Right place to talk about vitamin D deficiency?

[TejanaCJ]

My 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test is back and wow am I deficient.

Normal range on LabCorp test was 32 to 100 and I am a 7.

I do have a family history of vitamin D deficiency in my father who used to chug the refrigerated cod liver oil and my younger sister who had rickets diagnosed at about age 3, and she, too, used to chug the cod liver oil. My father also had SAD and I have had severe SAD for over 50 years (light therapy only helps as well as moving to sunnier climes).

I weight around 400 pounds and have moved from Michigan to California to get some sun and now to Texas, where I can afford to live and there is still sun.

I am on another LC forum site and there is a thread about supplementing with vitamin D3 along with vitamin A from fish oil, calcium, magnesium, GTF chromium, and a vitamin B-complex...

Any suggestions or wisdom? I would be most appreciative. Thanks.
My first post here.

[LisaS]

the Eades in PPLP highly recommend sun-bathing to boost natural Vit D production - IIRC they also recommend supplementaion, esp in the winter. If you don't have a copy of Protein Power LifePlan - I heartily recommend that you get one and especially read the chapters on Vit D & magnesium. They are excellent.

Personally, I live in So Cal . I don't have SAD and have not had my Vit D levels checked. Howver, I do know that with my work schedule it is rare that I have an opportunity to get out in the sun in the winter, even for an hour on a weekend - so I've started supplementing. I started taking 1000 IU a day this winter for the first time ever (in addition to whatever is in the multis or minerals I take). Following the Eades recomendations in PPLP, I also take a multi, fish oil (more for omega-3 than Vit A though) & magnesium (a Mg-Ca combo).

My understanding from reading many articles on Vit D on the web, especially for those who have actual labs to document their deficiency, is that fairly high doses are both effective and safe to bring up your levels - but that is my recollection and should not be taken as specific advice for you (I am not a physician, this is the internet, standard disclaimer, etc).

[mcsblues]

Welcome.

Yes you are in the right place and yes with levels as low as yours supplementation with Vit D3 (as well as sensible sun exposure when possible is a good idea. There is a wealth of information on the Vitamin D Council (http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/) website about the levels you should aim for (50 from memory) and the benefits of supplementation/dangers of deficiency. You can also subscribe to Dr Cannell's mail list for regular updates on the most recent science.

Depression is one of the subjects covered and along with Vit D - omega 3 supps (fish oil, krill oil (http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/?p=262), CLO) and cutting back on excessive omega 6 intake (have you read the Protein Power books?) can help many people.

Anyhow, as I said welcome - ask as many questions as you like, and tell us a bit more about you - how long have you been low carbing?