Vitamin D3 & NHS

Following substantial evidence I currently supplement my own and children’s diets with Vitamin D3 cholecalciferol

Is it usual to request that Vitamin levels are checked through ones GP ?

There have been a lot of reports warning against buying supplements “online”

Is approved Vitamin D3 available to MS patients through the NHS and if not what source is guaranteed ?

Many thanks

Mark

Hello Mark,

I take D3 (super strength 25mg, 1,000iu) too, along with a host of other vitamins - especially Omega 3 oil, B12 and Glucosamine and Alpha Lipoic Acid. I find vitamins and their dosages to be incredibly confusing, but now I just follow the Dr.Jelenek diet (he has MS), and in his book he recomends a whole list of various varieties though I have to say that I buy nearly all of mine ‘on line’ and I can’t see much danger if you use a good make. As I am not medically trained I have to use a recommended list of them as I wouldn’t have the foggiest. I have never been tested for anything dietary with my GP and though I read that Dr. Jelenek recommends that we do, I will not bother, for fear of being laughed out of the surgery!

Moira

My advice, do not take vitamin supplements unless it has been cleared or advised by a health professional.

I was warned off vitamin supplements by both my “GP” and MS specialist nurse”.

Of course at the end of the day, the choice has to be your own.

Take care.

Chris R.

I. El. (Eng). (Rtd).

I know its going to be a bad day when I get out of bed and miss the floor, today is such a day.

The only vit D3 available through the NHS (according to my GP) is a low dose so not enough for the levels that most neuros and MS nurses are now recommending or that scientists and up-to-date doctors are recommending (hint hint Chris).

Most GPs are happy to order a blood test to check vit D levels especially as a lot of MSers are low in vit D and that recent research is showing quite convincing evidence that vit D3 is important in MS.

Many shops sell D3 supplements and the price varies massively so shop about. Many people on here buy Healthy Origins vitamin D3 capsules from various different retailers and I’ve never heard of anyone having a bad reaction to them, but I could be wrong of course.

Hope this helps.

Karen x

I am very lucky in having one of the most highly respected “MS Specialist Nurse” in the country.

Her knowledge is probably second to none, when it comes to drugs and treatment for MS.

Take care.

Chris R.

I. El. (Eng). (Rtd).

I know its going to be a bad day when I get out of bed and miss the floor, today is such a day.

Hi Mark,

I don’t think you’re very likely to get vitamin D on the NHS, unless you have a proven deficiency. And unfortunately, NHS guidelines are lagging behind latest research, which means what they consider “deficient” is still a lot lower than the ideal amount most people should be getting. There is a campaign to get the guidelines updated in the light of latest research, but it hasn’t happened yet, so you’re likely to be told your levels are fine, even when they fall well short of the optimum.

I don’t think you’re running a huge risk buying a mere vitamin from any high street outlet. I hardly think it’s going to be cut with talcum powder, or ajax, or other noxious substances, to resemble a vitamin D tablet: we’re not talking illicit street drugs here!

Personally, I just go to Boots. I find the prices reasonable (especially if you avail yourself of their frequent 3 for 2 offers), and I don’t think there’s anything remotely “dodgy” about it.

I know some here favour U.S. suppliers, because it can still work out more economical, even including postage. Although the value of goods you can import without triggering VAT and a hefty £8 admin charge has recently been lowered from £18 to £15, which makes it a far less attractive proposition.

It’s a lottery whether your parcel gets singled out for the extra charges or not. I had two international parcels this morning (not pharmacy goods), which, in theory, should have triggered it. But both went through, despite openly stating on the declaration that they were worth more than £15. A third, from the same vendor, has not shown up yet, and I suspect is going to turn up with a demand for VAT and an £8 charge slapped on it. Still, only a 1 in 3 chance of being made to pay is not bad going, I suppose.

Tina

Interesting how the most highly respected MS specialist neurologists around the world are recommending D3 supplementation then.

Have you had your vitamin D3 level checked Chris?

Dear Mark

The link between certain diseases and sunshine (vitamin D3) seems to have bypassed the NHS (although I haven’t spoken with my doctor about it,) when I spoke with a Neurologist and a nurse I found them to be not very helpful when I tried to raise the subject. However, we had a reasearch meeting and I spoke to a Professor who confirmed that he feels vitamin D3 plays a big part in many diseases. (Apparently we do not absorb enough to get us through the winter) He stressed the need for children to be exposed to sunlight on a regular basis, (obviously care has to be taken too) I wonder why the population as a whole are not educated about this. With children spending so much time indoors sitting at computers surely there is a time bomb waiting to happen. I take vitamin D3 in droplet form and have given my grown up daugher a bottle too.

Wendy

x

As there seems to be a growing trend and in my view (as a chef) a more logical and sensible approach towards diet in relation to disease it seems at odds to be leaving our choices of supplement to the free market and buying in products from the US and beyond.

I currently have some 1000iu D3 capsules from “Vitamin Research Products” USA and some 5000iu from “Healthy Origins” USA. I try to maintain a good diet high in omega 3 through real food rather than supplements. I do take 1000mg N-acetyl glucosamine again a USA product from “Source Naturals”.

I feel we should moving towards a screening service for personal metabolic profile to better our chances in relation to the research and current understanding.

Food for thought as well as health !

Hello, I saw my MS Nurse yesterday and having just bought and started reading Prof Jelinek’s book we did talk about fats and VitD. Given that in winter I never see the sun (work in an office those few hours when it might be out!) it wouldn’t surprise me if I was seriously deficient. He was also supportive of me encouraging my children (23 and 21 now) to take Vit D too, especially in winter.

