Vit D ?

[l412angel]

I was deficient. Mine was at 13. So I am going through numerous rx meds to up it. Its around 30 last time we checked and doc had me do another round. So I get it tested tomorrow to see what it is now.

Ok so for the questions...how much should you be taking during pregnancy and outside of pregnancy?

If your deficient and on rx meds...when it goes back up...would it go right back down without rx meds?

[caryn]

Unfortunately, the answer to all of these questions is up in the air right now. There have been some indications that the current RDA for vitamin D is too low, like an increase in rickets among dark-skinned populations in northern cities. The current RDA is at 200 IU for women between 19-50 years, but if you meet that RDA and your levels are consistently so low, experimenting with those prescription meds to figure out what you need to take to have blood levels in the right range is really the best strategy.

There's some reason to associate low D levels with preeclampsia, but no one is certain yet if this is correlation or causation -- maybe there's the same cause underpinning both problems, especially since some autoimmune conditions often mean low serum D levels, and autoimmune conditions predispose to preeclampsia. (Plus, I have one of those conditions plus normal vitamin D levels. So it's weird.)

[l412angel]

So I bought the 1,000 mg tables...whats 200 iu?

[caryn]

International Units. :)

IUs are a measure of potency, and I don't remember the conversion factor from vitamin D to IU, but Alanna might! Does the bottle have an IU number as well?

[caryn]

Okay, I found it: 200 IU is 5 *micrograms*. Does your bottle say mcg or mg?

It is actually possible to take a toxic dose of vitamin D, but since your doc is monitoring you pretty closely I don't think that's terribly likely. But if they actually sell 1000 mg doses over the counter I'd be surprised, 'cause that could definitely make people very, very sick -- that's 1,000,000 mcg, or 200,000 times the RDA, if I'm multiplying correctly.

[l412angel]

Ok my bottle says 1,000 IU? So that would be 200 mg?

[milesymommy]

I'd just go spend 20 minutes in the sun... That's what's recommend - 20-30 minutes, without sunscreen, between 10 and 2 for the best exposure.

[caryn]

Laura, that's 5 times the RDA then -- 200 IU x 5. That makes much more sense. :)

Re: sunlight -- Well, except if you live in a sunny climate and have a deficit anyway. Some people have genetically variant receptors that can't absorb certain subtypes of vitamin D, or other underlying issues that impair absorption.

[l412angel]

So 1000iu is too much? Is that over the reccomended dosage? I got it over the counter

[alviarin]

My endocrinologist told me that normally 1000 IU/day vitamin D is a good maintenance dose, thought it might not be enough to overcome a deficiency. As far as I know in the US the tolerable upper intake limit is still 2000 IU/day.

For some reason I seem to have to take higher doses to stay in range, even after getting my vitamin D levels up via prescription. My sisters and mom are vitamin D deficient also, so for us there very well may be something genetic going on.

If I were you I'd talk to my doc to see what they suggest, then get rechecked in a month or so to make my vitamin D levels weren't slipping on that dose.