vitamin D (adult)

[VBMama]

Anyone supplement their vitamin D? My hcp ran some bloodwork for me recently in response to my complaints about fatigue. My results showed thyroid normal & iron borderline, so I'm going to start an iron supplement. She also tested my vit D and recommended a 12-wk course of supplementation.

I haven't researched vit D at all other than to be aware that vit D deficiency has been in the mainstream news somewhat recently. I declined supplements for my last baby since I don't like to do anything but breastmilk , but I'm curious what the current thinking on adult deficiency is. Any thoughts or links anyone cares to share with me?

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by VBMama

Anyone supplement their vitamin D? My hcp ran some bloodwork for me recently in response to my complaints about fatigue. My results showed thyroid normal & iron borderline, so I'm going to start an iron supplement. She also tested my vit D and recommended a 12-wk course of supplementation.

I haven't researched vit D at all other than to be aware that vit D deficiency has been in the mainstream news somewhat recently. I declined supplements for my last baby since I don't like to do anything but breastmilk , but I'm curious what the current thinking on adult deficiency is. Any thoughts or links anyone cares to share with me?

I think pretty much everyone should supp D I like Carlsons Vit D drops. You also want D3 not D2. YOu can get good Vit D onfo at www.vitamindcouncil.org I would even give to LO. DD takes about 2000ius(sh'es 2) a day unless we are out in the sun for awhile.

From what I have read If your Iron is low it could be due to being low in other nutrients such as B vitamins and Zinc I believe it's been awhile since reading up on Iron tho. Also it's hard to absorb Iron without Vit C so maybe you need C???

[SuburbanHippie]

I take the Pro D line from Dr Eisenstein at http://www.homefirst.com. His children's vitamins are really great too. When my Vit D level was low, I started taking 10,000 IUs daily for about 7 months. By then my level reached 65 ng/ml which is great. I then cut back to 5,000 IUs daily (sometimes I skip a day if I'm not paying attention) for maintenance.

Dr E has great info on his website. You should check it out.

[JaneS]

Harvard studies say that breastmilk contains "enough" vitamin D if mamas take 6000 IU per day. Otherwise, it's deficient.

[sbgrace]

Originally Posted by JaneS

Harvard studies say that breastmilk contains "enough" vitamin D if mamas take 6000 IU per day. Otherwise, it's deficient.

And I'd go further--if you're low the baby you're breastfeeding isn't getting enough D. She needs a supplement too. Babies over one can have 2000 IU per day. You can do 9,000 IU per day indefinitely though you'd have to take that into account in determining the baby dose if nursing is still ongoing. You're low so you could do higher. I'd still do about 9,000 IU per day--make sure it's D3. I got 5,000 IU pills and took two most days.

The vitamin D council linked above is the best resource for current research on vitamin D. I highly recommend you read up! I'd venture a guess the fatigue is related to the D.

[SandyMom]

I agree w/ pp.
Adequate levels of Vit D are required for the proper utilization of thyroid hormones. So, even if thyroid levels are "normal" we may not be able to properly uptake the hormones, which could cause fatigue.

[cheryllynn]

What were your vit D levels?

My doc wants me to be > 50. I'm increasing from 4,000 to 6,000 daily.

We first started addint vit D due to low calcium levels even though I was taking way more than RDA. By adding vit D my calcium levels normalized. My last test was 48, so he wants me to increase even though heading to summer season. I get a blood test every 3 months.

You do not want to overdose on vit D, but as far as I've read, most people are seriously deficient in vit D, especially with all the scares of being in the sun and using sun screen.

If you want to naturally increase vit D, spend 20 minutes / day or more with naked skin - no sun screen. Your body will normalize vit D but not if you use any sun screen.

[VBMama]

Interesting info, thanks everyone! I can't remember precisely what my levels were, I'd have to go look. I'm always suspicious at first of big pharma when I start hearing such generalized recommendations, but I trust that this community has many members who pay attention so it sounds like it's worth researching for me!