anyone have allergic reaction to Vitamin D?

[TamraW]

Hi! I switched to a new Vitamin D, a liquid 1,000 mg with no soy or gluten. I took it yesterday along with my new B12. My face swelled up. Today I decided not to take the B12, thinking that had caused a reaction.

I took the D today and my face swelled again, so I guess it is the D that is making me sick. I had a terrible reaction when my first endo gave me the 50,000 unit gel caps. I thought it was the soy in the gel, but now I wonder if I'm allergic to D.

Anyone ever heard of that? How do you treat this?

:) Tamra

[jstce]

Hi all - reading the above, the symptoms many describe, such as palpitations, frequent urination, breathlessness, anxiety, lethargy, depression etc - are signs of vitamin D/calcium toxicity. Remember that vitamin D increases calcium absorption. Some people with low vitamin D may test low because the body is actually protecting itself from absorbing too much calcium. Calcium can be high for different reasons but is never normal - please make sure your calcium levels are tested at the same time, every time.

Additionally, some oils used in softgels are known allergens - e.g. safflower and sunflower oils are both related to daisy/ragweed, and highly likely to cause a reaction in people who suffer hayfever or allergic rhinitis. Reactions can include swelling in face or mouth, asthma or difficulty breathing, etc etc.

Glycerin is another ingredient to be wary of, and another possibility is the gelatin capsule (dry vitamins) and/or other fillers such as magnesium stearate - these can contain traces of the potentially allergenic sources they were derived from. Magnesium stearate is generally derived from "vegetable" sources though it's never specified what.

Many manufacturers label products hypoallergenic, gluten free etc - however, unless they've made the entire supplement from scratch themselves, it's doubtful they'd know the origins of all ingredients. Unless the label states something like "formulated to be free from..." or similar, I'd ask the manufacturer (though more often than not they won't reply or may answer evasively).

One more thing to bear in mind - many things state they're free from yeast and wheat, but seldom mention bacteria or mold - these can also be problematic to people with compromised immune systems, and are used to make many supplements.

If you are taking any vitamin D - whatever you do, be careful taking supplemental calcium as well (including calcium fortified food). Lethargy, frequent urination, headaches, muscle aches and pains, tight chest feeling - none of these are normal and are signs of toxicity. Stop taking one or both as soon as any of these symptoms develop.

All the best,
R

[into_the_mystic]

Other clues that the Solar 1000 IU softgels product contains lanolin:

1) Fish liver oil is the *fourth* ingredient listed, after safflower oil, gelatin, and vegetable glycerin.  This means that less than 25% of the contents of a capsule is fish liver oil.

2) The last ingredient is "cholecalciferol."  There would be no need to include cholecalciferol as an ingredient if it were only a component of the fish liver oil.

[into_the_mystic]

I believe that the Solgar 1000 IU softgels *must* contain lanolin.  If you search the Internet, you will find that one teaspoon of fish oil (e.g., cod liver oil) contains a minuscule amount of vitamin D.  In my opinion, the only way Solgar could get that amount of vitamin D in their small capsules would be if a lanolin-based source of vitamin D had been added to the fish oil.

I have NOT been able to identify any other supplement company that sells a fish oil-sourced vitamin D product that does NOT contain lanolin.  How plausible is it that Solgar is the only company that is able to do so?

[Redclover73]

OMG!  Thank you for posting that!  I have had the same experience and have found nothing on the web about it.  I've tried 3 different times to treat my low d with different levels and types of supplements, no luck.  Each time all of those same symptoms got worse.  MUCH WORSE!  Have any new info?

[shorebird]

Taking magnesium transdermally, using Ancient Minerals magnesium lotion (or Swanson's). A much faster way to build up magnesium levels, and we excrete it fairly quickly...from all sorts of stress. So I also use lotion as maintenance.
In the Transdermal Magnesium book, there is an assumption that epsom salts baths may be a better source of sulfur (we need that mineral as well), than magnesium, due to the different form of magnesium.

Interesting discussion above. There is an assumption of an allergic reaction to D3. Had muscle aches all winter (first season I took D3) until I finally realized the source and stopped. Found listed by the Univ of MD posting that this is one of numerous "Symptoms of Excess D3". It seems D3 is oil-soluable, and is stored in body fat. If you have any symptoms, suggest checking out that posting and stop taking D3 for a while, and increasing intake of K-2 (MK-7 variety). Kefir (homemade from milk from organic whole grass-pastured cows) is another good source of K-2. We are all missing K-2 to some degree. K-2 directs calcium from foods to where the body needs it, and magnesium keeps calcium in suspension, and not precipitating out where you do not want it (arteries, kidneys and joints).

Took a while to put these pieces together. If you experience heart palpitations, please do your own research starting with Dr Sinatra's "HeartMD" website and the Hans Larsen Afibbers website.

[hope2014]

Red Star is absolutely correct that the symptoms you are all describing are due to a magnesium deficiency.  Most people in the US are deficient in magnesium.  Other factors to consider also are lyme disease.  Having lyme disease will eat away at your magnesium levels and can cause joint and muscle pain.  Blood serum testing of magnesium is not accurate.  It might be best to try to get your magnesium levels up for a while before you slowly start trying to add vitamin D again.  Taking a hot bath with lots of epsom salts is also a good way for your body to absorb magnesium.  Don't forget too that you must always  also take a good natural vitamin K along with vitamin D.