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Vitamin D Deficiency
For anyone wishing to learn about the multitude of conditions that happen as a result of Vit D deficiency, you can read the New England Journal of Medicine article by Dr. Michael F. Holick, noted as the world's renown expert on Vitamin D by the Vitamin D Council (www.vitamindcouncil.com) by going to www.vitamindhealth.org and clicking on "original journal articles". There is also an external link to a presentation made by Dr. Holick to the European Calcified Tissue Council that is very entertaining to watch and includes the most incredible information. It is a live stream and if your computer screen goes black, just click any key to watch the rest of the slides. Your doc can't help it if s/he doesn't know about the current Vit D levels. 30 used to be the bottom acceptable number, but now it is 50 -- and that is just to maintain minimum Vit D. If your level is 32, don't let someone tell you it is "normal." You'll see from the NEJM article that every cell in your body has vit D receptors. Low Vit D can cause everything from osteomalacia (adult form rickets) that produces bone pain and muscle pain to cancers, MS, etc. If your Vit D is low, your body cannot absorb calcium no matter how much you take or get in your food. Then your calcium is low which leads to heart conditions and everything else listed in the article or on the ECTS video. When your doc checks your blood, however, your calcium will look normal. That is because your body is busy robbing calcium from your bones and teeth to meet the needs of your vital organs. Your doc has to measure ionized calcium, not serum calcium, to obtain an accurate calcium level for a person with a vit D deficiency. Most docs did not learn about this in medical school. Dr. Holick has been doing this research for at least 30 years. I know a hospital administrator who explained to me that it takes new medical information a minimum of 20 years to make it into mainstream medical practice. Some of you are frustrated that you cannot find out what "causes" the deficiency. There is not enough Vit D in food or today's multivitamins. (see video/read NEJM article). Most of us MUST take a supplement. And most of us are not in the sun 10 minutes each day with 25% of our skin uncovered. Most docs are skeptical of new information until it is proven, proven, proven again. They want to make sure they don't make their patients sick. Educate yourself. You can also read a newsletter and articles about current Vit D info on the vitamindcouncil website. Amazing stuff. One of my docs suggested I try an antidepressant for my symptoms of numbness, tingling, cramping in my feet, chronic infection, deteriorating teeth, terrible joint, muscle, bone pain. Maybe I should go back and ask that doc which antidepressant he would recomment for the Vit D deficiency he missed? I believe the current treatment is 50,000 iu/week for 8 weeks, then perhaps every other week if the level is still low. I now take 4,000 iu a day (from wholesale food store or drugstore). The American Academy of Pediatrics just raised their recommended limits and even newborns should be getting supplements. 10 minutes of sunlight every day can help unless you live above Atlanta, Ga and then you can only make D a few short months of the year. Otherwise, take a supplement! This condition is considered epidemic by many doctors. And more and more of them are learning about this problem every day. You can search on any medical condition i.e. "Parkinson's and Vit D deficiency", "asthma and Vit D deficiency" and you will be amazed at what you find. I would also recommend sending a question to a MedHelp Expert. It is a very reasonable fee and you will get a specific answer emailed back to you that can also benefit your online friends. It worked for me. I have about 5 friends who recently found out they are deficient. Good luck, everyone! Don't be D-ficient!!! minmtn
This discussion is related to Vitamin D Deficiency ?.
This discussion is related to Vitamin D Deficiency ?.
So sorry your son is ill. My son was ill much of his first 20 years, but now he is finishing college and doing fine. He still has migraines, but he started a beta blocker a year ago and he has fewer headaches now.
If you son has a Vit D level of only 10, he is severely deficient. The lowest acceptable level now is 50. It used to be 30. 50 is a minimal level, not an optimum level. The experts would be prescribing 50,000 iu per week for 8-10 weeks, followed by 2,000 iu/day. Also, when we are Vit D deficient, we cannot absorb calcium because Vit D is required to process calcium. This affects our entire bodies, particularly heart, neurological system, etc.
I was Vit D deficient over a year ago (16) and a rheumatologist happened to diagnose my condition -- just took one look at me and listened to me rattle off 5 symptoms and asked if anyone had checked my Vit D. The correct test to run is 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Not 1,25 (OH)2D.
