This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

That is really really low. Even 20-30 is still low. Have you read any of the articles on Vitamin D and MS? Dr. Hector DeLuca has been studying for quite some time (as have many others). Hope more doctors get on this band wagon and test their MS patients.

We just had a whole discussion on Vitamin D under the general topic. I was a 21! I have taken 50k IU of D for 4 weeks, now I take 2 -1000iu a day. I am maintaining at 35 now but they say for MS we need between 40-60 so who knows lol.

I registered at 17 when I was tested at the point I was first diagnosed. I did the 50,000 once a week for 9 weeks. Got it up into the 30's. Started on 3,000 a day. Moved it to 46. Still trying. My neuro at a well-known MS clinic said they like their patients to be between 60-80. Maybe with a higher Vitamin D level RedPenguins you might find yourself having less relapses? Always worth a shot.

Vitamin level rookie question here:

I've never had mine tested. Is this something your neuro. should order or is it something you just get done by the family doc., or what? I've been taking 2,000 - 4,000/day (2 in the summer, 4 in the winter) for years now, but it sounds like I might still be low based on what others are saying. I'd like to find out, but just want to know who to ask.

To Prof8: Do you think the Vitamin D is helping you? Do you have many relapses?

To Loobie: Make sure the correct test is requested - 25(OH)D not 1,25(OH)D. My husband has his blood work done at Quest Labs. Their report gives you the total D and then also a breakdown of D2 and D3. I heard Quest Labs have been bombarded with Vitamin D testing.

Lew,

It's a simple blood test, done by one of the standard labs. You might need the order from the doc, but a PCP can write it; doesn't necessarily need to be a neuro. Also, MaggieMae is correct; you want the 25 (OH) test. From what I understand, the 1,25 form is pretty difficult to measure, anyway. Also, you're probably already aware of this, but be careful of the units - most here in the U.S. use ng/ml, but our friends up north and elsewhere use nmol/L (32 ng/ml = 80 nmol/L).

By the way, there were news reports recently that Quest had a bunch of errors in their Vitamin D testing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/busin ... btest.html

So, you might want to use Labcorp or someone else.

Labcorp is right down the street from my house, so I'll probably use them. Thanks for the help guys.

MaggieMae -- I haven't had a relapse since I was diagnosed 18 months ago. I have no idea if it is related to Vitamin D. There is know way to know. I do know, however, that several clinical studies are going on right now to see if raising Vitamin D levels has an effect on relapses. Tentative data suggests possibly yes. They know for certain that having normal to high Vitamin D levels reduces your risk for MS significantly. This is why I have told all the women in my family (we grew up in the Northeast) to have their Vitamin D levels checked and fix it.

I was told by my neuro and others that MS patients should be on Vitamin D3 (not Vitamin D2), Vitamin B-12, and fish oil. I've been taking all.

Petakitty -- interesting that you had an attack after not spending a summer in the sun. I will tell you that for the past 14 years I have lived in extremely sunny places (we are talking 300 days of sun year round) and I still had a serious Vitamin D deficiency. Weird, huh? The neuro had no explanation for that. Maybe my body has a problem taking it in.

Since somebody posted about the Australian doc. with MS who is now an avid sunbather, I tried it. I think it works for me. I feel better after big time. During not so much because I get overheated, but it's tolerable and I can't wait for the sun this year to start worshipping

prof8- 300 days a year...you in Colorado too?

Hi Chris, Lived in Colorado for 4 years, southern Calif. for 8 years I grew up in the Northeast though...guess that is one of the MS risk factors. So no matter how much sun I got after the age of 22 it was too late.