Page 1 of 3

Vit D

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:43 pm
by bromley
Vit D article

http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?j692918069&w=464753

I've become a convert to the Vit D thing. No more high factor suntan cream in Summer. But as I look out the window and see the fireworks going off (Bonfire Night in the UK), I realise how short and dark the days are.

I now understand that Vit D3 is the supplement to take, but am confused by how much I should be taking. One health store in the UK (Holland and Barret) sells the following:

Each tablet contains 10 µg. (400 I.U) of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), needed for growth and development especially of bones and teeth.

But I have seen articles suggesting 4000 I.U per day. Am I expected to take 10 of these tablets a day or are there other options?

Grateful for any advice (probably from Jimmylegs and her identical twin sister Melody).

Thanks

Ian

PS I have read articles / research suggesting that Vit D might protect against getting diseases such as MS (or reduce the risk). But has there been any research showing that taking it after dx has any effect? I still intend to take the supplments as I've had several doses of steroids this year.

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:22 pm
by Melody
In winter John is at 4000iu and in summer I had him at around 2300iu for supplement and had his levels checked every 3 months. We are staying well within the safety range. Might I add I told my 28 year old daughter about it and she started taking it(1000iu per day) more for the just incase it works factor and she has always been anemic and slept allot. She can stay awake now and swears it makes her feel better mood wise. I also take 1400iu per day mine more for the fact I'm in my 40's and would like to protect my bone health. I always feel good so hard to say and the bones aren't talking yet. :lol:

Just as a note even my grandsons multi vitamin has 400iu in it so he takes that each morning

Your second question was do you take 10 a day. John did until I found a pill with 1000iu. So yep


Your last question is exactly what Paul O'Connor at St. Mikes is working on now.

Re: Vit D

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:05 pm
by NHE
bromley wrote:But I have seen articles suggesting 4000 I.U per day. Am I expected to take 10 of these tablets a day or are there other options?
I don't know what supplement brands you have available in the UK but in the US both Nature Made and Now sell a vitamin D supplement at 1000 IU/tablet.

In addition, here's a review article on vitamin D which you may find helpful. Note that the full article is available for free. It's a bit on the technical side but I still think it's a worthwhile read as it's a fairly thorough review.

NHE

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:03 pm
by dignan
Here's a post in the pipeline thread from Lisabee on July 27, 2006...



Dignan,

I am very happy to report that the Vitamin D trial out of Toronto is indeed alive. Here is a 2006 abstract, presented in the June 2006 IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis in Toronto. I had to copy text off an adobe file and some letters dropped, but here it is. This was the Phase 1, but I understand that Phase II work has begun with more MS subjects. Please add Vitamin D back to your Phase II list. - Lisa


A PHASE I SAFETY, DOSE-ESCALATION STUDY OF VITAMIN D3
WITH CALCIUM IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Kimball S1, Vieth R1, UrsellM2, O’Connor PG2, Gray B2; 1Mount
Sinai Hospital, 2St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
Background: Although vitamin D3 is often used in the treatment
of osteoporosis, a Phase I, dose-.nding study has never been
undertaken to our knowledge. Vitamin D3 may play a role in the
development and/or progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objective: To perform a dose-.nding study, characterizing the
therapeutic safety of vitamin D3 with calcium supplements in
patients with MS.
DESIGN: In a Phase I, escalating-dose design, vitamin D3 (100
to 1,000 mcg/day) was given orally over 28 weeks to 12 patients
with clinically de.nite MS. Calcium was also given orally at the
current recommended daily intake (1000 mg/day). Every 6 weeks,
serum and urine calcium, serum liver enzymes, creatinine, protein
and electrolytes were monitored, and the vitamin D3 dose increased
incrementally, ending after 4 weeks of supplementation at
1,000 mcg/day. Disease activity was monitored based on annualized
relapse rates and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of
the brain.
Results: Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations
increased from 79.4 nmol/L at baseline to 452.6 nmol/L
(p<0.001). At the end of the protocol the highest individual
25(OH)D value was 810 nmol/L. Serum calcium levels and urine
calcium:creatinine remained within normal ranges (2.2–2.6
mmol/L and <1.0 respectively) for all participants, and did not
change signi.cantly (paired t-test). Liver enzymes, serum creatinine,
electrolytes and serum protein all remained unchanged and
within reference ranges. In terms of MS, there was no signi.cant
change in annualized relapse rates or the number of lesions on
MRI scans (indicators of active disease).
Conclusions: Despite attaining serum 25(OH)D concentrations
much higher than physiologic levels (>230 nmol/L), no participant
developed hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria or adverse clinical e.ects.
These data support the safety of higher vitamin D3 intakes, and
will help to de.ne serum 25(OH)D concentrations that could be
evaluated for the treatment of disease such as MS or osteoporosis.[/quote]

NPR Morning Edition item of June 22 on Vitamin D

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:40 pm
by lyndacarol
deleted because I forgot to put in the link

NPR Morning Edition item of June 22 on Vitamin D

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:41 pm
by lyndacarol
Here is the link for an NPR item I referred to earlier. It cites a Dallas clinic (the Cooper Institute) as now recommending 4000IU per day:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=5503161

Bonfires and Vitamin D

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:34 pm
by Shayk
Ian

I hope you enjoyed the bonfires. 8)
But has there been any research showing that taking it after dx has any effect?
There was this study from Ectrims 2006 (breaking news section).
Longitudinal study of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and PTH levels in multiple sclerosis

M. Soilu-Hänninen, M. Laaksonen, I. Laitinen, J.-P. Erälinna, E.-M. Lilius, I. Mononen (Turku, FIN)

25(OH)D levels were lower and iPTH levels were higher during MS relapses than in remission.

