Vitamin d deficiency

[Micha1972]

Hi can anyone tell me when I should feel better from a vit d deficiency. I have had all symptoms for 10 months but GP only tested me in December. Bloods showed a deficiency of 25mnol. I have had 15 days at 20000iu daily and 5 weeks at 2000iu daily. Blood levels now 125mnol but I still feel dreadful. Should I be feeling better by now?

Following with interest. I'm also deficient

Hi Micha72

 It is great that you have got to that level ... 120  -140   is ideal.    

You have most likely been short of Vitamin D for years, it takes time for a deficiency to show up. VitaminD affects over 2000 of your genes, in every cell in your body. Lack of it can have a multitude of effects. Now that you have just become replete , those deleterious effects will start to be repaired. Bone problems may take months, other problems like fatigue may get better much more quickly. It is essential that your level does not drop again. Your daily maintenance dose of 2000 IU per day, may be enough. BUT , it is a good idea to check where your level is, after another 6 - 12 months on that dose. You can establish what maintenance dose you need,

 Here is a thread that I posted quite a bit on ,  explaining all this.  You will find many people with similar problems  to yourself. 

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2841497-If-you-are-vitamin-D-deficient-what-have-you-been-prescribed

It is a long thread , but lots of information.

Vitamin D , is a micro-nutrient , and as such works in conjunction with your other nutrients. It is a good idea to make sure you have a good diet , with plenty of veg ,fruit , and ensure you have the the requisite minerals , such as magnesium, a known co-factor of vitaminD, if you have bone aches etc , make sure you have plenty of calcium as well, found in dairy , and/or plenty of "greens". The chlorophyll has magnesium as well. Again , if you have bone aches, then you should ensure that you get at least 1.2 grams of protein daily per Kg of your weight. This will help rebuild any bone loss you may have suffered because of the vitamin D deficiency.

Best of luck.

BTBH

Thanks @Bettertobehealthy that's helpful
My bone aches have shifted a bit, before everything hurt. My level was 9 when tested and that was with taking 3000 in a spray daily

I'm not sure how long it takes but I started taking extra vitamin d in March and I feel so much better - I wish I had done it months ago

#years ago not months

Everyone in the U.K. in winter has a vitamin d deficiency. You are not alone. Just take the tablets for a couple more months and you should be able to sort the deficiency. I’d still take some tablets over the summer right enough unless I was out every day for a good bit of sunshine.

In other countries they have different recommendations for the normal range. Ours seems remarkably low.

I’ve been taking a supplement for years but now everyone is, so that could be one good thing to come out of covid!

Thanks so much for replies. It gives me some hope. I am in agony most days with what I thought was muscle pain. But maybe it is my bones. I have a good diet, containing plenty of nutrients. I also take a good multi vit and omega 3. I also take 50mg of zinc as my tests identified I was low on that too. Let's hope pain starts to subside soon as I'm begining to think I'm stuck in this agony!

"Everyone in the U.K. in winter has a vitamin d deficiency. You are not alone. "

How much would you recommend the average person who is deficient takes? I've heard max 5k IU a day, but OP was taking much more than that for 15 days, presumably because she's advised by a doctor. What would you advise for the rest of us?

Hi again @Micha1972 ,

                                          There is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence that if you are low in magnesium,  then additional vit D may initially cause some increase in muscle pain etc. This might be  because vitaminD requires magnesium in order to do its job.  SO ...   if you were inclined to, you might like to try some additional magnesium supplementation. Overdoing it might just cause a loose bowel.   Take it easy,  say 200 to 400  mg of elemental magnesium  daily.  Maybe split  into 2 doses over the day, if you do become loose.  Try to avoid magnesium oxide , which is not so bioavailable as magnesium citrate, glycinate, ascorbate etc.   You will find that  a multi-vit is likely to contain  magnesium oxide. So, if you topped up with one of those alternatives suggested above it may be helpful to you.  No promises  !  but it might be helpful and  it  won't be harmful.   Our western diet is likely to be short of magnesium. Most likely you won't have been tested for magnesium deficiency, it is difficult to establish. It requires an RBC ( ie. expensive ) test. Some people might take  more than 400 mg ... but try out a  maximum 400 mg  first.    Good luck. 

