vitamin D

[darkoshi]

I had a blood test done to check my iron, glucose, cholesterol, thyroid, and vitamin D levels. All my results came back within optimal or normal ranges, except for the vitamin D.

My vitamin D level is 22.7 ng/mL, which is in the borderline low range:

Deficiency: less than 20
Borderline: 20-29
Suffiency: 30-80
Potentially toxic: greater than 150

In 2010, I took extra vitamin D for a while, after reading that it could help with mood and depression, and/or with back pain. But from what I've read today, if my level was low back then too, the amount I took probably wasn't enough to make much difference.

I've also discovered that one of the multi-vitamins I've been taking isn't vegan, in the strict sense. The vitamin D3 that it contains, cholecalciferol, is generally* made from lanolin obtained from sheep's wool. Those vitamins are labelled as vegetarian, and the label also says no milk, eggs, shellfish, or fish, so I had incorrectly assumed they must be vegan.

*Vitashine is a vegan source of vitamin D3, made from lichen. Not to (not) mention sunshine itself, which is another vegan source.

Vitamin D2, ergocalciferol, is generally made from vegan sources.

Recommendations for Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency (chart)

How to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency:
...The first step in treating vitamin D deficiency is to obtain a baseline 25(OH)D blood level and then decide on the target replacement level and how quickly that target must be reached (Table 1). Each 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily in addition to what the patient is currently ingesting will raise the level of 25(OH)D by 10 ng/mL after a few weeks. Note that more may be required for individuals who are obese, because vitamin D is sequestered in adipose tissue.

Diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency:
... It is important to understand that neither the regular consumption of recommended amounts of vitamin D (e.g., 400 IU of vitamin D in a multivitamin) nor the regular consumption of vitamin D fortified foods (e.g., 100 IU/8-oz glass of milk) effectively prevents vitamin D deficiency. Furthermore, 2000 IU/day for 1 year failed to achieve a 32 ng/ml target 25(OH)D concentration in 40% of 104 African-American women studied. Even the administration of 4000 IU/day for > 6 months to middle-age Canadian endocrinology out-patients, resulted in average 25(OH)D levels of 44 ng/ml and produced no side effects other than an improved mood. Heaney estimated that ∼ 3000 IU/day of vitamin D is required to assure that 97% of Americans obtain levels > 35 ng/ml.

Weekly And Biweekly Vitamin D2 Prevents Vitamin D Deficiency:
...41 patients who were vitamin D deficient received eight weeks of 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 weekly prior to starting maintenance therapy. For those patients, the mean pre-treatment 25-hydroxyvitamin D status (25(OH)D) level was 19 ng/ml, which increased to 37 ng/ml after eight weeks of weekly therapy. These patients were then treated with 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 every other week and had a mean final 25(OH)D level of 47 ng/ml.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Have you tried sun exposure? It is still recommend that you get your vitamin d through sun exposure. I think it is the most natural way to get it. Here's a great article about vitamin d deficiency (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx) and how to get it naturally.

[passionrlsusall.livejournal.com]

I found out my vitamin D level was at 15, in May. The doctor prescribed me pills (unfortunately not vegetarian, but I'm taking them anyway) once a week, and then told me to take an over-the-counter supplement too...I'm using a liquid one, in olive oil...I think it's vegan, though I don't know for sure. Why are you looking for D2 only? The nurse told me either was fine, but D3 might actually help a little more.

And yeah, as the other person says, sunlight is best from what I've read too....though interestingly I read that sunblock blocks vitamin D absorption.

I'm supposed to get it checked again after 8 weeks of supplements, so it'll be interesting to see what they're at then..

[darkoshi]

I was looking for D2, because I want a vegan one, and except for the Vitashine mentioned above, D3 is generally made from lanolin and not vegan. There are mixed reports as to whether D2 is as good as D3. I've been taking 3000 IU of D2 daily this last week, and now I've ordered some of the Vitashine, to try it out. I hope to get a more comprehensive blood test done somewhen, to get all my nutrient levels checked. Then I'll find out too, if taking these supplements has improved my Vit. D level.