Hi, I received my most recent lab results when I went to the doctor a couple of days ago. Everything came back normal, except that I have very low Vitamin D. The lab result was 11. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's the number. Anyway, I am trying to figure out what is causing this. My Vitamin D was 25 which is on the lower side of normal approximately 8 months ago. As I mentioned, now it is 11.
I was reading online that sun exposure impacts your Vit D levels. I also read that being a vegetarian can also cause lower levels. I've been a vegetarian for many years.
Has anyone else experienced low levels of Vitamin D?
Hi, I am "SH" too.
Anyway, try getting more sun. Sometimes it is seasonal... in winter there is less sun and people get outside less.
Or take vitamin D-3 supplements.
You can find it pretty much anywhere.
Good luck,
Susan
Yep, me too. My doctor says to take 1000 IU's per day, which I do and get some sun. Pretty tough to do that in Michigan. But, Dr. Oz mentioned that anyone north of Atlanta runs the risk of low Vit D.
I also have been a veggie for many years and my vitamin D was 10. I have a few more issues with health but it is very important you raise your level. When my level was that low my muscles ached so bad.......I did not feel well at all. So please make sure you take care of yourself!
Yup. So common, especially in overcast, northern climates, during winter months, and among darker-skinned people. A level of 11 is really low. You can safely take supplements of up to 2,000 I.U. daily of D3 (I've gotten that advice from two different M.D.s), and up to 15 minutes of intense sun a day will also give you a significant boost.
Go for it! Vitamin D has multiple health benefits, as varied as helping you use the calcium you eat to making you more resistant to infections and some cancers.
I have it as well, mine actually came in at an 8. :(
I was told to take a Vitamin D supplement as well as get into the sun 15 minutes every day......or actually outside because the sun would even be good thru the clouds.
For me, it has caused a lack of energy for me and a mild depression.
When I can remember to take my vitamins, it does get a little better. Now that the weather is better, I plan on being outside a lot, not sure if it will be the fresh air or the sun that wil help. But I'll let you know
Good luck
K.
if i am not wrong mine is a 8. it's been like that for two years now. i am ordered to take 2000 units a day in combination with calcium. anyone in northeast is in danger of low vit. d. my endocrinologist said it impacts skin, fatigue, tiredness etc. i was taking 2000 units a day until last summer when i spent a lot of time on the beach. then i stopped taking as i thought i am doing it the natural way :0 need to go back to taking it.
i am not a vegetarian but have graves disease. my endo said sometimes they're related.
Hello S.H. ~
I live in Michigan & my lab results came back showing that i was Vit D deficient...I have been taking 50,000 IUs every week w/a calcium supplement...I asked my doctor for the blood work b/c I was EXTREMELY tired, no energy whatsoever & just did not feel well.
My lab results reflected the same thing, and I'm also mostly a vegetarian. My midwife put me on high doses of Vit. D for a few months, and when I re-tested (first test end of summer - you'd have thought with sun exposure it would be higher then) and then re-tested just 2 weeks ago) and mine had gone up more than 10 "points". I use Nature Source Vit. D (I think that's the name of the brand) and started out with a 10,000 dose for one month and then down to 5,000 a day after that. I've been supplementing for several months now, and it sounds like the dosage amounts vary greatly through these responses. I think that has something to do with relatively weak research in this particular area, but I do know Vit.D deficiencies are on the rise and really common.
Like everyone else has said low vit D levels are really common esp. during winter months. We use Green Pastures fermented Cod Liver Oil which has natural vitamin D in it. A teaspoon a day will help your levels. Plus, the Cod Liver Oil has the healthy omega 3's and 6's. And lots of other vitamins that will be VERY beneficial to your health.
So glad you brought this subject up! Actually living this far above the equator we recieve approx 30% of the necessary Vit D levels during the summer (only between 11-1 am) and next to zero% in the winter months. If you were to test just about every person reading this article, you'll find most of us are way below normal levels. This definitly adversly effects multiple systems in our bodies, from thyroid, to bones, to psycological issues.
As a chiropractor i recommend Vitamin D3 supplementation to my patients. Please note this is not the vit. D that many people think of, its the precurser to the vitamin D that is utilized in the system. I highly recommend you check it out!
Good luck, and happy health!
Dear S H,
You just need to talk to your doctor about safe supplements.
I am very familiar with Union City as I was raised in Fremont until the age of 15. My parents made the wonderful decision to move me to a place in California under the Oregon border that rarely sees the sun. Deficiency is part of life around here, especially in areas close to the ocean where fog is the norm even in the summer months due to it being so hot in other areas.
Heat + water = Steam (fog). I don't know what you can do at this time of year to get more sunlight unless you can afford going to Mexico or Arizona.
You can get vitamin D from nutrients and supplements, but as far as I'm concerned, there is no replacement for sunlight. I don't mean laying out and baking yourself in the sun, but just sunlight in general. Some people even suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder which can be helped with light therapy.
Just don't feel alone with the low levels of vitamin D and do what you can, safely, to get your levels back up.
I wish you the very best.
40-70 is the optimal range. Most Americans are deficient because of lack of sun exposure due to winter months in some regions and use of sunscreens to prevent skin cancer. 20 minutes of full sun exposure daily before or after the peak sun times should give you enough sun exposure to make vitamin D. You can't wear sunscreen though. You can also supplement with a liquid vitamin D3. 2000-4000 iu is recommended. You need vitamin D to drive calcium into the bone and it also important in immune system function. You can take cod liver oil which is naturally high in vitamin D, also.
Vitamin D levels can be raised by an absorbable multivitamin as well as exposure to sun. Being a vegetarian you need to supplement. The multivitamin should keep the levels steady but sun will always help. Not only with "health" but with "mood." :)
M.
Vitamin D deficiency is very common. I had been reading about it, and had my doc test me for it at that check-up. I was low, took the 50,000 once/week for 4 weeks, then doc recommended supplementing 1000-2000 after that. I get 400 in my multi, and then supplement 1000 daily. Or, you could do 10mins of sun exposure each day, without sunscreen.
Good luck!
Vitamin D is extremely important to your immune system as well.
