The mega mega like 600,000IU doses are still very controversial, but we had one poster here a while back who could not absorb things orally and did have some IV supplements done.

The D you get on RX is D2 and not really very active.

In short, the rule being offered by the experts is 1000 IU of D3 for every 10ng you want to raise from your test results.

more here:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

I tested very low and take 2000 IU of D3 daily.

If you were very low.... what was your number?

Add twenty to it, and you have an approximate level today.

Minimum recommended today is 50ng/ml. Optimum is 50-80 or 50-60 depending on which expert you read.

anything below 50 is sub optimum and not working for you well.

Thanks, Mrs. D. I have been wondering where to go with my D levels- I am in the "insufficiency" range, but I could tell that my doctor was cllueless when I asked how much I supplement. This really helps us take charge.

There is also a great web resource on Vitamin D and the grass roots campaign on getting people to get their levels up to where they need to be. They have an interesting chart on where your "D" levels should be at to ward off many forms of cancer and diabetes. The site is Grass Rootshttp://www.grassrootshealth.net/ They even have a program we can enroll in and get tested twice a year. From the website:

GrassrootsHealth has launched a worldwide public health campaign to solve the vitamin D deficiency epidemic in a year through a focus on testing and education with all individuals spreading the word.

Everyone is invited to join in this campaign! Join D*action and test two times per year during a 5 year program to demonstrate the public health impact of this nutrient.

-Laura

Quoting myself on 05-26-2010:
Mrs. D: my number was 17.

Gotta go, but will check back later.

Jaye

My Urologist found my vitamin D deficeincy through blood work

My number was 5

I was put on 2000 mg daily, and the number jumped up to 16

He changed it to 4,000 mgs daily, and my number is still 16

I was then put on 4000 mgs daily, plus 50,000 units per week

I am scheduled for blood work agian this week

I didn't want to answer mrs. D 's question because i thought it was so low that I might have heard my doctor wrong. Mine was a whopping 7.

Well,the low readings here are not unusual to NeuroTalk. In fact the websites (both grassrootshealth and Vitamin D council) both have statistics to show many people in US and elsewhere are very low.

One thing to consider if you decide to do high dose Vit D3 (more than 2000IU daily) is not to take alot of calcium. One cardiologist has a blog, and he is recommending not to go over 600mg a day of calcium in supplement form. In fact I don't take any!
Vit D increases calcium absorption from food, and it is possible with a good diet to no longer need high dose calcium in supplement form while on high dose Vit D 3 supplementation.

Both my husband and I take 5000IU daily from Sept, to July. Once we are outside in the sun more, I stop ours. It has made a huge difference for both of us as far as mental and physical stamina, and neither of us gets colds or sick anymore too.

It is recommended for patients with sarcoidosis to not take supplements of D without a doctor's supervision. This is because the research into this uncommon condition of inflammation is not well founded with Vit D issues. The Marshall Protocol and all that. (you can Google it if you haven't heard of it but I bet most of you have!

Vitamin D Levels Associated with Parkinson's Disease Risk
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0712162624.htm

Over 65s Should Take High Dose Vitamin D to Prevent Falls, Say Researchers
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1001191659.htm

Rick, I find that when I get one of those shaky "spells" such as you and Laura describe, it's because I haven't been taking my D3. When I'm in that zombie state, the D3 helps within a couple of hours.

Jaye

Hmmm?? do you know if UTI's and some urology problems are connected to Vit. D deficiency?

Hey, Jaye - I hope you are feeling better after that hospital stay.
Peg