I’ve scheduled an appointment with my GP tomorrow and I plan to ask him to prescribe vitamin D supplements hoping it’ll help with the osteoporosis which doesn’t seem to improving under the given treatment.
I just wanted to ask, what amount of international units do you guys take? I’ve been told the recommended is 1000IU but I’m thinking of increasing especially as I’m from an Asian background hoping it may help.
My blood test showed very low level of 12 so GP put me on 20,000iu every other day. Repeat blood tests every 6 months.My GP would like them more regularly but local hospital put a 6 month time scale on vit D testing. Take magnesium as well because consultant says shouldn’t take one without the other. Also on vit B complex too.
My levels were very low - and l started taking 20.000ius daily. l took this amount for about 2yrs. Then started on 10.000ius for the last 3yrs. Every 6months l get my D3 level checked by B/Ham Assays lab - its a postal service. The last test l had it came back as 98 nmols. The recommended level is 150/225. lf you do get your levels checked at the GP - do ask for the exact total. Because they still work on the same levels they did 50yrs ago.So they could say you are within the right levels - but you are mostly likely actually very low. The postal test is just a pin-prick test - and they email your results.
l get my Vitamin D3 from Amazon - Healthy Origins 10.000ius 360 softgel capsules. £15 -
20.000ius is what your body would absorb if exposed to strong sunlight for 15mins.
As you say you have darker skin - then you will need more. Make sure the rest of your family takes it as well. Especially anyone pregnant - or breast feeding. Brittle bones and heart problems caused by lack of vitd3 is quite prevalent now amongst the Asian population.
And do also take Magnesium with the D3 - The two combined work together to store calcium. This is why it is important for any with osteo-arthritis.
I don’t know what my levels were like but started supplements around the middle of last year and have been taking 1,000 - 2,000 units a day (usually only 5/6 days a week)… so I was quite surprised when I had a test recently and it’s a tad high! I’ve cut back to 1,000 and am even less bothered if I forget to take them at weekends
Definitely worth getting levels checked as we’re just not that consistent!
Hi My levels have just come back from GP as low and I have been prescribed 800 IU x 4 times a day for three months. So 3,200 iu a day and told to get bloods re checked in 3 weeks as iron was also low and needed a supplement too. Gosh at this rate I will need a bigger pill pot! lol Hope you get on ok at GPs Mish x
When the GP says your levels are high - do they give you the exact level - as we now all know that most GP’s are still working on the old levels which are outdated. And make sure they are not including the Vitamin d2 in that level.
Reading all the posts re Vit d3 - it is heartening to see that some of you do have Neuro’s/GP who have at last grasped the Vitamin d3 deficiency. The last time l saw a Consultant Neuro - he knew nothing about vitamin d3 when l told him l was taking a high supplement. He said ‘just drink more milk’!! -
l have several books on the subject of vitd3 deficiency - and vit b12 - reading them certainly does not make me an expert - but as l feel l have been ‘let down’ by by the so called experts - and left to get on with it - l try to do the best l can for myself - as knowone else is going to.
l now take a multi vitamin/mineral/nutrient especially formulated for people with MS. lt is MSSential. Contains all the supplements that we have heard of on here. 31 in total. l have been taking them for about 6weeks - and l do now feel more energised then l was - at first l thought it was a ‘placebo’ effect - but now l am sure it is helping - and hope it will continue to improve. The downside is you have to take 6 a day - and they are huge- and do not smell or taste very nice. But a small price to pay if they are helping me.
The vitamin d3 cholecalciferol content is 4.000ius - so l do take more as my levels are still low.
