The Great Vitamin D Controversy

[JackieCalifornia]

Wondering what you all have experienced/think about this issue.

Before I was diagnosed with Lyme+, an endocrinologist who was trying to be helpful prescribed high dose Vitamin D because I am deficient according to the current standards.  I never took it, because I wanted to find the thing that was wrong and fix it, not just paper over it.  

I have also read the Marshall Protocol stuff and understand the concept, but not sure I buy it.

So.  I've just come back from a first appointment with a new internist, since I need a 'regular' doctor besides an LLMD.  The internist is thankfully very upfront and yet does not dismiss the Lyme issues or extended abx treatment out of hand, but among other things, she is terribly keen on Vitamin D supplements if one is low.  She has a point that deskbound humans do not spend enough time outside to make Vit D naturally, but the counterpoint argument is that Vit D actually suppresses the immune system (an argument that the internist says she has never heard).

==>Question to all of you:  What is your experience with Vit D supplementation?  Does it help you?  Did you have concerns about it suppressing the immune system?

(I will note that the Marshall Protocol, which I think of as somewhat fringe, believes in total Vit D suppression to avoid the suppression of the immune system, so I'm not sold on the theory.)

[patsy10]

The latest information on vitamin D has found that deficiencies have been associated with neurological diseases like MS.   I have read several articles about it.  I supplement with 2000mg/day myself in the winter months.  I haven't taken much since I am out in the sun a lot now.  My doctor recommended 2000mg/ day of vitamin D 3.  He said the other kind is not absorbed properly so it should be vitamin D 3.  He did not check my levels as I was already taking it.  I think it's a good idea to get levels checked.

[Stephen898]

I have had labs done every month for the last 10mos. My LLMD had my vitamin D level checked for the first time this past month. Not sure why. I see her on Tuesday and I will ask her what the relationship is between Vitamin D and lyme patients. I definitely get enough sun so I don't expect mine to be low.

[Stephen898]

After I posted above I started thinking about the effects sunblock may have in preventing your skin from naturally producing vitamin D from the sun. Just a thought.

[skarey]

My Vit D level has always been normal.  Should I supplement anyways?

[patsy10]

Sunblock does keep the body from making vitamin D.

Skarey, I would ask your doctor.

[mrs_k75]

I have never been on Vitamin D supplements, but my mom had to because hers was very low. Her low vitamin D is a result of her stomach surgery and her stomach now has malabsorbtion issues. She has taken the supplements and it has made her feel physically better. I never saw her have any immunity problems.

[jason80]

Since I had tested low for Vitamin D a year ago, I began daily supplement ~ 1500mg total (D3) and ~ 30-45 min of direct sunlight a week, no sunscreen. Until that point my sunlight exposure had been much much lower (since my pain doesn't allow much recreation and due to pain med interactions). Since Vitamin D is fat soluable, web sites don't recommend too much, lest risk toxicity.  I can't win.

There is a lot of stuff on the web, but I don't know what stuff is believable. Do you know where I could get a straight answer to:

1) If I test low for Vitamin D does this necessarily suggest that my equivalent dose is reduced so I do NOT have to worry about toxicity if I increase my Vit D dose

2) Do fat-soluable (or rather non-water soluable) Vitamins imply that I will get the same effective dose if I take a large dose sporadically as opposed to smaller dose daily? In other words, I don't have to worry about urinating away the vitamins like water-soluable ones.

3) A year ago, my Dr. prescribed me Vit D pills with 50,000 units to be taken once/week. The dose is much higher than my pills that are physically larger (it was a gel cap type). Does that mean that Vitamin D pills are 98% filler? What's up with that? Just curious.

[patsy10]

I'm not sure that I can answer your questions but the fat soluable vitamins are more likely to cause toxicity as the excess is not excreted as it is in the water soluable like vitamin C.  I think the biggest risk for toxicity is when people are taking large doses on their own.  Not supervised by a doctor.  If a doctor is prescribing it and monitoring levels it "should" be safe.

I would guess the larger pill had fillers.  Was it D 3?

[patsy10]

You could also post your questions to Dr. Nicholson.  He should be answering questions through today.

I'll see if I can find any info.

[jason80]

Thanks for your reply. I'll double my dose, I'm just getting so tired of swallowing pills.

BTW, I don't know if the prescription is D3, but it just blows me away that its potency is 50x a similar sized pill. I would rather take those once every 2-4 weeks then 2 pills per day. Probably better to get vitamins in smaller doses daily though.