Found out I am Vitamin D deficient, what are my best options?

[Athora80]

I've had muscle weakness, fatigue, brain fog and achey stiff joints for a few months now. I finally went to the doc a few weeks ago about it and got my lab results today. My vit D levels were the only ones that were low, at 27 apparently. He told me to go out and get some and to take 5000 i.us a day.

From what I am reading I could have trouble absorbing it, etc, etc. I went out and bought some D3 at 1000 i.u's each which means I have to take 5 a day *sigh*. They are tablet form from Nature Made, is this good enough? I'm nursing my 1 year old and wonder if this is safe (my doc said it was fine)? Should I get my sons levels tested too? I have wanted to get some CLO before this but the high vitamin A dose freaks me out. Any suggestions?

[Adaline'sMama]

It doesnt seem like there is anyway your body could absorb that much. Do you go outside regularly? Your 1 year old should be fine, but I might have him tested just in case.

[1love4ever]

I would go outside and expose your skin to the sun!  Just wear a short sleeve shirt or tank top, no sunscreen, for half an hour.  That should do it for you!  During the winter I would get CLO, as well as sit in front of windows while the sun is shining in with some skin exposed.  Here is some CLO without a high dose of vit A http://www.vitacost.com/Carlson-Norwegian-Cod-Liver-Oil-Lemon-8-4-fl-oz    although I have read that fermented CLO is better.  I really know nothing about fermented, and have not looked into the brands and what not, so I dont have a recommendation.

[1love4ever]

I should have sent the link for this one instead, it is way cheaper and it is the exact same thing except the label says For Kids, and the serving size is cut in half on the nutrition label.  It is the same product as the one I mentioned above http://www.vitacost.com/Carlson-For-Kids-Cod-Liver-Oil 

[sbgrace]

Actually, well done studies have shown that a significant percent of people don't absorb what they need from the sun. Beyond that most places of the world don't even have sun at the correct distance to make vitamin D for much of the year. Finally, the baby may well be low.

You do want D3. Bodies can absorb very large doses at a time research has shown if it's the right form (D3). Generally I would say take 10,000 IU per day for 6 days and then 5,000 on the 7th but I haven't researched nursing levels. A healthy adult can take up to 10,000 IU per day no matter their underlying level without any concern.

I'm confident 5,000 IU per day is perfectly safe. You can actually purchase 5,000 IU capsules though you may have to do it online. That's a much easier way to dose than the 1000's but of course I'd use up what you have too.

Some (me, some others here) have found that the vitamin A does interfere with d absorption at least when you're already low. I'd focus on getting the D up in the 50's or above first and then think about cod liver oil myself. Definitely don't depend on the oil to get your d levels normalized in my experience. Re-test in a few months to make sure you're on the right track with your levels.

You might look (even maybe ask) on the vitamin D council website to find out dosing during nursing. If you can safely take higher doses (like 10,000 most days of the week) I'd do that. Babe is likely low since you were doing pregnancy.

You will likely feel much better when your levels raise.

[beanma]

I get Rainbow Light Sunny Gummies at my HFS and they are so yummy that you would have no problem taking 5 a day. Amazon carries them and I'm sure many other online retailers do too. BTW, that's $16 for 3 bottles, I believe. Vitamin D is relatively pretty cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Vitamin-Gummies-50-Count/dp/B001CEIUEG

I would have no problem taking them while pregnant.  

Did he test your thyroid also? Those symptoms match low thyroid (hypothyroidism) which can sometimes come on after pregnancy (and can also go away — not to scare you). I'd start with the vitamin D and with the CLO or Omega 3s. Nursing can really, really deplete you. Pregnancy is hard enough on your body, but think how much nutrition you are providing now — your little one is probably a LOT bigger than his birth weight!! I like Nordic Naturals for Omega 3s, but there are many good brands. I'm a firm believer in both, though, and I also give it to my big kids and have since they were preschoolers.

hth

[KatWrangler]

My level is at 22.  I take 50,000 IU a week.

[kkfum]

I live in the Northeast. My levels were 29 a couple of winters ago. My doctor put me on 50,000IU once a week and had me continue to take 5,000IU a day on top of that. After 8 weeks when the prescription was finished, she had advised me to continue with the 5,000/day, but I kept forgetting. A month and a half later I had my levels tested again (this was the beginning of spring in the Northeast, so very little UV exposure) my levels had only gone up to 32.

Fast forward to this past spring, I started religiously taking 8,000IU/day of D3 on my own. I may have skipped a day here or there, but I was tested after a couple of months and my levels had gone to 52. About once a week, instead of my regular D3 pills, I also took some Vit D3 multi-vitamins containing Vit K, magnesium, and some other vitamins/minerals that I can't remember off-hand....they help your body better absorb the Vit D. The multi was pricey, though, which is why I didn't take it every day....(I buy them from Purity Products...it's Dr. Cannell's Vit D multi). But you could certainly supplement them separately or be sure to eat foods rich in them.

BTW, I was (and still am) nursing.

Vitamin D scientists say that to maintain existing levels, you should take 1,000IU per day per 25 lbs of body weight. So, if your levels are low, you will need to take more than the maintenance level. My maintenance level is 5,000IU/day, so I took 3,000 more. During this past summer, I was in the sun a lot during peak hours, so I haven't supplemented much at all. I have just begun supplementing again at my maintenance level and will test again soon to see where I'm at. My doc likes to have me tested every 3 mths.

Check out the Vitamin D Council's blog or the Vitamin D Foundation's website for lots of information.

Good luck!

[1love4ever]

Here is an interesting article I just came across  http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/2008-02-01/Vitamin-D-Sunshine-Supplements.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=09.12.11+HE&utm_campaign=HE&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email 

[Athora80]

Thanks for all the replies, gonna get my son in to see the doc to check his levels. Saw my doc a few days ago for something non related and he wants to retest my levels in 3 months....everything I have read says to check your levels often. Does 3 months sound like too long to retest?

[cameragirl]

It can take awhile for your stores to go back up, especially as the days are getting shorter. If I remember right, I believe it was about 3-4 months to get my levels up from deficient to optimal (around 50). I like the Carlson cod liver oil as well. The high vitamin version is back in stock, and it contains more vitamin D. I personally like to supplement with cod liver oil instead of just D3 since it provides the other benefits that go along with clo.