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Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin required by the body for the proper absorption of calcium, bone development, control of cell growth, neuromuscular functioning, proper immune functioning, and alleviation of inflammation. A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to rickets, a disease in which bones fail to properly develop. Further, inadequate levels of vitamin D can lead to a weakened immune system, increased cancer risk, poor hair growth, and osteomalacia, a condition of weakened muscles and bones. Conversely, excess vitamin D can cause the body to absorb too much calcium, leading to increased risk of heart attack and kidney stones. The current U.S. DV for vitamin D is 600 IU (international units) and the toxicity threshold for vitamin D is thought to be 10,000 to 40,000 IU/day.2 Vitamin D is oil soluble, which means you need to eat fat to absorb it. It is naturally found mainly in fish oils, fatty fish, and to a lesser extent in beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, and certain mushrooms. Vitamin D is also naturally made by your body when you expose your skin to the sun, and thus, is called the sun-shine vitamin. In addition, vitamin D is widely added to many foods such as milk and orange juice, and can also simply be consumed as a supplement. Below is a list of high vitamin D foods.
#1: Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil has been a popular supplement for many years and naturally contains very high levels
of vitamin A and vitamin D. Cod liver oil provides 10001IU (1667% DV) per 100 gram serving, or
1360IU (340% DV) in a single tablespoon.
#2: Fish
Various types of fish are high in vitamin D. Typically raw fish contains more vitamin D than cooked, and fatty cuts
will contain more than lean cuts. Further, fish canned in oil will have more vitamin D than those canned in water. Raw fish
is typically eaten in the form of sushi. Raw Atlantic Herring provides the most vitamin D with 1628IU (271% DV) per 100 gram serving, 2996IU (499% DV) per fillet,
and 456IU (76% DV) per ounce. It is followed by Pickled Herring with 680IU (113% DV) per 100g serving, Canned Salmon (127% DV),
Raw Mackerel (60% DV), Oil Packed Sardines (45% DV), Canned Mackerel (42% DV), and oil packed Tuna (39% DV).
#3: Fortified Cereals
A breakfast staple in the Americas, most commercial cereals are fortified with the essential vitamins and nutrients.
Exercise caution and check food labels when purchasing cereals, be sure to pick products that have little or no refined
sugars, and no partially hydrogenated oils! Fortified cereals can provide up to 342IU (57% DV) per 100 gram serving (~2 cups),
and even more if combined with fortified dairy products or fortified soy milk. Products vary widely so be sure to check
the nutrition label before buying.
#4: Oysters
In addition to vitamin D, Oysters are a great source of
vitamin b12,
zinc,
iron,
manganese,
selenium,
and copper. Oysters are also
high in
cholesterol and
should be eaten in moderation by people at risk of heart disease or stroke.
Raw wild caught Eastern Oysters provide 320IU (80% DV) per 100 gram serving, 269IU (67% DV) in six medium oysters.
#5: Caviar (Black and Red)
Caviar is a common ingredient in sushi and more
affordable
than people think.
Caviar provides 232IU (58% DV) of vitamin D per 100 gram serving, or 37.1IU (9% DV) per teaspoon.
#6: Fortified Soy Products (Tofu and Soy Milk)
Fortified soy products are often fortified with both vitamin D and
calcium.
Fortified Tofu can provide up to 157IU (39% DV) of vitamin D per 100 gram serving, or 44IU (11% DV) per ounce.
Fortified Soy Milk can provide up to 49IU (12% DV) of vitamin D per 100 gram serving, 119IU (30% DV) per cup.
Amounts of vitamin D vary widely between products, so be sure to check nutrition facts for vitamin D content.
#7: Salami, Ham, and Sausages
Salami, Ham, and Sausages are a good
source of
vitamin b12,
and copper. Unfortunately, they are also
high in cholesterol and
sodium, and so should be limited by people at risk of
hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Salami provides 62.0IU (16% DV) of vitamin D per 100 gram serving, or
16.7IU (4% DV) per ounce (3 slices). It is followed by Bologna Pork 56IU (9% DV) per 100 grams,
and Bratwurst 44IU (7% DV) per 100 gram serving.
