Hi all, I posted a week ago ok maybe 2 weeks ago about my Vit d D results. I got retested because last time the tested the 1,25(OH)2.
My current Vit D3 levels are.
25(OH)2 16 ng/ml
25(OH)3 22 ng/ml
25(OH) total 38. Range for total is (30-100). There are no ranges given for D2 and D3.
My GP says that my Vit D is on the normal range of 38. I told her that my D3 at 22 ng/ml is insufficient and that I need to bring my D3 levels up to no less than 50 ng/ml especially for osteoporosis. What is upsetting to me is that she wants me to take medication, is she kidding me? She's just looking at the total and likes what she sees because it is in "range". I think even the total is on low side if you ask me.
Thanks for letting me vent!
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yesendi
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This is the test done here in the UK by the NHS hospital (National Health Service). Hopefully the picture will explain the results.
They test D2 and D3, give a result for each (the same as your test), and the level of Vit D you have is the total of D2 and D3. So it's the Total Vit D level that is important:
Our units of measurement in the UK are nmol/L, yours are ng/ml. With your unit of measurement the Vit D Council recommends a Total Vit D level of 50ng/ml and the Vit D Society recommends 40-60ng/ml.
So your Total Vit D at 38ng/ml is just short of the lower limit of the range recommended by the Vit D Society but you might want to aim for the Total Vit D level of 50ng/ml recommended by the Vit D Council.
Thank you! See, I learn so much here! I thought that the one that counted for bone health was VD3 . I feel silly now for telling my GP what I told her. Before I got retested she gave me a 50K vit D3 prescription. One pill once a week. Hopefully that will bring my levels up.
Before I got retested she gave me a 50K vit D3 prescription
Presumably that is 50,000iu D3?
What was your level originally before that was prescribed?
How long had you been taking it?
Is that prescription going to continue? You don't really need that much now your level is 38ng/ml.
To bring your level up from your current level to 50ng/ml you probably need about 3,000iu D3 daily. Retest in 3 months and see what your level is then. If you are between 50-60ng/ml then you'll just need an ongoing maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range.
Doctors don't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council.
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and Vit 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 such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking D3 as tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray.
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking magnesium as tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
Yes, it is 50000 D3, I don't know what my levels were before the prescription since they tested the 1,25(OH)2. The year before my D3 level was 32 and D2 was 4. Prior to the prescription I was taking 5000 IU a day along with K2 MK7. I am still taking K2 Mk-7 but not magnesium. I will look at the links you posted for a good magnesium supplement. So you think I should stop taking the 50K d3?
I take my thyroid meds at midnight, 6 hrs past dinner and have breakfast at 6:00 AM. 6 hrs past thyroid meds...so no worries there.
And yes, I am planning on retesting three months out.
That's the equivalent of 7,142iu D3 daily which is a hefty dose for someone fairly close to the recommended level. Maybe you should discuss it with your doctor. Just be careful not to go too high. Vit D is fat soluble so it can't be excreted, it can build up to toxicity level if we go too high. Levels greater than 100ng/ml are considered potentially harmful and there doesn't seem to be any advantage to go higher than 60ng/ml for Total Vit D.
You might find the Grassroots website interesting:
Oh yes! I got that link from SeasideSusie yesterday plus other very helpful links. I have quite a bit of reading to do. I am going to be so smart on the subject All because of you nice helpful people! And I really appreciate the time you take to help us!!
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