Title says it all.
I’m fine with taking Vitamin D supplements. But at the same time, I don’t want to be spinning my wheels.
What’s your vitamin D blood level?
I rarely prescribe supplemental vitamins (beyond what’s in a healthy diet) at all for my patients, nor recommend them.
Except for vitamin D. If levels are really low (like under 20), I am aggressive about raising them, prescribing 50,000 units a week of Vitamin D2 for 8-12 weeks to replenish the deficit, then maintaining levels after that with 2000 units of Vitamin D3 a day.
Dude, the SDMB does not count as a second opinion.
Regards,
Shodan
Nor does Google, really.
I’m guessing that what Google says is that vitamin supplements are BS…because most people aren’t suffering from vitamin deficiency. If you’ve been tested and found to have a deficiency (which you have), then that particular vitamin supplement is not BS for you.
I’d suggest following your doc’s advice, or consulting a second actual doctor.
Hey, I was hoping you would pop in. Thanks!
Yeah, I don’t know my number, but it’s pretty low. (Typical of night-shift workers)
I’ll go ahead and do what my doc prescribed.
Thanks again.
I don’t take vitamin supplements but I do take vitamin D. Since I’m prone to growing things on my skin, my doctor has told me to avoid sun exposure – wear a hat, sunblock, long sleeves, etc. The downside of that is that my vitamin D levels are much lower than normal. I guess I could spend more time outside and risk skin cancer, but I’d rather just down a couple of tablets daily.
Which reminds me – time for a new bottle!
For what my anecdote is worth, my doc tested my vitamin D level and it was quite low though I don’t remember exactly how low. The perils of a desk job even with a window office. I felt fine but I started on a supplement of 1000 IU per day. I was surprised at how much less tired, more vigorous, and stronger I felt after just a week or two on the supplement. When retested, my Vitamin D level was close to normal but still low, so doc upped the dose to 2000 IU per day. The higher dose didn’t make me feel any different but my doc is now happy with my Vitamin D level.
I think there was some consternation that raising the band of acceptable vitamin D levels pushed millions more people into the place where vitamin D supplements are recommended. (Googling found me this discussion: Vitamin D: What’s the "right" level? - Harvard Health). So, many people who are above the old level (20 ng/mL) and close to the new level (30ng/mL) probably feel fine and perhaps could skip supplementation without too much ill effect. Others even suggest that 12.5 ng/mL for people with no other health risks is probably fine. However, even they will probably benefit from things like less bone loss and reduced risk of breaks if they take the supplements their doctor recommends.
I’m a regular, fit, middle-aged guy who lives in Canada and my doc prescribed vitamin D, especially in the winter months because we don’t get a ton of sun. I expressed similar reservations regarding vitamin intake and he agreed that they were generally unneeded (generally turning pills into vitamin-rich urine), but that he prescribes vitamin D a fair bit because its relatively common to have low levels.
“Google says” is short for “the sites that came up when I googled,” right? Which sites were they?
And “vitamins are BS” may be short for something that is at least somewhat accurate; but vitamins are not BS: they really exist, and they really are necessary for health.
So, no, the title doesn’t say it all.
I’ve taken Vita.D my whole life. T1 diabetic kids often have low D.
Mine has remained low. If I go off it within days I’m gonna be experiencing tiredness and bone/muscle pain.
Good grief. If the title is too confusing for you, you’re welcome not to post.
I was engaging in hyperbole.
My PCP, oncologist, and naturopathic doc have me taking D3 because they want my level to stay in a particular range based on my medical history.
I know, but I was actually curious who, if anyone, was specifically saying that vitamin D supplements were BS for people diagnosed with low vitamin D.
The anti-supplement people aren’t really all that anti-supplement. From what I’ve seen, few of them are opposed to mothers taking prenatal supplements and many are onboard with processed foods being fortified with vitamins/minerals. Most are adamant that municipal water supplies be supplemented with fluoride.
I don’t think anybody is really “anti-supplement.” But it’s true that most people don’t have any particular need for supplements, because they get all the vitamins they need from a reasonable diet. Usually supplements are only medically necessary if you have a deficiency due to a weird diet, medical condition, pregnancy, etc. In which case you should be consulting with a doctor anyway, not the dude at GNC.
I also take a D supplement since I get little sun exposure.
I didn’t read anything like that. When I “Googled”, I didn’t exactly do a deep dive. I just needed to reaffirm what I vaguely remember reading years ago. Which was, vitamin supplements have few, if any benefits.
I didn’t get into the “if you have a deficiency” part. QTM and Machine Elf cleared that up for me.
Not according to the most recent NHANES data:
My doctor suggested Vitamin D to help with restless leg syndrome. I’m pretty sure it’s a placebo suggestion, but, meh, what the hell, I got a big bottle on sale.
My blood tests showed consistent Vitamin D deficiency, so my doc put me on a low dosage. The tests improved only slightly, so the dosage was increased. Long story short, I’ve been taking 50K units/day for a few years now, and blood test results have been normal.
What bothers me, though, is that there seem to be fads in medical deficiencies. It seems that lately, everybody’s diagnosed with D deficiency. Before D, it was testosterone. What’s next?