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Vitamin D Deficiency - Chicken or the Egg

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Posted 2/20/2017 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, everyone! I know Vit D Deficiency is common in people with IBD...I just got some blood work done and my platelets are extremely high (Think due to anemia after what was either a flare or a flu, TBD). AND my Vitamin D levels were 1/2 of the lowest range. I'm on 30,000 IUs for a week or so, then can go down to 5k a day. Anyone else with Low D Levels? Did supplementation help? Which came first you think, the inability to absorb the vitamin because of a jacked up colon, or low D leading to UC? Curious to hear how supplementation of this particular vitamin has affected you all. Can't hurt, right?
Posted 2/20/2017 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
ya, i'm not sure if there have been studies showing D levels prior to UC acquisition - i don't think low D levels could be the sole cause, but certainly a possible contributor -

so are you still flaring ? still no meds ?
Posted 2/20/2017 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, forgot to put THAT in the signature lol - After this "stomach Flu" in January, I'm back on the Rowasa nightly and Lialda 3X a day. It's not 100% helping like it does in a typical flare, so I don't think this is a typical flare for me. I got hit HARD with a stomach bug (fever, 10 days of watery D, blood the last 2 days; NOT typical flare symptoms for me at all which usually tend to be mucus constipation and blood...) and I just haven't been the same since. I've been to my hippie dippie doctor who did a full blood panel and it showed VERY low D, Mild Anemia (From not eating for 2 weeks, probably, and some bleeding) and high Platelets. That scares me a bit since I've been googling away. I've scheduled my first colonoscopy in 7 years for March 6th. I hope it shows NO active UC and NOTHING else crazy in there. smile
Posted 2/20/2017 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
ya, sounds less flareish and more bugish - your body is working hard to right the invasion - hopefully things will sort out with time - good you're getting a look see up the poop chute - probably time for me too smhair
Posted 2/20/2017 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
sometimes a flu bug like that can set off a flare for me..my body is an overreacting drama queen. smile
Posted 2/20/2017 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
I think both. low-D is associated with dysregulation of immune system, and symptoms of D make it harder to absorb vit-D
Posted 2/20/2017 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
HA! I JUST posted a question about vitamin D also. From most accounts, all UC'ers should be on at least 2,000 iu a day if not more. My question post was who is taking more or what is their doc recommendation?

New study just came out directly correlating low vitamin D to increased and worse flares. Correlate, not cause.
Posted 2/21/2017 2:15 AM (GMT 0)

MissStacy said...
Hello, everyone! I know Vit D Deficiency is common in people with IBD...I just got some blood work done and my platelets are extremely high (Think due to anemia after what was either a flare or a flu, TBD). AND my Vitamin D levels were 1/2 of the lowest range. I'm on 30,000 IUs for a week or so, th
en can go down to 5k a day. Anyone else with Low D Levels? Did supplementation help? Which came first you think, the inability to absorb the vitamin because of a jacked up colon, or low D leading to UC? Curious to hear how supplementation of this particular vitamin has affected you all. Can't hurt, right?

I was similarly low for many years. I've take a large tbsp of fish oil with vitamin D every morning for years, and my levels have been good since. I also get 10-15 minutes of sunlight a few days per week. I think having the fish oil fat helps with the absorption. Mine is cod liver oil with vitamin D. If you are deficient, you will likely need supplements too. Try it out first in a small dose.
Posted 2/21/2017 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
I was put on 20,000 iu for 3 days, then 5,000 maintenance dose going forward. Started 5 days ago so don't notice much of a difference yet!
Posted 2/21/2017 7:33 AM (GMT 0)
I've taken vit D every day for years, and a few times I've even done the 50,000iu prescription strength, and none of it has done anything to raise my levels. That's consistent with a study I read in which a subset of people can take vit D supplements in mega-doses and still have no change in their blood levels; while others have their blood levels increase quickly with supplementation.
Posted 2/21/2017 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yikes! Can you link to the study? Did sunlight have any effect? Might be time to book a getaway to Florida ;)
Posted 2/22/2017 5:47 AM (GMT 0)

MissStacy said...
Yikes! Can you link to the study? Did sunlight have any effect? Might be time to book a getaway to Florida ;)

I looked but couldn't find it. I thought I had it bookmarked, but I don't see it anywhere. From what I remember, they didn't take into account sunlight - but I think the study was done during winter months in northern areas of the US, when/where sunlight wouldn't make much difference.
Posted 2/22/2017 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
some interesting info on vit D3 : http://www.ichnfm.org/d
Posted 2/24/2017 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
The recent study that showed low Vitamin D contributing to relapse of UC recommended a threshold level of Vitamin D in the blood:

"The threshold level of blood vitamin D that was protective was greater than 35ng/ml, which is within the range recommended by the National Institutes of Health for a healthy individual. "

Get your blood levels tested. My doc recommended trying to get it to the higher end of the normal range (around 50ng/ml) for folks with autoimmune illnesses, if possible. I'm going to get tested and upped my dose.
Posted 2/24/2017 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Also, there was a longitudinal (5 year) study in the journal of gastroenterology last year that showed that 30% of IBD patients had low vitamin D, and ones with lower D had higher morbidity and more severe disease course (greater use of steroids, biologics, more pain and disability). The ones who then received supplements had lower health care utilization. Couldn't read the full article because I don't have access to the journal.

Title of the article: Association of Vitamin D Level With Clinical Status in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study

http://www.nature.com/ajg/journal/v111/n5/full/ajg201653a.html
Posted 2/24/2017 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
ya, my usual recommendation is daily butt-naked sunbathing on a human size rotisserie -

fowl parts optional -
Posted 2/24/2017 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently taking 50,000u for 12 weeks. I didn't know it can take 6 months to get a decent level.
Posted 2/25/2017 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I took D3 5,000 IU yesterday with dinner and got pretty bad stomach cramps afterwards...ugh! I'm still somewhat in a flare so my stomach is super sensitive to everything. I may have to introduce it later.
Posted 2/25/2017 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
pretty sure you can get D3 in 1000IU -

might be worth trying at a smaller dosage -
Posted 2/25/2017 6:37 PM (GMT 0)

soynomore said...
pretty sure you can get D3 in 1000IU -

might be worth trying at a smaller dosage -

Thanks soy. I found one on amazon that is 1,000 IU and only has olive oil and glycerin as an ingredient. I'm also planning on 15 minutes in the sun now that we have sunny days.

The one I took yesterday was sitting on the kitchen counter for 2.5 years even though not expired--maybe that was the issue?

Last time I checked my D several years back, it was only 30. My doc recommends 50+ for folks with autoimmune illnesses.

Post Edited (Jane974) : 2/25/2017 11:45:41 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/26/2017 9:43 AM (GMT 0)
did anyone experienced low abdominal pain (like you about to have diarrhea) as a side effect of high dose of vit D? I took 20000IU liposomal D3 today and now in pain
Posted 2/26/2017 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Split the dosages....twice daily.

I've never had any discomfort with vitamin D3....I take 4g - 5g daily for the past 10 years.

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