Vitamin D dosage?

[HoxtonBonnet]

I take a multi vitamin that has 200iu/5 mcg of vitamin d (doesn't say if d2 or d3) and 18 mcg of vitamin k (not sure if this means k2 or a different k).

As I understand it both these k and d doses are quite low. Would it be ok to take an additional supplement on top of it? I am looking at the Better You D3 (3000 iu) with K2 (75mcg).

Pic below of my multivitamin contents - in case my garbled explanation made no sense!

TIA

Info here

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

“ Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.

If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people.

Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.

Children aged 1 to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day. Infants under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day.”

Hi Op - Queen Mary Uni London are doing a vit d coronavirus trial to see what the protective effect is, they are going to do two levels of test dose at 800 IU and 3,200 IU for six months.

I took 4,000 IU for a while and did actually get ill and I believe it was from the vit d, (symptoms cleared up when I stopped) but my guess is they must consider 3,200 to be safe or they wouldn't be giving it in a trial.

www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2020/smd/clinical-trial-to-investigate-whether-vitamin-d-protects-against-covid-19.html

Tricky isn't it. Most supplements seem to be way above the recommendations.

Thanks everyone. I don't want to take a 4000 iu supplement as it seems too close to the 'too high' threshold. I think I would be happier taking 1000-2000. I feel a bit nervous about taking two supplements at once, even though my present one has quite low levels in it. I want to make sure I get the dosage right.

Honestly not sure what the best dosage is but I take 1000iu vitamin d. I've bought it from sainsburys and amazon. Brand is vitabiotics

they are going to do two levels of test dose at 800 IU and 3,200 IU for six months

Interesting. I’m prescribed 1600 daily and they raise it to 3,200 each winter. My blood tests show, even at my highest dose, my levels only get to 57 (above 50 is ‘normal’ over 75 is optimal for bone protection). However the Drs are happy with ‘normal’. I would rather have them at optimal but can’t seem to convince them and no one seems interested in finding out why I’m always so low -anyone any advice?

4000 is absolutely fine to take and you could probably take a lot more without harmful effects. Make sure you take K2 with it

@bettertobehealthy is an absolute expert on all this so hopefully she will spot this

Are we talking long or short term? I am one of those weirdos that ended up with too high vitamin d after high dosage supplementing! My Gp said vitamin d toxicity provides similar symptoms to deficiency.

So quick timeline - my level was 10, which was extremely low. I had a loading dose injection at my GP then took 1000iu daily for 6 months and ~7000iu daily for 6 months (tablet and oral spray). Repeated my blood tests a year after the first test, where my levels were outside of the lab range. It was around 290

So my advice is only take high dosage supplements for a short period - a few months at most then maintain with a lower dosage. Eg use the BetterYou 3000iu spray until you finish it then switch to the BetterYou 1000iu spray to maintain it. Never use high dosage stuff long term and follow your GP’s guidance. NHS prescription is 400iu which will raise you levels and is safe to take daily for the rest of your life.

Thanks everyone! I have bought the Better You D3 and K2 - it says the dosage is 3000, but that is for a 3 spray dose. The very nice man in Holland and Barrett suggested I just use one spray for a 1000 dose so that's what I will do. I am going to order one of those mail order vitamin d kits to find out where I am starting from. Years ago I remember being told my d levels were a bit low, but I disliked the pills the dr prescribed me and stopped taking them quite quickly. Nowadays I take my health a bit more seriously .

@throwaway100000 that's very interesting. I definitely hesitate to go to the upper end of the dosage until I know what my level is.

I am prescribed 10,000 iu so I wouldn't panic too much about over-supplementing 😊

I'm taking 4000iu a day (since September), in summer I was taking 2000iu a day. Also take K2, vit C and Zinc. Dr Fauci (cmo in USA) is apparently taking 6000iu a day according to Dr John Campbell on his videos.