VITAMIN D Checked - now megadosing

StephN · 12-15-2008, 12:34 PM

Hi everyone -
There have been various posts in this site on the merits and how much vitamin D we need.

My general doc decided I should have a blood test for my D level as he is finding many women who "seem" to get enough whose levels are actually low.

Mine was too. Normal range is between 40 to 100. Mine was a puny 30. I was going by the following standard:

" Currently, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200 IU for people up to 50 years old; 400 IU for people 51 to 70 years old; and 600 IU for people over 70 years old." With a recommendation of 1200 IUs for me based on DEXA results.

My daily multi has 400 units and I very often take a D3 supplement of another 400 units. That leaves only 400 units to get from diet and other sources. Should do it, huh? WRONG!

So what did my doc recommend? A therapy of 50,000 units of vitamin D, one capsule taken weekly for 8 weeks. Then recheck my blood.

Now I believe that the following is likely necessary for better bone health:

"distinguished professor emeritus of biochemistry and of biomedical sciences at UC Riverside, is co-leading a group of 18 researchers in a "call to action" recommending that the daily intake of vitamin D for adults be revised by the government to 2000 international units (IU). According to a press release from the UC Riverside Newsroom, "Norman explained that a 2000 IU daily intake of vitamin D can be achieved by a combination of sunshine, food, supplements, and possibly even limited tanning exposure."

RobinP · 12-15-2008, 01:26 PM

Yep, I want to get my vitamin D3 checked sometime too. I take about 1400-1800 U per day so I hope that has it pumped up, we'll see. Let us know how the megadosing goes.

Chelee · 12-15-2008, 02:00 PM

Hi Steph, A while ago I requested my vitamin D level be checked after hearing about all the studies on low "D" levels. My Endo told me my vitamin D levels were good. (I took his word for it because I trusted him.) Later I requested copies of my labs only to find out my vitamin D level was "29". ARGH!!! Reference range here says under 30 is low. (So needless to say I was angry when I found out he lied to me.) I had stressed to him I wanted to be on the "high" side due to my DEXA scan results.

When I went back to his office about this he said he was going to give me a large dose of vitamin D and recheck me in 2 months. So I've been taking my normal amount of D on top of what he prescribe for me which is a weekly dose of 5000 IU's.

My last labs did show my vitamin D level is up to 36 now...but that is unacceptable to me. Plus I have since found out that all the doctors that are on TOP of things are giving this "mega" dose of 50,000 IU's as your doctor is recommending. So obviously my Endo is confused or didn't do well in basic math and can't tell the difference between 5000 or 50.000 IU's.

I've done alot of reading on taking vitamin D & I am all for taking a higher amount of vitamin D. I believe it's very important to are over all health.

Chelee

SoCalGal · 12-15-2008, 02:22 PM

Hi Steph-
Gotta weigh in - encourage you - support you...it's taken me a year and I am now taking liquid drops each day but my D level is finally rising. I must have left my blood results w/my doc because I just went to look so I could tell you but I don't have the paper. The one from 6 weeks ago was at 45. Dr C wants me much higher so here's what I'm taking:

One dropper daily- Liquid D and K (see below for ingredients list)

Oone dropper daily - Liquid Vitamin D-3 - 10,000 IU (Both from Douglas Laboratories).

My vitamin D levels are finally inching up. I am tested every 6 weeks. BTW it takes a few weeks to see a change take place. For the record I am olive-skin type so I go out in the sun often and I hate sunscreen so I don't wear any even though I'm going to be wrinkled. Or maybe I already am. And I go to the beach and garden a lot. My point is for me it's not a lack of sun issue.

Hope this helps. It's important to get a strong level in our systems! xo Flori

Liquid D and K may be a useful dietary supplement for those who wish to increase their daily intake of the nutritionally important vitamins D and K.
FORMULA (#57302)
1 dropper (1 ml) contains:
Vitamin D3 ............................................... 1000 IU
Vitamin K-1 ............................................... 500 mcg
Vitamin K-2(as MK-4) .................................. 1 mg
Vitamin K-2(as MK-7, from soy) ................ 45 mcg

ElaineM · 12-15-2008, 04:00 PM

I got my vitamin D checked and it was borderline, so now I take prescription vitamin D too. I also take some calcium and magnesium.
Merry Christmas

Jean · 12-15-2008, 07:32 PM

thank you Steph for posting about Vit.D one would think that all of the onc. are checking the Vit D levels.

