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Low vitamin d!

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Posted 8/21/2012 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
My recent blood test indicates low vit d. From a brief search i see some uc relevance and improvement with supplements. Anyone get tested or have any other info?
Posted 8/21/2012 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Freddy,

YES, there is a big correlation between low vit.d3 and IBD.

Lots of studies out there too.

How low was your vit. d3?

When I first got tested, mine was at 29.

Since then, the doc prescribed 100,000 I.U. of D3 every 10 days.

Thereafter testing resulted in levels of 65-69, which is great.

Posted 8/21/2012 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Lots of info on that. I have been taking vitamin D3 for quite a while due to this although I think there is some info out there that just taking vitamin D3 may not correct the vitamin defficiency in UC'rs. I figure it can't hurt though. I believe I also found some info claiming vitamin D3 as a cure for UC. I highly doubt that though.
Posted 8/21/2012 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Mines 28. Did supplementation help your uc? Or just general well being?
Posted 8/21/2012 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was low. Have no idea of the number. I live in Sunny Florida! Who would think my D3 would be low. I'm in the sun all the time. Been taking 5000iu for a year ,all is good now. Not a cure!
Posted 8/21/2012 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
What difference did you notice? "All is good" and "not a cure" are a bit contradictory.
Posted 8/21/2012 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Levels came back low for D3. Had no clue they were low. I was in a bad flare at the time. Started taking D3 5000i.u. . Blood test came back levels were good. UC was not any better. Actually had a blood test this morning. We will see where my levels are at now. Did taking D3 help in any way? I dont think so, at least not for my UC . Rectal meds and Humira helped me.
Posted 8/21/2012 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm, well one would think that persistently low levels of vit d would affect health and how you feel in one way or the other. Surprised it didnt help with that. Well, I will be on it by tonight.
Posted 8/21/2012 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
By the way, I dont wear sunblock and get LOTS of sun, and Im low.

Interesting study:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17962355

I also wonder if I am low because of UC? It would seem that way, but as I posted above, it seems that low d levels can compromise mucus levels, immune function, and lead to UC... I dont recall previous tests telling me I was low before being diagnosed.

Post Edited (freddyj) : 8/21/2012 12:36:25 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/21/2012 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Also:
Here discussion of BXL-2, a vit D agonist, and how it may be healthier than taking vit d for uc.

UC Treatment with Vitamin D Agonist
BXL-2, an agonist of vitamin D, significantly improved symptoms of ulcerative colitis, according to a study published in the June 2010 issue of "Immunology Letters." The study was conducted in animal subjects and the authors suggest that this vitamin D agonist compound is more effective than vitamin D and shows promising benefits in the management of ulcerative colitis.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/409963-vitamin-d-ulcerative-colitis/#ixzz24CuqV8cb
Posted 8/21/2012 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Freddy,

28 is low.

It's hard for to say if Vit. d3 supplementation helped my UC directly, as I have been doing lots of other things too.

However, I can tell you that I just felt much better in general: not as tired, lethargic, depressed. Overall it made a big difference.

I have to figure it's got to help the UC too.

Posted 8/21/2012 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I take 10,000 IU a day (fir over a year, occasionally tried 5,000 only or none for a week here and there) but it has made no difference at all- but since I too was low befire I started the high doses, I figured what the heck, esp as I am on and off pred a lot lately.
Posted 8/21/2012 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, its odd because I work outside, and get basically plenty of sun. I guess I will be on supplements after tonight, we will see. The above post I made is interesting, how a Vit D agonist may be better than the acTUal Vit D.
Posted 8/21/2012 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter was given a prescription for D for 3 weeks. I didn't ask enough questions but I assume it was low and this was a super duper version. I have been wondering about it and will ask if she needs it again.
Posted 8/21/2012 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was at 14 back in December. I have been taking 4000 IU since then. A month ago when I was tested it was up to 44 from 31 three months prior. Still not where I would like to be but better. I do feel less tired then I did before. I will mention I live in VA and have been in the sun plenty and its still low. Has it made my UC better. Nope.
Posted 8/21/2012 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Mine is low, my husbands wasn't even on the scale. He doesn't have bowel issues, but did have lots of body/joint pain and fatigue...hence the check by a specialist.

I'm not an out in the sun person (sucks my energy bigtime), and even if you are with a tan, that'll hinder d production if you're low initially. Many people with extremely dark skin can be low in vitamin D, even if they are in the sun.

My GI said most of his patients are low in vitamin D...could be where I live, however.

I've not heard about vitamin D antagonist..will look into it.

q
Posted 8/21/2012 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Agonist not antagonist
Posted 8/21/2012 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
oopsie. thanks.

q
Posted 8/21/2012 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-frank-lipman/vitamin-d-what-you-need-t_b_308973.html
Posted 8/21/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
and heres one on the psychological implications of low vit D:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201111/psychological-consequences-vitamin-d-deficiency
Posted 8/21/2012 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
That would be so awesome to get checked every 3 months if I didn't have to wait 6 months for the results..lol.

Apparently some clinics recently can have the results in a week. Something wrong with that picture (and asking my doc if I can go to another clinic for the D test), unless things have changed. Will see in October.

q
Posted 8/21/2012 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Mine took two weeks but only due to Dr office incompetence, should have been a week.
Posted 8/21/2012 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Was 25 back in March and taking 4,000 IU per day. Need to get rechecked.
Posted 8/21/2012 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
freddyj,

I'm low also ,never have been low ever in my life till this flare . I take supplements , getting rechecked in Nov , it was still low on last bloodwork but not as bad.

VERY interesting on agonist topic !

Posted 8/22/2012 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
My doc spotted a D deficiency in me a couple of years ago. It took me a while to find a supplement that would get my levels up enough, but here I am in the middle of my first flare as far as I can tell. Hope it works out for you though!
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