Feeling a bit depressed about my vitamin D level. Is it due to my adrenal insufficiency?

[Lucy___]

I've recently been diagnosed with mild adrenal insufficiency and am on a fairly low dose of daily steroids - 7.5mgs morning and 5mgs afternoon.

I am also mildly hypothyroid as two Endocrinologists have finally agreed that having low T3 and low T4 but normal TSH means I am hypothyroid after months of being brushed off by GPs.

Amazingly an NHS Endocrinologist actually suggested putting me on T3 and T4 without me even bringing it up which was almost gone smacking. Lol

But he's going to wait until my cortisol / AI is stable before he adds in thyroid meds.

But anyway, I received a letter from the NHS endo today asking my GP to put me on high strength vitamin D supplements as my vitamin D is 46 and that is a real real shocker to me as I've been taking a vitamin D oral spray since January. A betteryou one which is a vit D / K combo.

My vitamin D was high 60's last time it was tested in February so it was a shock to see it at the lowest level it's ever been even on the supplements and I've also been outside and having lots of sun recently.

I'm dreading take oral vitamin D because so many supplements make me feel sick.

Are there any other options and could it be the AI or the steroids causing my vit D to go the lowest it's ever been as I'm feeling a bit deflated with it 😬

Thanks

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Which Better You spray is it and how many sprays a day have you been taking?

Most members need between 3 - 6,000iu a day to stay at optimal levels.

[Lucy___ in reply to Jaydee1507]

It's the D3000 + K2 and I'm taking the recommended 3 sprays a day. I'm wondering if the steroids are depleting my D levels 😬

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Lucy___]

I doubt that being outside and having British sun is going to count for much where raising your Vit D is concerned. Better to head to the supplements.

You're probably just someone that needs a higher dose of vit D. There are genes that mean you need more vit D than the average person.

I personally need 5-6,000iu a day to keep my vit D level up where it needs to be.

I dont know anything about how taking low dose steroids might affect the bodies need for vit D.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

many hypothyroid patients need higher dose vitamin D than average

Suggest you increase vitamin D mouth spray

Get the blue Better You 1000iu spray as well

Try 3 sprays of the red one with K2 and then add 3 more sprays of the blue one (so 6000iu per day)

Retest in 4-6 weeks

Are you also taking magnesium supplement

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...

Recipe ideas

bbc.co.uk/food/articles/mag...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[McPammy]

I have read that certain medications can reduce your vitamin D and steroids is one of them. Prednisone is the steroid mentioned. Maybe incorporate fish in your diet tuna steaks is a good one. How low is your cortisol? Why are you on steroids. Steroids can cause all sorts of issues.

[dunestar]

I've been trialling the Better You sprays - 3000 IU Vit D and separate K2 but I'm going to stop when I get to the end of my current supplies. This is because I'm not wholly sure I'm always getting a full spray. The first spray seems to stick a bit and not give me the full dose.

[Bertiepuss]

I need 3000iu to maintain levels at 125-150. I weigh 60kg. To raise it up from 67 originally I had to take 5-6000iu daily. I also get out in the sun 11am-2pm, full sun, in my bikini (you need full body skin exposure, not just arms), for 20 minutes no sun cream from May to September. The days I can do this I don't take my supplement, the rest of the time I do.

I personally didn't like the flavour of the BetterYou spray and use the one below. Not saying it's better, just that I prefer it personally and it works for me. It's oil based so helps with absorption and has a mild lemon flavour. I take it just before I eat my breakfast and that way It doesn't upset my stomach. If I take it after then I find it repeats on me - all supplements do this so I always take them just before eating apart from iron. vivolife.co.uk/products/d3-...

How are you feeling now, are the steroids helping? Great you finally have an NHS endo who seems clued up 😊🙏