We should all ask our Dr. what our levels are.

RobinP · 12-17-2008, 08:10 AM

I thought I would just chime in on this tid bit. Vitamin is often used in nursing homes to take aches and pains away, oddly enough. Other uses besides bone density also include cancer prevention and down regulation of the her2 pathway, as many of you know.

eric · 12-17-2008, 07:24 PM

2 questions:
1. what's the importance or impact of low levels of vitamin D?
2. any conflict with D megadosing and chemo?

StephN · 03-19-2009, 12:20 PM

As of my blood test on Feb. 21, after completing the 8 weekly doses of 50,000iu of Vitamin D, my level went UP TO 50!

I was very happy about that. So, now I am taking the 2,000 per day that my oncologist recommended and we will monitor again in 6 weeks. I hope to keep my level in the range of 50, which is a number my doctors like. I was cautioned about taking any more than 4,000 IU per day, as there are problems with toxicity if levels reach in the 100-150 range.

CALCIUM - I also discussed the need to bump up my calcium intake. Even though my serum calcium from the lab work is normal, our blood will rob our bones of calcium if there is not enough intake. Thus weakening our bones. After seeing how much calcium I get in my regular supps, I will take another couple of 500mg doses. (We need to spread the doses out from morning to night for best effect.)

ERIC - This partly answers your questions, but I do not know about any conflict with chemo. Did you happen to address this with Caryn's doctors since you posted that question?

R.B. · 03-19-2009, 01:13 PM

Eric,

You may find the vitamin D link and the videos helpful.

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...ght=greek+diet

This is a good article.

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnut...ndmiracle.html

RB

ElaineM · 03-19-2009, 04:13 PM

My naturopath and I are slowly increasing my Vitamin D.
I am at about 3500mg a day now. We would like to increase it to 5000mg a day or more---------and I live in Hawaii.

Mary Jo · 03-19-2009, 05:27 PM

I will chime in under this thread although I posted this in another thread as well.

Last year's Vit. D level was a low 32. I increased my Vit D3 to 4000 i.u. a day. I take a 2000 i.u. supplement with breakfast and a 2000 i.u. supplement with supper at night. Also, like Flori....I am out in the sun A LOT (when there is sun and warmth and I live in Wisconsin so that's not saying much

) I powerwalk/jog 4 - 6 miles a day all Spring/Summer/Fall and even into winter until it gets too cold/icy/snowy....anyway, I had my Vit. D. level checked a few weeks ago and had it up to a healthy 62. I was pleased with that level although my internist thought I could possibly decrease the amount of D3 I took (I won't).

I am having my first Dexa Bone Density scan next year and both me and my internist are anxious to see if I have nice thick bones as a result of these wonderful D3 results.

Happy Sunshine all.....

Mary Jo

Gina · 03-21-2009, 08:08 PM

Hey, folks,

Have to smile about all the latest "hype" about Vitamin D--most of us OLD timers on this board have been taking it for years...but I just want to emphasize that the body is an entire bio-system and you may find that your blood levels of vitamin D get back to normal more quickly if you simply balance your intake of A with D--thereby having to take LESS D which is easier on the liver and kidneys, and possibly even more effective, faster. Also, remember that Vitamin A works best with adequate levels of zinc...for those of you who laughed about the Zinc oxide on the feet remedies of old...think again...smile.

Also, remember despite what the media says..ingest less synthetic calcium and MORE magnesium if you are her-2 positive...because no matter how much "mega dosing of calcium" you ingest, the body will only absorb an amount equal the balance of magnesium in your system--google it under Magnesium- Calcium homeostasis. Here again, mega dosing does little more than overtax other bio-systems...and in the case of her-2 folks...I always say "LESS IS MORE" as your body is stressed enough with her-2 mediated disease and constant herceptin and/or other treatments...

