Vitamin D supplements for multiple sclerosis

Hello, I was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and have read numerous anectodal studies indicating that a lowfat diet combined with vitamin D supplements can greatly improve symptoms and slow disease progression.  Sources of these articles include the Mayo Clinic neurology dept. and other respected hospitals (see links).  

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2005-mchi/2808.html?WT.mc_id=1&WT.mc_n=OSMX&WT.srch=1

http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/62/1/60

How much Vitamin D can I take per day?  I have heard that doses as high as 4000 mg. are safe.

thank you

[Tyler King]

The suggested vitamin D RDA is 400 IU
If you want to read more info on vitamin d, try this site: <a href="http://www.online-health-source.info/Vitamins-and-Supplements/Vitamin-D">Vitamin D</a>

[Alex Dobrody]

400 IU is way too little. Here is a good article on vitamin D:
http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitamindmiracle.html

[fullmergavin]

Vitamin D has become a key area of focus for many different conditions.

The traditional medical thought was always that the calcium level in the blood was a good indicator of one's D status, and that is because Vitamin D has a major role in regulating one's calcium level.

However, I do know that in the case of a family member that was being evaluated for Vitamin D deficiency, such theory was proven untrue. In that case, the calcium blood level had been normal for years, but a serum D was low.

Another recent health report mentions that cancer patients have found great benefits from vitamin D use. Therefore, logic would have to say that there might be some merit to taking additional D supplements, based on the medical condition.

There remains to be a dark area in the argument, however. Those that understand anything about Sarcoidosis know that in certain situations "Overdosing" on the vitamin can cause extreme problems.

Personally, I would never take more than 800 iu's of D daily without knowing where my serum level was sitting, but that's just my personal opinion. We must remember that "Vitamin D" is not actually a vitamin. Rather, it is a hormone.

Hormones generally move around as they do for a reason. In post menopausal women, for instance, though most with low estrogen go onto experience negative health consequences as a result, the lowered estrogen markers actually protect such people from developing cancer. It's as if the body hybernates into a self defense state, sacrificing itself in some areas in order to protect itself in others. Others have alledged that the same type of principal might be at work among those with Hypothyroidism.

The debate on this matter is likely to continue until more research is available. Until than, we might be all be able to agree that while getting enough of the RDA for Vitamin D is absolutely essential for one's health, there might also involve that of a journey into the unknown if you go too far beyond that dose.

The Mayo clinic does offer a Vitamin D test that any doctor could order for their patient, something that I would definitely recommend to your physician.

[fullmergavin]

Just a follow up on this one-I asked my doc about this today at my aptmt. He told me that it was his opinion that there was just too much debate w/ this one to really know either way at this point.

Knowing what some of these supplements can do to the system, I would always, always recommend discussing anything like this with YOUR OWN physician before making any adjustments to your daily lifestyle with vitamins,minerals, or herbs, etc.

The more I've been looking over some of these internet resources, the more nervous I've become about a lot of this. There just seem to be so many different opinions out there that go so many different ways. You have to really be careful about it.