I has assumed that lupus patients had low vitamin D status because going into sunlight made the condition worse but it appears that they may also have anti-vitamin d antibodies. so they will require more Vit d than the average person and the average person is vitamin d insufficient.

You live in a lot sunnier place than I do and a lot further south so if you manage to get outside for a few minutes every day in the summer you should be able to get by with 2000iu/daily 50mcg throughout the summer but as you are experiencing joint pain it would be worth boosting your levels now until the end of March by taking 4000iu/daily.

If you had a 25(OH)D status test performed it would be much easier to tell you exactly. Although the link I provided states the levels to achieve 80nmol/l this is the MINIMUM. Optimal feelings of well being, peak muscle performance, lowest cancer incidence occurs around 130nmol/L. That is why I suggest you try to find some 4000iu capsules Carlson do some in omega 3 oil. Vitaminlife are reasonable but I expect (as you don't have to pay VAT/Handling charge like we in the UK) Vitacost Vitaminshoppe will also do these at a reasonable cost. You may find it as cheap to use 2 x 2000iu/daily.

Be aware this is an absolutely perfectly safe amount to take daily. Risk assessment for vitamin D explains why up to 10,000iu daily can be considered a safe upper limit but of course 4000iu/daily is less than half that safe amount. It is the amount your body would make in 20 minutes sunbathing. 10,000iu is what you usually make on a sunny day if you take care. If you managed your sunbathing extremely cleverly so you only had short sessions and alternated 10mins sun 30mins shade a full day in the sun could theorectically naturally generate 50,000iu so these are amounts your body evolved to handle safely.

If you didn't get much sun in the summer (or wore sunscreen, sunblock, spf cosmetics most of the time) then when you get your 4000iu capsules it would be an idea to take TEN 10 CAPSULES straight away. That would total 40,000iu in one day. It would help get you back on track as quickly as possible. This is only a ONE OFF situation from then on stick to one daily until the end of March then drop down to 2000iu/daily unless the joint pain returns or you are kept housebound and unable to get outside into direct sunlight when your shadow is shorter than your height. (An indicator UVB rays will be present and Vitamin D synthesis possible)

See

UV hardening therapy: a novel intervention in patients with photosensitive cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Post edited by: Ted_Hutchinson, at: 12/23/2007 13:31

Have a great day guys!

Kait

Each 400iu will raise status by between 7-12nmol/l so although 18 the average the lowest may be just 14nmol/l and the best 24nmol/l. It depends how good your body is at using it.

But whatever sashveni's doctor said facts are facts the research showing how Vitamin D is absorbed and converted into 25(OH)D is well known now (apart from sashveni's doctor who hasn't grasped the basics yet) Perhaps if she printed off Circulating Vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Humans: he would be able to look at the graphs and see how using 6400iu/daily raises status to optimal.

Might also be an idea to listen to the talk by Heaney here it's Session 2: Vitamin D Physiology Robert P. Heaney, M.D. pay attention to slide 33 that's the one showing what happens if you take 5000iu/daily or 10,000iu/d. It's also shows what happens if you take 1000iu/d that's more than poor sashveni but I expect that next time she has her 25(OH)D checked the doctor may suss out that she isn't being provided with sufficient vitamin d3 to raise status to optimal. That's if he understands that optimal is the level associated with optimal feelings of well being, least pain and maximum muscle strength and needs to be around 120-130nmol/l 50-55ng/ml

drisdol is Ergocalciferol this may explain why I have little respect for sashveni's doctor. The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement

Vitamin D2 rip-offs

I don't know if it's sashveni or her doctor that is confused but VITAMIN D is required to control calcium uptake. Calcium does not control Vitamin D status. Heaney explains it in his talk above, can't remember the slide for calcium but it's before the one I pointed to earlier.

You should ideally make vitamin D from sunshine but everyone is told to cover up,use sunblock/sunscreen avoid the sun between 10-4 etc. It's a big mistake but people fall for it and are vitamin D deficient as a result. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF CANCER ANYMORE argues the case in more detail than I can.

Post edited by: Ted_Hutchinson, at: 12/23/2007 15:47

Dietary Calcium Superior to Supplements for Protecting Bones

Women who got most of their calcium from food had higher bone-mineral densities than patients who relied on supplements, researchers here reported.

You really need to get some 2000iu D3 Cholecalciferol. Take 20 the first day you get them. (A quick burst to raise status quickly) Then 2 daily for the rest of your life.

Honestly you will feel much better when your body is able to obtain it's natural daily vitamin d requirement.

Have you heard anything about lack of vitiman D causing some autoimmune disorders?

I know my doctor had spoke about a study at duke. Im not sure exactually the date on the study. I am defintly going to bring this to his attention.

I do think my lack of D has proably beeen going on for at least 10 yrs or more. I all of a sudden had teeth that were breaking off for no reason. (not sure thought)