Her-2 gals are notorious for being low on magnesium...no need to take my word for it...check your own platelets...if they are under 300 possible mag deficit...not sleeping??, another possible mag deficit, craving chocolate??? cocoa is magnesium rich --your body is screaming for magnesium....constipated??? DEFINITE mag deficit...and you always wondered why they called it MILK of MAGNESIUM...smile... Why are epsom salts often prescribed in a warm bath before bedtime to induce a deep slumber??? Epsom salts are simply Magnesium sulfate??? Struggle with high blood pressure??? increase intake of magnesium rich foods.

Sorry, but I just had to add my two cents here--I have been seeing these recent posts and worrying that since Vitamin D, like Vitamin A, is oil soluable and can be damaging to the liver, I just didn't want folks to over do either.

Also, Steph, I had my Vitamin A and D levels measured back in 1999 just before starting Hercepin when I was first dx with the liver mets and both levels were horribly low...I think one Vitamin D at that time was 17. Also, note, that a true Vitamin A blood draw has to be done in a darkened room so as not to disintegrate the level in the special tube to give a true reading...that was a experience...when I asked the tech how was he going to hit the vein...he said...by feeling it...smile...he hit it just fine...although I swear...smile..I couldn't see a thing.

One reason I had my vitamin D levels checked was that for 10 years before I got cancer, I was one of the first folks to work in the at that time new underground S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian. 4 of us who worked 3 floors under within the same department got cancer within months of each other. To my knowledge, I am the only one still living, but the underground work seemed to stand out as really the only risk factor for me and I find it even more interesting in light, pardon the pun, smile...of Lani's recent posting on the possible connection between her-2 and circadian rhythm genes. Very interesting... I wish we knew more.

Best of luck to all,
Gina
gpopp@Comcast.net
Original BC Dx 1997
Her-2 +++, ER- PR-
Herceptin only since 1999 Stage IV mets--6mg/kg every 3 weeks.

Kim in CA · 04-13-2009, 12:11 AM

After reading this thread a while back I finally decided to get tested. My results were 37.9 ng/ML, with the normal range being 32-100 according to Lab Corp. My oncologist was amazed because I am the only one of his patients tested so far that has been normal. I have been taking at least 1000 units a day for the last year but have decided to add another 1000 units a day after reading the studies, so I can hopefully bring my levels up closer to the higher end of normal. The only problem is my supplement list just keeps growing and growing and it gets hard to fit them all in! Still, I'm glad I wasn't any lower considering I've been on aromatase inhibitors (Femara)since 2002.

Barbara2 · 04-16-2009, 07:05 PM

Peter Gott
Updated: 04/15/2009 01:50:23 AM PDT

Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 70-year-old retired female nurse and an avid reader of your column. My health is good, and I take minimal medications — Xanax as needed, an antidepressant in the winter and daily vitamin and mineral supplements to include 5,000 international units of vitamin D.
This added vitamin D keeps my blood level at 54, which my doctor told me is good. When I was only getting 400 IU daily, it was below 30, so my doctor prescribed 10,000 IU daily for several months (until it was 50), at which point my dose was lowered.

I have enclosed some articles from different sources on the importance of vitamin D and hope that you will re-evaluate your position on the necessary amount of the essential vitamin.

Dear Reader: Thank you for including the information. My position on the amount of necessary vitamin D in the daily diet is directly related to various government sources that indicate 400 IU is adequate for healthy people. However, this does not mean that current research is incorrect.

As more studies are done, several sources have found that vitamin D deficiency is on the rise among infants, children, teens, adults and seniors. Further studies need to be done to determine why this is happening and what steps we can take to prevent future generations from developing this deficiency. Simply being outside for 15 minutes in the sun every day can provide dramatic results.

I do not recommend that people increase their vitamin D intake, but I can
encourage them to see their physicians to discuss the issue. A simple blood test may be all that is needed to determine whether a deficiency is present. If it is, supplementation may solve the problem, but a referral to an endocrinologist or other specialist may be advised to determine whether there is a more serious underlying cause.

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to several problems, the most common of which is weak, brittle bones. This can lead to fractures, which can take a long time to heal because unhealthy bone does not heal as quickly or as well as normal bone. It has also been linked with thyroid disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, asthma, heart failure and more.

Several physicians who specialize in bone health have begun suggesting the recommended daily intake be increased to about 1,000 IU, which is more than double the standard. Until further studies have shown that this will benefit a majority of the population without serious side effects, I must stick to the old guidelines but am willing to change my opinion when more definitive results are available.