haven't been on the forum in a while...too busy w/work & family stuff.

had read a few years ago when i was diagnosed that there could be a vitamin d connection to ms but only just got tested last week and i'm an 8! my neuro said the bloodwork could soon become part of standard testing for ms patients but wanted to let you all know to possibly get tested. my neuro will have me take supplements and go on some prescription but also wanted to see if any of you have experienced a similar issue with vitamin d? also if so how/if it was resolved....

take care m

I'm sure there is info here somewhere about the vitamin D and MS connection and I heard some time ago it could be a problem; mine dropped way low at one time a few years ago so I just take a good D3 supplement now and my neuro does check levels when they do blood work every 6 months.

The D used by doctors on RX is antequated... D2 and does not work much at all.

D3 OTC is what you will want. The general ratio for increasing is 1000IU D3 daily for every 10 points you need to raise (US units).

Your target should be 50. (my doctor wants me at 70!).

I was taking 5000 units a day 8mos out of the year (I am outside in summer)...and I tested only at 43. Should have been a bit higher...but it was still good compared to other people posting all over the boards. I have seen one fellow at PD here who tested at 3 ...

Here is a thread with the newest research and medical videos:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread92116.html

thanks for your links... i'm lucky to have a good doctor--i just should have insisted on the test two years ago...but the ms diagnosis was overwhelming in/of itself...so was a little preoccupied...
my neuro has prescribed:
ergocalciferol (vit D supplement) 50,000 units: One capsule
weekly for 3 months
AND start simultaneous supplementation with over the counter
vitamin D3 2,000 units: One tablet daily.

and then blood work in 3 months to monitor....have to say starting to feel better-ish already...was feeling kinda weak/wobbly but just thought was another vague ms thing....

Please read the link I gave you... new studies show D2 is about 87% LESS effective than D3.

Doctors have not received this info yet. Just take more D3 daily to make up the difference. 5000IU may raise you enough daily with D3.

It takes about 3 months to work. And if you are low in magnesium even the D3 may not raise you well. Please look at that thread I gave you carefully...because there are details there to help you. Otherwise you take the D2 and fail and wait longer for D3 change to work for you. It is your choice.

thanks! maybe i'm reading the sequencing of the posts wrong, but i am taking d3 and a prescription forergocalciferol (vit D supplement) 50,000 units: One capsule weekly for 3 months. just started this week...but glad to have followed up with the D thing...

The 2000IU of D3 may raise you 20 pts. That will still put you low.

The D2, is not active in humans. D2 is made from plants.

Doctors don't know better, because their reference books are written by old doctors, who only know the RX form...which is over 40 yrs old.

If you use 5000 IU D3 daily instead of D2 at all you may raise close to 50 points. That D2 will not do much for you. Just because it is a "big sounding dose" doesn't mean it will work for you. I have a link to a study at the end of that thread.

Some people don't raise quickly... this has to due with other cofactors not being present like magnesium, or due to being overweight carrying alot of "fat"...where the D goes.
from http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

will certainly read more. forgot about the co-factors... but also doesn't the prescription of: ergocalciferol (vit D supplement) 50,000 units also help? have just been a little freaked that my reading was so low...but good to know...and will try to handle

D2 has shown poor response in studies:

I guess I'll have to give you the link?

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/...-than-D2-Study

D3 is 87% more potent than D2 in raising D levels in the blood.

On that link I gave above is also a paper on MS.

On the average, medical doctors are not informed on the newest research on supplements. Especially on the D. They will test you but give you old useless products based on the tests.

If you read the experts, you will see. Mayo, Cleveland clinic etc...from links on that thread I gave you.

Should you do what your doctor advised...you will see perhaps 20 pt increase (based on the D3) 20pts is not enough for MS patients.

The MS Clinic in my city recommends we all take 6,000 - 8,000 IU/day.