Vitamin D Supplementation

Hello, I had a question about vitamin D supplementation.

How much vitamin D do you recommend someone take on a day when they get very little to no sunlight?

And is there a preferred form of oral vitamin D, such as a certain brand or type that is recommended?

Thanks for your help.

 Hello,

I would not recommend supplementing with vitamin D without first checking your levels with a blood test.  Using a nutritional/supplemental source can create vitamin D toxicity if you are not careful.

I recommend Carlson brand lemon flavor cod liver oil if vitamin D is needed.

 

Ok, so I just received my Vit. D results done by ZRT Lab.

Date of Test: 02/23/2009
D2 (ng/mL): 0
D3 (ng/mL): 21
Total (ng/mL): 21
Laboratory Ref Range: 32-100 ng/mL

Any recommendations?
Like how much should I take per day or per week to reach 50+ng/ML?
I'm 5'6" in height and weight 116lbs

I'm planning to take 50,000 IU once or twice a week. Is it safe?

 

Thanks in advance

RoN

Be careful about being over-awed by what is being currently touted about this vitamin; best to remain on the cautionary side especially if you are in relatively good health.

The general rule is that it takes an additional 100 IU per day to raise your blood level by 1 ng/ml.  If you are at 21 and wish to reach 50, you'd need approximately 2,900 IU per day more than what you already take.

At what level would Vit D toxicity occur?  Is it anything over 100 ng/ml? 

I was working with a practitioner who did not test my Vit D levels before advising me to start to taking Carlson's Cod Liver Oil (1 Tablespoon a day; 1200 IU per day).  I was already on a multivitamin which provided 800 IU of Vit D a day.  After taking the Cod Liver Oil for 2 months she advised me to add a Vit D supplement containing 5000 IU of Vit D a day (because everyone in the North is vitamin D deficient in the winter).  I continued on this adjusted regimen for 2 months before I became familiar with Dr. Mercola's website.  At that time I asked my ND to test my Vit D levels - she reluctantly agreed.  The test results revealed that my Vit D levels, performed by Genesis labs, are 123 ng/ml.  I stopped taking all supplements immediately (2 days ago).

Should I be concerned with these levels?  If so, what treatment should I be seeking?  

I am also nursing a toddler so I am concerned that she might have received too much Vit D from my milk.  My daughter was on a multivitamin which contained a 100% child dose of vitamin D (no other sources of Vit D besides multi and nursing).  Should I have here levels checked by her pediatrician? 

Any advice would be extremely helpful and appreciated.

 

Have you noticed any of the symptoms of toxicity? I would suggest that you get your levels checked again in one month.

There are many situations where higher serum levels would be beneficial and hope your practitioner has excluded them.

While breastfeeding it may well be possible for you to have higher than normal levels without harming yourself - I daresay your milk is D3 supercharged.

Please do let us know how you go!

I do know that with some vitamins there can be a rebound if supplementation suddenly ceases. 

 

Heather,

I am not sure whether I had symptoms related to Vit D overdose or whether I was just run down taking care of a little one.  I was starting to feel dizzy and experiencing a loss of appetite.  I told my ND and she did not know the cause.  Then I read Dr. Mercola's article and asked to have my levels checked.  Since stopping the Vit D supplements I feel better. 

You mentioned that there are "situations where higher serum levels would be beneficial."  What situations are you referring to? 

I plan to have the levels rechecked in 2 weeks. 

 

 

 

You should get your D3 test done by Labcorp Heathmom those # could be way off to begin with. I would be concerned that the real trouble could be from the cod liver oil @ a tablespoon your vit A levels would be sky high. There are no standards for what level is toxic like D. You should be taking the D3 form from lanolin or wool oil. It doesn't contain any A. If your calcium levels are elevated this is an indication your D levels are toxic levels. 4000 iU a day will maintain your levels 10000 iU is considered safe and higher for short periods. Vit D has a half life of week so I would give it a month without supplementing and get the test done by Labcorp. For children they upped the level to 2000 IU day. I would think if your going to be breast feeding into the spring and summer caution should be used on how much sun she gets. The body makes 20000 IU of D with in the first 10 minutes of 10 to 2 sun. I am not sure that is different for children. I would also check to make sure the multivitamin contains D3 not D2. Most Multivitamins are a waste of money. I would research on here as much info on D here. There is lot to go over but the one hour video Mercola has will answer main points. 50 is optimal but if your dealing with health problems such as cancer 65 to 90 level maybe helpful.

Many illnesses and cancers - and especially those that result from D3 deficiency - respond well to increased D3 supplementation.

It is important to have your levels checked regularly if supplementing.

(which is why production of vitamin D via exposure to UV (B?) light is the recommended method of increasing your levels)

It is also important to ensure adequate intake of the other soluble fats. Most get good levels of vitamin A, but often inadequate levels of K2.

Unsupervised supplementation, especially without a good overall nutrient balance will result in bone degredation and the calcification of soft tissues.

Check out Dr. Mercola's Vitamin D resource page - http://www.mercola.com/article/vitamin-d-resources.htm

For some forms of cancer - as an example - higher levels may be of benefit.

The need for vitamins may increase in times of stress and injury.

From the internet research I have done lately, vitamins A,D and K act synergistically in most processes, and a shortage of K2 may make your tolerance for D3 lower than normal. This is why the same level D3 supplementation may be suitable for one person, but be toxic in another. The fastest way to counter toxic levels of D3 is with supplementation of K2 (most people - not all- do get adequate levels of vitamin A in their diets and via conversion of betacarotene)

K2 is made in our bodies from K1 (found in company with betacarotene in green vegetables) but not very efficiently.

Most good sources of K2 (and D3!) are found in animal fats, although lacto-fermented foods contain useful amounts. Natto, a fermented soy product, delivers the most concentrated K2, but I never intend to try it as it sounds absolutely revolting.

I can recommend the Weston Price web site for clearer explanations of the above.

HeathMom:

At what level would Vit D toxicity occur?  Is it anything over 100 ng/ml? 

I was working with a practitioner who did not test my Vit D levels before advising me to start to taking Carlson's Cod Liver Oil (1 Tablespoon a day; 1200 IU per day).  I was already on a multivitamin which provided 800 IU of Vit D a day.  After taking the Cod Liver Oil for 2 months she advised me to add a Vit D supplement containing 5000 IU of Vit D a day (because everyone in the North is vitamin D deficient in the winter).  I continued on this adjusted regimen for 2 months before I became familiar with Dr. Mercola's website.  At that time I asked my ND to test my Vit D levels - she reluctantly agreed.  The test results revealed that my Vit D levels, performed by Genesis labs, are 123 ng/ml.  I stopped taking all supplements immediately (2 days ago).

Should I be concerned with these levels?  If so, what treatment should I be seeking?  

I am also nursing a toddler so I am concerned that she might have received too much Vit D from my milk.  My daughter was on a multivitamin which contained a 100% child dose of vitamin D (no other sources of Vit D besides multi and nursing).  Should I have here levels checked by her pediatrician? 

Any advice would be extremely helpful and appreciated.

 

 

I recently view a presentation on line which showed no toxicity at 180ng/ml

 

I recently watched an on line presentation where the presenter showed serum levels significantly higher NOT resulting in toxicity.

I find it VERY hard to believe that your result is accurate as that is a relatively small amount of vitamin and should NOT produce levels you cite unless you were getting UVB exposure I would STRONGLY advise to retest with Lab Corp