Conclusion: Vitamin D is a potential regulator of the clinical disease activity in MS. Elevation of intact PTH above 20 ng/L is an indicator of a risk for MS relapse.
Here's some of their earlier research Vitamin D Levels at the Onset of MS
However, lower vitamin D levels during MS relapses than in remission suggest that vitamin D could be involved in the regulation of the clinical disease activity of MS.
Pilot Trial of Vitamin D

MS: Decreased Relapse Rate With Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D (I think JFH posted this earlier.)
The number of exacerbations observed during the program was less than one half the number expected from case histories. No side effects were apparent. The dietary regimen may offer a new means of controlling the exacerbation rate in MS, at least for younger patients. The results tend to support a theory of MS which states that calcium and magnesium are important in the development, structure and stability of myelin.


And, just to make your day complete :wink: here's a mouse study .

So, I think the answer to your question is yes, there's some info Vitamin D3 might be helpful after diagnosis. I think a lot of us are probably hoping so too. :)

Sharon

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:08 am
by SarahLonglands
Ian, if you order your supplements from vitacost in the US, it works out cheaper than buying stuff here, even with the import duty and you can get 1000iu of D, 5000mcg of B12 and so on. Of course, you have to order more than one pot of one thing at a time, but it only takes about three or four days to arrive.

Sarah :wink:

big time liquid D

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:53 am
by jimmylegs
hi all

what i have is a prescription for liquid vitamin d3. i got the product name from consulting with the compounding pharmacist and i took what he told me to the doctor to get the prescription.

it is the same base that i used for the megadose, at a different dilution. at the megadose dilution i had to take two drops per day.

at the 4000 IU per day dilution i take 0.5 mL per day. mine is in olive oil but they normally do peanut. the shelf life once it's mixed is 3 months. it has to stay refrigerated. i keep some 1000IUs around to pack along when i'm away from a fridge.

i usually would take it in a spoonful of cal-mag-d3 liquid that tastes like strawberry but a little chalky. i don't mind it though. i ran out a while back and i can't find it in oz but i work outside so whatever, i'm still up around 120 so i'll last til i get back to canada!

so that's my little bit, hope it helps :D

glad you're in on it brom!! and mel, my long lost identical twin sister! i never knew!!
<tears of joy> ;)

Re: Vit D

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:19 am
by JFH
bromley wrote:... One health store in the UK (Holland and Barret) sells the following:

Each tablet contains 10 µg. (400 I.U) of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), needed for growth and development especially of bones and teeth.

But I have seen articles suggesting 4000 I.U per day. Am I expected to take 10 of these tablets a day or are there other options?
Ian I take 5 of these each morning.

And as I know you're getting on a bit :D it is worth remembering that it is also good for aging bones.

Thanks Sarah for the link. Vit D is *so* cheap but I think I'll try that source out.

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:22 am
by bromley
Many thanks for all the advice.

Ian

Re: big time liquid D

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:24 am
by Melody
jimmylegs wrote: and mel, my long lost identical twin sister! i never knew!!
<tears of joy> ;)

I come from a family of 8 there could be another sister. :wink:

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:29 am
by Melody
<<Back to index
Grey skies effect
By Jane Lavender
RESEARCHERS are attempting to discover what effect the grey skies and pouring rain in the North-west has on the health of the region's residents.

A study at Manchester University is looking at the impact sunlight, or lack of it, in the region is having on levels of vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones and organs.

Dr Lesley Rhodes, the lead researcher from the division of medicines and neurosciences at the university, said: "Sunlight acting through the skin is essential for the body to produce vitamin D.

continued...
"There is good evidence from previous research that the levels of the vitamin needed for bone health are higher than previously thought "We therefore need to find out exactly how much sun exposure is required for vitamin D levels."

A deficiency of vitamin D leads to a failure of the bones to grow and causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults and recent studies on animals have also suggested that it might have an effect in reducing breast, colon and prostate cancers.

The team is carrying out a two-and-a-half year study, funded by Cancer Research UK, and is looking for volunteers.

People need to be in good general health, aged between 20 and 60 and living in Greater Manchester.

Marie Durkin, a clinical research nurse, said: "One group of volunteers will be given a course of simulated sunlight exposure using medicinal lamps this winter, while another will be monitored throughout the coming year to assess the impact of local sunlight exposure. The effect on vitamin D will be assessed through blood samples."

Anyone interested in taking part in the research should contact Marie Durkin at Hope Hospital, on 0161 2063143.
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/ ... effect.php

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:55 pm
by Loobie
I have a question. What is the D3 thing. My bottle of Solgar says 1000IU Vit. D (cholicalciferol). Is this any different than the one with the 3 after the D?

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:35 pm
by Brainteaser
Ian & others,
In Oz we can get Life Extension Vitamin D3 imported from the US. It is in 1000iu & 5000iu caps. I 'd presume it would also be available to you in the UK.
Regards,
Phil.