I am a retired teacher and have no medical training so nothing I write should ever be taken as medical advice, however I only ever post information that I have gleaned from medical research studies so everything I write is supported by the latest science. If you find you don't understand what I am writing then please ask for clarification.

I am sure everyone knows that Vitamin D3 is obtained from sunlight for free. I get very annoyed with people who suggest or imply that by going on about Vitamin D3 I must be selling it. I have no connection (financial or otherwise) with suppliers of Vitamin D3 Cholecalciferol. The fact that Vitamin D3 is either free or very cheap is the main reason why it has not been fully researched and why no one is pushing doctors into prescribing it.

I've heard a lot about Vitamin D, but never really took it seriously. The reason being...like you say...my Doc has never ONCE mentioned it.

Now, I'll look into it!

**Suzee**

Thank you Ted,

I've heard a lot about Vitamin D, but never really took it seriously. The reason being...like you say...my Doc has never ONCE mentioned it.

Now, I'll look into it!

**Suzee**I have collected a lot of Vitamin D / Fibromyalgia related information in this thread but as it really needs tidying up I'll create a new Vitamin D fibromyalgia thread here and only post the relevent information.

PS edit to include the missing link

Post edited by: Ted_Hutchinson, at: 08/30/2007 10:49

Janine

But is this D2 Ergocalciferol or D3 Cholecalciferol?

If it is the former D2 then (depending on your age and the amount you are able to take up it is only equivalent to approximately 16,666iu of D3

I'd be happy if you were taking 50,000iu weekly D3 as that is roughly 7142iu/d, as your body uses between 3000 and 5000iu/d taking 7000iu/d enables your body to catch up and fill your D3 tank.

however taking 16.700iu/week= 2385/d and while this will improve your vit d situation it will not be such an effective catch up operation.

Imagine you ran a business for which the overheads (wages/rent/business costs) totalled $4000 a day. While an extra income of $1700 daily will improve the cash flow it will not stop the business going bankrupt. To keep afloat you have to ensure your income is at least equal to your outgoings. If you want to show a profit then you need to have MORE coming in daily that goes out or gets used daily.

I take 5000iu/daily and this means my status is always slightly above optimal. (bear in mind I live in the UK and no UVB reaches the ground here (even when it can get through the cloud) between November and February and October and March are also a bit iffey. So in Winter 5000iu/d holds my status level, In the summer I only take 5000iu Vit d3 if I've not been able to go outside and get a worthwhile amount of sunshine (20mins)around midday.

The case against Ergocalciferol (vitamin d2) as a Vitamin Supplement

Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Vitamin D Inadequancy among Patients with Chronic Pain

Vitamin D Inadequacy May Exacerbate Chronic Pain

Post edited by: Ted_Hutchinson, at: 10/21/2007 08:59

Seattle and England have approximately the same weather IMHO!@

Janine*

You are doing a great job with your research. I should have known that you were a former teacher! Keep up the good work. I totally agree with you. My blood levels are extremely low for Vit. D3!

Honey

There has been a lot of new research since I first posted to this thread. This new paper bring you up to date with current thinking.

If you haven't already had a 25(OH)D test then the sooner you do the better.

Direct Labs—Vitamin D Test

Or if you are from the UK The doctor's laboratory these people will charge £40 if your GP won't do one on the NHS.

The current thinking is that these are the recommended levels.

0-15ng/ml severe deficiency 0 - 37.5nmol/l

16-29 ng/ml deficient 40 -72.5nmol/l

30-49 ng/ml insufficient 75- 122.5nmol/l

50-80 ng/ml optimal 125 - 200nmol/l