I just recently read about a study that indicated that autoimmune disease CAUSES low levels of vitamin D, and that taking D supplements can WORSEN autoimmune disease! Even though my vitamin D levels are so low they are non-detectable, I will NOT take supplements until I find out more about this, because I have multiple autoimmune diseases, including Lupus and LADA. Has anybody heard anything about this?
Interestingā¦first I have heard.
I havenāt heard of this either. Seems that if autoimmune problems causes Vit D deficiency, it would be logical to get levels back to normal. Was the study on D3? If you can find the study, could you post it?
The only one saying that Vitamin D worsen autoimmune disease is Travis Marshall . His is not a doctor and is thought of as a quack by most experts.
Studies of people with low Vitamin D ;70% of them also have low magnesium levels. Vitamin D doesnāt work well without vitamin D . Magnesium is used in the emzyne reaction the converts vitamin D into the active form of vitamin D .
Blood test are for the most part worthless in detecting a lack of magnesium . When there is a shortage of magnesium in the blood the body will pull it for itās stored reserves ,bones and muscles. the best way is to monitor ones diet for magnesium and avoid high acid diet that would help deplete magnesium from the body.
I was watching the Dr Oz show, and he discussed vitamin D deficiency. He said that getting 10 min of sun 3 days a week is sufficient if you are like Sally Fieldās complexion. She was on the show talking about osteoporosis, and he used her as an example. Required exposure is more the darker skinned you are.
I get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) AKA winter-time depression. The doctor suggested antidepressants. My mother suggested a full-spectrum light. I found out what size of light bulb I had in my cubicle, and went to Home Depot and got a full spectrum one that was that size. It took me about 2 weeks before I felt better, but now I have used it for like 7 years, and the depression doesnāt return as long as I turn it on like a half hour every day, when I get no sun.
I have read where helps with Vitamin D, but I donāt know. Iād check it out if I were you. It is a potentially simple correction for a bad problem.
When bright light or full spectrum light hits the optical nerve it then triggers a response in the pineal gland . One of the thing produced by pineal gland is serotonin And darkness produces melatonin by the pineal . However, ever before the pineal gland can produce melatonin in darkness it must have the brightness earlier in the day.This is why people with SAD may have disrupted sleep patterns.
Being outside during the time of day that is best for vitamin D production may help SAD because of the brihtness of the sun but bright light or spectrum light will not help with vitamin D . The process is different.You full spectrum ligh should not give off UV - Rays
Dr. Oz statement may or may not be true. There are other factors such as time of day (best time some where between 10 am . and 4pm. ) cloud cover or clear, season , body weight , exercise. The basic rule is the amount of time it takes for the skin to turn pink . So Sally might start with 10 min. but with time her exsposer would need to increase. As a rule some one with black skin would need 6 times as much sun time . The fair skin person who reaches peak exsposer in 15 min a dark skin person would need on the average 90min.
Hey Maria,
we havenāt heard from you . Whats your up date .
It is now known that vitamin D is used in 2000 genes in their function .Vitamin D is used in educating immune cell . Low vitamin D is reasons for autoimmune diseases because immune cells can not differentiate .
This thread has been so helpful. But my Vit D levels still arenāt high enough - 25 the last time they were checked. My endo gave me prescription supplements that are only labeled āvitamin Dā so I donāt know if they are D2 or D3. I mentioned that Iād heard D2 doesnāt work and he pooh-poohed that. I didnāt argue because I already argue with him about a couple of things - I say I donāt want a statin and that I want to eat low-carb, not take the 300g carbs/day that his dietician recommended. I feel like I have to pick my battles.
Iām starting to supplement the prescription vit D with D3 tabs and cod liver oil. And magnesium thanks to this thread. Iām not worried about toxicity because I was on the prescription stuff before and it only brought me up a little - and I figure with all the supplements Iāve been takingā¦if Iām only at 25ā¦Iām not in danger of toxicity.
Iām also thinking of one of those lights. Any recommendations? The Dr. Mercola site doesnāt work for me and I dontā want to sign up for ANOTHER newsletter. I feel like I spend half my day deleting emails.
Iām also wondering if my diet is too acid. Iāve always believe the body does a great job staying at constant pH on its own but I may be cannibalizing my bones to do that. What can I do to change that? Cut out soda? Take Tums? Drink tea?
Thanks,
Maria
Wow, that explains a lot. Thanks for all the great information.
Maria
Youāre right about D2 not being the right form. All those dairy products fortified with D2 are useless.
If youāre over 40, getting adequate sunlight from lights or sunshine wonāt help. After 40, we lose the ability to utilize sunlight for Vit D synthesis. I canāt remember why, but I believe it has something to with receptor cells.
