Vitamin D

[Xenie]

What strength vitamin D3 should I be taking? I take 800iu.

Thanks in advance.

Total 25 OH vitamin D 14.3 (<25 severe vitamin D deficiency)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Xenie Seriously? 800iu? Is that prescribed? If so your GP wants shooting.

You need 10,000iu D3 softgels daily for 4-6 weeks, then reduce to 5000iu daily.

Retest after 3 months.

Recommended level is 100-150nmol/L. When you have reached that level reduce to 5000iu alternate days as a maintenance dose, you may need less in the summer.

You will need to supplement for life. Retesting is recommended once or twice a year when supplementing.

City Assays do a fingerprick blood spot test for £28 vitamindtest.org.uk/index.html

When taking D3 there are important cofactors needed, read about them here

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium comes in different forms, read about them here naturalnews.com/046401_magn... and see which would suit you best. As magnesium is calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds.

Check the other cofactors too.

My suggestion for D3, very good value and an excellent supplement

bodykind.com/product/2463-b...

Suggestions for K2-MK7

Healthy Origin's K2-MK7 or Jarrow's MK7

bigvits.co.uk/products.php?...

[Xenie in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes it is on prescription. I was taking 3000iu originally which I bought since my levels were not rising and the GP told me to take the 800iu instead.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Xenie]

Then your GP is an idiot or he can't read.

From the NICE Clinical Knowledge Treatment Summary for Vit D Deficiency

cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

"For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders.

Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

It clearly states loading doses are necessary for Vit D Deficiency which they class as less than 30nmol/L. At 14.3 yours is Severe Deficiency.

Your own area health authority will have similar guidelines. Google for them and if you can be bothered and you trust your GP then print them off to show him and demand he treats you appropriately in line with the guidelines. Or do yourself a big favour and treat yourself, you will do far better.

[bluebug in reply to SeasideSusie]

More likely the GP can't be bothered to check the local CCG/healthboard guidelines on treating severe vitamin D deficiency.

While some of the guidelines don't prescribe sufficient vitamin D3 e.g. 3,000IU a day, I've not seen guidelines from a CCG/healthboard that says 800IU is enough for severe deficiency.

GPs are unaware that like with not diagnosing iron deficiency patients can go to A&E if their symptoms e.g. numbness, tingling, are very bad and they will get charged out of their budget for not bothering.

[RogerG]

There is a good explanation here about "how much Vitamin D do I need ?"

greenvits.eu/blogs/news/317...

[Hidden]

I started having blood tests after my thyroid was removed in October 2015. My Vitamin D was tested in April 2016 and it was reading a level of only 20. The doctors here in France knew nothing about Vitamins etc. I only learnt about it from this forum. Now my level is 39 I have increased to taking 3000 per day to raise my level faster. I am aiming for 100.

[elwins]

My vitiman D was 17 after testing I am on 50000 once a week for six weeks then retesting. What you are taking is not enough.