[DavidHC]

So my blood test for vitamin D just came back and I'm grossly insufficient at vitamin D 23 ng/ml. I don't get it, as I eat lots of fish and meat, and just before the test has started taking some cod liver oil.

[Patrick Winter]

Originally Posted by DavidHC

So my blood test for vitamin D just came back and I'm grossly insufficient at vitamin D 23 ng/ml. I don't get it, as I eat lots of fish and meat, and just before the test has started taking some cod liver oil.

I had a level around 30 and they said not to worry about it just get some sun. Supplementation tends to be insufficient for Vitamin D. Sun is the best source. This is what the docs told me at least.

[mrsD]

One cannot really get adequate D from food.

The basic suggesting is 1000IU D3 for every 10 points to raise.
A good goal would to 50.

The problem with cod liver oil, is the A content. Getting too much A this way when raising doses, is a problem. Too much A can lead to intracranial hypertension.

So David you would need 3000IU D3 daily as a supplement.
This is easy to do and most of the D3's are inexpensive.

[DavidHC]

Thank you both. My numbers are quite low, so perhaps I should take more, say 5000? Or would 3000 be sufficient? I noticed on the D thread you or perhaps others recommending or noting that in studies they gave patients 50 000 or so? That seems excessive.

I wish I could get more sun, but not here and in the winter. In about a month I should be in Florida for a week, so I'll make sure to soak it up.

I wonder whether my SFN is linked to such low D levels. I do have all sorts of joint and muscle pain and muscle twitching.

[DavidHC]

Also, my calcium and magnesium levels are in the normal range.

I'll also need to get some K2, since I know supplementing with D3 alone is ill advised.

[mrsD]

The 50,000 used by doctors is D2 Rx... and we now know this is
very ineffective for humans. (so the high number is really meaningless. Ergocalciferol is not active in humans).
This form exists as an historical footnote only. But still doctors continue to use it...and the patients do not benefit at all.

The D3 is cholecalciferol and OTC.

You can take 5000 D3, and get tested in several months to see how you do. People sometimes need more than 1000IU D3 for each 10 pts needed to raise.

[madisongrrl]

Originally Posted by Patrick Winter

I had a level around 30 and they said not to worry about it just get some sun. Supplementation tends to be insufficient for Vitamin D. Sun is the best source. This is what the docs told me at least.

The reason docs don't worry about it is because it is small potatoes to them. In their opinion, Vitamin D status doesn't impact patient outcomes, according to clinical research. That is why my new primary wouldn't even order a Vitamin D test for me and rattled that fact off to me, even though my last test showed that my Vitamin D is in the 20's.

Clearly my primary doesn't have body wide burning and pain, like I do. And clearly she is not interested in trying to optimize every small thing she can, like I'm trying to. I'll order my own Vitamin D test from else where.

[DavidHC]

As always, thank you, MrsD. I'll get the supplements today, and take it with lunch or dinner, and perhaps with breakfast tomorrow. Had no idea, but glad I asked my doctor to test for it.

Originally Posted by mrsD

The 50,000 used by doctors is D2 Rx... and we now know this is
very ineffective for humans. (so the high number is really meaningless. Ergocalciferol is not active in humans).
This form exists as an historical footnote only. But still doctors continue to use it...and the patients do not benefit at all.

The D3 is cholecalciferol and OTC.

You can take 5000 D3, and get tested in several months to see how you do. People sometimes need more than 1000IU D3 for each 10 pts needed to raise.

[madisongrrl]

Originally Posted by DavidHC

I'll also need to get some K2, since I know supplementing with D3 alone is ill advised.

Exactly.

I use a liquid product by Thorne Research. It has both D3 and K2.

[DavidHC]

Thanks, Madisongrrl. I'm looking into this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=A5W198TSQJIXA. There's some calcium too, though I don't need it. I couldn't find a pure K2 to add to a D3, and though I almost purchased the Thorne one - I usually do well with their purer products - it uses some oil I don't care for and uses MK4 for the K2, I believe, and MK7 is superior, at least from what I've read so far.

Originally Posted by madisongrrl

Exactly.

I use a liquid product by Thorne Research. It has both D3 and K2.