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Vit D levels - Reason or result?

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Posted 3/30/2014 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I never checked my Vit D levels before 2011. At that time, they were in 20s, and I was in the middle of vicious flare cycles. I started supplementing 2000 IU of Vit D since then. I am super religious with Vit D. It increased slowly and now hovering around 68. Glad to say, that I am doing really good since mid of last year.

I have been reading a lot of papers regarding Vit D. Some touting benefit, and some saying it doesn't make a dent. Over the last 2 years, the number of Vit D articles connected to inflammation I have read are just too many to count. And now, I am reaching to the conclusion that it is probably THE vitamin where there is a lot of BS published.

In one of the article, the author discussed the whole issue pretty well (Don't remember the article, most likely some kind of meta analysis). The author suspected that Vit D is reducing pro-inflammatory agents by reacting with them and hence inactivating them. Thus the level of Vit D reduces. Essentially, a result of inflammatory processes in the system, instead of low Vit D levels causing inflammation.

Honestly, it is baffling. My bad, I did not keep meticulous notes when I was researching this. It never occurred to me that there could be so much of BS.

Wondering if anyone else checked this stuff. If yes, what do they feel? Is Vit D causing inflammation or the levels are low, because it is controlling inflammation?
Posted 3/30/2014 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Most people are low in vitamin D. My husband's was very low...lower than mine. He doesn't have UC....but body/joint pains and fatigue were horrible.

you could up yours to maybe 3000IU. I was taking 5000 IU, just started to drop it to around 4000IU. My vitamin D has increased to over 100...but I think our readings are different here in Canada.

q
Posted 3/30/2014 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
And do you have low D levels because of a lack of something else in your diet (or in vitamin d rich food)that reduces inflammation and lowers d. Or lack of sunlight is effecting D and something else that creates inflammation. D isn't exactly the next C or E but I am not taking it unless I test low and eating the level up doesn't work. B12 with Uc scares me more. I am not taking that unless I test low either. Kind of down on vitamins and supplement gobbling. The evidence that eating food high in various nutrients or going outside out ways the evidence for pills. I am going to start getting vitamin panels from now on though.
Posted 3/30/2014 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
My D levels were ~20 2yrs ago and now at 52. I supplement with 5000IU/day in the winter and 4000IU in the summer.
Posted 3/30/2014 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
One could make the argument that since colder climates with less sunshine have higher levels of IBD then it is the lack of Vitamin D that is at least partially responsible for UC and not the other way around. Whether that analysis is correct or just jumping to conclusions without enough evidence is another story.
Posted 3/30/2014 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
That's a pretty interesting question Delta. huh..
Posted 3/30/2014 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Delta-

I've come to learn that the gut holds a vast majority of our vitamin D receptors. If you want to gain a good understanding of how it modulates immunity, research vitamin D in the context of microbiotica and you might find some of the answers you are looking for. I've stopped looking at the research papers that don't account for how our gut bacteria assimilate it. Not looking at it from the gut framework doesn't make sense to me. Like seratonin secretions in the gut, it's actually more of a hormone than a vitamin.

As much as I praise Dr.Mercola, he's not correct when he says 80 ng/ml is optimal for "fighting cancer". A lot of the research continues to ignore other co-factors in D production, in favor of straight supplementation with very large doses (> 5000 IU). This is not only counter-intuitive, but over-doses are associated with calcification and joint problems.

Simply put, all of the variables need to be accounted for when taking vitamin D - this includes K2, Vitamin A (retinol NOT beta-carotine), boron, cholesterol, etc. Analysis of the ancestral diets reveal the optimal A to D ratio is somewhere around 4 to 1, but everyone has individual variances.

Optimal D levels are analogous to a U shaped curve, where more is not necessarily better. Some data seems to point to the 40 - 60 ng/ml range being perfect for the body. Either way, it's certainly worth getting up to at least 40 ng/ml because almost everyone with an autoimmunity or cancer diagnosis is guaranteed to have low levels of it.

As a personal aside, my D levels went from 40 to 27 ng/ml after a course of antibiotics. Research is now showing that certain antibiotics not only permanently wipe out strains of bacteria, but they screw up vitamin D receptors in the body. This makes it difficult to raise levels with just supplementation alone. I don't think doctors fully comprehend what they are doing when they prescribe antibiotics without due cause. This is perhaps part of the reason people get autoimmune diagnoses after indiscriminate antibiotic courses.
Posted 3/30/2014 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have been checking Vit D levels since I had an osteopenia diagnosis in 2008. I was lowest around 20s, pushed up to high 50s with supplementation and trying to get in sun a bit more, of which there is little in London. I had avoided sun for years because of always getting light sensity rash, now realise that if I go out with no sun cream for a short time I don't get the rash, the sun cream actually causes the allergic process for me, zinc oxide I think.