#8: Fortified Dairy Products
Dairy products are already high in
calcium,
so it makes sense to fortify them with vitamin D. Milk can provide up to 52.0IU
(13% DV) of vitamin D per 100 gram serving, 127IU (32% DV) per cup. Cheese can provide up to
6.6IU (2% DV) in a cubic inch, and butter provides 7.8IU (2% DV) in a single tablespoon. Check nutrition labels for exact amounts.
#9: Eggs
In addition to vitamin D, eggs are a good source of
vitamin B12,
and protein.
Eggs provide 37.0IU (9% DV) of vitamin D per 100 gram serving, or 17.0IU (4% DV) in a large fried egg.
#10: Mushrooms
More than just a high vitamin D food, mushrooms also provide
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
and
copper.
Lightly cooked white button mushrooms provide the most vitamin D with 27.0IU (7% DV) per 100 gram serving,
or 7.6IU (2% DV) per ounce.
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Health Benefits of Vitamin D
- Osteoporosis Protection - Vitamin D is necessary for the proper absorption of Calcium which strengthens bones and helps to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D mainly benefits older adults, people who have difficulty exercising, postmenopausal women, and individuals on long term steroid therapy.3,4
- Decreased Cancer Risk - Vitamin D has been shown to reduce cancer risk, particularly for colon cancer.5-7
People at Risk of a Vitamin D Deficiency
- Breastfed Infants Who are Not in the Sun - The amount of vitamin D in breast milk depends on the amount of vitamin D in the mother. However, breast-milk typically does not contain adequate amounts of vitamin D. Be sure infants get at least some exposure to the sun (at least 10-20 minutes) to ensure adequate levels of vitamin D.8
- Older Adults - As skin ages it is less and less able to make vitamin D from the sun, so vitamin D has to be attained from foods or supplements.5
- People With Little Sun Exposure on the Skin - Wearing sunscreen, or lots of clothing, hampers the creation of vitamin D from the sun.9,10
- People with Darker Skin - Melanin, a pigment found in skin, reduces the body's ability to manufacture vitamin D from the sun.5
- People who have Problems Absorbing Fat, or are on Extreme Low Fat Diets - Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means it is found in fats, and your body has to be able to digest fats in order for you to absorb the vitamin D.11
- People Who are Obese, or People Who have Had Gastric Bypass Surgery - Excess fat in the body absorbs vitamin D, effectively reducing the amount available for body functions. Those who have undergone bypass surgery are missing part of their upper intestine which hampers Vitamin D absorption.5,13,14
- People Taking Certain Medications
- Steroid Corticosteroid medications used to alleviate inflammation can reduce calcium absorption and impair vitamin D metabolism.15-17
- Weight-loss drugs with orlistat (brand names Xenical® and alliTM) and cholesterol-lowering drugs cholestyramine (brand names Questran®, LoCholest®, and Prevalite®) can reduce the absorption of vitamin D and other fat-soluble vitamins.18,19
- Medicines used to control and stabalize epileptic seizures, particularly phenobarbital and phenytoin (brand name Dilantin®) interferes with Vitamin D and reduces Calcium absorption.20
Warnings
- Consuming too much vitmain D from food or supplements can lead to anorexia, weight loss, polyuria, heart arrhythmias, kidney stones, and increased risk of heart attacks.5 Vitamin D cannot reach toxic levels if created naturally from sun exposure.21
- Oysters, Whole Milk, Salami, Cheese, Caviar, and Eggs are high cholesterol foods which should be eaten in moderate amounts and avoided by people at risk of heart disease or stroke.
Buy High Vitamin D Foods from Amazon.com
Cod Liver Oil, Pickled Herring, CaviarComments.
| Name: | Jim Moomaw |
| Location: | Rochester, New York |
| Subject: | Vitamin D Toxicity |
| Hi, I am concerned that you put 10,000 iu as a toxicity level for Vitamin D. I have been taking 10,000 iu daily for month and my vitamin D levels are only mid range. I weight 165 lbs. My Dr. commented that I am one of the few people who are not Vitamin D deficient in his group of patients.
