Vitamin d deficient?

jenslife82
jenslife82 Posts: 229
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
Vitamin d deficient? So my vit d is at 12 units or something like that. Under 100 is considered Deficient. From what I've found and heard It can contribute to all kinds of serious issues like cancers and bone and organ abnormalities. Also causes serious issues when trying to lose weight. My doc has me on 50000 units once a week for 6 weeks. Then 2000 daily after that. Any one else gone thru it? Or going thru it?
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Replies

  • I'm going through the same thing. My level is 15 and I'm doing the same regimen as you with the 50,000 a week.
    Good luck! I'm sure it will make us feel better as those levels come up.
  • karenhs2
    karenhs2 Posts: 197
    We have had some deficiencies here but not had someone do 50,000 IU a week. Not saying it is bad but we were put on daily doses. I found 5000 IU drops that are super handy.

    And if you can hit a patch of sunlight for about 20 minutes, it can really help. I know that isn't easy in the winter.
  • I also have had issues with being vitamin d deficient for a long time. My doctor only noticed it though when my sister and I seemed depressed. He said we had season depression and has had us taking supplements ever since.

    *To make it a more pleasant experience, when my mom goes to special health food stores she buys me the gummy ones as a special treat!* lol =]
  • Mnata
    Mnata Posts: 35 Member
    And if you can hit a patch of sunlight for about 20 minutes, it can really help. I know that isn't easy in the winter.

    Along with sunlight, milk had Vitamin D added to help nutrient absorption. Not a lot, but if you levels are that low every little bit might help.
  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    imo, vit D is one supplement most people would benefit from.
  • My doc noticed because I had a whole work up done and they checked my levels. glad they did too. Crazy dangerous to be something that gets overlooked.
  • And if you can hit a patch of sunlight for about 20 minutes, it can really help. I know that isn't easy in the winter.

    Along with sunlight, milk had Vitamin D added to help nutrient absorption. Not a lot, but if you levels are that low every little bit might help.
    Yep need all of this. I used to drink a ton of milk but not so much any more. Was on 2000 a day but wasn't enough. Needless to say my 3 girls and I will be playing in the sun every chance we get this spring and summer! :)
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    i also have this problem. my level was 26. so i have started taking 2,000-4,000 IUs a day. i'm hoping i'll see some improvement in a few months. i'm glad i know about it now.
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    question for you all - do you feel like you were in a worse mood or depressed before you got on the supplements? how long until you saw an effect from them? i've been pretty irritable and wondered if this had something to do with it.
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    My husband just got told he has a vitamin d deficiency too. He's just taking OTC vitamins for now (but the women's, since they have more Vit D).

    I heard somewhere that being overweight increases chances of deficiency. It's a vicious cycle!
  • chrislin2011
    chrislin2011 Posts: 168 Member
    And if you can hit a patch of sunlight for about 20 minutes, it can really help. I know that isn't easy in the winter.

    Along with sunlight, milk had Vitamin D added to help nutrient absorption. Not a lot, but if you levels are that low every little bit might help.
    Yep need all of this. I used to drink a ton of milk but not so much any more. Was on 2000 a day but wasn't enough. Needless to say my 3 girls and I will be playing in the sun every chance we get this spring and summer! :)

    I went through this last Spring. I had all my levels checked and my Vitamin D was the only thing out of whack. I was on the same prescription as you. I did seem to notice a difference after about a week in my mood and energy level. I now take my 2000 a day. I also used to drink ALOT of milk but after I had my kids, I struggle to drink a glass a day. It just doesn't taste good to me anymore. I'm glad they found out about your levels and you are getting them taken care of.
  • pullipgirl
    pullipgirl Posts: 767 Member
    I had the same thing, mine was at 19 I increased my fat intake to see if it will help with absorption of the vitamin D
  • Jazzyjules71
    Jazzyjules71 Posts: 150 Member
    I don't know the lab you are getting tested from, but the normal range for Vitamin D is about 30-80 (taking into account a little lab variation). The lab I work with is 30-80. You may want to double check your normal range again. It's very common to take 50,000 units 1-3 times a week if you're vitamin D deficient....... If your normal range is in fact <100 (which I think is weird), then I would talk to your provider about taking way more than 50,000 a week.
  • vjrose
    vjrose Posts: 809 Member
    I have had this issue over and over, the intense dose at the beginning is to give you some cushion. One secret for me though since i hate pills is I get a liquid version at costco and take the whole dose on the weekends. My doctor dropped that one on me so I could actually get it done and you can't combine thyroid meds and vitamin D at the same time so I suck at remember to take pills at two different times.
    My doc says wintertime is killer and most everyone gets deficient in the wintertime, not enough sunshine and yes, all that stuff you read is true so it is truly important to get your D.
    To the above poster, mine has come back as undetectable so yes you can have a very low reading :)
  • has001
    has001 Posts: 29 Member
    I actually just found this out this week. Not sure what my levels are actually at but I was placed on the weekly 50000 unit. Before this I had a lot of joint pain, and I feel increasingly better and my mood is also much better. Been trying to drink more milk, get more sunlight.....I am feeling much better, and hope that this does not keep up on my levels and not have to do a daily supplement.
  • andrejjorje
    andrejjorje Posts: 497 Member
    50,000 UI impossible. After 10,000 vit D is toxic. 5000 UI/day for sure. I've been vit D deficient and now after 1 y on supplementation with 2000-3000/day I'am back in business. Hard to evaluate the benefits though.
  • apvalletta
    apvalletta Posts: 110 Member
    I have & was weaned off & felt much better after, but now it's down again so I'm taking 1000 units daily. Always be sure to take it with food, it can really upset your stomach
  • Yes I have a Vit D deficient too. Along with thin and weak bones. Now have to take fosamax one a wk to help increase bone with calcium and make them stronger. Hope you don't take chances and get the Vit D you need. They do have them lights for ppl that need light from Vit D. Take care you only have one body.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    so how do you know if you have a deficiency? blood work? I take a B12 shot every 3 weeks, my body won't adsorb it for some reason and i get the max does every 3 weeks. After 1.5 weeks i can tell i am due for another shot already but i can't get it more then 3 weeks. so how different is vit d compared to b12. can you just take a otc supplement? how much? i have been told by many that i probably should be taking it
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    so how do you know if you have a deficiency? blood work? I take a B12 shot every 3 weeks, my body won't adsorb it for some reason and i get the max does every 3 weeks. After 1.5 weeks i can tell i am due for another shot already but i can't get it more then 3 weeks. so how different is vit d compared to b12. can you just take a otc supplement? how much? i have been told by many that i probably should be taking it

