I just got labs back from my endocrinologist saying I had low Vitamin D. Considering I spend most of my day outside and drink 4 gallons a milk a week, because I constantly crave it, I was shocked to say the least. She told me to take 2,000 IU a day. My counts were low enough to cause the adult form of rickets. But I have narcolepsy so knowing whether muscle weakness is from that or the "rickets" is next to impossible.

Why am I so low when I consume so much? And calcium wasn't tested, so I have no idea where that's at.

[(JD)]

Hi Lydia I'm not a medical doctor but when you said you crave milk, I thought I'd add a comment... my allergist rightly said that you crave or abhor the things you are allergic to.... so it could be that you are allergic to milk, or something in the milk and the way the body is responding is by blocking the absorption of the elements...such as vitamin D.

There appears to be a rash of Vitamin D deficiency in our country, D3 specifically... and I can't believe that this is just coincidence. IMO there has to be something lacking in our foods (even milk?) or something that is allowed in our foodstuffs that is causing vitamin D to be bound and dumped from the body. I don't believe in coincidences, and since it is nationwide, it has to be the food.

The best way to take calcium is with magnesium in a good ratio, otherwise the body doesn't use it... it's called dolomite --this properly ratio'd combination.

Good wishes on finding out the issue.

[Perna]

Hi Lydia, I notice you are in Pennsylvania; I don't think we can get enough sun in the winter from this latitude to get enough D.

Milk has a different "kind" of vitamin D (D3) that, though useful for the general population doesn't work as well as necessary for those of us who need more and a gallon of milk has less than 2000 IU's of added D3 which your body may or may not be able to use completely. It could be too, as JD points out that you have a problem with milk and I'd talk to your doctor about your cravings.

I would give your endo's suggestion a try, find a good 2000 IU, D2 pill (I use "Sundown" http://www.sundownnaturals.com/ I get at my grocery store) and see if things change for you within a week or two?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vit...CTION=evidence

[racee]

I know you problem know all this but this is one of my fav. site ato go to about Vit. D ...yes i have a bunch of refrence sites.

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co...r-vitamin.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...rient&dbid=110

[lynn P.]

I agree with the other posters that you may not be absorbing the Vit D in the milk well or there isn't enough in the milk as Perna said. Vitamin D is a 'fat soluble vitamin' that is assimilated in the lower intestine - if a person has an absorption problem, then the vitamin won't be used. Fat soluble means, the vitamin ends up being absorbed in fatty areas and stored in the body - vitamin D also needs some fat in the diet to be used well, which is why you should take it with dinner. JD mention other vitamins that help in absorption. Since vitamin D is fat soluble and stored in the body, we do have to remember it's possible to take or absorb 'too much' - therefore you should ask your doctor when you should have it checked again.

I had low vitamin D too even though I drink 3 glasses daily. Another reason why many of us are low, is because we've been bombarded about how sun is so bad and people are blocking the UV rays which help us make our own vitamin D. All it takes is 15 min. of sun on your arms and face, which isn't bad. Yes sunscreen is necessary but I don't over do it and slather it on every time my kids go out the door like some mom's do.

http://www.merckmanuals.com/professi...04/ch004k.html

[(JD)]

Oh yeah Lynn brings up an important fact: D is stored in fat, so if you are overweight at all, you need maybe 2-3x the "normal" amount.

[NoBread]

I have celiac disease which causes mal-absorption and my D levels were low even after taking a higher dose of Vitamin D for a year. If it doesn't get absorbed it doesn't really matter how much you take. Just something to think about.

[Yoda]

I read recently that approx 80% of adult Americans are deficient in vitamin D. The maximum recommended daily dose of vitamin D for adults is 4000 iu so you are doing well.

[Hope-Full]

I too, have had a vitamin D deficiency for years and my doctor kept asking me to take a supplement, but I always foud the pills hard to swallow. Last year I found these ddrops hes at my local Whole Foods - 2 drops on my wrist, licked off each morning, and I have 2000 IUs in less than a second - easy, tasteless, but very helpful! For the first time in 5 years my Vit D levels were normal at my appointment last month! It's about $30 for a 3 month supply, and worth it!

[Beholden]

What symptoms do any of you have with low D?

[Hope-Full]

Originally Posted by Beholden

What symptoms do any of you have with low D?

I know my doctor was concerned that the low VitD was strongly impacting my mood, and likely played a role in my depression. I also believe that it plays a role in energy levels as well.

[Beholden]

Originally Posted by Hope-Full

I know my doctor was concerned that the low VitD was strongly impacting my mood, and likely played a role in my depression. I also believe that it plays a role in energy levels as well.

Thnks Hope-Ful. Yesterday was my monthly weight loss group meeting and I asked the R Diet. about what is effected with low Vit. D. She did say depression was one of the things that can happen, as well as bone health, immune system stuff as well.

[yellowted]

i have low vit D, and was told calcium helps convert sunlight into the usable vit D, as i am allergic to both dairy and calcium suppliments it is really difficult to get enough calcium to do this and keep strong bones etc, most foods contain calcium in small levels, brocoli has one of the highest concentrations of calcium after dairy products and it is far easier to digest and use!

[music junkie]

i have been trying to eliminate possible illnesses i might have, & vitamin D deficiency was listed as a possible culprit for my symptoms. your thread has been very helpful to me. thank you for posting.

[yellowted]

vitamin D is probably the culprit for many mental health symptoms, only problem is the research has yet to catch up with the thinking of those dealing with the symptoms!
like many things it is well known long before the so called experts consider it possible!

roll on next century!

[mokie]

I know for pain like fibromalgia it really matters. Low level can be a reason for pain. Doctor put me on vitamin d and added magnesium to help absorb the vitamin.

[Oakrun]

Recall reading that once a person reaches the age of 40, their skin makes considerable less D3. That could be part of the problem on why you tested low.

Overall, what I do is take 6000ius of D3 a day in order to reach a testing level between 60 to 70ng/ml. Thought this article explained well what to look for in D3 supplements and how to test.

"Getting vitamin D right"

http://www.trackyourplaque.com/blog/...n-d-right.html

Excerpt from it about age:

“I’m going to Florida. I’ll stop my vitamin D because I’m going to lay in the sun.”
Wrong. 90% of adults over 40 years old have lost the majority of their ability to activate vitamin D in the skin. A typical response might be an increase in blood level from 25 to 35 ng/ml–a 10 ng increase with a dark brown tan.

There is an occasional person who, with sun exposure, increases blood levels substantially. This can occur in both fair-skinned and dark-skinned people, though I’ve never seen it happen in an African-American person. The occasional person who maintains the ability to convert vitamin D with sun exposure, or young people, should seasonally adjust their vitamin D dose, e.g., 6000 units winter, 3000 units summer, or some other regimen that maintains desirable blood levels. You can see that monitoring blood levels (we check levels every 6 months for the first 2 years) is crucial: You cannot know what your vitamin D needs are unless you assess 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels.

[Beholden]

Thanks Oakrun!

The web site page you included was very helpful. My doc is on the right track with checking my levels in 3 months then. Sweet.

She mentioned that the treatment would be to take supplements. Now I know that the gel caps are the best/right ones.