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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Apr 26, 2017 11:40:59 GMT
"Millions of people are popping supplements in the belief that vitamin D can help turn back depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, even heart disease or cancer. In fact, there has never been widely accepted evidence that vitamin D is helpful in preventing or treating any of those conditions. But so firm is this belief that vitamin D has become popular even among people with no particular medical complaints or disease risks. And they are being tested for vitamin D “deficiency” in ever greater numbers. The number of blood tests for vitamin D levels among Medicare beneficiaries, mostly people 65 and older, increased 83-fold from 2000 to 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among patients with commercial insurance, testing rates rose 2.5-fold from 2009 to 2014. Labs performing these tests are reporting perfectly normal levels of vitamin D — 20 to 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood — as “insufficient.” As a consequence, millions of healthy people think they have a deficiency, and some are taking supplemental doses so high they can be dangerous, causing poor appetite, nausea and vomiting. Vitamin D overdoses also can lead to weakness, frequent urination and kidney problems." --------------- This article feels like vindication for me. My Ob/Gyn began routinely testing for this some years ago. He advised me to take a vitamin D supplement and even wrote a prescription for it rather than recommending an OTC. I asked more questions and discovered my lab results were normal. I was in the low end of the normal range... but hey, normal is normal. I refused the Rx and declined to take an OTC version as well. It has come up at appointments since with the same conversation basically happening every time. He's a great guy and a great doctor, but it looks like he drank the koolaid. I have long said that the vitamin D "deficiency" issue seemed like fad of sorts. Every other one of my girlfriends (and plenty of people on here) have talked about taking vitamin D. I would encourage everyone who does to look at your actual lab results. I'm no doctor and would never tell you what to take or not. But I would encourage you to be willing to cast a critical eye on the issue and question whether you are doing the best thing. LINK TO ARTICLE |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Apr 26, 2017 11:46:34 GMT
What this article says is basically the opposite of everything that I have read or heard about vitamin d. I believe the "normal" range in the US is above 30. But optimal is higher than that. I wish that my doctor was more knowledgeable about optimal ranges rather than what the lab says is normal. Same for vitamin B12 and even thyroid functioning
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Post by farmdpea on Apr 26, 2017 11:46:45 GMT
This is something that I have definitely seen in the pharmacy over the last few years. I have also seen an increase in people asking for OTC recommendations. I always advise discussing with your dr and consulting lab results before supplementing with a fat-soluble vitamin, because you can get too much.
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tincin
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Post by tincin on Apr 26, 2017 11:53:10 GMT
What this article says is basically the opposite of everything that I have read or heard about vitamin d. I believe the "normal" range in the US is above 30. But optimal is higher than that. I wish that my doctor was more knowledgeable about optimal ranges rather than what the lab says is normal. Same for vitamin B12 and even thyroid functioning Just had my yearly physical yesterday and my doc and I were discussing levels of my TSH, T4, etc. I have to take a lot of supplements because I had bariatric surgery. I am always exhausted and he was telling me that many of my levels were the lowest end of the "normal range." We are adjusting meds to raise them to see if I feel better. Keeping my fingers crossed. |
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Post by not2peased on Apr 26, 2017 11:59:45 GMT
I read this as well and found it interesting. I am mildly deficient and take an over the counter. I don't go crazy with it, and I figure it can't hurt since I don't mega dose. It was part of a number of changes I made in my life that made me healthier and happier so I can't definitively say "it's working" but given the importance of vitamin D in your body, the cheapness/easiness of supplementing & little to no risk if you don't overdose, I will stick with it, unless I read something that changes my mind. the science of health is always evolving, so it's not unusual to have guidelines change on any number of practices, I hardly think people who did believe supplementation was appropriate or that lab values
needed to be evaluated differently were drinking koolaid-if that's the case, every parent who puts their baby in the current year's "correct" sleeping position were drinking the koolaid because they believed the science-which has changed pretty dramatically over the years, and all based on the science of the day.
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Post by littlemama on Apr 26, 2017 12:02:20 GMT
My vitamin D level was tested last year along with a bunch of other stuff that required 12 vials of blood to be taken. My vitamin D level was well within normal range. When I next saw a doctor, he introduced me to his new PA. On the way up to the front desk, he had already gone back to the next patient and she told me that I should take vitamin D. It was completely out of the blue, she was not looking in my chart, and those blood tests were ordered by a different Dr office, so she would have access to them, but would have to specifically look for them. I'm pretty sure she was just telling everyone that. I have no interest in seeing her when I go to this Dr because of this.
