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What vitamin D should you take?

13 replies

treebarking · 26/09/2020 17:06

I can't work out what I should be taking....it's all micrograms and IUs and high strengths and I'm not sure what I should be looking for?

Help!

OP posts:
Lau52 · 26/09/2020 17:10

I take D3 1000 IU one a day.

ScrapThatThen · 26/09/2020 17:13

As pp

treebarking · 26/09/2020 17:14

Thanks!

OP posts:
BahHumbygge · 26/09/2020 17:38

Something in the range of 2000 - 5000 iu to ensure immune protection. That's 50 - 125 µg (micrograms). How much you want to take will depend on your:

age (older people make less vitamin D in the skin)
skin tone (people with darker skin take longer to produce vitamin D under the same sun conditions)
having a high BMI (vitamin D is absorbed and sequestered into the adipose tissue before it is available in the blood for immunity)
latitude (countries further away from the equator get less sun)
diet and lifestyle (some micronutrients and cholesterol are required to manufacture/convert vitamin D in the body... plus how much summer sun you get and how much clothing your wear)

Ideally, start off getting a vitamin D blood test, you can get one direct to the public from the NHS labs in Sandwell (google it). It's a fairly modest £30 or so.

If not, download the DMinder app, which can track your vitamin D intake from supplements, food and sunshine and give you an estimate of your blood levels. I think it might be free at the moment, otherwise it's a great value £2 from the app store.

Remember to ensure you get sources of vitamin K2 and magnesium in your diet if you take higher amounts of D3 (eg 5000 iu +), as they work synergistically together to ensure good immune, bone and artery health and correct metabolism of calcium. K2 helps shepherd calcium to where it should be in the bones & teeth and away from the soft tissues and arteries.

Talk to your doctor if you have any calcium related conditions like kidney stones, as hypercalcemia can be a risk if taking very high doses (K2 does mitigate this).

cologne4711 · 26/09/2020 17:39

You could try this one: www.victoriahealth.com/product/DLux-4000-Daily-Oral-Spray/13671

cologne4711 · 26/09/2020 17:41

Or these: www.victoriahealth.com/product/Adults-Chewable-Vitamin-D3/13735

acocadochocolate · 26/09/2020 17:48

I saw an endocrinologist a couple of years ago and she told me the liquid ones are best. You can get them on Amazon.

PrincessForADay · 27/09/2020 11:02

Following

Orangeblossom7777 · 27/09/2020 11:05

My older DCs (12+) and I like these- they don't like tablets. Orange jellies

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019CB5YO4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

HeronLanyon · 27/09/2020 11:11

I’ve taken it for years on prescription. Is with calcium as this helps the bit d absorb.
Some medications don’t mix well with vit d and esp calcium so just be careful to check.
I am to take 750mg (200 I u) x 4 a day.
I’ve only taken x2 a day for years because I forget the evening ones and think x2 is better than none. I have quite a back stock still in date as a result. Think I will make an effort to take as prescribed now. Grin

Mummyofmay2020 · 27/09/2020 11:25

Following

MiniMum97 · 27/09/2020 11:32

How much you need depends on what your current levels are. If you are deficient then you need a loading dose of 300,000iu over 8-10 weeks then a maintenance dose which will vary from person to person.

I believe NHS say 800iu a day. But I take 4000iu a day during the winter and 4000iu every other day over the summer and that seems to maintain my levels to around optimal.

I do however avoid the sun in the summer as I am very fair skinned and I have to wear a lot of high factor sunscreen so that will obviously impact how much I need as supplement.

.

DilloDaf · 27/09/2020 11:42

I've been taking the BetterYou vit D spray for the past 3 years.
I usually stop in the summer then get the test in September. It costs £32 and the vit D spray and advice on how much to take is included with the test result.

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