The vitamin D Council has just published new data that confirms the need for a high level RDA of Vitamin D.
Quote:-
"The vitamin D dosages only accounted for supplements, and excluded vitamin D intake from the sun and food. The researchers estimated that the intake from the sun and food amount to be around 3000 IU daily.
They concluded,
“Since an RDA, by definition, relates to intake from all sources, it is clear that total intake required to achieve 20 ng/mL in 97.5% of the cohort must be close to 7000 IU per day, not substantially different from that calculated by Veugelers and Ekwaru.”
I've told everyone I know to find out their vitamin D levels. Why do you have to push to get this tested when it is vital (pain, infections and cancer) to have adequate levels. Especially the elderly since their skin may not metabolize the sun's rays and I recently posted that skin uses 32% iodine which may be the reason that hypothyroids have difficulty.
I agree Heloise -there is much greater awareness then there once was in the medical community but am afraid they still have a believe that even if you need ti 400/800iu per day will do it!!!
Can you expand on this. So does that mean that my 2,000 strength vitamin D3 tabs x 1 a day are not enough? How much should we be taking by supplement?
Not necessarily -what you should do is get your GP to give you blood test to check your level of Vit D. then ask for a print out. Your GP may tell you that your level is 'fine' but the problem lies in that the level considered acceptable over here is much lower then what the vitamin D COuncil and Grass roots are recommending. You will have to take a higher dose to get your levels up and therefore should repeat testing about every 6 months -then you will need to go onto a maintenance dose. Some people take it during the winter months feeling that they get enough in the summer others like me take it all year round -i can't tolerate even spring sunshine so I have not chance.
it is really improtant that you do get your levels periodically checked. Some people find that maintenance dose of -3000 is enough others have to take a mach higher dose. essentially it depends on several factors -one is how much you get from sunshine and can tolerate ( your body can store vit D), how much is in your diet ( though no one is saying you can get all that you need from eating vitamin D -it would have to be a huge amount of eggs and salmon to do that !!!! And finally how much you are absorbing from the supplements you are taking.
I would suggest you go n the vitamin D Council website they have a really helpful guide on how to get your levels checked and how to treat. Hope this helps.
I had a Vit D test some years ago, requested by my private doctor. My GP said that my levels were adequate and my private doctor said that I needed more - I take 5000iu D3 per day. I understand that toxicity only occurs above dosages of 50,000iu per day. Even then, I read that some MS patients are given dosages of 50,000.
Grassroots and the Vitamin D Council did some research and showed that taking up to 10,000iu D3 per day does not cause toxicity. Even so they would still recommend a periodic check of your levels. years ago people did die from toxicity but that was when they were given by doctors something like 300,000 iu every day!!!
You shouldn't have to pay for one these days -just ask your GP but make sure you get a copy of the results -reception should print one out for you -you can then check them separately too This is what I do!!! It's also handy to keep a little record of them to refer back to along with what dose you are taking.
Personally I didn't find I needed mega doses that vitamin D council recommends.
My levels went up from about 15 nmol/l to 135 with a supplementation that was around 2500 IU per day. But then it dropped back off to 80 again over the winter, probably because I dropped my supplement to about 1500 IU.
I found some benefit in fatigue and recovery from exercise (post exercise malaise) with higher levels so I am increasing my dose again now. I wont get much benefit from the summer sun as I don't get out much anyway.
Vitamin D is no magic cure but it helps. Cheap tests are available from vitamindtest.org.uk/ - If you can afford £30 twice a year it is easier than having to go through the GP.
Glad you found the vitamin D helpful. Not everyone needs a high dose that's why they recommend periodic blood testing to find out what's right for you. GPs are thankfully becoming more aware of vit D. My GP was incidentally on about it this morning during my visit. It will be interesting to see if in the future less Osteoporosis occurs as a result.
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