Vitamin D3 Deficiency

[WindingRoad]

I just received a call from my doctor saying that I needed to start taking 5,000 units of D3 for a month and then to taper down to 1,000 afterward. So I am curious if anyone else has been diagnosed with this problem?

I have read online a slew of things it can cause. Most of them I haven't noticed aside from being a bit more depressed than what is normal for me at this time of year. It also says it can make it difficult to maintain and build muscle mass, which I think may be a problem for me too. I am currently preparing for a lengthy race this summer and the weight workouts have been absolutely wiping me out. I don't remember feel so wiped out like this before? I REALLY hope the supplements help.

[Triskeliongirl]

Yeh it happened to me too. I realized it was brought on by following the advice of a doctor to use daily suncreen. Our bodies actually need sunlight So I stopped with the routine sunscreen, and only put it on if I will be spending several hours in intense sun such as biking in summer, skiing in winter, or going to the beach. I also take the supplements and I am fine now.

In terms of skin care, I started using olive oil as a moistureizer. It works better than sunscreen to prevent wrinkles.

[Biciclista]

Doctors are just discovering the fact that most of us are Vit D deficient along with a whole host of associated problems.
I still don't have my Vit D level above 30

[OakLeaf]

I'm still not convinced that it's causation rather than correlation (with lack of sun exposure). I don't have a citation off the top of my head, but the latest thing published on the subject found that vitamin D supplements do NOT decrease the likelihood of some of the health problems associated with low vitamin D levels. I'm not at all convinced that vitamin D production is the only benefit of sun exposure.

Besides vitamin D (which is a hormone), melatonin and leptin levels are influenced by sunlight exposure. The human body is a complex system and they're realizing more and more that reductionist solutions don't work.

[lunacycles]

There was a time (not THAT long ago) when I recall being warned by the medical establishment NOT to take vitamin D supplements, as D in excess was very, very bad for you, and that 5 minutes of daylight gave you all the D you needed. Now, it appears Vit D supplementation is one of the few things you can do, supplement-wise, to lower your overall cancer risk!

Does anyone know of any dangers of taking too much? And how much might be too much? I take 1000 I.U. daily.

[makbike]

I take 1000 IU of vit D daily as my levels were once low too. I think (don't quote me on this) that I read someplace that medication for high cholesterol can block absorption of Vit D (again don't quote me on this as it was several years ago).

[Biciclista]

luna, if you read the literature the amount of Vit D that caused overdoses in studies, that was hundreds of times more than the high doses being suggested now.

We have gone from an animal who lives outdoors naked to an animal that lives INDOORS and either covers up or puts sun screen on every portion of their body that is touched by the sun.

Because i have osteo and my sister and mother and aunt (etc, etc) have it, i have been reading all i can about this.
Living where I live, there isn't even enough Vit D producing rays for MONTHS in the winter/spring/fall even if I was outside all the time and wasn't covered up.
Is it a coincidence that diseases like MS seem to be more prevalent in the PacNW?

[WindingRoad]

According to what I have ran across online they say even doses up to 10,000 units is still safe. Since I don't see me going out riding in shorts and a tank anytime soon (ice storm on the way, puke!) I guess I'm stuck taking D3 supplements and hoping for the best. I admit I don't get outside nearly as much as I once did and when I do I'm completely covered aside of my face. I have to do alot more workouts in the gym these days.