Austinite's journey with Vitamin D deficiency - Log

[austinite]

I've been battling Vitamin D deficiency for a while now. I'll be updating this thread to help track my progress. I've been on varying protocols in seek of higher Vitamin D levels to no avail. My doctor is just as baffled as I am. It was only about 2 years ago when I started testing and monitoring Vitamin D levels. That's when I realized something just wasn't right.

I use Quest Diagnostics for blood work, and the Vitamin D range is 30-100 ng/mL:

Apr. 2011:
Blood Level: 21
Protocol Change: 2000 iu Vitamin D3

Dec. 2011:
Blood Level: 22
Protocol Change: 5000 iu Vitamin D3

Jun. 2012:
Blood Level: 22
Protocol Change: 5000 iu Vitamin D3 five days per week, 50,000 iu Vitamin D2 (Drisdol) two days per week.

Dec. 2012:
Blood Level: 36
Protocol Change: None.

Mar. 2013:
Blood Level: 39
Protocol Change: 10,000 iu Vitamin D3 five days per week, 50,000 iu Vitamin D2 (Drisdol) two days per week.

Jun. 2013:
Blood Level: 41
Protocol Change: 300,000 iu Vitamin D single shot + 5,000 iu 5 days per week + 50,000 iu vitamin D3 (Not D2) twice weekly.

So tomorrow I get the 300,000 iu shot. From what I understand it seems that a shot is generally administered every 4 to 6 months and very effective. At first I was in a bit of shock at the amount. But after speaking with kelkel, he pointed out a couple of studies where 600,000 iu was administered via injection; and showed decent serum levels even 6 months later. So my guess is my doctor is being cautious and just wants to see what 300k iu would do. I'm scheduled for follow up blood work 4 weeks from tomorrow. So this will be very interesting to see.

Other oral supplementations are working just fine, so I'm eliminating a digestive disorder. I take a considerable amount of supplements but researching every one of them, I saw nothing that would indicate any sort of conflict between them and Vitamin D.

I'll update as I go along.

[auswest]

Well get off this forum and go outside then download the app and take it with you if you must...

[austinite]

Well get off this forum and go outside then download the app and take it with you if you must...

lol. that doesn't work. Most of the 2 years my job had me outdoors. Only recently have I avoided the sun.

[auswest]

lol. that doesn't work. Most of the 2 years my job had me outdoors. Only recently have I avoided the sun.

Haha damn..good luck with the supplementation, keen to see how you go.

[roxer]

Wow, that's a lot of drug to have to take regardless. So what symptoms do you/did you get having a lower D level? Is this evident just from asking that D be checked with bloodwork or is it a specific test like for just D3? Should other things be checked in conjunction with the D test? I have blood work scheduled for June 10and would like to ask for this. I am searching for what is making me so tired all the time.

[austinite]

Wow, that's a lot of drug to have to take regardless. So what symptoms do you/did you get having a lower D level? Is this evident just from asking that D be checked with bloodwork or is it a specific test like for just D3? Should other things be checked in conjunction with the D test? I have blood work scheduled for June 10and would like to ask for this. I am searching for what is making me so tired all the time.

Symptoms are generally too vague. First I thought it was the cause of my crashed (I would completely crash around 2pm), but that turned out to be cortisol which I fixed. The only symptom I can relate is aching all over. no pain, just general aches. But regardless of symptoms, far too much benefit from D to be ignored.

I test 25-OH total, D2 and D3.

[crashfirepm53]

What is your complaint or is it just that your vit. D bw is low? According to my previous endo doc, most of Americans are chronicly low vit D. I'm tired all the time and my D is a bit low but 5000iu a day does nothing for me.

[austinite]

What is your complaint or is it just that your vit. D bw is low? According to my previous endo doc, most of Americans are chronicly low vit D. I'm tired all the time and my D is a bit low but 5000iu a day does nothing for me.

stated above.

[kelkel]

Curious what your CRP level is Austin. Iron panel as well.

[100%]

Did you get a urine test for Vitamin D and calcium or parathyroid hormone function test?

