is it helpful to take more than 5000 IU/day?
I read online that the maximum daily dose is 4000IU. I have been prescribed higher by my doctor for my deficiency but I don't think it was serious.
I've begun to retake it for my asthma hoping it will help. how can it help asthma? does it relax the smooth muscles or prevent attacks?
If you go by conventional standards, the normal range is 30.0 to 74.0 ng/mL [74.8 to 184.7 nmol/L]. I personally wouldn't go below 125 nmol/L based on the research.
"Studies indicate that for proper health, serum vitamin D levels should be a minimum of 50 ng/mL (125 nmol/L), with optimal levels falling between 50-80 ng/mL (125-200 nmol/L). These values apply to both children and adults." - Am I vitamin D deficient? - vitamin D council
Wishing you optimal health. :)
you state that The vitamin D council recommend optimal vitamin D levels at 80ng/mL or 200nmol/L.
My letter from the consultant to the gp says
"vit d deficient with a total vit d of 21 nmol (normal >50)
they recommend 200 should i mention this number to the gp or is there difference levels recommended
Marc
Based on what you have mentioned, your vitamin D deficiency risk factors are your prescription drug, living above the 35° latitude, and low magnesium levels (two studies showed every epileptic had low red blood cell magnesium serum - this is better test to help pick up a magnesium deficiency although no magnesium test is accurate). The vitamin D council recommend optimal vitamin D levels at 80ng/mL or 200nmol/L.
Causes of vitamin D deficiency include:
* Lack of sunlight
* Living north of 35° latitude (eg: Europe, Canada, two thirds of the US). There are no UVB rays (that create vitamin D) between the months of November through March due to the angle of the sun
* Dark or black skin needs up to 10 times the amount of sun than light skin to absorb vitamin D in their skin
* Wearing sunscreen - prevents absorption of UVB rays
* Lack of vitamin D co-factors - magnesium (most important co factor), zinc, vitamin K2, boron, and a tiny amount of vitamin A
* Magnesium and calcium compete for absorption so excessive consumption of calcium can cause a magnesium deficiency (most important co factor for vitamin D absorption).
* Low cholesterol - cholesterol is the precursor to vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is made in the skin when 7-dehydrocholesterol absorbs UVB ultraviolet light at wavelengths between 270 - 300 nm
* Kidney and liver disease - vitamin D is processed (metabolized) by the liver and kidneys into an active form of vitamin D
* Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - genetic defects in the receptor site for vitamin D. More vitamin D is needed than the average person
* Parathyroid conditions (parathyroid - glands in front of the thyroid). PTH (parathyroid hormone) regulates calcium in the blood. As the calcium level increases, the level of vitamin D decreases
* Malabsorption problems like Celiac's disease, Crohn's disease
* Medications including statins (cholesterol lowering drugs), acid lowering medications, anti-inflammatories, laxatives, prednisone, corticosteroids, anti-convulsants
* Very large or obese body, as a larger body requires more vitamin D
* Very low fat diet - in order to absorb vitamin D the body needs to have fat (vitamin D is fat soluble)
* Conditions that impair fat absorption such as Cystic Fibrosis, IBS, IBD, gall bladder, liver disease
* Older adults - the skin converts less vitamin D from sunlight
* High cortisol levels (caused by stress, medications like steroids or medical conditions such as Cushing's Disease). When the body is in an active stress response, most of the cholesterol is used to make cortisol and not enough is left over for vitamin D production
* Inflammation of any type reduces the utilization of vitamin D
* Lacking vitamin D in the diet or a strict vegetarian diet - natural food sources of vitamin D are animal based
* Hereditary disorders
- Renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency (also called type I hereditary vitamin D-dependent rickets)
- Type II Hereditary Vitamin D-Dependent Rickets
- Type III hereditary vitamin D-dependent rickets