I believe you should adjust this amount to a much higher number. I love the website...informative and well done. -Jim | |
| Posted on 2012-04-19 09:11:25 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Toxicity |
| Hi Jim, thanks for bringing up an important point. The toxicity range of vitamin D (10,000-40,000 IU) is set for most people, however, there are exceptions. As you are working with your doctor who has prescribed the supplements, and you are monitoring your blood levels of vitamin D, it makes sense for you to take such a high level. However, the toxicity level for vitamin D is set by the Institute of Medicine and is based on analysis of a variety of studies. The Institute of Medicine which set Tolerable Upper Limits states: "Very high levels of vitamin D (above 10,000 IUs per day) are known to cause kidney and tissue damage."Ref Given these valid health risks, most people should not consume more than 4,000IU (100mcg) of vitamin D, unless under guidance of a doctor or other health care professional. | |
| Posted on 2012-04-19 12:20:35 |
| Name: | Kim |
| Subject: | Kidney Stones |
| If you do not get enough vitamin D will this cause you to get kidney stones due to too much calcium? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-07 20:33:09 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Kidney Stones |
| Hi Kim, thanks for your question. Actually too much vitamin D can cause you to increase calcium absorption and increase your risk of kidney stones. One study found that post-menopausal women taking 1,000 mg/day of calcium supplements and 400IU/day of vitamin D supplements experienced a 17% higher chance of developing kidney stones over 7 years.Ref | |
| Posted on 2012-05-07 23:29:06 |
| Name: | Joe |
| Location: | New York |
| Subject: | Kidney Failure |
| My chld has very bad kidneys, could this be from vitamin D? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-16 21:29:04 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Kidney Failure |
| Hi Joe, thanks for your question and sorry to hear of your son's condition. Vitamin D deficiency has not been associated with causing kidney failure, however, having chronic (long term) kidney disease can lead to a vitamin D deficiency.Ref In other words, low vitamin D does not cause kidney disease, but kidney disease can cause low vitamin D. Very high amounts of vitamin D can increase chances of kidney stones, but this does not appear to be an issue with your son. Hope that information helps and your son quickly recovers. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-17 02:55:20 |
| Name: | LaDonna |
| Location: | Texas |
| Subject: | Just Wondering |
| My Dr. just put me on 50000 units of D. 1 CAPSULE A WEEK. Just wondering if this is absorbed into the body slowly? Thank you. | |
| Posted on 2012-06-01 16:19:34 |
| Name: | Latoya |
| Location: | Virginia |
| Subject: | Vitamin D Deficiency |
| I recently had lab work done because I have been having muscle aches and my bones click and pop every time I move. I am only 30 years old but I have a poor diet and I am always covered up because I am cold. My test resluts cam back and my vitamin D level was 7.8 way below the minimal range of 30. I'm always tired and I'm very afraid something else could be going on. I went to a doctor for the first time and all he said was buy some over the counter vitamin d and come back in six months. I guess my questions is how much vitamin d should I be taking? What's the best source for me? | |
| Posted on 2012-07-15 19:22:33 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Deficiency |
| Hi Latoya, thanks for your question. To raise your levels of vitamin D, try to get at least 20 minutes of sunlight a day, and eat the foods high in vitamin D listed here. You can also take a supplement. Start with 1000IU of vitamin D3 a day, and see how your level changes after 6 months. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2012-07-16 02:37:19 |
| Name: | Teresa |
| Location: | Virginia |
| Subject: | Malabsorption |
| I had gastric bypass 17 years ago and now I'm having major issues with my Vitamin D levels. It seems I'm not having any luck on getting my levels back up. I've tried eating the right kinds of foods, prescription vitamin D and sun light, but nothing seems to be enough. What else is there? | |
| Posted on 2012-07-31 06:28:36 |
| Name: | Leslie Gon |
| Location: | Lincoln, CA |
| Subject: | Allergic Reactions to Vitamin D |
| Having a Vit. D deficiency, my doctor prescribed 50,000 IU Vitamin D 1 pill a week twice. I broke out in a severe case of a rash which was diagnosed originally as scabies and I went through the whole nightmare regiment of that. It took 4 mos. to determine the allergy was to D. Now I am trying to get the D naturally through food intake. I live in "sunny" CA but for whatever reason do not absorb enough D through the sun. I was thinking about getting organic Vit. D pills. | |
| Posted on 2012-08-23 17:19:58 |
| Name: | Sue |
| Location: | WI |
| Subject: | Vit D deficiency |
| Recent lab work indicated I am very Vitamin D deficient + I suffer from muscle, joint aches and pain. I eat salmon, tuna, mushrooms, cheese all good things for me, I was given a 50,000U rx to take only one every other week - my question is how long before I start to feel better?