I read a lot about it because of its association with MS and Parkinsons, also in my family.

I think it is part of the puzzle because it is actually a steroid really rather than a vitamin and steroids are connected with the control of inflammation in the body. Having done a DNA screening I am downregulated for some of the main vitamin D conversion enzymes, which I am sure is part of the family puzzle of autoimmune illness.

Having made myself ill by supplementing with too much B-complex before I found about about my B vitamin synthesis genetic polymorphisms, I am very, very wary of vitamins. In order to know the right amount for our body we have to listen very carefully to it, or have a lot of money to do cutting edge tests - i.e. standard healthcare tests for levels in blood serum need to be compared against levels in cells to know what the body is actually taking up.

Can't find the link now but there is a forum dedicated to "anti-vitamin d" as it is being promoted at the moment that posts every piece of research that doesn't support vit D or the way it is used, tested etc.

So all a confusing mess! Getting out in the sun if only it were possible seems best because via the skin the body is clever and knows when to stop producing, it can't do this with supplements. I suppose it could be that my ancestors spent life working hard out in the sun and so the body down regulated its need to produce.

I know that a lot of people who have experienced aches and pains without inflammation found these improve on vit D supp, my osteopenia had improved on last scan. Will have to see with next DEXA scan, next year how it goes with having taken a break from supplementation. My inflammation markers were less when D higher but I still got flares.

Sorry no clear answers!


Edited to add - great post Gerasim and of course, yes, the bacteria too. Someone recently posted a link to a study that Reuteri produces vit D in the gut
Posted 3/31/2014 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
My vitamin D level was 19 two years ago... Just had it checked in February and it was only 27. I'm currently taking 4000 IUs a day, hoping this will make a difference.
Posted 3/31/2014 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know cause or effect but it helps me. I always feel better when on high d3 and suspect when I stopped taking it last August, that sent me into the worst flare yet. I am back on 7000 day and my colon is finally starting to heal after several bouts of c-diff and the worst flare of my life.
Posted 3/31/2014 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
This sounds like the Chicken or the Egg too me.
everyone is going to have an argument from either side backed up my researchers and quality scientists.

The way I see it, i live in Wisconsin. I got a lot of sun in the summer and fall, but hardly any winter or spring... I am sure I am deficient. Somehow both times ive asked to tack Vit D on to my bloodwork, its been missed.

I started supplementing about a month ago, only 3000 per day, as I dont know my levels yet. I noticed an improvement in my joint aches and my attitude (depression.)

That's all I got to add :D
Posted 3/31/2014 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
The lowest I've been is 19 and I wasn't flaring. I think there is a lot to vit D. When I was low I was in a depressive like funk. Started taking 30,000 twice a week and snapped out of it. My mom was at 8 (!!) a few weeks ago and she had been having horrible muscle aches and zero motivation. Started a high dose and its almost good as new. I saw the GI last week so I should be getting my results tomorrow.

Embers I'm with you. I live in Minnesota and I'm a Swede. I'm def going to be deficient during the winter.
Posted 3/31/2014 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
I my flare from hell last year, my Vit D was 9...9!!!
I have started supplementing with 5000/10000 on alternating days.
Last time I measured about 37.

DNA analysis also showed a mutation in VDR. Not sure what that means at all...just another lead to check on when I get the time.
Posted 3/31/2014 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Geeker - I too am trying to look into implications of the VDR polymorphisms. From what I can tell so far it might meant that, much as happens with the MTHFR, oral supplementation will throw you out of balance and cause problems with other processes.
Please do share anything you find when you are looking into it all.

I am wondering about experimenting with a UVB light machine such as is offered sometimes as a treatment to people with psoriasis because of what it seems is the body's ability to turn off vit D production synthesised via the skin when it has had enough.
Posted 3/31/2014 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
The USSR gave school children in Siberia a daily sunlamp treatment. I didn't get UC until Several years after moving from the great white north to desert. Spend several hours a day in the sun most days. I wish I had gotten tested during my first flare.

Anyone test low for B12?
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