I take 1000 IU of D3 daily, my D level was 154 (should be > 75!) - this based on Canadian measurements (if they differ from the USA... I'm not sure what 'measurement' is used).

I've taken that much D3 for 3 years now, my doctor was very pleased with my overall results. I had a full work up done for vitamins, minerals, etc a couple months ago.

Everyone's different, I was never shown to be deficient in any area, so it's definitely worth getting tested, so you aren't ingesting more pills etc unnecessarily.

Canadian is divided by 2.496= 61.70 US units. ng/ml

A good reading.

http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/sc...ical_data.html
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/news-...d-level-units/

Within the range of 50-80ng/ml US.

I get alot of sun in summer. And take 5000IU D3 during the rest of the year, and tested at 43.

I've increased to 10,000 IU every other day with 5,000 on the alternate days. Will get retested in Oct.

Not everyone responds to oral D3 and not everyone can make D3 from the sun depending on age, or use of statin drugs etc.

So testing is the only way to get a good idea of what is going on.

What brand and type of D3 do you use? There are so many diff. kinds and brands. Which have you all found the most effective for you?

Thanks

I used to use NOW brand. I bought on iherb.com

But Puritan's Pride now carries it and I use that one. Very inexpensive when you take advantage of the buy one get two free sale they have once a year. It is going on right now. Typically it is in late spring and early summer.

I get my B12 there now too, and my ribose. Sometimes other things depending. If you order once from them, they email you specials. Like free shipping for a short time. I just bought a bunch of B12 at 1/2 off that way. I tend to buy a few months ahead, and their exp dates are good, so you can do that economically.

Vitamin D3 is very inexpensive and is often commonly in local stores too at not too inflated prices. But the best deals of course are on the net. I have found our local WalMart has excellent Supplement section with low prices and quality.

I get all my supplements at Puritan's Pride. You cannot beat their sales and their shipping is inexpensive, too.

I just take Life brand (Shopper's Drug Mart for the Canucks ) D3 @ 1000 UI. Nothing fancy, but it works for me!

I try to get most of my vit/minerals through food. It's not always easy but I try. I try to each plenty of superfoods (spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, fish, etc.). But after studying my diet, I found that I consistently have a lower intake of some vitamins/nutrients. Potassium and vitamin E are my pitfalls. All the others vary.

I am going to ask my dr to do some blood tests on me to make sure I am not deficient and if so, supplement accordingly. Some times supplementing with something you have plenty of can cause problems too. However, certain medications can deplete vitamins and/or effect the absorption too. So even though we are eating the right amount, we can still be deficient based on medications we take. I am on Neurontin and it depletes vit/minerals (I can't remember which ones - I think B12 and magnesium). As you all know, magnesium is my new "kick." Many MSers are deficient in magnesium as well. I do much on the days that I use magnesium cream than on other days. Using it has been a such a blessing to me. (Thanks mrsD for all the information you have shared regarding this.)

There are plenty of articles on PubMed about antioxidants and MS. One article even mentions vitamin E (the one I consistently lack in my diet). I thought that was interesting and will be discussing that with my dr. too.