High Dose Vitamin D - Are 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D Too Much?

The Vitamin D Council advises that most healthy people can receive 5,000-10,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day without harm. But high dose vitamin D must be accompanied by sufficient calcium and magnesium...and people with certain diseases should only take supplements under the supervision of a knowledgeable doctor. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and the prevention of osteoporosis. Recent studies have shown that it may also boost the immune system and help to prevent cancer.

Our body will automatically regulate how much vitamin D it produces from sunshine. Studies show that sunbathing in the summer for about 30 minutes can result in the production of over 10,000 IU of vitamin D and that once our skin makes about 20,000 IU, the ultraviolet light begins to degrade the vitamin so that we do not "overdose" on the sun. Vitamin D expert Dr. Vieth reports that there is no practical difference between vitamin D acquired from the sun and that acquired from food and supplements.

The Vitamin D Council reports that doses of 5,000 IU per day from all sources (sun, diet and supplements) are safe for most healthy people and that there are no reports of toxicity up to 10,000 IU per day. But the Council also warns that without calcium and magnesium in sufficient quantities, vitamin D supplementation will withdraw calcium from the bone and will allow the uptake of toxic minerals. As everyone metabolizes vitamin D differently, the best way to identify the optimal level of supplementation is to adjust the dosage to maintain target blood levels. The Vitamin D Council recommends that optimal health is supported by blood levels of 50-80 ng/mL (125-200nmol/L) as identified in a 25(OH)D vitamin D blood test.

HIGH DOSE VITAMIN D FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE DEFICIENCY

High dose vitamin D treatment is broadly accepted in the medical community for people who are suffering from a severe deficiency but are otherwise in good health. There are two views on the best way to receive high dose vitamin D. The most common form of high dose vitamin D in the US is a prescription form of ergocalciferal also known as vitamin D2. But as vitamin D2 is less potent than vitamin D3, many doctors now recommend high dose vitamin D3 which can be purchased in a health food store or on-line.

VITAMIN D2 (50,000 IU/week)

Dr. Michael Holick of the Boston University School of Medicine recommends high dose vitamin D2 treatment for people whose 25(OH) blood levels are below 10 ng/mL (25 nmol/L). He proposes an oral dose of 50,000 IU/wk of vitamin D2 for 8 weeks followed by another blood test to check serum levels. If the levels are still inadequate, another 8-week course of 50,000 IU/week may be prescribed until blood levels reach 30 to 50 ng/mL (75-125 nmol/L). Once these target blood levels have been attained, patients prone to developing vitamin D deficiency may be encouraged to take 50,000 IU of D2 every 2 weeks to sustain their blood levels...or 1,000 IU a day of vitamin D3. He also suggests that exposure to direct sunlight for 5-10 minutes on the arms and legs between 10am-3pm during the spring, summer and fall can prevent further deficiency.

Ergocalciferol is available to U.S. doctors in prescription strength of 50,000 units in the brand names of Drisdol and Calciferol. As it is derived from plants rather than animals, ergocalciferol is considered Kosher.

VITAMIN D3 (4,000 IU/day)

Dr. Vieth (Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto Canada) recommends that vitamin D3 is the preferred choice for supplementation. In 2001, a study involving 61 healthy men and women resulted in healthy increases in blood levels following daily intake of 4,000 IU of vitamin D 3-without an increase in blood calcium or urinary calcium excretion. After 2-5 months, the blood levels of participants increased to a range of 28-50ng/ml (69-125 nmol/L). Dr. Vieth has proposed a rule of thumb, that 4,000 IU of vitamin D3/day will increase 25(OH)D blood levels by 100nmol/L (40ng/ml) after 8 months of use and that any surplus vitamin D will remain in the body for approximately 2 months.

Dr. Vieth recommends a daily dose of 4,000 IU/day in order to maintain blood levels above 100nmol/L. He also clarifies that published cases of vitamin D causing elevated blood calcium (hypercalcaemia) have involved daily intake of 40,000 IU. Hypercalcaemia due to excessive vitamin D is generally accompanied by blood concentrations greater than 88ng/ml (220 nmol/L).