[austinite]

Curious what your CRP level is Austin. Iron panel as well.

CRP 0.77 mg/dL - this was last year.
Ferritin 104 ng/mL

[austinite]

Did you get a urine test for Vitamin D and calcium or parathyroid hormone function test?

PTH was done last year. calcium is fine (still is) no urine test for d

[powerlifterty16]

10000 d3 per day keeps me at 70 a week after my las pill.( i take a week off before giving blood)

[powerlifterty16]

it's amazing you guys have issues keeping a good b12 or d level on softgels and lozenges. I find them very effective. Make sure you take the d with a fatty meal!

[kelkel]

CRP 0.77 mg/dL - this was last year.
Ferritin 104 ng/mL

Just PM'd you a site that relates to your parathyroid I mentioned to you. If you like it, post it up. It may be relevant here....

[austinite]

it's amazing you guys have issues keeping a good b12 or d level on softgels and lozenges. I find them very effective. Make sure you take the d with a fatty meal!

B12 oral never worked for me. Methyl was OK but nothing compared to injectable.

Yes, D always with fats, of course.

[100%]

PTH was done last year. calcium is fine (still is) no urine test for d

If your body considers your calcium high it shuts down the absorption of Vitamin D.

[austinite]

If your body considers your calcium high it shuts down the absorption of Vitamin D.

right. I discussed this with kelkel a while back. No issues with calcium.

[austinite]

Just PM'd you a site that relates to your parathyroid I mentioned to you. If you like it, post it up. It may be relevant here....

Thanks, buddy. I'll read that tonight and post.

[100%]

This study show oral might be more effective. Comparison of oral versus intramuscular treatment of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency

Mahan Shahrivari1, Syed Adel Jahed2, Mozhdeh Zabihiyeganeh3, Madjid Shakiba4

Author affiliations
BACKGROUND: Different dosing protocols have been used for vitamin D supplementation, but there has been a lack of comparative data among them. This clinical trial study was aimed to compare the efficacy of two different regimens of vitamin D supplements on serum 25(OH) D3 level, at the end of a 3 months therapy period.

DESIGN: 84 cases of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency who did not meet exclusion criteria were randomized to two different vitamin D supplementation protocols as pearl 50,000IU weekly for one month then monthly for two months or injection of 300 000IU vitamin D during the 3 months for whom had insufficient level of vitamin D, while the deficient ones were under treatment of pearl 50 000IU weekly for two months and one for another month or injection of 300 000IU vitamin D during the 3 months. The primary outcome measure was the serum 25-hydroxyvitaminD [25(OH)D] concentration 3 months after onset of treatment.

RESULTS: Pretreatment level of vitamin D was not different meaningfully in oral and injection methods but The vitamin D level after treatment in oral method was higher than in injection one. (P=0.023). In addition, at the end of the treatment 23.8%(10) of the patients on oral therapy did not receive to sufficient level of vitamin D while in the injection method this feature was 42.9%(18) (P=0.064).Furthermore oral therapy had better effect on serum 25(OH) D3 level in overweight persons (P=0.046).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, we concluded, oral method had better effect on serum 25(OH)D3 level, 3 months after therapy than injection route.

Note: The correct order of authors and their affiliations is as appears above and not as presented int eh printed version of the abstract book.

[kelkel]

^^Good find.

[austinite]

This study show oral might be more effective. Comparison of oral versus intramuscular treatment of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency

Mahan Shahrivari1, Syed Adel Jahed2, Mozhdeh Zabihiyeganeh3, Madjid Shakiba4

Author affiliations
BACKGROUND: Different dosing protocols have been used for vitamin D supplementation, but there has been a lack of comparative data among them. This clinical trial study was aimed to compare the efficacy of two different regimens of vitamin D supplements on serum 25(OH) D3 level, at the end of a 3 months therapy period.

