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Vitamin D (and other supplements): talk to me, guys

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Posted 5/11/2014 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
My GP has recommended I take vitamin D, along with cod liver oil and another supplement I can't remember (calcium, I think...) He reckoned my vitamin D levels would be at rock bottom, but is apparently unable to run a test to find out what they are - don't ask me why, I suppose it boils down to cost...

I've decided to give it a go, but am not sure about a few things. What dose of vitamin D should I start off on? Are all brands equal? Should I be on a maintenance dose for the rest of my life? Are there any other vitamins or minerals I should be taking? And should the vitamins be taken with food? (Think I read somewhere that vitamin D was fat-soluble and could only be absorbed with food. And that tea hinders absorption of certain vitamins - oh no! :-/)
Posted 5/12/2014 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
I take Vitamin D daily- my gyn. recommended it, apparently pretty much everyone is deficient in it due to the use of sunscreen 24/7 nowadays! I take Vitamin D3, 1000iu, in liquid softgel form. It says to take 1-2 daily, preferably with a meal- I usually take mine right before breakfast. I probably won't buy another bottle once this one is empty- just too cheap. Maybe I will though, who knows!
Posted 5/12/2014 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
I buy Vitamin D drops from Vitacost.

Sue
Posted 5/12/2014 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
That's rather bizarre that he won't run the Vit D test. Can you find a private lab to do it? Over here in the US, one could get that test done for $40 or so self-paid, booked online for a walkin appointment from one of several lab chains with results emailed to you in a few days without any rx... Probably that isn't an option in the UK but then again, maybe it is. Failing that, I would push for a test. Low vit D levels are common for IBDers. I am due to retest myself- I have been taking 5-10,000 IU a day for ages and it got me into the upper half of the normal range, vs below normal range before I did that.
Posted 5/12/2014 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Similar to probro, my Vitamin D levels were below normal since my UC diagnosis (prior to that they were actually very good). I take 2000 IU/day and 50,000 IU twice a month. Since starting that regimen I've gotten up to the higher side of the normal range. The 2000 IU is over the counter, but 50,000 IU is a prescription. Depending on the test results that are coming back this week I might wean off of the higher dose but I expect I will probably supplement forever.
Posted 5/12/2014 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi NCOT, I take calcium tablets which I have on prescription from Dr. They are called Adcal-D3 which is 1500mg calcium and 400 I.U D3 I have to take one tabs twice a day. They have worked really well and my calcium is now nearly back to normal level. Have to stay on them even so as had a dexa scan which showed signs of Osteoporosis in one leg hope this helps x
Posted 5/13/2014 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
      I take chewable calcium with D3.  But...I recently heard on tv that women need to be careful taking calcium..it can cause heart attacks because it tends to deposit around the heart...darned if ya do and darned if ya don't rolleyes .
Posted 5/13/2014 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
I personally like the Gummy Multivitamins that you get in bulk at Costco. Each individual gummy I believe has 100% of your daily allowance of Vitamin D, as well as a bunch of other goodies (including Vitamin B12).
Posted 5/14/2014 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Cheers guys :p

@Eva Lou - Being a cheapskate is why I have never stuck to a vitamin regiment for very long: I can think of better things to spend £30 a month on :-/ But this time I'm gonna suck up the pain for the sake of my health.

@Pro - This link may illuminate some of the byzantine reasoning concerning vitamin D testing in the UK:
www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/therapy-areas/musculoskeletal/vitamin-d-testing-guidance-to-prompt-sea-change-for-gps/20002686.article#.U3LIDPldU_0

That said, I googled vitamin D tests in the UK. Yeah, it seems like there are kits you can order for about £25. I'm actually quite tempted, but my cheapskate reflex is kicking in. I'll think about it.

@Pluot - Holy crap at 50,000 IU twice a month. How do you get that much vitamin D in you at one go? My GP would never agree to doing that, so I'm kinda stuck with whatever I can buy: infusions are out.

@crohnielass - That sounds similar to the calcichew tablets I was prescribed whenever I was given steroids in the hospital. My DEXA scan of last year showed oestopenia rather than outright osteoporosis; probably lucky, really, given all the steroids I have been on.

@christine - Yeah. Everything has a downside. Everything :-/

Cheers folks. If I get time tomorrow, I'll look in Boots tomorrow. Still not really sure what dose I should take, but it seems like my GP's recommended dose of 800 IU a day won't cut it.
Posted 5/17/2014 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Please ask your doctor for the test.

The past couple years, I've been low. In nov 2012, I was 19. Didn't even feel that I may have been that low. My doctor put me on 50,000 once a week for three months. Was then retested and went up to 42...which is normal.

This winter, I put off going to the doctor. In November, I was tired, not myself. Went to store and started taking 2000 a day. Also made an appt for doctor, which took 2 months. In jan, saw doctor and did bloodwork, it came back as 18. So the 2000 a day didn't do anything. Again my regime was taking 50,000 once a week for 3 months and see him in 6 months.

Point being, get tested. It's serious and bone and physical health is at stake.
Posted 5/19/2014 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hey NiceCupOfTea

Very odd that your doc will not run the Vit D test. There are several direct to client labs around that you can buy the test from but you will have to pay for it out-of-pocket. Almost everyone in the US is Vitamin D deficient and deficiency has been linked to several different forms of cancer, so it really pays to supplement. Use only Vitamin D3 and you are right, it should be taken with food. Without Vitamin D it is difficult for the body to absorb calcium.

If your doc won't run the test, search for "direct lab testing". I'm sure you can buy a test on-line and get your blood drawn at a local drawing station.

Jim
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