    you have to go to your dr to get it tested. that is how i found out, my yearly physical and bloodwork
  • Celearnil
    Celearnil Posts: 6 Member
    You have to get your blood work done to tell if you are Vitamin D deficient and by how much. I was severely deficient and my doctor put me on 6000ui a day for a month and then down to 2000ui. I got my blood work done again about 6 months later and was still deficient, although not as badly so I'm doing 4000ui a day, which is two of the little otc pills.

    I don't believe that by just drinking milk or orange juice fortified with Vitamin D and going out in the sun 20 minutes a day will cure everyone of Vitamin D deficiency. For instance I drink lots of both milk and orange juice and live in the sunshine state doing plenty of outdoor activities, and I was still very deficient. That is not to say, milk and sunshine won't help.

    As for side effects of Vitamin D deficiency, from my understanding, the human body uses vitamin d for a bunch of processes, and a bunch of different little signs can pop up. For me, after going on Vitamin D for awhile I noticed that I don't need to sleep as much, cutting my sleeping needs from 10-12 hours a night to a healthy 7-9. I also noticed that I don't dislike cold temperatures as much and I don't have to wear 6 different layers for 60 F weather.
  • pg1girl
    pg1girl Posts: 268 Member
    Living in the far north of Canada extra vitamin d is a must. We only have 4 hours of daylight in the darkest months so I up it to 2000 units and up my families too. B complex too!
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    Vitamin d deficient? So my vit d is at 12 units or something like that. Under 100 is considered Deficient. From what I've found and heard It can contribute to all kinds of serious issues like cancers and bone and organ abnormalities. Also causes serious issues when trying to lose weight. My doc has me on 50000 units once a week for 6 weeks. Then 2000 daily after that. Any one else gone thru it? Or going thru it?

    Yes, my levels were at a 4 and I was starting to get heart palpitations really bad.

    I take 70,000 IU a week, which is 10,000 IU per day and since my levels were not raising fast enough I have started going to the tanning bed for additional light therapy.

    Also something to take into consideration....................If you are consuming no or low far dairy products that are fortified with Vitamin D and your body is not absorbing it at all because Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. Without fat is just passes through the body.

    Also can you get your Dr to do blood work for magnesium and potassium deficiencies? They go hand in hand with Vitamin D deficiency.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    And if you can hit a patch of sunlight for about 20 minutes, it can really help. I know that isn't easy in the winter.

    Along with sunlight, milk had Vitamin D added to help nutrient absorption. Not a lot, but if you levels are that low every little bit might help.

    Only if it is whole milk. The skim, 2% and non-fat milk will not absorb the Vitamin D.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    thx everyone, my next dr appt i will ask for them to check my vit d as they check my b12...
  • Sublog
    Sublog Posts: 1,296 Member
    imo, vit D is one supplement most people would benefit from.

    Agreed!

    I take 10000 iu per day. And have so for about a year straight.,
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    would this be something like my b12 deficiency? something you would have to take for the rest of your life?
  • 50,000 UI impossible. After 10,000 vit D is toxic. 5000 UI/day for sure. I've been vit D deficient and now after 1 y on supplementation with 2000-3000/day I'am back in business. Hard to evaluate the benefits though.
    its a prescription. i take it once a week for 6 weeks.. just started yesterday. its prescribed when your levels are very low and daily suppliments arent enough to increase it.
  • whatevany
    whatevany Posts: 109 Member
    I take 5000iu daily. I had my levels tested in January and it was 55, which is good. It is advised to take vitamin D with fat to help with absorption.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    50,000 UI impossible. After 10,000 vit D is toxic. 5000 UI/day for sure. I've been vit D deficient and now after 1 y on supplementation with 2000-3000/day I'am back in business. Hard to evaluate the benefits though.

    When you are very deficient, 50,000 IU is not toxic. I am taking 70,000 IU per day and it is slowly rising.
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