Anyone having success treating Vitamin D deficiency?

[sfpvguy41]

Last fall my doctor decided to test my vitamin D level for the first time, and it was around 30, which is borderline low.  He advised me to supplement with Vitamin D and Calcium, which I started last December, 500mg calcium/400mg Vitamin D 2x/day.

Then I got a bone density test and found out I had osteoporosis in the lumbar region which really made my day.  I added Strontium and Fosamax to the supplement list.

I was taking supplements of glucosamine/chondroitin anyway for my knee cartilage and found pills that had 2000mg of Vitamin D, which you take 2x/day. That was a few months ago, when I read that it was recommended that people with HIV Vitamin D deficiency take up to 6000mg/day.

So for the last few months I'm up to a Total of 5500mg Vitamin D per day: (adding in what's in my multivitamin)...and I live in a sunny climate and have been getting more sunshine than I used to (having avoided it for the skin cancer fears).

After all that, last week's test showed the level in my blood at 35.

Whoopie it is over the bare minimum of 32, but I'm beginning to wonder if supplementing with pills atters at all, and I should just schedule 15 mins of sunshine religiously a day without a shirt on. 

Anyone have experience here or success?  What did you do?

[Nico]

Hey,
I have/had the same problem.  I am fair skinned, bit I do tan.  I had a big Vita-D issue earlier this year.  My ID doc and I talked about options.  We both agreed on supplements and they worked a small bit. Then I asked about using a tanning bed to boost my levels.  She agreed with caution. 

I have done what they call an "angel bed" that measures your skin tone and adjusts the UV level to your skin type.  After five months of once a week exposure, my levels are normal.  That being said, I do not plan on doing this year round and my doc agreed, I will only do the bed if needed and supps do not work.  Again, this is a special bed that has a sensor that measures your skin type.  Also, I had to pay for it out of my pocket and it is not inexpensive. 

This worked for me, but you need to check with your doc.  Any UV exposure is harmful.  For me, it has been beneficial since I have more energy and just feel better.  Again, check with your doc before doing this.

I wish you luck since I know how crappy I felt.

[elf]

I take vitamin D and calcium (almost) every day, but I've read it can accelerate atherosclerosis.  

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2974917/?tool=pubmed

It would therefore be highly relevant if future clinical trials on vitamin D supplementation were to include assessment of surrogate markers of atherosclerosis, measures of arterial calcification and assessment of cardiovascular events.

[BM]

I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency about two years ago, after I started getting painful, swollen joints. My level was shown to be 12ng/ml. I was started on AdCalD3, with the same proportions of calcium and vitamin D you describe (I assume you mean 400 IU (international units) of vitamin D rather than 400mg). I prefer not to take supplemental calcium as I eat a lot of dairy, so I started supplementing with over-the-counter vitamin D, with my doctor's approval. I have been taking 5000 IU of vitamin D every day for almost two years and my last blood test was 71ng/ml.

Here are some things I have learned while raising my vitamin D levels:

• It takes a long time to raise vitamin D blood levels.
• People vary in their vitamin D requirements: 400IU may not be enough for you.
• There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that vitamin K2 works synergistically with vitamin D, helping to put calcium in the right places (i.e. in bones and teeth while preventing vascular calcification). Indeed, K2 has been prescribed at high doses in Japan (under the name Glakay) for several years to treat osteoporosis.
• Vitamin D, being fat-soluble, should be taken after a meal containing some fat. If you can find an oil soft gel formulation rather than dry tablet, all the better.
  

Here is the brand on which I got my blood levels to 71ng/ml:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Healthy-Origins-Vitamin-D3-5-000-IU-360-Softgels-G1-/290591760717?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a89e614d

It is my only source of vitamin D.
I hope you have some success soon.

PS Excessive vitamin A intake (retinol form, not beta carotene), can impede vitamin D absorption.

[sfpvguy41]

Thanks for the replies and info!

[sam66]

 I believe early morning sun is best if you can catch it, not so strong on uv.