Dr. Vieth also suggests that high and infrequent dosing may result in blood level fluctuations without producing sustainable improvements in blood levels. Intake of lower doses of 2,000-4,000 IU daily rather than 100,000 IU once a month are more likely to produce the desired results.

CALCITRIOL

Calcitriol is a steroid that is produced after vitamin D passes through the liver and kidneys. The Vitamin D Council warns against treating vitamin D deficiency with calcitriol (or its analogs) as it poses risks of hypercalcaemia (high blood calcium) and fails to replenish the body's stores of vitamin D.

HIGH DOSE VITAMIN D TREATMENT GETS SILLY (500,000 IU)

Non-compliance (failure to take medications) is common both with prescription drugs and vitamins. Pharmaceutical companies and researchers often seek to address this problem with a "one shot a year" approach to osteoporosis medication and occasionally with vitamins.

In 2010, professors at the University of Melbourne reported results of a study involving 2,256 women (aged 70 years or older and considered to be at high risk of fracture) who received an annual dose of 500,000IUs of D3 supplements for three to five years. They were surprised that the recipients of this high dose vitamin D regime had 26% more fractures and 15% more falls than the placebo group. Treatment of non-compliant people with mega doses of vitamin D does not seem to be the solution....as suggested by earlier research that lower doses ingested daily produce the best results.

There are a number of diseases for which vitamin D supplements can cause elevated blood calcium and possibly compromise the immune system. In these cases, supplements should only be taken under the supervision of a knowledgeable doctor. By Darlene Varaleau

Vitamin D Sources and Daily Requirements

The nutritionally important forms of Vitamin D in man are Calceferol (Vitamin D2) and Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Calciferol may be derived by irradiation of the plant sterol, ergosterol, Cholecalciferol is the naturally occurring Performed Vitamin D which is found in animal fats and fish liver oils. It is also derived from exposure to UV rays of the sunlight which converts the cholesterol in the skin to vitamin D. Vitamin D is stored in the fat depots.

Daily requirements: The daily requirements of vitamin D are:

Adults - 2.5 mcg (100 IU)

Infants and children - 5.0 mcg (200IU)

Pregnancy and lactation - 10.0 mcg (400 IU)

(One international unit (IU) of vitamin D = 0.025 mg of calciferol -that is, to convert IU to micrograms, divide by 40).

Sources: Vitamin d is unique because it is derived both from sunlight and foods

(a) Sunlight: Vitamin D is synthesized by the body by the action of UV rays of sunlight of 7 dehydrocholesterol, which is stored in large abundance in the skin. Exposure to UV rays is critical; these can be filtered off by air pollution. Dark-skinned aces such as Negroes also suffer from this disadvantage because black skin can filter off up to 95 percent of UV rays.

(b) Foods: Vitamin occurs by only in the foods of animal origin. Liver, egg yolk, butter and cheese and some species of fish contain useful amounts. Fish liver oils, although not considered to be a food, are the richest sources of Vitamin d. Human milk has recently been shown to contain considerable amounts of water-soluble vitamin D sulfate. Other sources of vitamin D are foods artificially fortified with vitamin D, such as milk, margarine, vanaspathi and infant foods. 

By Dr John Anne 

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

Your body requires very little vitamin b12 or cobalamin and most of us get sufficient quantities of it in our normal meals to satisfy our daily requirements. Although it's rare to see vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms it can still be useful to be able to recognise them just in case.

You're most vulnerable to vitamin b12 deficiency if you've vegan and don't use the available dietary supplements containing vitamin b12. Infants breast-feeding from vegan mothers can also be at risk. Vitamin b12 supplements are generally regarded as safe because there are few known adverse effects of overdose.

The main symptom that arises from vitamin b12 deficiency is a type of anemia that causes you to feel tired, weak and lethargic. You might also feel nauseous, constipated and become very flatulent (gas). You may also lose your appetite and suffer weight loss.

