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A friend of mine who is a 22 year survivor of bc was found recently to be depletive of VIT D and started on 50,000 IU perday for six weeks but developed disturbing side effects which she attributed to the vit d.
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Dr Davis The case against Vitamin D2 Ergocalciferol This blog post explains some of the reasons why the usually prescribed 50,000iu form is NOT the best option for most people.
Biotech are the cheapest source of D3 Cholecalciferol 50,000 I have absolutely no financial or other connection with this company. I offer the link as I think it's wrong to claim D2 has problems without providing a link to the cheaper and more effective more reliable alternative.
Vitamin D3 is an ENABLING substance, it is involved in signaling and control mechanisms. I can't begin to explain how complicated some of these control systems are but for those who
Want to go into the detail Mark R. Haussler, Ph.D.makes a good attempt here in Session 1: Assessment of Vitamin D Status Monday, December 4, 2006 This is a presentation for a Vitamin d expert conference. You will see from the date that we now are better informed but it was the state of knowledge then. For those wanting an easier introduction than Haussler, Try the talks from Heaney, Hollis, Vieth Bess Dawson Hughes & Edward Giovannucci first.
The point of mentioning this control mechanism here is that one of the main enabiling roles Vit d does is to enable a higher uptake of calcium. ONLY when our 25(OH)D is above 32ng/mL or 80nmol/l can most people be sure they are getting sufficient calcium from diet/supplements.
Calcium is important for muscle, bone, brain function but the actions of calcium need to be balanced by an appropriate amount of magnesium.
For muscle fibres calcium contracts and magnesium relaxes the fibre
For brain neurons calcium excites and magnesium calms.
In the bone calcium is needed for structure but magnesium and vitamin K2 are involved in ensuring the calcium goes and stays where it is required.
So what happens when you raise calcium intake quickly (by raising 25(OH)D fast with 50,000iu) but there is insufficient magnesium in the diet?
You may get adverse side effects, muscle cramps, feeling tense but it is
NOT the vitamin D that is the cause of the problem, really it is the
magnesium deficiency that is exposed by the newly increased availability of much needed calcium but without the presence of sufficient counterbalancing magnesium.
Krispin here has some sensible thoughts on magnesium supplementation Dr Davis Heartscanblog on Magnesium Stephan Whole Health Source explains some of how magnesium deficiency has come about. But the obvious reason is the modern grain varieties simply don't have as much as older slower growing varieties.
The take home message is that it's worth
Checking your magnesium food sources and taking some magnesium with your vitamin d. You will see from
The vitamin d council source of vitamin d3 that Dr Cannell is now supporting the use of a formulation containing a SMALL amount of vitamin A, 5000iu/D3, 100mcg K2, 100mg magnesium, zinc 5mg and boron&genisten.
While I haven't used the Vitamin D Council formulation myself I understand the reasons behind the inclusion of those minerals. I personally take separate magnesium and vitamin K2 supplements. I suspect that buying them individually may work out cheaper but I haven't done the sums yet.