[bufguy]

In 2008 my vitamin D level was about 20. I now take about 5000iu per day, 1- 2000iu gelcap, 1- multi vit with 1000iu and 2- gucosomine condroitin each with 1000iu. I also have increased my outdoor running to 2-3 times per week....I am now at 70!

In Buffalo NY no less

[GusInJune]

I noticed my calcium levels were a tad bit out of range (low) on a metabolic panel a few months ago, I started drinking a ton of Almond Milk (yum) and my levels shot up to out of range again (but high this time). Both were not a worry to the doc, but this might be a good solution or at least supplemental to your approach, if you're looking for a remedy that may be a little more holistic. Sun is also great for you, and most folks don't get enough of it.

[J.R.E.]

Hi,

Make sure to check out the vitamin D thread here :



http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=26322.0


Ray

[BM]

Sun is also great for you, and most folks don't get enough of it.

Some folks can't get enough of it! In Scotland we rarely get more than 4 months of vitamin D-producing levels of sun in the year and even when we do there is often too much cloud over for us to benefit. Indeed, this has been postulated as the reason why we've have historically awful health.

[Ann]

Indeed, this has been postulated as the reason why we've have historically awful health.

That and the deep-fried mars and snickers bars... oh, and all that Whyte & Mackay.

[BM]

That and the deep-fried mars and snickers bars... oh, and all that Whyte & Mackay.

  Deep-fried Mars bars were a one-off, if they ever existed! Never seen wan in ma puff!

[Ann]

Deep-fried Mars bars were a one-off, if they ever existed! Never seen wan in ma puff!

There was a chippy in Stonehaven who sold them, and I think they had them in Oban too. I bought one purely out of curiosity, but could only eat a little bit of it. My deck-mate finished it... and threw up about fifteen minutes later, but that may have been due to all the pints of heavy he drank before the chippy.

[GusInJune]

You can get deep fried mars bars right here in 'merica. And I'm sure Scots are still healthier than us, or more specifically, Houstonians and Texans. We are fat as hell! We can't blame it on the sun though.

[Buckmark]

... or more specifically, Houstonians and Texans. We are fat as hell!

Speak for yourself.

[GusInJune]

Speak for yourself.

Well if I did, I would say I am blessed with a fast metabolism and a splendid figure with low body fat. But the statistics are out there, Houston is FAT.

[BM]

There was a chippy in Stonehaven who sold them, and I think they had them in Oban too. I bought one purely out of curiosity, but could only eat a little bit of it. My deck-mate finished it... and threw up about fifteen minutes later, but that may have been due to all the pints of heavy he drank before the chippy.

I've always thought deep-fried Mars bars were a myth. I'm so ashamed of my country! 

Seemingly the poor health of Scotland persists even after atrocious diet is controlled for.

BM (an uncharacteristically skinny Scot)

[Ann]

I've always thought deep-fried Mars bars were a myth. I'm so ashamed of my country! 

Seemingly the poor health of Scotland persists even after atrocious diet is controlled for.

BM (an uncharacteristically skinny Scot)

I think people's overall health and dietary habits are a bit better down here on the Rock, but no home is complete without an electric deep-fat fryer. And no, I don't do home-made deep-fried mars bars in mine. Ew.

Anyway, I'm going to ask my doctor to check my vitamin D levels when I see him next month. I know for a fact I do not get anywhere near enough sun - so thanks to the OP for bringing this to my attention.

Ann
(Who misses pints of heavy. I'd love a pint of eighty shilling right about now. Mmmmmmm....)


(But then again, I know why they call it "heavy". That's what it makes you!)

[sfpvguy41]

Well, I'm going to add the famous 50,000 IU pill now 2x/mo and see if that helps.

[Miss Philicia]

I can't believe people keep deep fat fryers in their house.

[Ann]

I can't believe people keep deep fat fryers in their house.

Why not? It's not like they're huge affairs like they have in restaurants. Mine is rectangular, about fifteen inches long by six inches wide by ten inches high (approximately), but you can also get ones the size and shape of a medium sized crock-pot. I don't use mine often, but it's handy to have.

