Question for Jackie

[Guest guest]

I lost my paper that had the ok levels for D3 with the 25 OH test. I recall they were 75-? Remember I'm in Canada and we're metric. I do know I was advised to get my levels at least 125-150. My results after a summer of getting out in the sun almost daily were 90. And that was with 2500 IU's. Now I rarely see the sun and if is one to see, it's through a window so I've upped it to 3500 IU's which probably isn't getting it high enough.

I have never heard of anyone taking D2 but looking on the web, why would any dr prescribe it with its poor absorption rate and the way it can alter calcium metabolism? Anyway I agree with Jackie about Carlson's being easy to take. The liquid has no taste and they also sell Gems which are tiny little gel thingies. The only reason I don't use the liquid D3 or K2 is I've had problems travelling with the bottles in a hot car.

Hi everyone,….I just want to give a little bit of advice here about taking Vit. D. First please get your levels checked before you take it. If it’s not low then you don’t need any extra. You are probably getting enough from the foods you eat. Also if you take it and you really don’t need it, it can build up to toxic levels. [Vit. D toxicity look it up]. Also there are 2 types of D, D2 is what the doctors recommend and will usually prescribe 50,000 units per day or once a week. [15-20 mins in the sun gives you about 20,000 units] but some people can’t tolerate D2, so D3 is supposed to be the better choice, but at a much lower dose. 1000 up to 5000 IF you are deficient. IF is the operative word. Remember many of our foods are fortified with D. Cereals, milk, orange juice, etc.

In my case my numbers are low, 12 is really low. I started off taking the D2, but then read about D3 being better, and found a good brand that had olive oil as its base, and they are little tiny gel caps. Easy to swallow. I was taking 1000 units a day. But my last blood test showed my levels still were not normal, so my Dr. suggested sublingual or liquid D3. I bought some Carlson’s D-drops, D3, 2000 units per drop. I put it in my juice, there is no taste to it. I haven’t had my levels checked since I started the drops, but will probably have it done this spring to see if anything has improved.

So before you jump on the D train, PLEASE get your levels checked first. I make it a priority to have all my vitals checked before I add any supplements. I eat a very well balanced diet, so my minerals and vitamins are all normal, except D. But I’ve always been low in D. I’ve read that many autoimmune diseases are connected to low D.

Hugs from Jackie in Oregon where we don’t get a lot of sun in the fall/winter.