tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455967162947276184.post8980544947917302839..comments2024-03-27T00:21:26.319-07:00Comments on Dr David Grimes: Vitamin D testingDavid Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12985177421470200457noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455967162947276184.post-1587237629256097892013-09-14T03:37:38.338-07:002013-09-14T03:37:38.338-07:00Hi Roger
No-one knows the best dose of vitamin D t...Hi Roger<br />No-one knows the best dose of vitamin D to take. 2000units per day is safe as judged by a big study from the EU (electronic content no longer visible). This dose is about right and usually achieves god blood levels.<br />5000 units per day is OK, but it might be worth having the blood level checked.<br />"Overdosing" on vitamin D is exceptionally rare. It has occurred only with prescription errors (for example 20,000 units per day rather than per week) or when taking calcium with vitamin D. This is not necessary as vitamin D enables absorption of calcium from food.<br />It is not possible to "overdose" on vitamin D from the sun. The body appears to have a self-correcting mechanism whereby excess vitamin D (in its activated form) is inactivated in the skin by the action of the sun. So carry on gardening without sun creams, but protect your head.<br />I think that advice will remain as 2000 – 3000 units per day, or 20,000 units each week. It is outdoor activity that needs to be encouraged.<br />DavudDavid Grimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12985177421470200457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455967162947276184.post-85848313685355628652013-09-03T14:38:53.199-07:002013-09-03T14:38:53.199-07:00I take 5000 units per day as a soft gel supplement...I take 5000 units per day as a soft gel supplement. Not in the longest days when it is sunny as I am out in the garden. (without any sun screen, as a gardener I am out in the sun most days of the year and do not burn as I am constantly exposed).<br />From what you say about my body adjusting its natural levels of vitamin d to a fairly constant level (provided sufficient vit d is available) should I consider reducing my dose to 2000 units a day?<br />I am confident that 5000 units does me no harm. I know the medical establishment is conservative about these things. Do you anticipate in future higher doses will be recommended?Roger Brook - No Dig Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16210160273591839142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455967162947276184.post-5021017282606852612013-08-28T12:27:07.506-07:002013-08-28T12:27:07.506-07:00Hi Simon
Although I am an undoubted cholesterol sc...Hi Simon<br />Although I am an undoubted cholesterol sceptic I am not against everything. There are some valuable health issues but a lot of work during 30 years has led me to believe that the sun and vitamin D are of great importance. It makes sense with good observational data. The cholesterol story makes no sense and conflicts with observational data. Yes, I am an evangelist for vitamin D but aware of limitations. There is a lot of work being undertaken on vitamin D, but what do we do until the results come through? Vitamin D is at least natural. The level of 2000units per ay was based on a safety study by the EU, not a study of effectiveness. The "natural" level of vitamin D is lower in places that have poor health. The "ideal" level is perhaps that we find in places where population health is much better. If we cannot all go and live in southern European Mediterranean countries, let us try to achieve their levels of vitamin D.David Grimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12985177421470200457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455967162947276184.post-66035047863472861482013-08-28T04:16:54.103-07:002013-08-28T04:16:54.103-07:00The ideal levels are shown here, but very few peop...The ideal levels are shown here, but very few people achieve these levels naturally.<br />...snip...<br />If vitamin D deficiency is so common it could be argued that we should all take a supplement without blood testing. This is safe with a supplement of 2000 units per day. <br /><br />Hmmm - that rings a bell. Ah yes - substitute "cholesterol" for "vitamin d" and "statins" for "supplement" and we are back on the topic of some of your other recent articles.<br /><br />Ok, perhaps that sounds a little flippant, but the core argument seems to be the same - or to put it the other way, why is the "natural" level not the "ideal" level?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com