Please check the website at www.vitamindhealth.org, of Dr. Michael Holick. He is one of the top Vit D scientists in the world, located at Boston University Medical Center. He specialty is endocrinology and he conducts a lot of research studies. From his website you can read his New England Journal of Medicine articles, read Q&A from a transcript of a web chat on Vit D by medical people asking him questions, and view a video from the External Link, "ECTS (European Calcified Tissue Symposium)". To view, click on the link, wait while it loads (3-5 min) and then while watching, if your computer screen goes black, tap a key on your keyboard to bring the screen back up.
It might be worth finding a doctor who is more up to date on treatment of Vit D deficiency. Is you son taking calcium? He may need a calcium supplement also, because with such a low level of Vit D, he may have hypocalcemia. You might look up the symptoms on a website like www.vitamindcouncil.com AND eMedicine,
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/767260-overview. You will see a lot of cardiovascular effects listed!
Most informed docs, internal medicine, pediatrician, endocrinology, rheumatology, (for women, gynecologist), all know that to treat a severe Vit D deficiency -- the gold standard treatment is 50,000 iu/week, not 2,000 iu/day. But other chemistry must be taken into consideration. When I went to see Dr. Holick, he told me to take calcium citrate, not calcium carbonate. Levels of magnesium, etc. must also be in balance. I hope you can find a doc that is familiar with the current treatment. My son takes 2,000 iu Vit D daily now and he is not deficient.
There was a time when we thought my son would never be able to go to college and then he started feeling better after we found he had a sinus abscess.
You are right to be vigilant for your son. Be sure to tell him that you will not give up until you find out what is required for him to feel better. The first thing is that If his D level is so low as 10, his energy level is probably so low that he can barely get out of a chair! Maybe get him to watch the Vit D video on Dr. Holick's website with you. It might give him hope. Do you live near a medical school? I would take him there if you do.
My son was able to make up his missed school work through one of several online programs for middle and high school students that are run by universities such as Texas Tech and University of Texas. Your state may have similar programs. But I wouldn't even attempt anything like that until he is well. He would not have the mental strength to attempt it right now and it would likely discourage him.
I have great hope that with the right help, your son will be much better!
If you son has a Vit D level of only 10, he is severely deficient. The lowest acceptable level now is 50. It used to be 30. 50 is a minimal level, not an optimum level. The experts would be prescribing 50,000 iu per week for 8-10 weeks, followed by 2,000 iu/day. Also, when we are Vit D deficient, we cannot absorb calcium because Vit D is required to process calcium. This affects our entire bodies, particularly heart, neurological system, etc.
I was Vit D deficient over a year ago (16) and a rheumatologist happened to diagnose my condition -- just took one look at me and listened to me rattle off 5 symptoms and asked if anyone had checked my Vit D. The correct test to run is 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Not 1,25 (OH)2D.
Please check the website at www.vitamindhealth.org, of Dr. Michael Holick. He is one of the top Vit D scientists in the world, located at Boston University Medical Center. He specialty is endocrinology and he conducts a lot of research studies. From his website you can read his New England Journal of Medicine articles, read Q&A from a transcript of a web chat on Vit D by medical people asking him questions, and view a video from the External Link, "ECTS (European Calcified Tissue Symposium)". To view, click on the link, wait while it loads (3-5 min) and then while watching, if your computer screen goes black, tap a key on your keyboard to bring the screen back up.
It might be worth finding a doctor who is more up to date on treatment of Vit D deficiency. Is you son taking calcium? He may need a calcium supplement also, because with such a low level of Vit D, he may have hypocalcemia. You might look up the symptoms on a website like www.vitamindcouncil.com AND eMedicine,
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/767260-overview. You will see a lot of cardiovascular effects listed!
Most informed docs, internal medicine, pediatrician, endocrinology, rheumatology, (for women, gynecologist), all know that to treat a severe Vit D deficiency -- the gold standard treatment is 50,000 iu/week, not 2,000 iu/day. But other chemistry must be taken into consideration. When I went to see Dr. Holick, he told me to take calcium citrate, not calcium carbonate. Levels of magnesium, etc. must also be in balance. I hope you can find a doc that is familiar with the current treatment. My son takes 2,000 iu Vit D daily now and he is not deficient.
There was a time when we thought my son would never be able to go to college and then he started feeling better after we found he had a sinus abscess.
You are right to be vigilant for your son. Be sure to tell him that you will not give up until you find out what is required for him to feel better. The first thing is that If his D level is so low as 10, his energy level is probably so low that he can barely get out of a chair! Maybe get him to watch the Vit D video on Dr. Holick's website with you. It might give him hope. Do you live near a medical school? I would take him there if you do.