I work inside 40 hrs a week and try to get out into the sun whenever I can - I am really pushing myself most days just to stay upright and not having any cartwheel days, heck most days I am not even able to accomplish a summersault. I might be able to get down there but can't roll around like a normal person should. I don't get the dosing logic behind taking 50,000U every other week for a lab result of 7 when I know people with the results of 24 taking the same dose every week. Either???? The only difference is they are much older than I am - does age affect doseage too? | |
| Posted on 2012-08-27 16:05:13 |
| Name: | Deb |
| Location: | Central Coast, CA |
| Subject: | Vit D Supplements |
| I too, like LaDonna of Texas, take 1 pill of 50,000 units of Vit D. I noticed no response to her question of whether or not it can cause potential damage. I am diagnosed with Diabetes 2 due to vitamin D deficiency. Would it be better for me to take a daily dosage of 7,000 units since I drink lots of water (one of the symptoms of Diabetes) and worry that I may be flushing my weekly dosage too soon. Please respond. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-10 15:07:54 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vit D Supplements |
| Hi Deb, thanks for your question. Taking 50,000 IU once a week should be fine, but after 6 months, may start to cause damage. To be safe, do not take any calcium supplements while taking that much vitamin D. There is no standard way to supplement vitamin D, a doctor is likely to start with a mild dosage and then get more aggressive depending on your levels. 50,000 IU of vitamin D has even been subscribed on a daily basis, but usually this aggressive plan of supplementation will not last more than a month. Taking 7000 IU daily may be better, but it depends. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, meaning drinking water will not affect your vitamin D levels. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-10 22:38:43 |
| Name: | Nicki |
| Location: | San Francisco, CA |
| Subject: | Psoriasis and Oral Vitamin D |
| Hi, I have a mild case of psoriasis, but it's very unpleasant as it mainly affects my scalp (itchy, painful, and ugly - but treated with steroid shampoo it clears up quickly). When I was first diagnosed, my dermatologist explained that people with psoriasis are unable to absorb vitamin D by ingesting it orally, and can ONLY get D from the sun or topical creams. Anything taken orally will go in and come right out without being absorbed by the body. Now, this week, I went in to get my prescription refilled, and spoke with new doctor who told me to up my oral ingestion of vitamin D (to 4,000-10,000 IU, but that's not important). And of course, I brought up what my previous dermatologist told me. The new doctor basically said that the thinking on that issue has changed due to new research, but I couldn't tell if this was fact or theory. Is that true? Could upping my oral ingestion of D help with my psoriasis? | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 01:01:19 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Psoriasis and Oral Vitamin D |
| Hi Nicki, thanks for your comment. There are studies which suggest that oral vitamin D is a valid treatment for Psoriasis. Vitamin D seems to be more and more prominent in medical thinking and nutrition studies these days. Time will reveal its efficacy and power as a nutrient and supplement for all the current proposed benefits. For now, you probably want the oral supplement to be supplementary to your current treatment. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 01:24:36 |
| Name: | Ellen |
| Location: | Portland |
| Subject: | Vitamin D Supplements and Constipation |
| I have struggled for several years with very low vitamin D levels (ranging as low as 20 for several years at a time.) I am 56, so post-menopausal. I have tried daily over-the-counter vitamin D supplements in varying amounts, and they are all uniformly constipating for me -- I can feel my bowel/colon "shutting-down" and I have to use Miralax to get unconstipated! My body does not seem able to adjust. Do you have any suggestion? Should I try a prescription dosage, but once a week? (I am also on alendronate sodium for osteoporosis.) | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 20:52:07 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Supplements and Constipation |