DESIGN: 84 cases of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency who did not meet exclusion criteria were randomized to two different vitamin D supplementation protocols as pearl 50,000IU weekly for one month then monthly for two months or injection of 300 000IU vitamin D during the 3 months for whom had insufficient level of vitamin D, while the deficient ones were under treatment of pearl 50 000IU weekly for two months and one for another month or injection of 300 000IU vitamin D during the 3 months. The primary outcome measure was the serum 25-hydroxyvitaminD [25(OH)D] concentration 3 months after onset of treatment.

RESULTS: Pretreatment level of vitamin D was not different meaningfully in oral and injection methods but The vitamin D level after treatment in oral method was higher than in injection one. (P=0.023). In addition, at the end of the treatment 23.8%(10) of the patients on oral therapy did not receive to sufficient level of vitamin D while in the injection method this feature was 42.9%(18) (P=0.064).Furthermore oral therapy had better effect on serum 25(OH) D3 level in overweight persons (P=0.046).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, we concluded, oral method had better effect on serum 25(OH)D3 level, 3 months after therapy than injection route.

Note: The correct order of authors and their affiliations is as appears above and not as presented int eh printed version of the abstract book.

Very Interesting. Well we know one thing... orals fail miserably with me. I'm hoping this injection might make a difference. THanks for sharing this 100!

[100%]

Very Interesting. Well we know one thing... orals fail miserably with me. I'm hoping this injection might make a difference. THanks for sharing this 100!

Your welcome. Looks like either way not a quick fix takes about three months.

[powerlifterty16]

Very Interesting. Well we know one thing... orals fail miserably with me. I'm hoping this injection might make a difference. THanks for sharing this 100!

austin what brand do you use? if i recall you take a prescription d2, and an otc d3?
i take nutrigold gmo free d3...it is legit.

[austinite]

austin what brand do you use? if i recall you take a prescription d2, and an otc d3?
i take nutrigold gmo free d3...it is legit.

The OTC stuff I've used was NuMedica. Then I used Drisdol prescription, also used Bio Tech and even pure raw powder (Which was a nightmare to obtain). Not really questioning legitimacy.

[basketballfan22]

Is there any reason to supplement with vitamin D2 over vitamin D3? From what I have read, vitamin D3 is the more "natural" kind as it is similar to the vitamin D humans get from exposure to the Sun.

[JohnGalt]

Definitely subscribed to this thread. My D levels through Quest came back <10 and getting new BW in 2 weeks for dialing in on TRT and monitoring Cholesterol and D. So anything useful you find I can't wait to hear, best of luck Aust!!

[austinite]

Is there any reason to supplement with vitamin D2 over vitamin D3? From what I have read, vitamin D3 is the more "natural" kind as it is similar to the vitamin D humans get from exposure to the Sun.

There are no health benefit differences. D2 is not produced by the body, D3 is. Both are vitamin D and will yield Vitamin D benefits. They're just different sources.

[ZenFitness]

Subscribing as well as I do 10,000 IUs a day and after a month my levels were at 43 (basically same range as Quest). In range but 10,000 IUs should have put me at the top I'd think.

My D comes in oil drops, I take it when I take fish oil in the morning and eat a couple of eggs for breakfast just before, so I should be taking in plenty of fat around that time for absorption.

[100%]

Good info here Vitamin D – what’s the optimal level and how to achieve it?

[austinite]

UPDATE:

It's been about 4 weeks since the Vitamin D shot. Got blood work done today. I couldn't get an appointment with the Doc until August 9th, but I should have the results sometime next week.

Very anxious to see if this shot worked. I've maintained my regular protocol with 50k IU D3 twice weekly and 5,000 daily.

We shall see...

[kelkel]

If you're not achieving a better level after this then someone has to check you for leaks.

[austinite]

If you're not achieving a better level after this then someone has to check you for leaks.

Agree. I might have a blown gasket somewhere.

[bass]

look forward to see the results.