I shall get some at the weekend probably from supermarket or high street shops to start with.

and do folks think Marmite a good enough source of B12? I see B12 and folic acid listed as ingredients. Given that I feel I have to cut cheese and virtually everything else I like out of my diet if I follow Jelinek/Swank, it would be nice to keep something tasty in that is relatively good for me!

Gill

I take Healthy Origins D3 5,000i.u (I get them from Big vit dot co dot uk) every day I had my levels checked by what the out of date NHS says my levels are to high but when I checked with the vitamin D council may levels where in the optimum range.

My neuro and MS nurse told me that what the NHS say you should take is years behind and there’s lots of research to show that a higher level of vitamin D3 helps.

Mark.

Hi, I have been takeing lots of vits over the last 34yrs and I feel very well,and I’m stil here.It is your body at the end of the daydon’t you just love that saying! Anyway I also have a very very good ms nurse and a very very very good neuro who support me with what I do as it is my choice.( sorry Chris you may have one of the best ms nurses in the country,but that does not make them right all the time)take care.helen.x

Hi,

I get really frustrated by all the evidence about D3. When I asked my neuro about it, I was told that it wouldn’t be of any benefit to MS. My new neuro checked my vitamin D levels and said I was normal. However, I think it’s widely accepted that the previous “normal” level of 400IU per day is way under what it probably should be. I think for MS, places like the Best Bet Diet Group recommend quite a lot higher daily dose, but stress that you need to take Calcium and Magnesuim at the same time.

I’ve had a Candida overgrowth which has prevented me from taking supplements because they just caused really bad cystitis. I also believe I have Interstitial Cystitis, so once my wee becomes acidic I suffer with bad cystitis. However, I think the Candida is now under control (it’s taken a year) so I’m just about to have another go with supplements, take it slowly (start with a very low dose and gradually build up) and see what happens. I took multi-vitamins back in 2008 and after 5 months felt brilliant. I had loads of energy and my walking improved considerably. However, I stopped taking them as my husband doesn’t believe in them. I’ve gone downhill ever since. I think the moral of the story is to do what you think is best, not listen to people who don’t have MS and who can’t begin to imagine what it’s like. Also, neuros and doctors etc tend to disregard stuff they don’t know anything about, so if you ask their opinion make sure you do your own research and don’t just blindly accept what they say.

Heather

For those who have commented and posted on this obviously contentious issue

Many Thanks & good health to you all

Mark

Mark,

Having had spms for nearly 30 yrs - lt is my opinion that the only ‘experts’ are ourselves. The dear old NHS are so far behind with the latest research. And there has been extensive research- globally - on vitamin d3. And we are so fortunate that this has happened as there is no profit for drug companies as it is so cheap to produce. Vitamin d3 deficiency is linked to many auto-immune diseases ms/parkinsons/diabetes/osteo-arthritis/coeliac/psoriasis/crohns/lBS/Hypertension/and 17 types of cancer. l have been taking 20.000ius daily for over a year and still have not managed to get my levels up to the 150/200nmols. Research shows that it is unlikely you will ever overdose as your body does not store it. 15mins bright sunshine on a naked body is the equivalent of 20.000ius of D3. Taking too much calcium is dangerous.

A friend of mine was prescribed 60.000ius daily by his oncologist before having a life-saving op. This was 6yrs ago. Although he has had the

‘all clear’ he has been advised to continue with the highdose d3. This chap was told by his specialist in the UK that his cancer was inoperable.

He went to USA to be treated - and thankfully it was a great success.

l had an appointment with a so-called expert consultant neuro - who when l asked about vitamind3 just laughed and said ‘Drink more milk’.

Eskimos who do not eat a western diet - and also have no sunshine - do not get MS -or cancer - because they eat whale and seal meat and blubber - which is mainly fat.Full of Vitamin d. And they do not eat any grain. The more there lifestyle becomes westernised they will no doubt get all the problems associated with it.

l have read several books on VitaminD3 and l have also read the presentation by Dr Holik -which you can google.

At the moment l am trying to follow Barry Groves books on natural health - My quest goes on.

Frances.

I agree with those who say the NHS is way behind in their advice re Vitamin D, and that there is plenty of evidence that it is one of the factors involved in MS. I take 10,000iu per day of D3.

I have children in their teens and early twenties and a four year old grandchild, and I would dearly love some advice about how much they should take to try to prevent them suffering from this horrible disease in the future. What do others think?

The thing is,if I suggest to my daughter-in-law that my grandchild start taking it, she may want (quite rightly) to check it with her GP first, and I wouldn’t be surprised it he/she told her that vitamin D is nothing to do with MS and that the dosage I am suggesting is way too high - argh!

l know just what you mean. Get your daughter-in-law to google vitamin d3 deficiency - l am sure this would make her realise the importance

of taking a supplement. From what l have read - 1000ius is recommended for toddlers - and l think you can get it in drop form. Teenagers and adults its 5000ius upwards. Would your family read whats on this site. Vitamin D3 is important for everyone.

F.

Well said.

Take care.

Chris R.

I. El. (Eng). (Rtd).

I know its going to be a bad day when I get out of bed and miss the floor, today is such a day.

But by then it may be too late. The damage caused by D3 deficiency may already be done and the seeds of MS already sown.

One might as well argue that we shouldn’t brush our kids’ teeth because of the possible risk of fluoride in the toothpaste - best to let them brush them when they’re old enough to decide for themselves. By which time of course they would have widespread tooth decay which can’t reversed.

Again, it would be prudent to seek the advice of a health professional, in this case a dental surgeon, better that than an untrained teenager at the counter of a wacky health shop. Your choice, but I know which I would trust.

Take care.

Chris R.

I. El. (Eng). (Rtd).

I know its going to be a bad day when I get out of bed and miss the floor, today is such a day.