BTBH

[ Elemental magnesium means the component weight of the actual magnesium in your supplement. eg. you might need 1000 mg of say magnesium citrate to achieve a dose of 300 mg of elemental magnesium, depending upon the formula of the supplement used. ]

Hi @QueenPaw ,
Your level of 9 ? , after spray supplements of 3000 IU per Day, daily ? is very unusual. Are they typos ?

                                   Are you in the UK ? , in which case  9 would be  9  nmol/L .  How long have you been taking 3000 IU  per day.  IF you have been absorbing  3000 IU  per day for 3 months , then your blood level of vitamin D , under normal , average, circumstances would be expected to have risen by  about 70 - 90   nmol/L  from your pre-supplemented level. 

  Is there any chance the supplement is faulty ,   from a dodgy supplier ?   Vitamin D is classed as a nutraceutrical ... it does not have the same checking mechanisms as medicine, unless supplied by the NHS as  per a medicine.   

  IF you can eliminate the supply question ,  and if your level remains so low ,  with that kind of supplementation, over months , then I would advise you get an appointment with an endocrinologist.   He should start by looking at your blood  calcium  and  PTH levels to  start the process of finding out why.    
 Hope that is helpful, we all need to keep as healthy as possible !   Best of luck 
                           BTBH

@Bettertobehealthy nope not typos!
I was taking the better you spray - the d and k2 one (red bottle) for a month and worrying I was over supplementing as I didn't know my levels
They randomly tested me in the midst of other bloods which was just as my spray ran out so I was taking it for at least a month plus a multivitamin previously
I've just had a form through for a retest as I've been on the high 20,000 dose for a few weeks (the bone pain going is bliss...)

@Bettertobehealthy thank you. GP checked my magnesium and it came back as 0.8. I have since supplemented with 600mg magnesium glycinate. Not sure of elemental value though. Thank you.

@Gwenhwyfar
I wouldn’t dream of recommending what amount to take. I am not a medical professional, I only know that it can take months to feel better.

Presumably the OP is following doctors orders and with the additional meds hopefully all will be well.

Hi again @Micha1972,

                                        This may be helpful. 
       Magnesium glycinate is two molecules of the amino acid  glycine attached to one atom of magnesium. Molecular weight 172.4.    As such , it is 14.1 % elemental magnesium.   SO ...   your 600 mg  of  magnesium glycinate contains 84.6 mg  of magnesium.   That then is your daily supplement of  elemental magnesium.  Roughly  one quarter of the total magnesium recommended daily intake, depending upon your adviser. Some recommend more. 

Your blood serum measurement of 0 .8 mmol/L of magnesium is at the very bottom, or even below, the normal value. Magnesium is similar to calcium, in that your body adjusts its blood serum level, by donating from your cellular store of magnesium to the blood serum. i.e. you deplete your store to maintain the critical blood level. similarly with calcium, your store i.e. your bones, donates to the blood, under the influence of your endocrine system, If your store depletes, you may have consequences. The actual test to establish whether your body, including its store, has enough magnesium , ( i.e. not just the blood serum level ) is a Red Blood Cell magnesium test, which establishes whether the cell content is enough.

   You might consider increasing your total  elemental magnesium supplementation.  You do seem to be low.  Bear in mind my comment above, if you develop a loose bowel, split the dose, and /or change the type of supplement.  But avoid  Mag Oxide.   

 Perhaps you would be best asking your doc for an RBC test ? ...  IF you do increase your magnesium,  you should let him know, just in case you have any other interacting conditions. IF your symptoms do not decrease with increased magnesium, considering your now excellent level of vitamin D,  he should be doing further investigations. Kidney function, PTH, dexa scan, etc etc. 

Best of luck .
BTBH

@Bettertobehealthy. Thanks so much. I have just checked my blood results now. PTH is 2.2 and says normal no action. Renal sodium 140, potassium 4.6, urea 5.1 and creatine 70. Bone profile, calcium 2.26phosphate 100, protein 70. Magnesium 0.8.

I think I will increase my magnesium and calcium for a few weeks.

My zinc was low at 10.4 if that makes any difference?

My main symptoms are headaches, brain fog, lots of muscle tension in neck and back. Lower back pain which travels into thighs.

I have had symptoms for nearly a year before supplementing and raising vit d levels.

I'm now on 8 weeks and feel no improvement.

Thanks