Vitamin D Deficiency--Poll

[cahill]

I take 50,000 IU weekly, + 2000 daily and I am out side a minimum of 45 min a day and my vitamin D is FINALLY up to 28

[color-me-confused]

Tested at 15, 8 weeks of 50,000 weekly and 2000 daily, along with only sunscreening my face, got me to 27. Now on 1000 daily.

[Reba32]

I had all my vitimin and mineral levels tested after my Celiac dx, and everything was deficient. Everything, not just D (though that one seems to be the fashionable one to test most commonly these days, there are several other very important vits and minerals that should be tested).

Even with mega-doses of supplements, while your villi are healing, you'll probably still be low or deficient because of continuing malabsorption issues. I've read it can take as long as 5 years to fully heal, IF you don't get glutened.

I've been gluten-free since Dec. 2009, and I go for my physical next month, so will have all my vitimin and mineral levels tested. I'm hoping they're up a bit from last time, but I'm not expecting anything miraculous just yet.

[tennisman]

Mine is low , it started to go up than stopped going up . I take sometimes quadruple my dose and it does nothing :S

[akceliac]

I too was dx with D deficiency, but only after 11 years of bone pain and other side effects due to other serious vitamin and mineral deficiencies which were not even considered by the local medical community until I presented with life threatening symptoms.

As a last ditch effort to "get me out of the office", the doctor finally tested my Vit D levels. The total D2 & D3 was 12. At first she said to take 400 IU daily. After consulting with her colleagues she wrote a prescription for oral D2 at 16,000 IU daily for three months.

I couldn't afford the over $100/week cost of the Rx, so I researched the internet for Vit D deficiencies and found that D3 is the most effective form to take and I started taking 10,000 IU daily. It's very inexpensive to purchase OTC. My numbers finally increased to 75. The Rheumatologist wants to see 80.

Most doctors assume that I'm going to overdose on Vit D3 because I take larger than AMA recommended doses; but it's been 4 years since I started taking the Vit D3 supplementation and my numbers are still between 65-75 and my bones are no longer hurting.

[PainfulSpaghetti]

Again, Thank you all so much for your replies. It's always heartbreaking to learn that so many of us struggle, but at least we aren't alone!

[thleensd]

Yup. Was 18 and falling (no one told me until an observant doc looked back at the numbers months later), went on 50K for 6 weeks-brought to 59, supplemented at 2k/day, dropped to 46 (still normal, but didn't like the direction), now I take 5k multiple times per week (3-6) and I seem to be holding pretty steady: 56. Consider looking into taking magnesium with the D.

Now if I could only get my iron stable...

[PainfulSpaghetti]

Now if I could only get my iron stable...

[Nor-TX]

My Vit D stays in the mid 20s even though I take 5,000 a day and I get 200 mg of Venofer every 5 weeks with my Remicade infusion. Iron levels are improving slowly...

[AVR1962]

I am curious as to how many of us have Vitamin D defiencies. Mine was severe, and I struggle to raise my count, and have been all year. Anyone else?

Yes, caused me all kinds of trouble.

[Sarah Alli]

I was tested for vitamin D deficiency when all this first started, it was quite low. But everyone that I know that's been tested was low- I think it's baseline, especially in Alaska where I was living at the time.

I was retested about two months after gluten-free, now within normal limits! Still on the low end, but it's a victory for sure. Just need to get my iron up, now.

[Lori2]

It has taken me four years to get my vitamin D levels up to mid-range taking 5,000 units a day plus an extra 50,000 weekly. I've just been gluten free since January.

[mushroom]

I just gave hub a wakeup kick. He has osteopenia and has (supposedly) been taking calcium and magnesium along with 50,000 units D and I made him get retested for D - his level was only 30 He said well that was normal. I told him if he were one point lower he would be insufficient, that he needs LOTS of D, like 70 or 80. He was all, like, HUH??? Exasperation!!!!!

[Cattknap]

Vitamin D, Iron and thyroid - all very low because of celiac.....but all things that will improve or become normal as I remain gluten free,

[watata]

I was diagnosed by my cardiologist in March. My level was 13. Put on 50000 a week , after 4 months went up to 26 , moved up to 50000 every 5 days and now at 48. Diagnosed with Celiac 5 days ago. Vit B12 is low edge of normal, magnesium ok, they didn't test folic acid and iron is right at 12. was 8 last august. Crazy, but will keep an eye on it all.

[JoshB]

38 which counts as sufficient, they say. I drink a good bit of milk, try to get some sun and take some supplements (just over the counter).

Worth noting that Wikipedia says 30~50 is the desired range, and that anything over 50 doesn't provide increased benefit and is in fact a little risky.

[domesticactivist]

We take fermented cod liver oil from green pastures. It is the most nutitional available source.

[T.H.]

My vitamin D levels were low and continued dropping for a year when I was on the gluten-free diet, even though I am outside in the sun quite a bit on a daily basis. I reacted to all the vitamin D supplements, as well as all food that is vitamin D supplemented, so I was pretty worried where this was going to lead.

Then I got rid of as much gluten cc as I possibly could, even that which is allowed in gluten-free products (my only processed food right now is oil, salt, and one whole grain), and after a year of that, my vitamin D levels are up to high-normal levels. Very happy that this is now the case, phew!

[jemms]

mine was very low and I now take liquid Vitamin D...no wonder I was feeling so depressed and overall sluggish...

[anabananakins]

I was diagnosed with Vit D deficiency a year ago July... 22 with a reference range of 51-140. I used to feel like death warmed up. Retested in July and I was 107 - woot! I think I take 3000 a day (it's three pills anyway).

I live in Sydney, Australia too - you'd think I'd be getting enough sunshine. I don't go and lie in the sun, but just walking to the bus stop in the morning, and walking up the street a few times a week at lunch time gets me enough sun to tan my face arms and feet. Nope. Craziness. I don't know how people going through long dark winters have any vit D at all.