Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Really interesting, thanks for posting.
Ellie

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Interesting. I take 2000 vit d a day as well as 1500 calcium. My onc says that sometimes my d is too high and cuts me back to every other day.

Does anyone know what is considered too high and ramifications ?

Janis

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

I do not know the units of measure but the normal range in the blood is 32-100. Do you know if you are above 100? Remember, ranges are also established by testing lots of people. Who knows how the normal range was established.

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Had to look up my bloodwork! Never above 100, but highest has been 82. That seems to be when she says to cut down a bit. I think she likes it when I'm between 60-70.

I also have osteopenia (thanks to early menopause and femara) and was ready for my DEXA and next shot of Reclast from my endocrinologist when I recurred. The Reclast stabilized me for 2 years. Figured I had bigger fish to fry and would get to that later.

Thanks

Janis

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Everyone is different. I am stressing that because I take 4000 iu per day and only test at 46. I am getting more and more convinced that lack of Vitamin D was part of the equation for me. My mom got BC and tested at 0. My sister got DCIS and tested at 0.

My daughters got tested and my 26 yr old tested at 8. She is taking 4000iu per day now but hasn't retested in 2 yrs because of lack of medical benefits but she is probably running ok. Other 2 daughters test in the high 30s but I now make sure they take 1000iu 3X per week.

My cousin also got BC and tested at 0. I am not saying this caused our BC but it might be a factor for some of us. All of us who got BC had bad bones too but since my supplementation program that started after chemo and rads were over (over 8 years ago), my bone density reversed (while on Arimidex no less) to the normal range so I could (and didn't need) to continue on Zometa.

Peace

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

WOW, Becky, I have never heard of anyone testing for vitamin D at 0 - zero. How could that be? Does your body not process it from either the food you ingest or the supplement? That is an odd family finding.

I have cut back from 2000 IU per day now that I am stable between 60 and 70, which my onc says is sufficient. When I originally tested a few years back the level was 31, with a multi-vitamin supplement, but no other D added.

I just had an analysis, and had thought I would be needing to add in the Carlson's D drops that I do in the winter time. But only once a week right now.

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Really interesting how all of us are so different. I don't think I was tested until about 7 years ago and I was pretty low at 20-ish. Both onc and endo were concerned, but like Steph, they like it around 60-70.

Bone density increased on arimidex? Go figure.

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

I have no idea of my starting number either. For my mom, sister and cousin - all got Vitamin d IV drip and then had to take the mega 50,000iu per week (one weekly pill) for 6 weeks. My sister is diligent she does listen to me about D and figures that maybe she dodged a bullet by only having DCIS. My mom, not so good. I don't keep up with my cousin much. She only called me when she was diagnosed and going thru treatment. She is almost 5 years out now. I do not think we process it well and need alot. Like I said, my 4000iu per day only gets me to 46 but I can live with that. I did think I might do 5000iu but I'm not too sure.

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

I was tested by my onc and my level was 125 I was supplementing with 1000iu drops so he asked me to back it off I will be tested again in March so will be interesting to see how much it has dropped by.

I live in North West Australia, where it is stinking hot for about 9 months a year - so maybe that will keep the level up too?

Jen

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

It could be you are getting lots from the sun. Exposed skin without sunscreen produces vitamin d. All you need to do to make 20,000iu is 15-20 minutes with arms, legs, face exposed (with no sunscreen).

I will say as you get more and more tan, you do not make as much vitamin d which is why those with dark skin such as African Americans or some Hispanic populations can be low in D. Skin color protects against burning but also assists in the prevention of D.

So Jenny, if you are outside alot, you can see that you can be making alot. This is why I question if there should be an upper limit to D because too much may not hurt you. (But I would listen to any doctor about supplementation - like the cutting back idea).

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Vitamin D is genetically mediated. This is why some people can get by on 1000-2000 IU/day and others (like me, because I have several mutant snps in VDR) need at least 6000 IU/day (which gets me to 63; 10000 IU gets me to the mid-80s).

http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/VDR

Okay, that's not really the right link. It's this one:

http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Vit..._Insufficiency

Links to news about recent studies:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/255472.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/253322.php
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-nde112212.php

There are quite a few others, but I picked the most recent three.

Re: Interesting Presentation on Vitamin D
 

Just thought I would update you with my new blood test levels - 140! Onc has asked me to stop all supplementation but to fair I have been pretty lax with the VitD drops and probably only take once a week at the moment anyway!
Must be the aussie sun - it is over 35'C ( 96'F) most days at the moment! Can't wait to go the cold of the UK in a couple of weeks!
Jenny