I've been taking 5000u of D3 a day. My labs came back today, and My D3 was 27! I've been put on 50,000u every 2 week. Wondering if my chronic fatigue and muscle pain are related?
A1C is 5.7, same as 3m ago.
I'd appreciate hearing anyone else's experience with this.
My D3 is very low too, and my endo is putting me on that as well. LOL I need to get outside and get some sunlight every now and then, but I'm going to be having knee surgery probably later this year, and endo wants me on this NOW so I can have a better outcome with my upcoming surgery. See the ortho next Wed, totally excited they are one of the top practices in the area. Im sure it can definatley be contributing to your muscle pain and maybe even the chronic fatigue. If you are always hurting you can't possibly be resting well.
I took 50,000u D2 for 8 weeks and then switched to 5,000u D3. My brother and I are both insulin dependent and tried several diffrent brands. We get tested every 3 months at the Mayo clinic lab (Natural Factors D3 and NOW D-3 have worked while some of the D3 supplements did not seem to have any impact on our D3 numbers.
If you do not have enough D3 then your body cannot utilize Calcium, Your parathyroids control calcium levels in the blood and without D3 it's not possible.
I took 10,000 IU of D3 daily for months to get my levels up. Don't know when you starting supplementing, but it can take a while to see a difference. Optimum level is above 50 ng/ml.
Agree with Sally. D2 is ineffective. Fortunately, D3 is cheap even at large doses.
It took 6 months for my D3 to reach 25 and another 6 months for it to reach a normal level.
| Component | Your Value | Standard Range | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIT D, 25-HYDROXY D2 | <4.0 | ng/mL | |
| VIT D, 25-HYDROXY D3 | 33 | ng/mL | |
| VIT D, 25-HYDROXY D TOTAL | 33 | ||
|
Unit: ng/mL I was also low on B vitamins and had low energy levels....Testing for B has also become more common practice in the last few years. |
I tested low as well and eventually had to go to 10,000 IU/day. I think the prescription is a rip-off. For me, one pill every two weeks would cost $5/pill. I can get my 300 of my 2,000 IU vit D3 gelcaps at costco for the price of like 2 pills. It also took me about six months to reach levels and I am now able to only take 6,000 IUs/day and stay stable.
ps. And I agree with Sally about the Dr.
It's D3 for sure ;) Yes, I was taking 5000 IU a day. It is less than 5000 IU a day but apparently the massive dose at once makes a difference? I've been supplementing D3 for years, but just went up to 5000 IU a day 8-9 months ago?
I need to do a lot of googling today. My bone density is horrific due to chemeotherapy drugs. I used a daily injectable parathyroid hormone for 2 years to prevent more bone loss- due for another dexa scan. I see my endo in Oct. so hopefully there will be some difference, though from what Gerri and John have said probably not *sigh*
I have such a love/hate relationship with medical mysteries! Love doing the research, hate the rest.
How high is your D level?
The Vit D Council says that after 40, we lose the ability to convert sunlight into D3. For those under 40, about 75% of the skin has to be exposed to get sufficient sunlight to convert.
Dairy products fortified with D usually has D2 added & that doesn't help.
You had "toxic" levels? Levels of 25-OHD above 200 ng/mL are potentially toxic. The Vitamin D Council discusses toxicity with similar claims of toxicity thresholds, but they do have some bias.
My levels got to 84 ng/mL and it was never suggested that was "toxic." Most of the things I've read suggest that adults can take 10,000 IUs/day safely. There are however some conditions which can cause problems metabolizing vit D such as magnesium deficiency, hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism. I do hope you are ok.
84 ng/mL is probably a long way from toxic...only 4ng/mL above normal range for US population. I'm not sure anyone knows what the tipping point really is.
REFERENCE VALUE--TOTAL (D2+D3)
Optimum levels in the normal population are 25-80
by: Mayo Medical Laboratories * 200 First
Street SW * Rochester,MN 59905
I was tested for B and it was also low, It seems like the medical community is now looking at B. I would also point out that although I was low they did not put me on a supplement or give me B-12 injections like when I was low on D2 and D3.
Afraid I don't know anything about elevated alkaline phosphatase & Vit D. Some meds effect alkaline phosphatase levels. Think aspirin is one. Yours isn't terribly high. Really high values can indicate liver or bone problems.
Well, I'm not sure of the role of alkaline phosphatase. From what I have read, alkaline phosphatase is usually increased with vitamin D deficiency and then comes down when you treat. Normally, alkaline phosphatase would be decreased when you have high D levels.
Vitamin D toxicity usually results in hypercalcemia, kidney stones, kidney stress, weight loss, nausea, etc. From the Merck Manuals:
Vitamin D Toxicity
Usually, vitamin D toxicity results from taking excessive amounts. Marked hypercalcemia commonly causes symptoms. Diagnosis is typically based on elevated blood levels of 25(OH)D. Treatment consists of stopping vitamin D, restricting dietary Ca, restoring intravascular volume deficits, and, if toxicity is severe, giving corticosteroids or bisphosphonates.
Because synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D (the most active metabolite of vitamin D) is tightly regulated, vitamin D toxicity usually occurs only if excessive doses (prescription or megavitamin) are taken. Vitamin D 1000 μg (40,000 IU)/day causes toxicity within 1 to 4 mo in infants. In adults, taking 1250 μg (50,000 IU)/day for several months can cause toxicity. Vitamin D toxicity can occur iatrogenically when hypoparathyroidism is treated too aggressively (see Electrolyte Disorders: Pathophysiology).
Symptoms and Signs
The main symptoms result from hypercalcemia. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting can develop, often followed by polyuria, polydipsia, weakness, nervousness, pruritus, and eventually renal failure. Proteinuria, urinary casts, azotemia, and metastatic calcifications (particularly in the kidneys) can develop.
I have also heard that magnesium plays a crucial role in the metabolism of vitamin D and calcium, so I make sure that my magnesium levels are normal and I supplement with magnesium.
In any case, your readings are too high and it is good to reduce the intake as both of us have done.