My son was able to make up his missed school work through one of several online programs for middle and high school students that are run by universities such as Texas Tech and University of Texas. Your state may have similar programs. But I wouldn't even attempt anything like that until he is well. He would not have the mental strength to attempt it right now and it would likely discourage him.
I have great hope that with the right help, your son will be much better!
Hello. . .Are you kidding us that you are looking to a Ph D in Electrical Engineering for medical advice/treatment??? Not a Medical Doctor (M.D.)? My urgent message to you is to take a look at the four links, below. At the 2nd link you will find a Medical Doctor commenting on the Marshall Protocol.
The 3rd link is the email address to contact Dr. John Cannell, director of the Vitamin D Council. You can sign up for the free newsletter and send the email you posted here, to the Council website and someone on the staff will likely reply to you and perhaps include your inquiry in the online newsletter that comes out about twice a month. You can read all of the past newsletters on the website and you will learn that you may be risking your life. You say you are Vit D deficient, but you don't state your number. The Medical Doctors will tell you that deficient Vitamin D CAUSES a multitudes of medical conditions, including hypocalcemia, which causes even more trouble. You can go back and read some the info from some of my prior posts if you are interested. But the best way to get first hand information is from the Vitamin D Council website and also from the website of Dr. Michael J. Holick, one of the world's top (if not THE top) vitamin D scientist -- the 4th link below.
At Dr. Holick's website, Watch the "External Link" ECTS Presentation. CLick on the link, wait until it buffers (3-5 min) and then if your computer screen goes black while watching (it takes about 35 minutes), just tap a key on your keyboard.
You can also read the transcript from a web chat on Dr. Holick's website and you will learn the answers to just about any question you can think of regarding Vitamin D. This was a chat of docs, not ordinary civilians. I went to see this doctor in Boston.
I learned I was Vit D deficient after my new doctor (M.D.) listened to my symptoms for about 5 minutes and then asked if anyone had checked my Vit D. It was 16 and the bare minimum level is 50 (it used to be 30). Ask your doctor to:
Test 25-hydroxyvitamin D – NOT 1,25 (OH)2D. Don't use Quest lab if you have any other choice right now. To find out why, look at the Vit D Council website.
Do you know what TURNS ON your immunity? It is Vitamin D.
If you are Vit D deficient, you cannot absorb any calcium. But your calcium level will often look normal or even elevated because until your body is TOTALLY depleted of Calcium, your system will leach it from your bones and you will have excruciating bone and joint pain from a condition called osteomalacia.
1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Marshall
This Dr. is a Ph D in Electrical Engineering, NOT a M.D. (Medical Doctor)
2)
www.xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx/alternative-therapies/1643-marshall-protocol-stay-away-one.html
Scroll down the page to view the comment by Dr. Cheney -- M.D.
3)
***@**** - Dr. John Cannell
4)
www.vitamindhealth.org - Dr. Michael Holick
There are qualified medical doctors in every country -- I hope you get yourself to one of them! And you can share links # 4 and 3 with them. Dr. Holick's New England Journal of Medicine articles are listed on his website, reviewed by Mayo Clinic. Now, which hands would you put your life in? An engineer or a Medical Doctor?
In fact I am so worried about you that I am going to send a message to Dr. Cannell and ask him to comment on the Marshall Protocol in his next newsletter.
Good luck to you!
The 3rd link is the email address to contact Dr. John Cannell, director of the Vitamin D Council. You can sign up for the free newsletter and send the email you posted here, to the Council website and someone on the staff will likely reply to you and perhaps include your inquiry in the online newsletter that comes out about twice a month. You can read all of the past newsletters on the website and you will learn that you may be risking your life. You say you are Vit D deficient, but you don't state your number. The Medical Doctors will tell you that deficient Vitamin D CAUSES a multitudes of medical conditions, including hypocalcemia, which causes even more trouble. You can go back and read some the info from some of my prior posts if you are interested. But the best way to get first hand information is from the Vitamin D Council website and also from the website of Dr. Michael J. Holick, one of the world's top (if not THE top) vitamin D scientist -- the 4th link below.
At Dr. Holick's website, Watch the "External Link" ECTS Presentation. CLick on the link, wait until it buffers (3-5 min) and then if your computer screen goes black while watching (it takes about 35 minutes), just tap a key on your keyboard.
