My GP (despite me asking a few times and my previous GP at the practice telling me to take vitamin D supplements) is reluctant to test my vitamin D level.
I know vitamin D is fat soluble and can therefore build up in your body so would like to regularly check my vitamin D level (at least once a year) however I don't know where I can get it tested.
What do other people do to ensure their vitamin D levels are optimal but not too high?
Thank you
(P.S. I take K2 as well (at a different time in the day to my D3)).
Written by
SarahBa
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There is a video you can watch, only lasts 2-3 minutes.
You can continue taking your D3 supplement up to and including the day before the test. This tells you if you're taking the right dose of whether you need to adjust it.
Thank you very much for the replies. All really helpful.
Answering your questions and providing a little bit of background information about me.
I am currently taking 5,000 IU (Bio-Vitamin D3 from Pharma Nord) and 4,000 IU (Solgar) at separate times in the day and both times with food. I have only relatively recently increased my dosage (approximately two/three months ago) from always without fail taking 4,000 IU every day and occasionally (say once every three days) a second tablet of 4,000 IU a day to now ensuring, without fail, 9,000 IU every day.
Due to taking 9,000 IU every day I would like to see what my current level is. I did wonder if I would benefit from going any higher than 9,000 IU a day but that level of 9,000 IU a day seems high (my gut instinct) and that I shouldn’t go any higher than that but I could be wrong?
Background information about me I am currently undergoing chemotherapy (Carboplatin only for stage 1 ovarian cancer) and when my vitamin D3 level was checked (a one off at the very highly regarded NHS cancer hospital I am at) it was 127 nmol/L but the acceptable range it had 51-249nmol/L and my level was described as ‘adequate’.
I was surprised to see 249nmol/L as still being within the acceptable range as I thought it seemed like quite a high number. I truly believe in the benefits of vitamin D and would like to be in the optimal range but of course do not wish to be at a toxic level.
I also had a DEXA scan in December 2021 and am concerned with some of the results. The results were:
L1-L4: T-score +0.7, Z-score +1.0
Total left HIP: T-score -1.4, Z score -1.1
‘Assuming postmenopausal status, bone mineral density measurements show low bone mass/osteopenia. No prior study for comparison.’
It is of course the two negative numbers that concern me. I am a 49 year old woman who only very recently (October 2021) went through a surgical menopause and did not expect the ‘Total left HIP’ scores to be so poor and wish to improve them.
I definitely think the wonderful suggestion of requesting a bone profile blood test is a good idea. I’ve had my calcium checked recently and it’s at the lower end of the acceptable range so I could probably do with upping my calcium dosage however it may be depleted at the moment a little due to the chemo. It is 2.23 mmol/L of a normal range of 2.20 – 2.60 mmol/L but I ensure I take calcium supplements.
I presume SmallBlueThing with you suggesting the bone profile test that they include a vitamin D test within that test?
I know I have posted this in the thyroid forum and my query has moved a little more to bone density related so I could always post in that forum as I do appreciate this is within the thyroid forum however if anybody could answer my queries that would be really helpful.
A few years ago the powers that be decided to reduce the testing of vitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and, I think, check calcium first and take it from there. And no, a bone profile doesn't include vitamin D.
My GP seems to think that only a level of 1.9 mmol/L or lower is cause for concern for adjusted calcium, yet I'm symptomatic at 2.17 mmol/L, with in-range PTH. To cap it all, I saw that the local lab now has a reference range of 2.12~2.51 mmol/L, which is useless for anyone with mild hypocalcaemia.
when my vitamin D3 level was checked ... it was 127 nmol/L
You might find this link of interest - it's a calculator for the dosage required to raise vitamin D level up to 100 - 150 nmol/L, which the website concerned considers to be optimal.
Thank you both for your replies and that calculator is excellent. I haven't seen that before.
I think from reading the reference range when I had my vitamin D checked in December 2021 and seeing up to 249 nmol/L and mine 'only' being 127 nmol/L and being described as 'adequate' I did not think this was sufficient and then looked to increase it.
Your posts above are really helpful and I will reduce my dosage from 9,000 IU to 5,000 IU a day as my level of 127 nmol/L appears to be fine from the posts that you have kindly shared.
Doses in the range you've indicated are OK as long as you monitor levels regularly via the test. The main problem you may encounter if using NHS (including their private labs) is their "advice". My sister was just warned by her GP about having a "too high" level of145nmol/l!
Whilst that's only ~50% through their "normal" range, I discovered a while ago that it's because they assume people will continue supplementing at relatively high levels without testing. So presumably best to warn them off!
SarahBa your not alone on this my GP won’t test me either unless I act like a 2 year old it’s ridiculous and to test on my own it costly for some reason.
Sorry about your ovarian cancer diagnosis that truly sucks and I definitely can relate I too had ovarian cancer in 2004 and have been on HRT ever since …. I was diagnosed with mild osteopenia over 10 years ago and had another dexa scan 4 years ago 1 year after thyroidectomy (cancer) and still same diagnosis mild osteopenia.
Due to my ovarian cancer being oestrogen receptor positive I cannot take HRT (nor supplements that mimic oestrogen) and intend to improve my bone health via exercise and other supplements, e..g. vitamin D, calcium citrate, K2, magnesium and possibly collagen too.
In terms of exercise I plan to hop on each leg for hopefully at least 10 mins on each leg every day (that is my plan but will see if I maintain that but at the very least 5 mins of hopping on each leg every day) as I read hopping is a good way to improve bone density.
I have also recently purchased a weighted vest to wear around my house and when I go on walks too.
May I ask you about your thyroidectomy (cancer diagnosis) please. I have an underactive thyroid and currently take 125 mcg a day. This is closely monitored by my GP practice with blood tests at least once a year.
However, in terms of your thyroidectomy what were the symptoms you were experiencing that led you to think something wasn't right? Perhaps an enlarged thyroid or enlarged lymph nodes near your thyroid in your neck? Is there a test/scan I could request if I became worried to check there are no signs of thyroid cancer?
I wish you a speedy and stress free recovery… in regards to thyroidectomy it was panic attacks, vertigo and feeling as if I couldn’t swallow at times. I suffered with these issues for a very long time until my eye popped out of my eye socket.
I didn’t start having thyroid issues until after the hysterectomy it just seemed everything went kind of crazy but assume I probably always had thyroid issues just never diagnosed.
Honestly the hysterectomy was a walk in the park compared to thyroidectomy which has been a living nightmare!
Hi, I take vitamin D3 which also includes K2. I am also on levothyroxine. It is difficult to get to see the Dr at all now, I use the surgery email system at least that way you can tell them everything andake sure you're not forgetting anything
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