People used to have what was commonly called a chip-pan - basically just a medium to large sized sauce pan or pot with a wire basket that you used on the stove-top. After loads of chip-pan fires from people coming home from the pub, making some chips and falling asleep while they cooked, fire departments across the UK started having chip-pan drives. You could take your chip-pan to your local fire-station and get a discount coupon for an electric deep-fat fryer. Some places even gave them away for free - they did in my town. It's rare to hear of a chip-pan fire these days. The electric ones are temperature regulated so unless there's an electrical fault, they don't catch fire.

Nothing beats homemade chips (french fries to you Yanks) - and it saves spending money at the chippy.

I wonder if you can deep-fry vitamin D?

[Miss Philicia]

Miss P avoids deep fried foods to maintain her svelte figure. Deep fat friers in the home are a concept that is anathema to this goal.

They're also frequently filthy, like a grimy toaster oven which I also refuse to own.

ps: the fries they serve in Filthydelphia generally have this odd seasoned coating that I don't like. Not sure why they do this. They don't do it in NYC.

[leatherman]

I can't believe people keep deep fat fryers in their house.

definitely a quote from someone who is no longer a true Southerner

just like ice cream, broccoli, cake or spinach, there's nothing wrong with fried foods, as long as they are eaten in moderation.

[Miss Philicia]

there's nothing wrong with fried foods, as long as they are eaten in moderation.

And by the obesity rate in the Deep South you can definitely tell they're not moderating anything at all, except the speed of their Medicare scooter due to being zonked out on oxy.

So I take it you have a filthy deep fat fryer, Mikie? Do you throw twinkies in there?

[leatherman]

And by the obesity rate in the Deep South ...So I take it you have a filthy deep fat fryer, Mikie? Do you throw twinkies in there?

gods no! fat-fried twinkies are definitely not a product involving moderation in the least. LOL Fried butter wouldn't be a moderate item either. Although I think fried onion rings, pickles or green beans might be ok because they are veggies underneath that coating.

Oh, and my fryer isn't filthy. I wipe it off after every use and it has a nice cover on it where it sits out on the counter beside the toaster.

high obesity rates do tend to bunch up in the Southern states;
but most states aren't far behind either

http://mediconweb.com/health-wellness/obesity-in-america/

Quite honestly, I do find the facts strange from my personal experiences anyway. At 135-140lb (fatty fried foods in moderation haven't hurt me because my cholesterol numbers are excellent and I've been this weight for 30+ yrs ever since high school, except when teh aids had me down to 115-120), I was surround by obese people everywhere I went in Cleveland, Canton, Akron, Youngstown Ohio. While down here in Charlotte, Gastonia, Hickory NC and Rock Hill, Lancaster, York, Columbia SC, I've only seen a handful of people I would deem obese.  I don't know where those people are reflected in the numbers, at least here in SC (oddly coincidental, we were just talking about the lack of obese people while walking around the Riverbank Zoo in Columbia today), but I feel very happy to be back among thin active people once again after all those years in the North.

oh, and to be on-topic, I've never had a vit d issue because I try to get as much sunshine as possible. Even when I was quite sick, I used to at least sit out on the porch in the sunshine and read nearly every day it was sunny. I have always loved working in my gardens (flowers and veggies) and maintaining our lawn and property - which I try to do shirtless as much as the temperature will allow. Today I was soaking up the vit D from the sunshine beaming down on the zoo - even though it was a chilly 65 degrees today. brrr that's winter in the South. ROFL

[elf]

I love making French fries in olive oil, they*re so tasty (forget about the MCDonalds fries).
But I only make them once a month.   Even good fat (olive oil, walnuts) should be taken in moderation.

[Miss Philicia]

Meanwhile in Denmark they've begun to tax those folks indulging in overuse of deep fat fryers

ps: I ate at Five Guys on Monday and yes, ate french fries

[leatherman]

Meanwhile in Denmark they've begun to tax those folks indulging in overuse of deep fat fryers

actually it's quite a shame that they're taxing food stuffs. Food is not evil. Most things are simply amoral and not the problem; but it's activities with and usage of those things that are the problem. Over-eating and/or not eating the proper diet is the problem.