You can have a test to find out your pH to learn your acidity, but that might be another doc battle.
Definitely avoid soda. The phosphorus content is high & causes a calcium imbalance that leaches calcium from bones to keep blood calcium levels stable.
Forget Tums. You donāt want to neutralize stomach acid that will adversely effect digestion. Itās basically calcium carbonate (limestone chalk). Calcium carbonate isnāt a good source of calcium.
Google āalkaline foods.ā They are manyāasparagus is great, any veggies in the cabbage family, leafy greens, garlic, cucumbers, celery, sprouts, many seeds & nuts.
Most animal products are acidic, as are sugar, honey, etc.
Tea is acidic, unless itās herbal tea.
Donāt go overboard on alkaline because being too alkaline isnāt good & why you want to aim for eating the right whole foods instead of swallowing supplements.
Maria, Iāve been fighting the same battles statin drug ,low carb diet vs. their high carb(I like the Zone Diet, with some modifications) and yes vitamin D2 issue. Statin drugs could fill a new subject on itās own . Sometime ,I feel frustrated dealing with doctors.
Iām amased that a doctor would tell us, D2 is no different than D3 This opinion is contrary to all science .All the data tells us that D3 is needed for human health . D2 ergocalciferol , is formed in plants and fungi . It does not naturally occur in humans or birds nor do either species appear to benefit from D2 . Fish on the other consume plants with D2 and can convert it to D3. The only form of vitamin D that humans produce is D3 cholecalciferol.
An example of the difference in D3 and D2 in human function : With vitanim D deficiency The Parathyyroid glan becomes over active . Studies have shown that D2 did not decrease the activity of the parathyroid gland ,regardless of the level of D2 . Whereas D3 restored the normal function of the parathyriod glan and reduced PTH level to normal.
D2 is less potent with only 20% effectivenss and is more toxic . The real reason for prescription D2 is that natrual D3 can not be patented but D2 can be syntheticly made by the Big Pharma and holds a patent then is sold at an inflated price.
Dr. Michael Holick one of the leading vitamin D experts stateed; "VitaminD2 should not be regarded as a nutrient suitable for supplementation or fortifecation.
Dr. Holick came up with a formula for the amount of vitamin D to take . Because you level is 25 you will need to add 11 IU per LBs of body weight to raise the level to 40 likewise 19 IU/LBs to raise it to 50, 26 IU/LBs to raise it to 60 and 34IU/LB. This is on top of what you are getting now. Typically translate to about 20 to 25 IU/LB for the average person .
Do not rely on cod liver oil for your full vitamin D supply . Once you reach you value for vitamin A the vitamin A will compete for the same receptors as vitamin D. More and more it seems that Vitamin D overdose is hard to happen.And you will reach toxic level for vitamin A long before you can reach you ideal level of vitamin D.
I have started taking Vitamin D about a month ago. I havenāt had my AC1 tested since I have started to take it but, I donāt think it would change anything. I do know that I should be taking this vitamin daily because I live in a place that doesnāt get sunlight for a almost 2 months of the year. We do see it for around 2 to 3 hours right now but, I am normally going back to work at lunch and then by the time I leave it is nearly dark. So, I think vitamin D is a great thing to takeā¦at least during the winter months.
you may not see any improvement with diabetes ;however there are so many health issues that effect diabetics that vitamin D will address. Once we get the disease the best is to maintain healthy levels and prevent complacations.
Joe,
I canāt tell you how Iāve appreciated your sharing your knowledge. Iām a biochemist but I knew almost nothing about Vitamin D. Interestingly, yesterday I supplemented with 5000-8000 U Vitamin D at lunch. My blood sugar dropped like a rock both times. Two data points arenāt worth much but it was certainly intriguing, considering that my I:C ratio is usually immutable.
I am so glad this thread continues to be active. I hope to post what happens if I really do get my levels up. Iām not hopeful that there will be an improvement but I think itās worth a try.
Maria
I am anxious to hear if your BS drops again after that amount of D. I have had a similar experience 3 times with Turmeric. I take 1000-2000 U of D daily and havenāt noticed a difference in my #'s, just hoping to be warding off all sorts of stuff.
Another trusted voice speaks out supporting vitamin D supplements: click here
Iām surprised to hear that you would have a drop in BG with LADA . I would exspect it maybe with T2ās.
A wild guess that you might have a greater up take of calcium ;in turn there is a better ATP uses on a celluar level , since calcium is a regulalator of ATP in the mitrchchondrial . In which case I could see maybe a greater demand for glucose in the cells and this raising the insulin receptor on the cell. Again a wild guess. ???