Vitamin D Low

[IceniSky]

Need to call GP back later this week as they haven't processed the results from referral, but received a letter to say DD 8 levels are 21 (normal range 75-200). She eats a lot of fish, dairy etc and is outside most days.

I'm finding it hard to understand the scales online. Is this bad?

Anyone?

It's quite low but it's really quick to get levels back up to normal. GP will prescribe if needed but I would look at regular autumn winter supplements ongoing once the prescription vit d stops. Everyone could do with winter supplements really as we can only get vit d from diet in the autumn/winter. We take them year round. When my son and I were diagnosed we were told to take regular supplements year round.

Any idea what I can give my DD? The GP and atrached pharmacy have been terrible, losing letter, prescriptions etc and now they dont know when they will get her prescription in stock. I've range around and no one has it. She needs 6000iu and already takes a multivitamin with vitamin d.

What supplements is she receiving?

NHS guidance is that everyone in the uk should be supplemented

She is meant to be receiving Cora liquid 3000iu/ml. She takes a multivitamin with only about 120.

You shouldn't be buying over the counter dose of 6000iu for child you need to use the prescription - chemist wont sell it if they know it is for a child without prescription. It is usually prescribed for 3 months then redo bloods and reduce dose if reserves have built up. Then go onto maintenance dose.

I know. But if they can't get it i dont know what I'm meant to do. Does anyone supplement their child and what with?

My DD also has very low vit d so we're on prescription pills for six weeks or so (can't remember) then will need to redo bloods.

Sorry I can't help but hope you find an answer thru googling. Can you ring another pharmacy if yours is useless?

Ive rang a few. Just checked her multivit again, it's 300iu she is on already. I guess nothing i can do other than recall doctor.

Just a bit worried about some of the Covid research.

Yes, supplement both my kids - both have non IgE allergies and therefore (apparently) need to be extra careful to keep Vit D levels high.

If your DD is 8, she could probably manage the Solar Vitamin D3 softgels - my CmDC manage swallowing these fine. They come in 4,000 iU and 1,000iU, so you could buy both off Amazon.

Should be fine for your 8 year old - ours are approved by our mega experienced dietician as being fine.

Hope that's of help!

The liquid is good and is what my kids were given on NHS prescription. Chemists wont sell you high dose for kids use only on prescription so your only choice would be buying online but a riskier option. Do you actually have the prescription and is the issue that there is no product available at any chemist or is it that you don't have the prescription?

The perscription is with the chemist. They dont know when they will be able to get it.

I buy mine on Amazon. A mint flavour spray that goes under the tongue. I take 3000iu. The children's one is 400iu. Better You is the brand. My vit d level was the same as your dds and I was prescribed a v high loading dose to take for a few weeks before taking a supplement. I don't take it every day if I'm out in the sun. I don't actually know what my level is now but I presume it's improved although to be honest I haven't felt a difference in my general health.

Yes 6000IU for 3 months then check the levels again is the advice for children with vitamin d levels under 25nmols. The better u dlux mint spray mentioned above via Amazon is easy to get if you are struggling. I have used this with my asd children when deficient as they didn't tolerate the drops in juice and wouldn't eat it in yoghurt, it worked well.

My DD (15) was recently found to have Vit D level of 21 but the normal range stated 30-50 which seemed to be correct when I did a bit of research so i'm quite surprised by the normal range figures quoted. I was told to give her 1000IU per day and go back in 3 months for repeat bloods. I'm surprised at the vastly different doses prescribed.

Yes. My letter for ranges has no units, but when I researched I couldn't find my letters numbers as easily, were more inline with yours. But the guidelines they quoted say 6000iu for treatment then down to 4000iu after retest if ok. For her age range.

I've ordered kids vitamins with double the dose I already have and will just have to call the GP next week. She was having aches and really bad bone pain in joints. They suspected hyper mobility, so we have a physio referral, but did her bloods too and found her levels to be low.

op has dc been tested for coeliacs disease?

the symptoms can be very mild, but it can inhibit absorbtion of nutrients.

No. Not yet. She does go outside daily, and eats very well, although not an awful lot. Maybe she was just covered up over winter too much. But walks to school, playtimes, garden at weekends, or walking / hiking.

Hopefully it will be fine in 7 weeks. We do have Crohns, IBS, Dairy intolerant in family.

You can get the prescription from your chemist and use it at any chemist. Are there no chemists with high dose vit D anywhere? Not sure what the GP can do unless perhaps there is a similar product available if the prescription is rewritten but again chemist would need to confirm that first.

Is she out in the sun with arms/legs and/or parts of torso exposed during middle-ish of the day for at least 15 mins though?

Food sources will help but aren’t enough on their own to keep vit D at healthy levels.

If in the UK the sun won’t be intense enough to generate vit D between about October and end March.

So making sure she gets a small amount of sun on skin at the right time of day now may well sort it - certainly worth a go!