Vitamin D in winter?

[AdlersMom]

I'm wondering how to supplement for Vitamin D during the winter now that I've moved to the Northeast and we can't be outside to get enough sunlight. I have an 18month old DS that I have yet to give supplements to because I figured he was getting a pretty balanced diet between eating TF and breastfeeding. Any advice?

Thanks,
Cindy

[esmicosaquehago]

I wouldn't worry about it as long as he is getting plenty of sun in the sunny season; vit D can store for months in our bodies. If you're worried, you can have his blood levels checked. Does he eat any fish? That's the best natural form of D as far as I know.

[AdlersMom]

I've heard varying amounts of time in the sun for it to be 'healthful'. Anywhere from 10 min /day to 2 hours/day. How much time do you mamas keep your babies out in the sun during the sunny season?

We do eat fish, although not as often as I would like. I would say probably once every week or two...although I recently bought some canned sardines (packed in olive oil) to help increase our intake. Of course with the canned stuff, I'm worried about BPA and the tin itself....

Cindy

[AJP]

I'm surprised you haven't had more answers to this yet. Cod liver oil is the vit. D supplement of choice for most people on this board. Only certain brands have the naturally-occurring vit. D in them, in the right ratio with natural vit. A, generally the brands you'll find at a store have had most of the vitamins removed during processing and then only small amounts added back in, not in the correct ratio or in useful quantities. The WAPF recommends Blue Ice (from Green Pastures or Dr. Ron's), and I think also Garden of Life.

[tinuviel_k]

I live in the Northwest, and cod liver oil didn't even touch my vitamin D levels.

I'm supplementing with 6000+ IU of vitamin D every day, and that is finally raising them up.

[studentmama]

Originally Posted by tinuviel_k

I live in the Northwest, and cod liver oil didn't even touch my vitamin D levels.

I'm supplementing with 6000+ IU of vitamin D every day, and that is finally raising them up.

What are you using? I am actually wondering for my mom, she is having issues with her hip healing and they suspect a vit. d deficency.

[tinuviel_k]

I am using a formula from Biotics called Bio-D-Mulsion. It is very concentrated: 2000 IU per drop, and you put the drops under the tongue. I get it from my HCP, who recommended the dosage I use after I had several blood tests done.

I also drink plenty of bone broth and take a Calcium-magnesium supplement (in my morning smoothie) because you need to be careful and take enough calcium with large doses of vitamin D.

I really wish the CLO had worked for me, but I was taking quite a lot, and the good stuff, too. but it just didn't.

[studentmama]

Originally Posted by tinuviel_k

I am using a formula from Biotics called Bio-D-Mulsion. It is very concentrated: 2000 IU per drop, and you put the drops under the tongue. I get it from my HCP, who recommended the dosage I use after I had several blood tests done.

I also drink plenty of bone broth and take a Calcium-magnesium supplement (in my morning smoothie) because you need to be careful and take enough calcium with large doses of vitamin D.

I really wish the CLO had worked for me, but I was taking quite a lot, and the good stuff, too. but it just didn't.

Thanks, I will pass that one on to her. She is getting a blood panel done next week, but I will get her on top of the bone broth(which I am sure she is sick of hearing about because I love bone broth so much I can't stop talking about it).