| Hi Ellen, thanks for your question. Vitamin D supplements in themsevles should not cause constipation, however, constipation can be a sign of extremely high levels of vitamin D. Do you have any of the other symptoms of vitamin D toxicity like nasea, or poor appetite? It seems unlikely as your levels of vitamin D are consistently low. Constipation can also be a sign that your calcium levels are too high, this would especially be true if you are taking vitamin D, and is a bit dangerous. Have your blood checked and work with your health care provider to determine the source of your constipation. As for a suggestion, have you tried cod liver oil? It can be a good source of vitamin D, hopefully without the consptiation. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:22:43 |
| Name: | Qwerty |
| Location: | EU |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Supplements and Constipation |
| @Ellen,Portland - constipation could be caused by magnesium deficiency. Your body needs magnesium to make use of the vit.D you're taking so if you're already low/deficient to begin with, taking vit.D will quickly deplete your body of magnesium and cause constipation. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:25:18 |
| Name: | Dee Smith |
| Location: | East London UK |
| Subject: | My 2.5 year old has low Vit D levels that I am told may also be affecting his liver |
| Hi, I recently have noticed that my 2&1/2 year old seemed to be urinating very frequently 1 after another to the point where I thought he may have a urine infection. I took him to be tested, and they came back negative, a blood test has now been done which has come back with low levels of Vitamin D, and low liver function levels, could this be because of the lack of Vit D? He has been prescribed 1000mg of Baby D, but I don't know if this is sufficient or if there is anything else I can do? Does anybody else have any similar experiences with children? | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:28:58 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: My 2.5 year old has low Vit D levels that I am told may also be affecting his liver |
| Hi Dee, thanks for your question. Low liver function could lead to your son's vitamin D deficiency, but a vitamin D deficiency does not really affect the liver. During the wintertime, a lack of sunlight can also cause a deficiency of vitamin D. Try make sure your son gets more sun exposure on his skin! How much vitamin D does the Baby Vitamin D that you have provide? The tolerable upper limit of vitamin D for a boy your son's age is 2,500IU (international units) or 63mcg (micrograms). Check the label to be sure he is not getting more vitamin D than that. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:40:12 |
| Name: | Kasia |
| Location: | London, UK |
| Subject: | Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Hi, I just got my blood test results-my cholesterol is too high and my vit d is far too low. I don't know why? I eat healthy,avoid animal fats, eat plenty of friut and veg and huge amount of yogurts. I am confused of what should I eat now. Most of the foods high in vit d are increasing cholesterol levels as well. | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 08:12:49 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Hi Kasia, thanks for your question. Since vitamin D is fat soluble, people taking cholesterol lowering drugs can experience lowered vitamin D levels. High cholesterol can be caused by genetic factors, or a lack of exercise. For tips and ideas see the article on cholesterol lowering foods. Also, be sure you are avoiding all these high cholesterol foods. In regards to getting more vitamin D without eating cholesterol, try supplements. Getting plently of sunshine is also a great natural way to boost your vitamin D levels. Hope those thoughts help. | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 08:47:20 |
| Name: | Kasia |
| Location: | London,UK |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Thanks!I just bought some vit d tablets, will try to have them every day. Also planning to buy yogurts and milk with vit d. Hope it helps. I am only 26 so am a bit worried. Have a good weekend everyone! | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 14:57:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Hi Kasia, that is great. Just remember to buy milk and yogurt that is low fat, or non-fat, to avoid cholesterol. Full fat milk and/or yogurt is high in cholesterol also! In regard to vitamin D, try not to worry. Vitamin D is something of a nutrition fad right now, and "healthy levels" of vitamin D are still being established. Likely you are ok. At your next blood test, check to make sure you calcium is not too high. Having high calcium, due to the vitamin D supplements, is not healthy either! Hope that helps, and have a good weekend too! | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 21:02:51 |
| Name: | Jeanette |
| Location: | Florida |
| Subject: | Vit D for my child |
| Hi, I went to the doctor today and he prescribed 10,000 IU of vit. D a day for my 19month old child. Should I be questioning this? | |
