Low vitamin d!

Yes I wonder if it is the flare that causes the low levels or something else. Perhaps there is a period of poor absorption in the colon before (and thus contributing to) actual flaring symptoms. The more I read on it it seems that vit d deficiency is fairly widespread among the population. There certainly seem to be substantial connections to this and UC.

I feel like I have been tested for this on routine tests in the past, but would have to check to make sure. I do know I have never been "off" on any vit levels before so this is a new revelation. It is interesting to me that this test revealed this about my body, and it sort of feels good to at least be able to correct it, although I wish I understood the connection better.

Post Edited (freddyj) : 8/21/2012 8:24:21 PM (GMT-6)

My doctor explained to me that over time with this disease your body absorbs less of the vitamin D as it passes through your system. Makes sense because I have had this 31 years and only recently have my levels came back low. He also said lower levels are pretty common as you age but I'm only 43. Currently on supplements.
Dr also said that many UC patients have low levels of vitamin D and this is a pretty recent discovery. So I have to assume he is right and that it is a natural course of the disease as I can't see myself being low at the age of 12 and it just recently being caught. I urge all of you to get tested because from the research I have done low D levels for a period of time puts you at a higher risk for many cancers.

Lodi,

The sun has to interact with cholesterol in order to make Vit D.

Good point, most people don't know that vit. d3 must be taken with a fatty meal in order for it to be metabolized.

Hence I always make sure to take it when I take my cod liver oil, or eat fish, or meat.

I test through Grassroots too, Tap (congrats on your frequency status!). Are you involved with their study? Lucky, you've got a lot of numbers and you can see exactly how, what you're doing, is impacting your levels . I agree with you to back down a bit now that your at 88. Are you pretty consistent with your supplementation? I'm only asking because I tend not to be especially in the summer. It's actually possible that we (as a species) aren't meant to always have a high level...maybe just in the summer. Who knows.

Insofla, I personally think the unfortunate low fat/get your cholesterol down experiment is largely responsible for a lot of illness. The Titanic is hard to turn around once it's moving though.

freddyj, I'd really encourage you to do what you can to get your levels up. Maybe some people just don't make enough with the sun.

Good luck.

Lodi,

Insofla, I personally think the unfortunate low fat/get your cholesterol down experiment is largely responsible for a lot of illness. The Titanic is hard to turn around once it's moving though.

You're absolutely right!

And in the spirit of low fat/get your cholesterol down rhetoric, they push grains thinking they are healthy, but they're not.

Lodi said...
I test through Grassroots too, Tap (congrats on your frequency status!). Are you involved with their study? Lucky, you've got a lot of numbers and you can see exactly how, what you're doing, is impacting your levels . I agree with you to back down a bit now that your at 88. Are you pretty consistent with your supplementation? I'm only asking because I tend not to be especially in the summer. It's actually possible that we (as a species) aren't meant to always have a high level...maybe just in the summer. Who knows..

I do participate in the study and that is why I have so many test results (each is six months apart). I am very consistent with my supplementation. Currently I take 10,000 IU on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I got a pill box earlier this year and that has made taking my pills much more straight forward. I also know if I missed a dose. I tend to miss an Asacol dose about once every two weeks and always dinner and usually because dinner wasn't at the usual time or place.

I plan to stay at 30,000 IU until fall and then go to 40,000 IU until the middle of next spring and then back to 30,000 IU. I'm just shooting to keep my level to at least 60 ng/mL and hope for the best.