POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Nutrition & HIV => Topic started by: tommy246 on January 18, 2010, 06:28:58 am
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I am 49 and only 2 months on atripla . I have minor arthritus symtoms in my knees and neck (to much sport) since long before becoming hiv pos a couple of years ago. My calcium and vit d levels are normal in blood tests and im presently awaiting a bone density test.
Its well known that hiv meds only initially cause bone density loss but can hiv itself cause bone density loss long term ? The well respected doctor gallant from johns hopkins hiv website highly reccomends that anybody hiv pos should be taking calcium and vit D supplements so i was just wondering on your various opinions on this subject do many of you take this. I dont want to take anything thats not required. I eat a very well balanced meditterenean diet so for this reason dont take multi vitamins. At the moment i just make sure i take omega 3 daily to keep my cholesterol and trigerlicerides in good order
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Tommy,
The simple answer to your question is yes (maybe). Here is a good review:
http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Bones_7548.shtml
As far as vit D is concerned, you don't say what your numbers are. The thinking now is that vit D should be between 31 and 100. The optimum being in the 60 to 80 range (see vit d thread in nutrition forum).
v
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Tommy, I take a calcium w/ D supplemenet, and also have a family history of osteoporosis. My doctor prescribed generic Fosamax, which I haven't started yet, but will soon. I also take a multi. I'm no doctor, so I really can't advise on whether or not you should absolutely take this or that. But I would think, at the age you're at, you may want to consider calcium w/ D. Have you talked to your doctor about it?
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Caltrate-D was mentioned by dr gallant 800 - 1000 a day in two pills. My results were done in spain and are as follows CALCI II 91 mg/L reference limits 80 - 105 mg/L and CALCIDOL( VIT D 25-H ) 30.1 ng/mL reference limits 12-54 ng/mL so my numbers fall just below half way in the normal range , im going to discuss it on my next visit to hospital.
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Tommy,
Another question: Did your Doc test you for vitamin d2 or vitamin D3 ? D3 is the preferred form of vitamin D, thats what you get from the sun. Here are the tests for vitamin D:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/vitamin_d/sample.html
The vitamin D2 is chemically changed to D3 in your body. D3 is the more important because that is what the body uses directly.
You might want to ask your Doctor about it.
v