You can also read the transcript from a web chat on Dr. Holick's website and you will learn the answers to just about any question you can think of regarding Vitamin D. This was a chat of docs, not ordinary civilians. I went to see this doctor in Boston.
I learned I was Vit D deficient after my new doctor (M.D.) listened to my symptoms for about 5 minutes and then asked if anyone had checked my Vit D. It was 16 and the bare minimum level is 50 (it used to be 30). Ask your doctor to:
Test 25-hydroxyvitamin D – NOT 1,25 (OH)2D. Don't use Quest lab if you have any other choice right now. To find out why, look at the Vit D Council website.
Do you know what TURNS ON your immunity? It is Vitamin D.
If you are Vit D deficient, you cannot absorb any calcium. But your calcium level will often look normal or even elevated because until your body is TOTALLY depleted of Calcium, your system will leach it from your bones and you will have excruciating bone and joint pain from a condition called osteomalacia.
1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Marshall
This Dr. is a Ph D in Electrical Engineering, NOT a M.D. (Medical Doctor)
2)
www.xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx/alternative-therapies/1643-marshall-protocol-stay-away-one.html
Scroll down the page to view the comment by Dr. Cheney -- M.D.
3)
***@**** - Dr. John Cannell
4)
www.vitamindhealth.org - Dr. Michael Holick
There are qualified medical doctors in every country -- I hope you get yourself to one of them! And you can share links # 4 and 3 with them. Dr. Holick's New England Journal of Medicine articles are listed on his website, reviewed by Mayo Clinic. Now, which hands would you put your life in? An engineer or a Medical Doctor?
In fact I am so worried about you that I am going to send a message to Dr. Cannell and ask him to comment on the Marshall Protocol in his next newsletter.
Good luck to you!
My 15 year old son was also just diagnosed vitamin D deficient. His was 10! He has dysautonomia and has been sick for over a year. He rarely makes it outside, unless going to the car to go the doctors. I wonder which came first, the dysautonomia, no sun so no vitamin D or low vitamin D so got dysautonomia? (The chicken or the egg?)
They put him on 2000 iu daily and want him rechecked in 2 months. I'm wondering if 2000 iu is enough.
Christy
They put him on 2000 iu daily and want him rechecked in 2 months. I'm wondering if 2000 iu is enough.
Christy
Hi. Ihave alot of symptoms and have had progressive pain for years. Specifically my neck and back is in agonizing pain and I have blurred vision and balance problems.
Recently it was found i have vitamin d deficiency and my doc wants to prescribe me vit.d supplements. After reading into the 'marshall protocol' i now understand that vit.d deficiency is usually a result of some underlying disease. With this in mind i am going to ask my doctor to do more tests, but im stuck. I dont know what to say to him or how to even get involved in the 'marshall protocol', on the site i could not find how i how i can get started? I am going to ask him to do a blood test they recommend of vitamin d inactive vs active. 21,hydroxy vs 25d or something like that i think... but i do not think he will even know about this.
I am very worried about leukemia as well as my symptoms seem to fit. Ive tried to change my diet and am in the process of attempting to eliminate gluten from my diet. Any suggestions on what i should/could ask my doctor? I just feel like im being left behind and ignored and I really dont think taking vitamin d supplements is going to be good for me at all. :(
anyways.. i also
Recently it was found i have vitamin d deficiency and my doc wants to prescribe me vit.d supplements. After reading into the 'marshall protocol' i now understand that vit.d deficiency is usually a result of some underlying disease. With this in mind i am going to ask my doctor to do more tests, but im stuck. I dont know what to say to him or how to even get involved in the 'marshall protocol', on the site i could not find how i how i can get started? I am going to ask him to do a blood test they recommend of vitamin d inactive vs active. 21,hydroxy vs 25d or something like that i think... but i do not think he will even know about this.
