Vitamin D deficiency

[bevm72yellow]

Has anyone here had deficiency symptoms? If so what were they? And how long did it take to get diagnosed?

Does anyone here know how long it takes to get back up to normal levels is you have very low Vit D and take a strong suplement? Are we talking days, weeks, months or years?

Mine was discovered after blood tests taken after I had multiple fractures.

I'd been feeling very run down, exhausted, symptoms of stress. Was diagnosed when I had lots of blood tests. Got high level supplements and have been feeling better.

Another one which people seem to forget about is potassium. Surveys done in the US show that only about 5% of the population get enough, which is exacerbated by the fact it’s not very safe to take as a supplement due to how easy it is to overdose.

I ensure I at least meet the RDA but it’s been suggested that this is more like the minimum and higher figures have additional benefit. I’d never be able to do it if I didn’t love bananas though as cooking leafy greens every day isn’t practical for me.

If I have a multivitamin with vit d can I take extra vit d as well?

Sorry I meant my multi vitamin has bit d already in it.

I take a multivitamin supplement with vitamin and extra vitamin D. And I get out each day to get sun on my skin. Very important.

Thanks. Yes I go outside every day too. Might get a supplement as well though. Thanks.

@fiftiesmum
Not proof of a covid link but perhaps has an effect.

Covid is a viral respiratory disease, there's 20 years of evidence to prove that vit D levels are a key factor in the immune response. The biomed specialists have got the pathway - it's common knowledge in expert circles.
How many more studies would be sufficient ? Blood samples have been taken from covid 19 patients in New Orleans, Indonesia and the Philippines (nearly all severe cases have had massive deficiency, but media don't want to talk about it because vitamin D3 is very, very inexpensive):

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.24.20075838v1
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3585561
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3571484
dropbox.com/s/ka7h4fbi7xdz9s9/Covid-19%20and%20Vitamin%20D%20Information.pdf?dl=0
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/apt.15777

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30675873

clinmedjournals.org/articles/jide/journal-of-infectious-diseases-and-epidemiology-jide-3-030.php?jid=jide

www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m1101/rr-10

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5576417/

imj.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Optimisation-of-Vitamin-D-Status-for-Enhanced-Immuno-protection-Against-Covid-19.pdf

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4488782/

thorax.bmj.com/content/70/7/617

Vitamin D deficiency contributes directly to the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2016.193.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1846

Low Vitamin D Status Occurs in 90% of Patients with ARDS and Is Associated with Longer Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

If only it was in NICE guidelines. Can't do much without those.
Sunshine and general supplements are probably as much as we can do to help ourselves and our families

I was diagnosed with a vit d deficiency about a year ago. I had been experiencing quite bad aches all over my body but my legs and knees really hurt and to walk some days was a real effort. It felt like I was wading through deep mud. I was exhausted, low in mood and very anxious.
I really thought I had something seriously wrong with me.
I saw my GP who straight away said my symptoms could be related to a vit d deficiency. I felt so ill that I didn't really believe this to be the case but blood tests showed a level of 13 which is extremely low.
I went on a strong course of tablets, one a week then had a further blood test which showed considerable improvement. I felt so much better probably after 6 weeks. I now take a maintenance dose of 4000iu per day.

My GP recommended eating plenty of dairy and eggs but I follow a vegetarian, almost vegan diet which I do wonder if this caused the deficiency in the first place.

I had:
brain fog/lack of ability to think clearly
Tiredness, hard to get up even with 8hrs sleep
Joint aches

Levels should be 50 minimum in bloods. 75 is ideal.

Mine was 17. No wonder I felt dreadful.

Had prescription supplements for 8 weeks. Took maybe 5/6 weeks to start feeling better.

Now I used a daily spray supplement.

GP sent me for a blood test but the lab rejected it. Test must be ordered by a consultant. As I am under a GP only, I cannot get tested.

I had it all done by GP. But they needed 3 or 4 vials so I guess the lab couldn't refuse someone being tested for everything they can😂

Does anyone here know how long it takes to get back up to normal levels is you have very low Vit D and take a strong suplement? Are we talking days, weeks, months or years?
Depends how deficient you are. I got strong prescription ones and felt difference withing 2 days.

Re the leg pain.
It's not just an ordinary leg pain. It bones. I've never expected my bones to hurt.

I now now when my vit d is getting low because I get anxious over bloody anything 🙄 Properly anxious with tighten chest and bad thoughts (not suicide). That's my cue to up for a bit. But not too much because again, vitamin d toxicity exists

I think they should do full blood works as a birthday pressie for everyone once a year. I would happily pay little bit more on tax. It would imho prevent lots of serious issues

Will have to cut my capsules in half i think as 5000iu is over the safe dose.

You could take it every other day if you wanted it’s stored in the body’s fat cells for 2 or 3 weeks.

media don't want to talk about it because vitamin D3 is very, very inexpensive

LWJ70's posts sound very scientific and credible - and some of it probably is right - until you read this bit. Then it's time to clamp the tin foil hat firmly around the ears.

Why aren’t we all being put on it then?

Government advice is that we should all take it:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

During the autumn and winter, you need to get vitamin D from your diet because the sun is not strong enough for the body to make vitamin D.

But since it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.

Between late March/early April to the end of September, most people can get all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their skin and from a balanced diet.

You may choose not to take a vitamin D supplement during these months.

I would be very curious if they did study on people with anxiety and depression and vitamin d. I honestly wonder if it could help to people. Few people with these told me that their doctors do not look at the physical side unless something is seriously wrong like being too underweight. I think that's a massive shame and more holistic approach should be done

Regarding the respiratory benefits:

I’m asthmatic and from childhood until about 3 years ago had constant colds, frequent chest infections and was one of those ‘always sick’ people. Since taking regular D3 I hardly ever get ill now even though my children are germ factories and I work in a school.

It’s anecdotal I know but it gives me some hope that we’re into get Covid-19 I might be ok as I have a few co-morbidities.

Were I to get.

Ffs

Does anyone here know how long it takes to get back up to normal levels is you have very low Vit D and take a strong suplement? Are we talking days, weeks, months or years?

It depends on your starting level. For the very lowest ie most deficient it’s:

“Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total).“

Followed by daily maintenance dose. If it’s low but not drastically low then they will just start you on a maintenance dose.

That was NICE guidance btw.

@Anniegetyourgun

LWJ70's posts sound very scientific and credible - and some of it probably is right - until you read this bit. Then it's time to clamp the tin foil hat firmly around the ears.

Why are the military being given free vitamin D sprays?

Not credible? Sorry, but you haven't read a word of any of those studies. There is 20 years of clinical evidence, peer -reviewed. And three studies published a week ago in the Philippines, Indonesia and New Orleans USA.

As a side note, I live in Thailand, sunny all year round. only 50 deaths, rubbish lockdown, 70 million population . Infection rife - all my family has had it.

Next thing you'll be saying is that there's no proof that wearing a mask reduces the risk of infection with a respiratory disease...............

@Anniegetyourgun

Maybe this is a little easier to read for you

For those interested in the covid-19 related risks of deficiency, I started this thread about two weeks ago.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3889068-Vitamin-D-Supplementation-and-covid-19-Risk

My whole family is now supplementing. I'm in New York, a major hot spot for the virus. Vit D is available in any supermarket, chemist or on Amazon.