[Moparman]

So mine was 25. Which was all d3. D2 was <4. Started supplimenting w 50,000 iu of d2 2x wk and I went to 52 and then 56. I added 5000 iu of d3 somewhere along the way and I didn't see much improvement so I went to 10000 iu a day (along w the 50,000 iu of d2)

Last test showed me at 37 total. Go figure. I think the over the counter stuff is bunk

[bass]

So mine was 25. Which was all d3. D2 was <4. Started supplimenting w 50,000 iu of d2 2x wk and I went to 52 and then 56. I added 5000 iu of d3 somewhere along the way and I didn't see much improvement so I went to 10000 iu a day (along w the 50,000 iu of d2)

Last test showed me at 37 total. Go figure. I think the over the counter stuff is bunk

I got mine from walmart, did 20000 ius ed, 4 weeks later my total was 101 on scale of 30-100. very cheap too, like $5 or so!

[powerlifterty16]

i use nutrigold from amazon. 14 bucks for 360 5000 iu softgels. i take 10k per day and levels are around 70 after one week off of the vitamin d for the test.

I got mine from walmart, did 20000 ius ed, 4 weeks later my total was 101 on scale of 30-100. very cheap too, like $5 or so!

[laser]

I go for labs on a reg basis. At age 53, I got tired of the fatigue, and about a year ago my PCP did a complete work up, exam etc. Said I was in the low range on my vitamin D. put me on vitamin d, 1 gel cap weekly x 8 weeks 50000 UNT. Although I may have needed it, I did not see any difference in my energy level, and even felt more fatigued. Thats when I fired that DOC, because my T was clearly very low, and did not say a thing to me about it. Some docs just hate it when you ask for your medical records, and it is wise to do so.
I think now Vitamin D, and a good old B-12 shot would really do some good. It is def a balance, just amazes me how come some doctors, cannot understand how to balance ones body. To top it off this DOC told me at the start, that everything was being checked out. In the end It was yeah everything checked, but kept info from me.
Sorry for the rant.......that doc really got under my skin in several ways. I was so tired with fatigue it was difficult to make all those exams,test,lab appointments, then to have info withheld, just is not right.

[kelkel]

I go for labs on a reg basis. At age 53, I got tired of the fatigue, and about a year ago my PCP did a complete work up, exam etc. Said I was in the low range on my vitamin D. put me on vitamin d, 1 gel cap weekly x 8 weeks 50000 UNT. Although I may have needed it, I did not see any difference in my energy level, and even felt more fatigued. Thats when I fired that DOC, because my T was clearly very low, and did not say a thing to me about it. Some docs just hate it when you ask for your medical records, and it is wise to do so.
I think now Vitamin D, and a good old B-12 shot would really do some good. It is def a balance, just amazes me how come some doctors, cannot understand how to balance ones body. To top it off this DOC told me at the start, that everything was being checked out. In the end It was yeah everything checked, but kept info from me.
Sorry for the rant.......that doc really got under my skin in several ways. I was so tired with fatigue it was difficult to make all those exams,test,lab appointments, then to have info withheld, just is not right.

Look at it this way. You learned a lesson and it will never happen again, right! You're better because of it.;

[V-ROID]

I skimmed this thread and saw no mention of vitamin K2. I don't think K2 has anything to do with D3 absorbing but definitely synergistic. It is not often you find anything on Amazon with an almost 5 star rating and close to 200 reviews. Reading the reviews is almost as good as reading the ebook, but without the links to 100's of studies. For only $3.99 I had to give it a try. Interesting theories and results to say the least...

"THE MIRACULOUS RESULTS OF EXTREMELY HIGH DOSES OF THE SUNSHINE HORMONE VITAMIN D3 MY EXPERIMENT WITH HUGE DOSES OF D3 FROM 25,000 to 50,000 to 100,000 IU A Day OVER A 1 YEAR PERIOD"

Amazon.com: THE MIRACULOUS RESULTS OF EXTREMELY HIGH DOSES OF THE SUNSHINE HORMONE VITAMIN D3 MY EXPERIMENT WITH HUGE DOSES OF D3 FROM 25,000 to 50,000 to 100,000 IU A Day OVER A 1 YEAR PERIOD eBook: Jeff T Bowles: Kindle Store