I am very worried about leukemia as well as my symptoms seem to fit. Ive tried to change my diet and am in the process of attempting to eliminate gluten from my diet. Any suggestions on what i should/could ask my doctor? I just feel like im being left behind and ignored and I really dont think taking vitamin d supplements is going to be good for me at all. :(
anyways.. i also
Your doctor is right, except that your level should be minimum 50, not 32. 30 is the old number. Also, ask your doctor to check your ionized calcium if s/he hasn't already done so -- not serum calcium! You are probably very low in calcium because calcium cannot be absorbed if you are Vit D deficient. The calcium to take is calcium citrate, not calcium carbonate according to Dr. Holick. (Calcium citrate will prevent kidney stones - cal calbonate can cause them). Ask your doctor to read Dr. Michael Holick's NEJM article or go to www.vitamindhealth.org and watch the video presentation (external link on website), "ECTS Presentation". You should watch this also. It will take about 3-4 minutes to load and 35 min to watch. Then while you watch it, if your computer screen goes black, tap any key on your computer and it will reappear. You will learn about osteomalacia. Or just search "osteomalacia". That is what happens to your bones when you are Vit D deficient. Your system will leach the calcium from your bones and teeth to meet the needs of your vital organs (heart, lungs) and you will suffer bone and joint pain as a result. It is the adult form of rickets. The substance inside your bones is like jello and is trying to expand and that causes bone pain. When you finish your 8 weeks or so of the Rx 50,000 iu, you will likely be told to take 2,000 to 4,000iu per day or perhaps more. I was able to get my level up to about 30 after 3 months by taking 2,000 iu/day, but had to take 4,000 iu/day to get it above 50. Now it is 50.
You will find a lot of info at this website also: www.vitamindcouncil.com
Also found a note from the RN (see below) on another forum. It was written to another patient.
If your doc has already checked ionized calcium and has you taking calcium citrate, then, s/he wins a prize! Dr. Holick is listed as one of the top Vit D scientists in the world on the Vitamin D Council website. If not, and you live anywhere near Boston, go see Dr. Holick. Otherwise, if your doctor doesn't check your ionized calcium , find another doc! Dr. Cannell is head doc at the Vit D Council.
The RN quote: "Hate to be didactic, but have you had your Vitamin D levels checked? They should be at around 60-80 ng/dl, otherwise you will need to increase the IUs you are taking until you get above at least 50 ng/dl. This is NORMAL, not therapeutic level. Without Vit D in adequate amounts, the body can't make immune system components, blood cells, etc. as well as hormones, enzymes, and Vit D is required to maintain healthy DNA function." Jan Grossberg, RN, BSN
Take care. Good diet, rest and if you can, get 10-15 minutes of midday sun each day, you will replenish your Vit D "tank" more quickly. If you do not live about about Atlanta, GA latitude, you probably can't make any Vit D from the sun yet -- until the weather warms up a little more and the sun is closer to where you live. Therefore, the supplements will have to do the job. Just tell yourself each day that you are building your Vit D back and you'll be feeling better soon -- it just takes a little time. Good luck!
You will find a lot of info at this website also: www.vitamindcouncil.com
Also found a note from the RN (see below) on another forum. It was written to another patient.
If your doc has already checked ionized calcium and has you taking calcium citrate, then, s/he wins a prize! Dr. Holick is listed as one of the top Vit D scientists in the world on the Vitamin D Council website. If not, and you live anywhere near Boston, go see Dr. Holick. Otherwise, if your doctor doesn't check your ionized calcium , find another doc! Dr. Cannell is head doc at the Vit D Council.
The RN quote: "Hate to be didactic, but have you had your Vitamin D levels checked? They should be at around 60-80 ng/dl, otherwise you will need to increase the IUs you are taking until you get above at least 50 ng/dl. This is NORMAL, not therapeutic level. Without Vit D in adequate amounts, the body can't make immune system components, blood cells, etc. as well as hormones, enzymes, and Vit D is required to maintain healthy DNA function." Jan Grossberg, RN, BSN
Take care. Good diet, rest and if you can, get 10-15 minutes of midday sun each day, you will replenish your Vit D "tank" more quickly. If you do not live about about Atlanta, GA latitude, you probably can't make any Vit D from the sun yet -- until the weather warms up a little more and the sun is closer to where you live. Therefore, the supplements will have to do the job. Just tell yourself each day that you are building your Vit D back and you'll be feeling better soon -- it just takes a little time. Good luck!
Hi,
I was told by my doc that I have Vit D deficiency where it should be 32 I have only 6.1....I am suffering from severe headaches and body pains everywhere.....She suggested me to take 50,000 Vit D supplement per day for 3 weeks.....I am having headaches,ear pain, eye blur,giddiness, tired,joint pains
I was told by my doc that I have Vit D deficiency where it should be 32 I have only 6.1....I am suffering from severe headaches and body pains everywhere.....She suggested me to take 50,000 Vit D supplement per day for 3 weeks.....I am having headaches,ear pain, eye blur,giddiness, tired,joint pains
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