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Post by terri on Apr 26, 2017 12:10:14 GMT
With all my medical issues and many misdiagnosis along the way, my attitude with all information from doctors is trust but verify. Vitamin D is no different. I think the best thing to do is get tested if you think you need to but familiarize yourself with the ranges so you can talk to the doctor about whether or not you really need to supplement. When tested, my vitamin D is often in single digits so I do wind up taking a prescription level when it is that low and take vitamin D supplements even when it is not low to try to prevent it getting that low. I'm not sure I understand how people are overdosing on it if they are following directions. Any supplement can hurt you if you aren't following instructions so I wonder if that is the case with some of those overdoses.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2017 12:48:20 GMT
Sunlight. Not too much, watch the UV index for your skin type, but our bodies were designed to need it and to make it primarily from exposure to the sun. Food and supplements are a very inefficient way to get it.
RDAs are merely guidelines, never hard-and-fast rules. You're suffering if you're suffering, not just because a number tells you that you should be suffering.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Apr 26, 2017 12:53:31 GMT
I've wondered why it came up so much with a previous doctor. This explains it.
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Post by Merge on Apr 26, 2017 12:55:40 GMT
Hmmm. A few years ago my level was 7. I'm so wary of sun exposure! Dr. put me on a prescription supplement and encouraged me to go out 15 minutes a day. My levels have been more low-normal since then and I just take an OTC supplement. *shrug* Can't hurt, might help - I'm not going to overdose.
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Post by jumperhop on Apr 26, 2017 13:08:32 GMT
Two months ago I had a physical and the Dr did a bunch of testing vitamin D was the only thing that came back low at 11, which the Dr mentioned she had only seen one other patient with levels below mine. I was told to take 5000 mg a day. And she mentioned that sun exposure wouldn't get my levels up.
Jen
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smartypants71
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Post by smartypants71 on Apr 26, 2017 13:16:23 GMT
There's some link between Vitamin D deficiency and Type 1 diabetes, so I often have to take supplements. However, my doctor retests once I'm done with my Rx to make sure I don't take it unnecessarily to protect my kidneys. She never recommends an OTC daily dose.
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Post by peasapie on Apr 26, 2017 13:20:17 GMT
With all my medical issues and many misdiagnosis along the way, my attitude with all information from doctors is trust but verify. Vitamin D is no different. I think the best thing to do is get tested if you think you need to but familiarize yourself with the ranges so you can talk to the doctor about whether or not you really need to supplement. When tested, my vitamin D is often in single digits so I do wind up taking a prescription level when it is that low and take vitamin D supplements even when it is not low to try to prevent it getting that low. I'm not sure I understand how people are overdosing on it if they are following directions. Any supplement can hurt you if you aren't following instructions so I wonder if that is the case with some of those overdoses. I agree and will add that I take all these articles and studies with a big grain of salt, including this one. The initial studies were pretty solid about low levels of vitamin D and the associated problems, so I'm not going off my OTC dose. As with my thyroid, I'm educated about appropriate ranges and what is right for me. |
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Post by Lindarina on Apr 26, 2017 13:25:13 GMT
I live in a place where I can go days without any daylight during the winter months. If by any chance I'm out in sunlight one day, I'm usually to heavily dressed to get much exposure.
Vitamin D deficiency can be a real problem in this corner of the world, but i've only heard you should take it for healthy bones and bone density.
