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Vitamin D3...?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/9/2007 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Is anyone taking this? If so, how much? I've been reading recent research and they are saying it has great benefits for people with IBD, as well as many other ailments. I am aware it occurs naturally in cod liver oil, but again, I don't know how much one should take. FDA guidelines are now considered sorely outdated...

Any info from those of you who have researched it and/or are taking it would be much appreciated!
Posted 11/9/2007 11:33 PM (GMT 0)

I take vitamin D3 - and I take 10 ml once a day from cod liver oil. Even the cod liver oil itself is good to take for inflammational issues - to reduce it. IF you have to take D3 as a vitamine pill, take 25 micrograms. It's the same as 1000 IU. Your son is quite young, so let's say 15 micrograms is ok for him.

I red that in Canada they are going to let a big group of ppl. participate in an investigation with vit D versus cancer protection, and the dose for an adult were supposed to be 1000 IU.

I hope he is feeling better!

All the best from Ingrid


Posted 11/10/2007 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Ingrid!!! He is currently getting about 750 IU from cod liver oil, and approximately another 750 IU from other supplements, so maybe I'm in the right ballpark. He is only 15, but about 5'10", so built closer to adult in size.

He is currently doing really well; thank you for your well-wishes!
Posted 11/10/2007 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Also make sure to get 20 minutes of sun every day. Do not wear shade but do not look directly at the sun either Vit D is absorb through the eye so wearing shades wont work.
Posted 11/10/2007 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Vitamin D is absorbed thru the skin. I think it is 10 minutes a day w/o sun screen that is recommended but could be wrong about that. I seriously doubt that it is more than 15 minutes a day even in the northern climes.
Posted 11/10/2007 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Dr Oz was just on Oprah last week and said 20 minutes a day is what we need .He said that during the winter months peeps living in cold/snow states should take the cod liver oil to replace not getting the sun otherwise the sun is enough.
I move back to FL just because of this I need my sun I sit out 20 minutes every day I feel alive when I am done.
good link below turn up volume


http://v.mercola.com/QA/UVB-Blocking-Sunglasses---Vitamin-D-2696.aspx
Posted 11/10/2007 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Using a solarium is good too! I live almost at the North Pole and the winter are long and we have no sum for 2,5 months here. If I want sun I have to use a solarium, it's also very good for absorbing vitamin D. You say 20 minutes in the sun, and I have seen a specialist at TV telling us that if we want cancer protection we could take the solarium sun...but never use more than 7 minutes every time, maybe once a week...If using more than that...the skin could get in trouble.

Vitamin D is so good for inflammation, fat fish or cod liver oil are the best you could have. Eating fat fish several times a week is super.

Emom, I am so glad that your son is so well, nothing is better. I know the feeling when one of the children is seriously ill, one feel alone, it's good a place like this excists then :-)
From Ingrid
Posted 11/12/2007 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
Latitude matters...anybody living around Boston and north of there, right this minute, isn't going to get enough vitamin D no matter how long they are out in the sun. Between the months of November and February the sun's rays just aren't strong enough.  

Yes, if you are in the sun at least 15 minutes each day AND 85% of your body is exposed to the sun (in winter? oh, sure), then you might get vitamin D at lower latitudes. 

A little sun each day is good for a lot of things, like fighting depression. But most of us need supplements.

Before starting any high dose supplement, it makes sense to find out your son's baseline. What is your son's vitamin D level, now?

The right test for vitamin D3 is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Based upon the test results, an endocrinologist can tell you how much D your son should take. 

Posted 11/12/2007 8:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all ---
I am currently taking a RX Vit D for my deficiency. I have Crohn's but it has been in remission since my ileostomy which I have had for 23 years. I'm not sure how long I have been deficient but it was discovered during my Forteo injection therapy for osteoporosis BTW, the Forteo significantly increased my bone density. OTC supplements, even at what I thought was very high doses, and sun therapy didn't work for me. I tried to raise it on my own, with dr's ok, and we checked labs at 3 month intervals for about 9 months. Finally referred to endocrinologist. He prescribed 50,000 IU once a week for 3 months, then recheck labs. I just had a Reclast infusion also. I just took pill #4 of the Vitamin D rx.... so I have a few more weeks to go on it before we know if it is working. I'm sure the amount prescribed and the frequency all corrolates with how deficient the individual is and whether there are absorption issues, which is my case with the ileostomy.

Oh, BTW, there are 2 different types of vitamin D labs they did on me:
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy and Vitamin D, 1,25 Dihydroxy

The first one, Vit D, 25-Hydroxy was the one that was showing deficient. The other was well w/i normal limits. I'm not sure how these go hand in hand.

Sorry for the book I've provided. I know how it is when looking for information - I'd rather have too much than not enough! Good luck and keep us posted....
Posted 11/12/2007 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you again, everyone! This has been really helpful!
Posted 11/13/2007 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
The vitamin D 1, 25 test is useless.

The important test is the D 25 hydroxy. This measures storage of vitamin D. If it is below 32 then you are deficient. If it is 8 or less you are severely deficient.

Vitamin D deficiency is definitely related to cancer and now suspected to also be related to autoimmune diseases.

Further, this is what your endocrinologist knows. Anytime you become even mildly vitamin D deficient, you run the risk of your parathyroid glands going into overdrive. These glands, not to be confused with the thyroid, regulate calcium in your body. 

Low D 25 hydroxy can cause PTH, a measure of the parathyorid gland, and vitamin d 1, 25, a measure of serum vitamin D, to skyrocket. What is happening is that the parathyroid gland is desperately trying to keep calcium level in the bloodstream, despite lack of vitamin D. 

The end result is the parathyroid glands can become exhausted. Eventually, could require surgery to remove them. Also, because these glands will leach calcium from the bones if they have to, to keep calcium in the blood constant, there is a higher risk of osteoporosis.

I have yet to meet a GI who understands any of the above.   

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