vitamin D deficiency

karen raines hunt · 11-06-2007, 07:20 PM

Hi,

I saw my oncologist today for a check up and she told me about an article that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine this past summer. The article states that many women on aromatase inhibitors are vitamin D deficient despite taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. My oncologist is testing vitamin D levels in all of her patients on AIs. If the number is below 30, she is prescribing medicinal vitamin D.

Karen

Hopeful · 11-07-2007, 03:38 PM

Hi Karen,

Is this a blood test? Does insurance usually cover it?

Hopeful

Chelee · 11-07-2007, 08:57 PM

Karen, I hadn't heard about the article your referring to but feel its a good idea to test vitamin D levels for obvious reasons. I'm not on a AI at present but due to other issues I'm having I was seen my an Endocrinologist & one of the things he tested on me was my vitamin D level. Which he told me I was GREAT & I just got my records & found out techically I'm low. I'm right at 29. You should be 30 or above.

Hopeful, this was a blood test and my insurance company had no problems covering it. I think it would be a good idea to check all women's vitamin D level rather their on an "AI" or not. I'm glad to hear onc's might start checking our *D* levels.

Chelee

karen raines hunt · 11-07-2007, 08:58 PM

Yes, this is a blood test, but not always checked, has to be specifically ordered. My insurance is covering it, I think, I hope.

Karen

dlaxague · 11-08-2007, 08:31 AM

Hi all,

This possible link between AI use and vitamin D deficiency is interesting. I think that the original article/research was about deficiency being associated with more bone loss while on an AI. But I've also heard of women who had significant improvement in their "musculoskeletal" pain, another side effect of AI's, when they took a Vitamin D supplement. On the other hand, I've never heard that the musculoskeletalpain side effect has any connection to the bone loss one. There may be lots of interconnected things going on?

So the question - did anyone begin Vitamin D supplementation and notice an improvement in the AI achiness and stiffness?

And another question - if you've been on an AI long enough to have bone density measured before and after/during - compare your degree of bone loss (if any) to your level of musculoskeletal pain, please.

I'll start: Moderate pain during AI use, no significant bone loss (I'm overweight, physically active, strong family hx for osteoporosis). No experience with Vitamin D supplementation while taking the AI. Celebrex and yoga helped.

Thanks,
Debbie Laxague

dlaxague · 11-08-2007, 08:33 AM

Hi all,

This possible link between AI use and vitamin D deficiency is interesting. I think that the original article/research was about deficiency being associated with more bone loss while on an AI. But I've also heard of women who had significant improvement in their "musculoskeletal" pain, another side effect of AI's, when they took a Vitamin D supplement. On the other hand, I've never heard that the musculoskeletalpain side effect has any connection to the bone loss one. There may be lots of interconnected things going on?

So the question - did anyone begin Vitamin D supplementation and notice an improvement in the AI achiness and stiffness?

And another question - if you've been on an AI long enough to have bone density measured before and after/during - compare your degree of bone loss (if any) to your level of musculoskeletal pain, please.

I'll start: Moderate pain during AI use, no significant bone loss (I'm overweight, physically active, strong family hx for osteoporosis). No experience with Vitamin D supplementation while taking the AI. Celebrex and yoga helped.

Thanks,
Debbie Laxague

dlaxague · 11-08-2007, 08:36 AM

Sorry - don't know how that double-post thing happened. I think my server is having issues. Usually it's the opposite - the entire post disappears altogether, which I take as a sign that it's time to be quiet (smile).

Debbie

Linda · 11-08-2007, 03:36 PM

Hi all:
My onc is testing all her bc patients for Vit D levels and is advising supplements if levels are low. She believes that a high Vit D level may be protective against recurrance. I'm hormone neg, so don't take AI's, but am taking 7,000 units of D a day.
Linda

KellyA · 11-08-2007, 03:42 PM

Hey there,

I don't know if this is a coincidence or not, but I started taking a vitaminD tablet with my calcium about 1 month ago and I have noticed a drastic reduction in my "bone" pain and achiness. It is almost non-existent now. Could be anything, but I sure do find this interesting.

Love, Kelly

harrie · 11-09-2007, 12:25 AM

My oncologist has recommended 2,000 IU of Vit D per day.

SoCalGal · 11-09-2007, 09:50 AM

I take (5) pills a day - 5000 iu total, taken all at once with largest meal for better absorption. I don't seem to easily absorb D. I was on Femara for a couple of years - maybe that's why.

I've had blood tests for Vitamin D twice and my levels are rising but not high enough to be anti-cancer. He just upped my dose, and he'll check me again in a month. It's part of the routine blood draw to request Vitamin D Hydroxy Levels - or something like that. The oncologist should know what to request from the blood lab.

Smiley · 11-10-2007, 10:16 AM

I've been watching Dr. Oz on the Oprah show and just bought his book. He said on tv that vitamin d significantly lowers risk of colon cancer and may do so in other cancers. He also said anyone with MS (which I have) should be on vitamin d. I haven't starting reading the book yet but it may be something you want to check out. Best of luck.
Smiley

TSund · 11-11-2007, 10:34 PM

Does anyone have the stats from this study? Presumably the women on AI's have higher ER%, correct? So does this study compare ER+ on AI's to ER+ not on AI's? Do they compare to women on Tamoxifen?

Has there been study's linking ER+ in particular with vit D deficiency?

Are all forms of BC generally equal in terms of vitamin D deficiency?

Lots of questions....