Any experience of Vitamin D deficiency?

[LondonLady1980]

(I have posted this in general health but I don’t know how busy that forum is so I’m posting it in here too in the hope of getting more replies).

I had some blood tests earlier this year that showed I was very deficient in Vitamin D and so my GP prescribed me a 7 week course of high dose supplements (20’000iu capsules, one twice a week).

I have recently finished my course and so am now looking at taking supplements to maintain what is now hopefully a normal level in my system.

I joined a FB group about Vitamin D deficiency and supplementation regimes etc but to be honest the ones who shout the loudest seem like crazy conspiracy theorists and are dictating to people what volumes of supplements we should be taking and that all GPs and Pharmacists are “in it together” to not be honest with us about how much we should be taking as it serves a better purpose for them if we are all kept at deficient levels (crazy ramblings).

Some posters seem quite genuine and normal but the general tone is just a bit “off” and I’m a bit reluctant to take advice from those who seem to have their own biases.

So I am asking here if there are others who have had a history of vitamin deficiency and what supplements you take in order to keep your levels stable?

Thank you.

I tried taking 10ug but found it didn't keep my blood levels over 50 nmol/L. So I take 25ug Vit D3 daily from Boots. I get it checked yearly, to make sure I'm not taking too much as Vitamin D toxicity can occur. It was a rheumatologist who picked up the low level (GP had picked it up before and given me a high loading dose like you). She said if I worked indoors and it has dropped previously after a high dose, I should take tablets year round, not just in winter. Since I started, I got rid of my joint pain and restless legs. So turns out I didn't have rheumatoid arthritis and Vit D has saved me trialing methotrexate for that. So it's been a great outcome for me.

I take 4000 IU daily year round. I think that’s the maximum dose the NHS recommends. I had very low levels back in 2017 and the GP prescribed a high dose for 6 weeks which worked, then I maintained the 4000 IU dose. My levels have been in the normal range since.

I have been told that a very large portion of UK population comes up deficient, so don't panic too much. I sometimes have a spray that I use when I think of it, but otherwise now the weather is cheering sunlight is the best of all - and you can't overdose or get it wrong!

I take 1000 IU daily October to late March/early April. Everyone in the UK needs to take it over the winter because we don’t have enough sunshine at that of the year to make it and we generally don’t have much in food. If you have a dark skin, you need more sun exposure to make sufficient vitamin D.

I had the same and now just take a really cheap 1000iu vitamin d tablet. I haven't been tested again but none of the aches in my legs and feet that I had last summer have returned so I'm assuming my levels have stayed up.

I’ve been given a loading dose over 6 weeks. After this gp has said to take over the counter stuff. I intend to get more sun exposure now as well to help

I take 3000-4000 a day dose and my levels are perfect. Without it I'd be very ill 🤒

I was very deficient. Got my levels back up and now maintaining at 4000 IU per day. My levels aren't optimal still but they are okay, and my joint pains have gone. 😀

heee, whoops! Wrong thread!

I was dissuading an ingenue from OF.

I’ve just finished the gp high dose tablets and have moved onto nutrition geeks - https://www.nutritiongeeks.co/products/vitamin-d-4000iu-max-strength-immune-support

I was diagnosed with low vitamin d after blood tests. The doctor prescribed a high dose which upset my stomach. I now take a low dose (1000 IU) daily. My teenage son does too and his spots and skin have improved no end

I have coeliac disease and a sun allergy problem, and have had low vit D levels in the past, so I take 3000 every day all year round and that does keep me at OK levels

Thank you everyone for all your really helpful replies.

I had gone to the GP as I was having horrendous pains in my muscles and joints, feeling really fatigued all the time and generally low in mood.

Before I even had the tests done the GP said she suspected it was low Vitamin D.

She said optimal level was between 50-75 and my result came back as 6, so severely deficient.

I take certain medications for a chronic health condition which can apparently deplete vitamin D stores so I’m assuming that’s the cause.

I was considering the 4000iu supplements but GP said this was too high and unnecessary, and I said that considering how deficient I was, and that my medication is known to plummet vitamin D stores then surely it makes sense to take a high level supplement?!

I take the over 50 vit d from healthspan all year round. It’s 2000IU. Mine was low and now fine been taking for over 15 years.

Yeah I have vit d deficiency and been prescribed tablets to take daily, need to look up the dose mind you, been taking them for years. Have got a calcium deficiency too now but not been prescribed anything so just take my own supplements for that.

Having bloods done soon to see how that is doing.

The joys of living in Scotland...oh and getting old 😆 🤣

I take a monthly 25000ug vit D on prescription.

Ignore that, 4000IU is the max daily dose and fine
mine was 9 in 2020, I did a high dose course from the GP, and take 4000IU daily and I’ve just about got it up to 70

I was shocked to be deficient too. And have just got the nutrition geeks vit d to follow on from my prescribed loading dose.

Remember you need to take Vitamin D with Vitamin K otherwise it won't absorb properly. They are linked just like iron and Vit C is. I personally take the Better You 3,000 spray with added Vit K and I'm okay on that. If I stop then I get horrendous bone pain.

And whatever pills you take, get yourself out in the sunshine around midday gmt (1pm bst) for half a hour or more, with face and arms uncovered (and legs if you are ok with that). The most effective way to raise your vitamin D level is to maximise your body’s own way of making the stuff.

Dr. I've found maybe 5 people in normal range out of about 350 tests. You can have too much vitamin D as it's fat soluble it will accumulate

Diagnosed with severe deficiency about a year ago, took a loading dose and now on maintainance of 2000iu a day. Not had levels tested since they came up after the loading dose, but may do that and depending on results go down to 1000iu for the summer

I felt absolutely sensational on the loading dose, I wish I could have stayed on it!

Snap. I don't feel any better for it mind.

I think I am in the same FB group as you OP. I just dip in for a bit of info / opinion now and then.

i have been taking 4000iu daily for about a year. I am about to get my levels retested. It was in the 40s a year ago which is what got me started on it.

This is a very active thread for 1am!

(I am awake as I fell asleep for a couple of hours on the sofa at 9.30. I have borderline anemia that taking all the iron, vit B12 and folate in the world doesn’t seem to help fix.) Must go to bed now.