years since eventual diagnosis. I buy them from Costco, 600 per pot for just over a fiver. We both take them.