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mallie
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Post by mallie on Apr 26, 2017 13:31:32 GMT
What this article says is basically the opposite of everything that I have read or heard about vitamin d. I believe the "normal" range in the US is above 30. But optimal is higher than that. I wish that my doctor was more knowledgeable about optimal ranges rather than what the lab says is normal. Same for vitamin B12 and even thyroid functioning That was exactly my problem with my last doctor. I believe I was not living my optimal life because she was so set on following what was a so called normal result rather than focusing on how I felt an d the impact on my life. I will add that I did in fact test far below optimal on vitamin d and supplements did nothing. Sun exposure worked. |
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craftykitten
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Post by craftykitten on Apr 26, 2017 13:33:09 GMT
Two months ago I had a physical and the Dr did a bunch of testing vitamin D was the only thing that came back low at 11, which the Dr mentioned she had only seen one other patient with levels below mine. I was told to take 5000 mg a day. And she mentioned that sun exposure wouldn't get my levels up. Jen Why would they say sun exposure wouldn't get your levels up? That's how our bodies are designed to get vitamin d. That sounds very strange. |
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Post by annabella on Apr 26, 2017 13:34:29 GMT
I don't know, there's been lots of studies that show that people who live in colder climates have a higher rate of depression due to lack of sunlight. Thus it is prudence for all of us to watch out vitamin D levels in the winter time just to keep our mood up. I don't eat fish which is the second highest source of Vitamin D. Some of you live in warmer areas of the country so you get more sunlight, so this may not apply to you. I also read a lot of weight loss books and every single one says Vitamin D is important for optimal brain functioning which helps decrease your cravings. Vitamin D also keeps your bones strong as calcium can't be absorbed without it. I'll continue to get tested and take Vitamin D in the wintertime since I'm not getting any sun exposure.
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likescarrots
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Post by likescarrots on Apr 26, 2017 13:57:06 GMT
I've been tested 3 times and they all came back low. My first test came back at 10. I took a prescribed supplement and came back at 18 (which as far as i have seen, below 30 is considered deficient). I've taken otc supplements since then and my most recent test was 21. The supplements do alleviate some of my symptoms. I do go outside for walks daily, but in the Midwest winters, between the grey sky and having to bundle up, you're still not getting much sun exposure, so it's not a huge help.
There is a lot of research currently on the effects of vitamin d deficiency, so i dont think it's wrong for doctors to be testing for it. Nor do i think the condition is a myth. I do think it's not great for doctors to be pushing supplements for people who are clearly at reasonable levels based on their lab results.
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Post by librarylady on Apr 26, 2017 14:17:53 GMT
My sister has thyroid problems (in case that matters). She also has extremely low vitamin D.
Recently her dr. said he/she was trying to determine why my sister's body is not "processing" the D as it should.
(my words, not the dr.)
Perhaps the two conditions are connected.
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Post by pondrunner on Apr 26, 2017 14:22:19 GMT
Sunlight. Not too much, watch the UV index for your skin type, but our bodies were designed to need it and to make it primarily from exposure to the sun. Food and supplements are a very inefficient way to get it. RDAs are merely guidelines, never hard-and-fast rules. You're suffering if you're suffering, not just because a number tells you that you should be suffering. Unfortunately a large number of us live in places where half the year the sun's rays are not strong enough to produce enough vitamin D in our bodies no matter how much time we spend outdoors. Draw a line from San Francisco through Denver, St. Louis, and Richmond and everybody North of that line is in the zone of less vitamin d production in the late fall, winter, and early spring months. North of 37 degrees most people's bodies respond to sunlight by make vitamin d in the summer months only. |
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Post by pondrunner on Apr 26, 2017 14:22:57 GMT
Two months ago I had a physical and the Dr did a bunch of testing vitamin D was the only thing that came back low at 11, which the Dr mentioned she had only seen one other patient with levels below mine. I was told to take 5000 mg a day. And she mentioned that sun exposure wouldn't get my levels up. Jen Why would they say sun exposure wouldn't get your levels up? That's how our bodies are designed to get vitamin d. That sounds very strange. The answer is latitude. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Apr 26, 2017 14:27:38 GMT
So my sister and I both had low testing results on Vitamin D. She lives in Florida and I live in Colorado. She gets TONS of sun, probably way more than I would be comfortable with. She also has thyroid problems but I don't. Anyways, I am taking a supplement for 13 weeks. One pill a week, high dosage. I think she is just taking an OTC type at this point. Both of us have similar problems so I'll go with what my doctor ordered. I'm not yet Type 1 diabetes but close to it. I am trying to handle it so far with diet.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2017 14:33:26 GMT