[Miss Philicia]

actually it's quite a shame that they're taxing food stuffs. Food is not evil. Most things are simply amoral and not the problem; but it's activities with and usage of those things that are the problem. Over-eating and/or not eating the proper diet is the problem.

Whatever girl -- cigarettes aren't evil either if you only smoke one a month. They should also tax your 2 liters of coke a day at an exceptionally high rate.

[leatherman]

Whatever girl -- cigarettes aren't evil either if you only smoke one a month. They should also tax your 2 liters of coke a day at an exceptionally high rate.

umm, cigarettes are not food. that's an apple and oranges comparison (oh, and I'm not a girl  but whatever)

taxing food - the very sustanence that keeps people alive - is obscene. Food and eating is not the "crime"; however being overweight and adding to health care costs might be. Besides, a tax like this would be grossly unfair to the population that is of the "proper" weight and body fat.

Not to mention, where will the tax revenues go? In America, cigarette taxes go to build schools and major league ball parks and stadiums. It's a shame it doesn't go towards anti-smoking drugs or smoking cessation programs. If the object of the tax is to stop smoking (making it non-cost effective and thus reducing smoking), then it should go towards actual programs that would stop smoking. If taxing food would go towards weight and diet training school for the overweight, then perhaps the idea might have some merit.

[WillyWump]

Does anyone remember the Fry-Daddy? God that was a beautiful device. The best invention since the wheel.

-Will

[Miss Philicia]

umm, cigarettes are not food. that's an apple and oranges comparison (oh, and I'm not a girl   but whatever)

taxing food - the very sustanence that keeps people alive - is obscene. Food and eating is not the "crime"; however being overweight and adding to health care costs might be. Besides, a tax like this would be grossly unfair to the population that is of the "proper" weight and body fat.

Not to mention, where will the tax revenues go? In America, cigarette taxes go to build schools and major league ball parks and stadiums. It's a shame it doesn't go towards anti-smoking drugs or smoking cessation programs. If the object of the tax is to stop smoking (making it non-cost effective and thus reducing smoking), then it should go towards actual programs that would stop smoking. If taxing food would go towards weight and diet training school for the overweight, then perhaps the idea might have some merit.

The fat tax is a sin tax, just like ciggies, alcohol and soda in the fair land of the Danes. What they spend their taxes on is no business of mine, but hey I guess any pea brain could figure it goes in some form to their lovely scheme of universal health care and free university education. I'm very sorry you don't see that cooking food in a big vat of fat is a sin. That's really not my problem now is it?

Surely this law must strike the Fear of God in the heart of every Southerner.

[BM]

Instead of shelling out millions on the next advertising campaign extolling the benefits of healthy eating (a message that's been in the public consciousness for decades), a more effective use of the money might be to subsidise the cost of healthful food. No fat tax is needed if you make the alternatives more affordable.

[Miss Philicia]

Instead of shelling out millions on the next advertising campaign extolling the benefits of healthy eating (a message that's been in the public consciousness for decades), a more effective use of the money might be to subsidise the cost of healthful food. No fat tax is needed if you make the alternatives more affordable.

Healthy eating actually isn't expensive -- a plant-based vegan diet (with no processed food products) with no meat is always going to be less expensive than one with meat, dairy products and processed food. People aren't vegans because they prefer expensive meat-based diets

[sfpvguy41]

As the OP can i request to site admins this topic be renamed/ moved as it is so totally off topic as to be pretty useless to the titled subject to discuss? I was looking for actual results from people trying to raise vit d levels by supplementation to understand what people found worked and what not to expect, and while deep fryers may be interesting i don't think they address vit d levels....it's a serious question for me and wading through all the off topic stuff dissuades valuable on topic posts.

Thx.

[GusInJune]

Healthy eating actually isn't expensive -- a plant-based vegan diet (with no processed food products) with no meat is always going to be less expensive than one with meat, dairy products and processed food. People aren't vegans because they prefer expensive meat-based diets

This. My parents used to give me shit growing up about how much my vegan diet was costing them, when I was actually saving them money. Granted it can be expensive if you actually buy products made for vegans.