Test for Vitamin D deficiency

There is some indication that Vitamin D may prevent prostate cancer in its earliest stages, as well as reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer.

Just wondering how many of you guys have been tested for Vitamin D deficiency as part of your treatment for prostate cancer? I ask because another of my doctors, a specialist in arthritis, had me tested for this, though none of the doctors who were involved in my diagnosis of PCa and treatment ever suggested the test.

In any event, attached is a link on information about Vitamin D in the body, and another to a self-test that one can do.

http://www.zrtlab.com/vitamindcouncil/

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind

By the way, my own test came back at 65 nmol/L, which I was told is a very good number. I began taking a Vitamin D3 supplement of 5000 IU daily shortly after I was diagnosed with PCa. Sure wish someone had recommended the test for Vitamin D back in 2009 so I would have some baseline as to whether or not the supplement is responsible for the good test.

Sancarlos

I got my first Vit. D test after all the hoopla here a year ago, and it was at minimuns.

I added 1000 per day at Drs. suggestion, stayed at minimums. Added another 2000 (3000 total) and it has not moved in 6 months. My GP expects that I am not metabolizing it.

So, I've spent a few hundred dollars on tests (vit D is only covered once a year on ins., so paid retail for one), twenty on pills, and nada to show for it.

Fool me once ....

Post Edited (142) : 8/29/2011 8:25:39 PM (GMT-6)

142 said... I got my first Vit. D test after all the hoopla here a year ago, and it was at miniumns.   I added 1000 per day at Drs. suggestion, stayed at minimums. Added another 2000 (3000 total) and it has not moved in 6 months. My GP expects that I am not metabolizing it. 142,   Wow, it sounds like you were lucky to discover your body’s low acceptance of Vitamin D relatively early so that you can take action.   Besides the benefits to fighting PC & advanced PC progression, Vit D also plays an important role in strengthen your bones—especially important as you age.   Vit D—which is NOT produced in your body, it must be added either through sun, diet or supplements—helps your intestines absorb calcium.   All of the calcium supplements for older folk have Vit D added (for absorption).   Peripheral artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases, Rickets and osteomalacia Rickets and osteomalacia Rickets and osteomalacia rickets, osteomalacia and depression are among the other concerns with low Vit D.     Of course, too much Vit D is also bad for you…but that’s already been widely covered here, and after all that’s why you went and got it measured, isn’t it? " Our results make it much more clear that all men and women concerned about their overall health should more closely monitor their blood levels of vitamin D, and make sure they have enough ," says study co-lead investigator Erin Michos, M.D., M.H.S.  

Just got tested for the first time on 8-10, I'm sitting at 89 ng/mL which is a bit high but I have no plans to let it drop.

Casey,

I suspect that the GP will just boost the amount, and spread it over the day for now. In theory, I am at the minimum, not out of range, so the ins. won't pay for yet more tests or treatment, and they are known to deny normal claims if they include a non-covered item.

If I had known I was setting myself up for $150 more a year out of pocket, I probably wouldn't have done the first test, but since it had raised such a fuss, I figured why not? But I'll be more careful about checking coverage now.

 

<<My GP expects that I am not metabolizing it>>

I recall Dr. "Snuffy" Myers in a video commentary on his website http://askdrmyers.wordpress.com/ that, specifically, oatmeal will cancel the benefit of vitamin D when ingested in the same time-frame. Other foods may result in same cross-chemical reaction.

Mitch in SC

Makes me glad I don't like oatmeal, lol.