Sunlight. Not too much, watch the UV index for your skin type, but our bodies were designed to need it and to make it primarily from exposure to the sun. Food and supplements are a very inefficient way to get it. RDAs are merely guidelines, never hard-and-fast rules. You're suffering if you're suffering, not just because a number tells you that you should be suffering. Unfortunately a large number of us live in places where half the year the sun's rays are not strong enough to produce enough vitamin D in our bodies no matter how much time we spend outdoors. Draw a line from San Francisco through Denver, St. Louis, and Richmond and everybody North of that line is in the zone of less vitamin d production in the late fall, winter, and early spring months. North of 37 degrees most people's bodies respond to sunlight by make vitamin d in the summer months only. I'm one of those people (Seattle area for the last 25 years, northern Ohio, North Dakota before that). There remains controversy about whether or not little or "weak" wintertime sun gives us enough, but my point remains that sunlight IS the best way to get it, and supplementation in the absence of any symptoms is unnecessary. YMMV Save |
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Apr 26, 2017 15:00:43 GMT
What this article says is basically the opposite of everything that I have read or heard about vitamin d. I believe the "normal" range in the US is above 30. But optimal is higher than that. I wish that my doctor was more knowledgeable about optimal ranges rather than what the lab says is normal. Same for vitamin B12 and even thyroid functioning Just had my yearly physical yesterday and my doc and I were discussing levels of my TSH, T4, etc. I have to take a lot of supplements because I had bariatric surgery. I am always exhausted and he was telling me that many of my levels were the lowest end of the "normal range." We are adjusting meds to raise them to see if I feel better. Keeping my fingers crossed. I have to over medicate my thyroid meds to feel better |
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Apr 26, 2017 15:24:31 GMT
I don't recall all the specifics, but DD had genetic testing that showed that her body did not produce enough vitamin D, and that her body also utilized it inefficiently. This was also during a time when she was getting a ton of natural sunlight, and we're not at northern latitudes. She basically needs to have a pretty high blood level for her body to use enough of it. One anecdotal bit of proof she needed it - she had pretty crappy teeth before she started taking it - they were rather weak and chalky, prone to pitting and minor cavities. Once she started taking the supplement, her teeth have been great. I'll also add, this is under a doctor's supervision/recommendation. She takes 6000 IU a day right now, in addition to a fair amount of outside time most days.
One thing my doctor has pointed out is that some of us who live in hotter climates are less likely to get sunlight during the summer months as we hibernate in the cool dark of air conditioned places. So bear that in mind when considering your sunlight exposure!
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Nink
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Post by Nink on Apr 26, 2017 15:28:16 GMT
My sister has thyroid problems (in case that matters). She also has extremely low vitamin D. Recently her dr. said he/she was trying to determine why my sister's body is not "processing" the D as it should. (my words, not the dr.) Perhaps the two conditions are connected. I'm hypo thyroid and my last lab work came back with my vitamin D level at 9. I take a supplement. |
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Apr 26, 2017 15:39:09 GMT
The range of responses is pretty interesting.
I do think there's a distinction to be made between people whose vitamin D levels are impacted by other conditions and those who have no other issues. I think the controversy over whether vitamin D levels are over-tested and it is over-prescribed relates more to that "otherwise healthy" population.
Nonetheless, it's an interesting discussion. Thanks to everyone who is sharing their experiences.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 26, 2017 15:45:36 GMT
Sunlight. Not too much, watch the UV index for your skin type, but our bodies were designed to need it ^^this is tough, depending on where you live. My vit. D levels were low, and we get 300+ days of sunshine a year here! But I'm not outside IN it very often, working in an office, driving to/from work in my car, etc. and with the climate here, being out in the sun for any length of time can be really damaging (I have really fair skin, and burn easy). So I'd rather supplement, too. Especially with needing anti-depressants, anything else that gets the least bit 'off' about my diet / nutrition affects my energy levels and mood. ETA: One thing my doctor has pointed out is that some of us who live in hotter climates are less likely to get sunlight during the summer months as we hibernate in the cool dark of air conditioned places. So bear that in mind when considering your sunlight exposure! I should have just said "ditto" to this! |
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Post by cade387 on Apr 26, 2017 15:47:07 GMT
I have always had low vitamin D. I suck at taking supplements/vitamins. I just was tested and came back with a 3. I'm super low. I'm working on the supplements, but it is really hard.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Apr 26, 2017 16:22:30 GMT
While I can't disagree with the need for more scientific evidence that levels once considered normal - 20-30 - which are now being treated as deficient discussed in the article. I do disagree with the idea that you're not going to test for deficiency until you have osteoporosis or are breaking bones because they're so brittle. I'm not opposed to occasional screening for populations that would seem to be at risk for deficiency - northern latitude, rarely outdoors, rarely eat foods containing vitamin D etc.
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