Vitamin D May Influence Genes for Cancer, Autoimmune Disease

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I take 1000 units of Vitamin D a day. My blood report says I am low in vitamin D. How much more should I take?

Paula of KY 12:53PM February 16, 2013

I just changed doctors. One of the first things she said she is doing is testing my Vitamin D levels. I have been taking 400 IU a day, she told me for now increase to at least 1000 IU, but I was so worried after reading a short article about D poisoning. Forget that article. After reading all this I'm so glad for the doctor change and the advice she gave. It seems so many of my symptoms could be coming from Vit. D shortage. It sure would be nice to get off all these meds that don't seem to help me anyway. I will wait till my test results come back and speak with her, but I'm sure I will be increasing my dosage even more. I will also speak to my diabetic, depressed, high BP and exhausted husband's doctor about testing his D levels too.
For once I feel hopeful for some relief of my diagnosis of Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, maybe the Asthma that we both have and so many other problems. I also disagree with the doctors about our depressions and anxiety too. I truly believe that the syptoms & the diagnosises of all these things actually cause the depression not the other way around. After all, I remember days that we, especially myself, feeling good inside and out. Then things started to breakdown and no "good" reason for symptoms was found. There were just guesses and medications that may or may not relieve them. I don't expect a miracle cure for everything, but if normal Vit. D levels can relieve some of this pain and discomfort, well yeah, I would call that a miracle. I will check back when progress is made. Thanks for all the info and inspiration to all.
Barb

Barb of PA 5:48AM December 07, 2010

Pale people are able to absorb more Vitamin D from the sun than dark-skinned people. I wonder if that causes the racial differences in health outcomes, which are severe and unexplained.

Jenny of NM 3:24PM August 31, 2010

The Vitamin D Council is a not-for-profit organisation that provides in-depth resources about Vitamin D research. I have also written a blog post with further information and statistics.http://antiagingboomer.com/vitamin-d-does-more-than-just-prevent-the-flu/

Helen Wenley 4:41PM August 30, 2010

Vitamin D is also a good treatment for TB. This was proved by a study in Indonesia where doctors gave seventy tuberculosis patients 10,000 units of vitamin D per day for nine months. All 70 patients were cured of tuberculosis.

Michael Haymar 12:39PM August 30, 2010

"After all, some are diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency in spite of having more exposure to sunlight than is necessary to achieve maximal stores."
Some who? when? where? Please, this statement needs references!

gazal 7:05AM August 30, 2010

It is very likely that Vitamin D gets used up because of disease. Vitamin D enters cells to select them for apoptosis. That's what I have read anyway. So the question is what comes first the deficiency or the illness. That's the wrong way of looking at that, though. The way I see it Vitamin D is kind of the cell police. It keeps order in the cells and keeps them in line. Vitamin D deficiency is low either because there is not enough to begin with or because more is needed and replacement is not coming in quickly enough. That's my tack on the matter.

Birgit Calhoun of CA 10:48AM August 28, 2010

I do not agree with Navin's advice for mega doses of D3 in shot form. Studies have confirmed that oral doses of 5,000 i.u. - 20,000 i.u. D3 daily are more effective and benificial that mega doses in shot form weekly or monthly. If you are at 27 ng/ml you can very safely take 10,000 i.u. D3 daily orally and raise you 25-hydroxy level to 75 ng/ml - 100 ng/ml over a six month period.

Pdazzler of ID 4:41PM August 25, 2010

I am wondering if people have considered the possibility that low vitamin D levels might be a response to the disease rather than a cause of the disease?
In some cases could it be the body's response to try and correct a problem?
After all, some are diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency in spite of having more exposure to sunlight than is necessary to achieve maximal stores.

ET of MN 3:03PM August 24, 2010

After getting a diagnosis of prostate cancer this year, I saw a nutritionist recommended by my urologist. (My doc is a top doc at one of the best cancer centers in the U.S.) Several studies have implicated vitamin D deficiency in prostate cancer. The nutritionist put me on 1,000 IU Vitamin D-3 supplements. My next blood test showed my blood level on the "25 hydroxy vitamin D test" was still only 27, well below the safe range of 50-80. So now I am on 3,000 IU per day. Other posters are correct: 400-600 IU is unlikely to be effective. Guys - if you care about your prostate health, get your D levels checked.

John Doe of CA 11:32AM August 24, 2010