Vitamin D deficient but not sure if prescribed ... - Thyroid UK

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Vitamin D deficient but not sure if prescribed dose is high enough?

melissa-b profile image
16 Replies

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this (apologies if not!).

After getting sick with things for 7-8 weeks in a row (COVID, then two cases of flu back to back, and then a chest infection), along with fatigue and joint/bone pain, I had a blood test, and I was told by my GP that I have low vitamin D.

(This was initially picked up via Medichecks on the Advanced Thyroid blood test but my GP didn't believe the results! My thyroid is looking good on 50mcg of levothyroxine for subclinical hypothyroidism.)

I was prescribed one 25,000 unit D3 tablet once a month (Stexerol-D3)

My vitamin D level is 38nmol/L or 15.2ng/mL

Should I be taking more daily supplements with this dose? Has anyone else had experience with doing this?

I took it on Sunday but I still feel the same, completely exhausted and can't concentrate or think straight, still have pains in my joints and arms, and I think I'm getting another cold already... I have so many uni deadlines to adhere to, so I'd like to feel better ASAP.

Thank you <3

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

no it’s not high enough dose

25,000iu divided by 30 days = 833iu per day

GP should prescribe 1600iu everyday for 6 months

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing 

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7. 

One spray = 1000iu

Suggest you start by taking 2000iu - 3000iu per day and retest in 2-3 months

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

Another member recommended this one recently

Vitamin D with k2

amazon.co.uk/Strength-Subli...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease 

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease 

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

melissa-b profile image
melissa-b in reply toSlowDragon

thank you so much - I have taken the loading dose but it seems like I should be fine taking additional daily supplements, too (and I'll make sure I take the cofactors) - thank you as well for the links, very helpful!

Lily905 profile image
Lily905 in reply toSlowDragon

This info is exactly what I needed because I've just been diagnosed with Osteoporosis. I knew my TT was connected to Vitamin absorption. I scoured Google & found exactly the right info I needed on here. Thank You SlowDragon for sharing your amazing detailed knowledge & links

melissa-b profile image
melissa-b in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you again for your suggestions - I've bought the Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You with K2 Mk7, and I'm starting out with 2 puffs (2000 units) per day and might increase next week (as I took the loading dose of 25000 units Sunday). Hopefully it'll help!! Also bought magnesium citrate powder to take at bedtime. 😀

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tomelissa-b

Don’t start two new things at once

Just take the vitamin D for a week or so before adding magnesium

Magnesium best afternoon or bedtime (at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine)

melissa-b profile image
melissa-b in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you, will do! I used to take magnesium citrate before with no issues but this is a new brand, so I'll be cautious. Also bought algae oil tablets and iron, but am waiting a while before adding those. Hopefully i'll be super healthy in no time 😆

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tomelissa-b

never supplement iron unless you have done full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

Test early morning and only water between waking up and test

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron 

Medichecks iron panel test 

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Excellent article on iron and thyroid 

cambridge.org/core/journals...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Heme iron v non heme

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin range on Medichecks 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes: 

Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L

Female's: 16-60: 30-150

Both >60: 30-650 

The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘

melissa-b profile image
melissa-b in reply toSlowDragon

shouldn’t vegans and vegetarians supplement with iron? I was prescribed iron a few times previously…

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

melissa-b

I gave you all the information on guidance from the Vit D Council on how much D3 you would need in reply to your previous post here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

melissa-b profile image
melissa-b in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you for reminding me - I knew someone told me a lot of helpful info about vit D (and the cofactors) previously, but I couldn't remember where it was so I couldn't find it! Horrible brain fog. Thank you again.

deb25426 profile image
deb25426

I take it every day, I only take 1000iu my Endo told me to. It keeps me at a decent level. I found it took a few weeks to do me any good. I have mine off Amazon.

melissa-b profile image
melissa-b in reply todeb25426

thank you!! do you remember what level your vit d was at? I can't wait to feel better ASAP!

deb25426 profile image
deb25426 in reply tomelissa-b

I can’t sorry. I’ve been taking it for about 6 years now. My gp was pleased with my level but I can’t remember what it was.. ☹️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply todeb25426

deb25426 suggest you get hold of actual results

GP would think vitamin D over 50nmol was fine

But it should always be over 80nmol

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Melissa, you can find all your old posts and replies by clicking on your user name, this takes you to your profile page where you will find tabs for POSTS and REPLIES.

melissa-b profile image
melissa-b in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you, I know - it's just that I had already done some research on Facebook groups and on Reddit (and other websites), and I couldn't remember which forum I had seen your reply on. Thanks again

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