Re: Taking Vitamin D supplements
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- Sue Luscombe
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:19 am
Re: Taking Vitamin D supplements
A comment was made in one of the diet threads that may have been read as suggesting taking 10000 iu of Vitamin D is good for CFS. Unfortunately I had not been able to respond to the comment before the thread was locked and it was important I did write a response. Hence the opening of a new thread. I am sorry that this caused unintended embarrassment.
10000 iu is the same as 250 microgms or µg of Vitamin D which is 25 times the
dose that the Chief Medical Officer recommends for those with little
sunlight exposure – i.e. many with moderate to severe ME. It is also 10 times higher than the recommended safe upper limit published by the Food Standards Agency (2003). These were the conclusions of an independent expert panel looking at over 10,000 pieces of international research.
Vit D is a fat soluble vitamin, so any excess taken orally is stored in the body rather
than excreted. It is possible to have too much and for blood levels of Vitamin D and calcium to go too high.
On a personal note, my daughter with CFS/ME, (diagnosed 10 years ago), was found
by blood tests to be Vitamin D deficient this year. Her GP treated her
with therapeutic doses of Vitamin D and her recent repeat blood check now
shows her levels are too high. This, however, is being monitored under professional guidance, so is a warning against self-medication.
To be safe it is best to only take the 100% recommended daily amount, (10 micrograms or 400iu), unless otherwise prescribed by your GP or doctor. It is reasonable to ask if your Vitamin D blood levels can be checked; any deficiency does need to be treated. My daughter told me that she did not feel much different before or after treatment, even though her blood levels were really very low to begin with, and indeed are now too high. It’s so hard sometimes to tell what helps when so many other unexplained symptoms are going on at the same time . I also have some feedback from GP’s to observe again a disappointing lack of improvement on treating and correcting Vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D issues are significant and we will understand more as time goes on but it is certainly not the “magic” pill.
10000 iu is the same as 250 microgms or µg of Vitamin D which is 25 times the
dose that the Chief Medical Officer recommends for those with little
sunlight exposure – i.e. many with moderate to severe ME. It is also 10 times higher than the recommended safe upper limit published by the Food Standards Agency (2003). These were the conclusions of an independent expert panel looking at over 10,000 pieces of international research.
Vit D is a fat soluble vitamin, so any excess taken orally is stored in the body rather
than excreted. It is possible to have too much and for blood levels of Vitamin D and calcium to go too high.
On a personal note, my daughter with CFS/ME, (diagnosed 10 years ago), was found
by blood tests to be Vitamin D deficient this year. Her GP treated her
with therapeutic doses of Vitamin D and her recent repeat blood check now
shows her levels are too high. This, however, is being monitored under professional guidance, so is a warning against self-medication.
To be safe it is best to only take the 100% recommended daily amount, (10 micrograms or 400iu), unless otherwise prescribed by your GP or doctor. It is reasonable to ask if your Vitamin D blood levels can be checked; any deficiency does need to be treated. My daughter told me that she did not feel much different before or after treatment, even though her blood levels were really very low to begin with, and indeed are now too high. It’s so hard sometimes to tell what helps when so many other unexplained symptoms are going on at the same time . I also have some feedback from GP’s to observe again a disappointing lack of improvement on treating and correcting Vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D issues are significant and we will understand more as time goes on but it is certainly not the “magic” pill.
Last edited by Sue Luscombe on Mon Aug 19, 2013 2:45 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Sue Luscombe
Specialist Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant - R.D.
Specialist Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant - R.D.
Re: Taking Vitamin D supplements
My original Vitamins question is now locked (having been answered, thankyou) but on the specific issue of Vitamin D - after your reply Sue, I asked my dad to have a look into Vitamin D for what sort of tablets there are/where to get them.
From what he saw on the Net, and the dangers of taking too much of Vit D - he wants me to check - given that I'm pretty much not going outside at all (maybe 10mins max in daylight a fortnight), and have got light sensitive so the curtains are shut most of the time as well - am I safe taking, say, ONE multi-vit tablet a day which on the packet says 100% RDA for Vit D? ((Wellwoman/ Vitabiotics happens to be the one in the cupboard at present and says this on the packet).
He seems to be under the impression that not going outside/ not much light generally might change what you said initially? (apologies, I just want to be safe not sorry!)
From what he saw on the Net, and the dangers of taking too much of Vit D - he wants me to check - given that I'm pretty much not going outside at all (maybe 10mins max in daylight a fortnight), and have got light sensitive so the curtains are shut most of the time as well - am I safe taking, say, ONE multi-vit tablet a day which on the packet says 100% RDA for Vit D? ((Wellwoman/ Vitabiotics happens to be the one in the cupboard at present and says this on the packet).
He seems to be under the impression that not going outside/ not much light generally might change what you said initially? (apologies, I just want to be safe not sorry!)
- Sue Luscombe
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:19 am
Re: Taking Vitamin D supplements
Am I safe taking, say, ONE multi-vit tablet a day which on the packet says 100% RDA for Vit D?
Hello goblinff
If the brand of multivitamin says it contains 100% RDA or 10 micrograms Vitamin D that supplement is absolutely safe and it is recommended that you do have the supplement as you are having so little sun exposure.
I hope that clears up any confusion.
Hello goblinff
If the brand of multivitamin says it contains 100% RDA or 10 micrograms Vitamin D that supplement is absolutely safe and it is recommended that you do have the supplement as you are having so little sun exposure.
I hope that clears up any confusion.
Sue Luscombe
Specialist Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant - R.D.
Specialist Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant - R.D.
Re: Taking Vitamin D supplements
It does Sue thanks! sorry for not grasping it the first time. stuff bounces off...
- Dr Charles Shepherd
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:30 am
Re: Taking Vitamin D supplements
Dr Charles Shepherd
MB BS, Honorary Medical Adviser, ME Association
MB BS, Honorary Medical Adviser, ME Association
Re: Taking Vitamin D supplements
I've found that GPs have been somewhat uncertain on how to deal with vitamin D deficiency. Is there a recommended protocol somewhere?
I once someone has been found to be deficient there should be regular (?yearly) testing of D and calcium is that right?
I once someone has been found to be deficient there should be regular (?yearly) testing of D and calcium is that right?