Are you watching your vitamin D levels?

[essdipity]

Vitamin D is big in the news these days, and is particularly of importance to MSers and limbolanders.

It used to be that 'normal' was considered to be 15-60 something-or-others. Now the normal range is 32 to 100. Low D levels are associated with a lot of conditions (check Search this Community, or Google), but there's more and more evidence that it's a factor in MS.

Several years ago my D was tested at 34, which was normal for then. But I've been taking D supplements since then, 1000 units/day, which is in addition to the 800 in my women's multivitamin and what I get from dairy products. Recently I was retested, with the level being 49.

That's pretty good, but not good enough. My neuro says they want it at least in the 50s. So I will double the supplement. D3 is inexpensive and available at lots of places. Mine I get at WalMart.

This is one easy thing you can do for yourself, and it could pay big dividends.

ess

[sllowe]

Thanks Essy!

Does your neuro run your levels each visit/check-up?

-Shell

[Phyllis2010]

I've been taking D since the end of May, started with a baseline level of 20, and after about 200,000 IUs in one month it went up to 27. It's slow progress but it does help. I've had a lot of problems tolerating it and agree that D3 taken with a fat is what you should use at whatever dose you can tolerate. For me, the D unmasked symptoms of poor calcium metabolism/severe osteoporosis; however, I do not appear to have primary hyperparathyroidism. Everyone should have their vitamin D levels taken during routine checkups!!!

[mindwhirl]

My doc recommended testing this since I was having pain--49, not too bad, but I still try to remember to take it.  
If you don't like pills there are drops available that are nearly tasteless.  The ones in my house are 1000 IU per drop.  Just over $20 for over 800 drops! It's a very small price to pay for health.  We got them for our son, but I use them too.

[johnnymutt]

Actually, I'm due for a D test. I was found to have levels of 11 just a few months back. Taking the 50K weekly, and following up with 4000iu's daily for several weeks, helped a lot for the symptoms I was having with pain and all over muscle fatigue.

For all those that don't know, vitamin d3 is what you should use, as it is what the body can absorb more easily. It helps wonders, as well, if you take it at the same time that you eat something that contains fat.

Thanks for the reminder Ess.

[JemmAus]

I haven't had my levels checked yet, so am clueless. I always PRESUMED I would be fine, living in Australia, sunshine central, and having worked outside most of my life. I only just learnt that none of that means a thing if you don't absorb it properly.

In what way would a deficiency manifest itself?

[doublevision1]

Again, not agsaon.  D*mn tiny Blackberry keys.

[doublevision1]

I was deficient when I was first tested 2 yrs ago.  Started taking 6000iu of D3 per day, brought it up to normal range.  Just tested agsaon recently and awaiting results.  Also had liver function tested.    

[MsWobbles]

Actually, the MD I heard speak said that when giving some kind of therapeutic medication infusion in the hospital, he gives about 50,000 units of D3.  But that is just an occasional dose during special treatment.

Have you noticed a difference in your symptoms since using 5000 IU of D3?  If so, what has changed??

WAF

[meg321]

I take 5000 IU of D3, suggested by my MS specialist and I wouldnt take any lower than that.  Actually 2000 surprises me.  I have heard another Dr who thinks that taking more will not hurt you at all.

meg

[MsWobbles]

I just heard an MS specialist (MD) speak to a group of MSers, telling them that 2000 IU of D3 per day (500% of RDA) is now the recommended dosage.  That puzzled me because I was always told to be careful not to overdose with vitamins K,A, D, or E since they are fat-soluble and can cause liver damage in excess.  I asked him about this and he said that only if someone is a "poor metabolizer" could this happen.  So it is good to keep track of your D levels when taking 2000 units per day to find out if you are someone in this category.  And, as Ess is doing, it pays to assess all of your daily vitamin D3 intake - not just the D3 supplement - to reach the 2000 units.  He also said that D3 in oil is best - like the geltabs I just got at WalMart.  He said there is thought that high-dose D3 can help slow progression in established MS patients.  

WAF