More severe cases can give vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms, which include:


Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Insomnia
Loss of memory
Dizziness
Lack of balance
Depression
Digestive problems
Dizziness
Liver enlargement
Eye problems
Headaches
Hallucinations
Inflamed tongue
Breathing difficulties
Loss of memory
Palpitations
Neurological damage
Tinitus or ringing in the ears


Vitamin b12 is commonly found in animal products like eggs, dairy, fish, meat and animal organs. B12 is rarely found in vegetables, which is why vegetarians and especially vegans who don't eat dairy products or meat, are especially at risk. If you fall into this category then you should consider using vitamin supplements containing b12.

It's also important to realise that the operation of vitamin b12 is dependent on sufficient quantities of other vitamins being present in your body so you should take care to get a balanced diet to avoid vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms.

Summary:
Your body requires very little vitamin b12 or cobalamin and most of us get sufficient quantities of it in our normal meals to satisfy our daily requirements. Although it's rare to see vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms it can still be useful to be able to recognise them just in case.

Steve Gee

Benefits of Multi Vitamins

A multi vitamin is a form of supplementation that combines many different vitamins together. These vitamins are usually found in normal foods and natural sources. This includes Vitamin C, Vitamin B complex, Zinc, so on and so forth.
Most people do not cultivate good habit of consuming a balanced diet which provides them with all of the vitamins that their bodies require and this has actually resulted a boom in the multi-vitamin supplement industry. People who are on restricted diets are also the common victims who do not consume enough vitamins on a daily basis. More information can be found on sites like Wikipedia.
Multi Vitamins and Weight Loss
Losing weight fast does not require just eating dieting pills and products. There is no direct relationship between multi vitamins and weight loss, however there ARE indirect relationships between them. There is no need to mention how a strong immune system and a healthy mind could assist with losing weight. There is no point falling sick ever so frequently during your weight loss journey, only to halt your progress each time. Why right?

Types of Multi Vitamins
To make the decision simpler there are now a number of multi vitamin supplements created for specific people. For example, there are multi vitamin supplements that are designed for children and young kids. These multi vitamin supplements contain the essential nutrients that children require to grow and develop properly. Pregnant women have unique vitamin requirements that ensure that their baby receives the essential minerals and there are multi vitamin
supplements prepared for pregnant women. As we get older we also have different vitamin and mineral requirements and multi vitamin supplements for the elderly does the perfect job of satisfying these requirements and the popularity is increasing later.

Why Take A Multi Vitamin?
Of course the most obvious benefit to taking multi vitamin supplements is convenience. It is way easier for a person to consume a serving of a multi vitamin supplement that contains all of the essential vitamins to boost our overall health instead of consuming each one individually. This is very relevant for children as it can be difficult for them to consume a large number of different capsules, each containing a specific vitamin which results in handful of them requiring to be swallowed. However getting them to take in a single supplement which does the same is way easier.
The increase in the availability and popularity of multi vitamin supplements has led to a great variety in the brands and also the assorted contents of the multi vitamin supplements. The names of some of the nutrients in these multi vitamin supplements can be a little confusing initially and many people simply do not know which ones they require. Most people just follow the requirements set by the FDA for a basic guideline. Multi vitamin supplements are available in various different forms, including tablets, gel capsules and even liquids. Which is better, and FDA guidelines may not be correct, 

Properties of Multi Vitamins
It is important to consider the contents of any multi vitamin supplement before consuming too many. There are some vitamins that can be too toxic if one consumes too much more easily with multi vitamin supplements as some of the content may be overlooked. The label of the actual percentage of the recommended daily allowance for each vitamin in a multi vitamin supplement should be clearly specified and must be assessed before a person takes them. Always seek your physician or doctor's advice before taking any multi vitamin supplement if you have any doubts as to the benefits of the contents.
Some people constantly think there may be a directly or indirect relationship between multi vitamins and weight loss. This is just a myth, the effects of multi vitamins on our weight is almost negligible.

Benefits of Multi Vitamins by ALVIN NEO