Vitamin D deficiency.

Please do remember that if you are taking vitamin D by mouth, as opposed to getting it through sunlight, that you do need to take calcium tablets as well, or a combined vitamin D and calcium tablet.

Our bodies do not absorb vitamin D without a calcium supplement taken at the same time, and although the pharmaceutical industry presumably are well aware of this fact, they still make and sell vitamin D tablets that are not combined with calcium, so check the label when you pick up your pills!

I was diagnosed with Vit D deficiency a couple of months ago and was advised by the GP to buy tablets from chemist. I've been taking them since then and I can't say I've noticed much difference to how I felt before I started them! Maybe I'll get a new lease of life now the sun is shining too!

I had arm and leg pains, like cramps, I was low vitamin D, I felt alot better after I had been on them a few weeks,

Thank you all. I haven't even heard of Vitamin D3 far less its deficiency. I will have this investigated as soon as I get home. Currently on holiday. Luckily I've been taking a daily CLO capsule for many years. Holland & Barrett. Thought this was for prevention of potential joint problems and not other stuff. However, I am fortunate enough to like yoghurt, butter, cheese and milk mentioned here and consume regularly so maybe I will pass the test. Don't want to be on medication if I can avoid it. So far so good but I am aware of my good fortune. This has been a very informative and helpful post for me. Thanks to all contributors.

Marydoll
It did conjure up a pretty frightening image in my head, of an elderly, naked, overweight woman, lying in the sun

Elderly yes, naked yes, but why would you assume overweight?

Just ensure that it is Vit D3 not just Vit D. Vit D3 is easier for the body to assimilate ands properly Vit D is not.

Can anyone clarify how iu compares with micrograms? I also use a supplement but the dose is stated in iu.

Fat not fate....

DH and I have been taking 400 iu daily for the last 2 years (self medicating) and have been so well... most importantly barely a cold between us, certainly no chest infections. DH is on prostate cancer medication.
I know that Vit D is fate soluble (last 3 letters of “lemonade” A,D,E are fat soluble) but you have to consume industrial quantities of dairy products to get enough

I take vitamin D3 and vit C every day. I can't say I feel any different as I'm a well person but bring very fair skinned, I don't like being in too much sun and, being a vegetarian and a blood donor, I want to make sure my intake of crucial vitamins is sufficient.

A rather cynical nurse at our practice suggested that as it is a deficiency that affects mainly women,male doctors are less concerned to address it.I was also told that the blood test to check it is rather expensive though I don't understand why.

I have costochondritis and fibromyalgia and this week had to visit the doctor. I saw a delightful Rumanian locum who suggested I may be deficient in Vitamin D. She said we are very behind on thinking about this in this country - people are far more clued up on the results of a deficiency on the continent. She says she takes a supplement from September to May. I have had a blood test and imagine I will soon be taking a supplement too.

I have taken D3 for 6 weeks and I am beginning to feel less tired and my joints seem to be less aching I've been prescribed 10 weeks but I am going to carry on with them I will buy over counter

Drink full cream milk, eat full cream yogurt, cheese and use butter. Getting your vit D from natural products make it easier to absorb.

Beware vit E - too much cause cancer.

I'm doing the same, Nannymarg53, I take 25 mg of D3 daily and I make Mr Bp do the same.
Avoid Vitamin D2, it doesn't do the job. Reading the research I think we need more than 10mg of D3. If you look on line there are health food sites that sell it cheaper than on the high street.

I also take 25.My doctor recommended buying them from Holland and Barratt and theirs are 25.I did have a severe deficiency though.

NICE recommend that everyone should take Vit D supplements, but I don't know the doseage offhand.

The Vitamin in this thread is D3. That’s the one you need to take. The recommended daily dose for over 65’s is 10 micrograms (mcg). See attached link to department of health guidelines. I actually take 25mcgs a day but I choose to do that. There is an American site called the Vitamin D council which has loads of interesting info about VitD.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213703/dh_132508.pdf

I'm another who's started taking D3 religiously after feeling so tired and run down - and falling ill - in April, i.e. end of winter, 2 years in a row.

Should have started sooner, since I know someone who was on some medication that made her very sensitive to sun. So she did as she was told - always wore factor 50 and a big hat.
Roll on a year or two and she was constantly desperately tired. Back to doc, and tests revealed that her D levels were so low they were nearly off the scale.
But nobody had advised her to take supplements.

From all I've read, lack of vit D is linked to all sorts of conditions.

Winterwhite wrote:

Reiterate request for the dose you people are taking.

I take a slurp ,about a teasp,from the bottle from time to time. I never measure it. You are right though to measure it as it's possible to overdose from fat-soluble vitamins. On or two teasps a day is the dose. Can check with your pharmacist also for contraindications if any.

Quite right Nelliemoser! I have a slurp of cod liver oil when I remember to do so, besides my calcium and viataminD Not often enough!

Cod liver oil is messy stuff to have to hand in an opened bottle. I keep my bottle inside a tall glazed jar on the work top.

Marydoll, your post highlights the need for those of us with inflammatory arthritis to have early diagnosis and what my rheumatologist calls "aggressive treatment for an aggressive disease". Yes, the disease modifiers carry risks but so does rampant inflammation, to all major organs as well as to joints. It seems we have to become 'experts' on our own health issues so we can have sensible discussions with our GP's. I know Dr Google can raise anxiety but it can also raise awareness.

Forty years on and off of oral steroids for chest problems and steroid injections for rheumatoid arthritis have taken their toll on my bones. This is compounded by a family history of osteoporosis, red hair, fair skin, living in Scotland and factor 50 sunscreen.
I have had numerous fractures, some undiagnosed at the time, due to this, but I cannot fault NHS Scotland for the care I have received.
I was totally unaware of the serious effects of vitamin D deficiency until recently and I mistakenly thought I was well clued up on my conditions.
If you have any doubts, please take steps to ensure you are getting enough vitamin D.

I was told yesterday that every north of Birmingham cannotget enough vitamin d from the sun and should take a supplement.

It would really help if the manufacturers of these Vitamin supplements would all use the exact same measurements for the same units how they count the actual units of the of the substances we are taking.

It is an absolute nightmare trying to compare actual dosage.
See this.
How can I convert 'mg' or 'mcg' to 'IU' for Vitamins A, D and E?

www.etoolsage.com/converter/IU_Converter.asp
To convert Vitamin A as retinol:
From IU to mcg: IU/3.33 = mcg
For example: 5000 IU/3.33 = 1500 mcg
From mcg to IU: mcg * 3.33 = IU

To convert Vitamin A as beta-carotene:
From IU to mcg: IU/1.66 = mcg
From mcg to IU: mcg * 1.66 = IU

To convert Vitamin D:
From IU to mcg: IU/40 = mcg
For example: 400 IU/40 = 10 mcg
From mcg to IU: mcg * 40 =IU

To convert Vitamin E if the product label has dl-Alpha-tocopherol as the ingredient:
From IU to mg: IU * 0.9 = mg
For example: 30 IU * 0.9 = 27 mg
From mg to IU: mg * 1.1 = IU

To convert Vitamin E if the product label has d-Alpha-tocopherol as the ingredient:
From IU to mg: IU * 0.67 = mg.
For example: 30 IU * 0.67 = 20.1 mg
From mg to IU: mg * 1.5 = IU