| Posted on 2012-12-31 13:20:39 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vit D for my child |
| Hi Jeanette, thanks for your question. Unless your child has some other condition, like rickets, or is on chronic seizure medication, that dose does seem too high, particularly since the Office of Dietary Supplements states that the tolerable upper intake level of a child 1-3 years old is 2,500 IU. Seek a second opinion and watch for signs of vitamin D toxicity like weight loss and/or heart arrhythmias. Also, at your child's next blood test, check for elevated calcium levels. | |
| Posted on 2012-12-31 13:56:47 |
| Name: | Mika |
| Location: | Azerbaijan |
| Subject: | Storage of vitamin D |
| Could you tell me how long body stores vitamin D? Thank you. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-09 16:54:12 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | Storage of vitamin D |
| Hi Mika, thanks for your question. Vitamin D is fat soluble and can be stored in your body fat for months. However, if you do not get enough vitamin D, these stores will be used and can be low. So it does depend somewhat on diet and lifestyle factors. Crieghton University has created this great PDF to answer these and other vitamin D questions. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-09 17:01:55 |
| Name: | Emine |
| Location: | UK |
| Subject: | Sun light through window |
| Is exposure to sun through the window as effetive as direct sunshine? | |
| Posted on 2013-01-15 16:48:29 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Sun light through window |
| Hi Emine, thanks for your question. According to this study, various factors can reduce the synthesis of vitamin D (cholecalciferol), including sunlight through windows. Environmental factors which harm vitamin D synthesis include increased skin pigmentation, aging, sunscreen, latitude, time of day, season, and ozone pollution. For example, sunlight in the U.S. city of Boston from November to February will not result in any significant vitamin D manufacture. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-15 16:57:25 |
| Name: | André |
| Location: | Brasil |
| Subject: | Algae |
| Hi, I think you should add microalgae oils to the list, as they are the source of vitamin D for FISH (fish cannot produce vitamin D from the sun like we do, so they get it from these microalgae). | |
| Posted on 2013-01-15 20:15:01 |
| Name: | Terri |
| Location: | Pittsburgh |
| Subject: | Low Vitamin D levels, but High Calcium Levels |
| Recently I had to have blood work done and was told that my Vitamin D levels were low and my calcium levels were too high. For the past year I had been taking Vitamin D supplements but since Christmas have stopped taking them. Would this have affected my readings? | |
| Posted on 2013-01-29 12:52:25 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D Levels, but High Calcium Levels |
| Hi Terri, it seems unlikely that stopping the supplements would have such an immediate effect. However, given your high calcium levels, stopping supplementation was likely the right thing to do. Too much calcium absorption can really be damaging. Vitamin D seems to be a nutrition fad these days, and what justifies a "normal" level is a matter of debate. However, as your level did not increase on supplements, you may want to take a look at what could be the cause of your low levels. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-29 19:35:52 |
| Name: | Chrissie |
| Location: | UK |
| Subject: | Vitamin D and Severe Nausea |
| Hi there, I have a vitamin d level of 5.7 I have been prescribed Adcal-D3 that's 1500 mg/400 IU. I'm supposed to take these one tablet twice a day, but they make me so nauseous I can do nothing but lie down. I'm aged 64 and have stopped taking them, for that reason. I am trying to find foods to eat instead. Do you think my Vitamin D level is too low at my age to improve with just food and what little sunshine we get here in the UK, I'm very depressed with it, plus I also have Fibrmyalgia. Doctors in this country are only now starting to realize that we have a bid problem with Vit D deficiency. Regards, Chrissie. | |
| Posted on 2013-02-03 17:31:32 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D and Severe Nausea |
| Hi Chrissie, thanks for your questions and sorry to hear about the nausea, which is a possible side effect of vitamin D supplements. You might be able to raise your level with diet and sunshine, particularly if you focus on fortified foods like soymilk and cereal. Further, you could try reduce your vitamin D dose, maybe taking just 1 pill a day, or even half a pill. Unfortunately 400IU is about the smallest vitamin D supplement manufactured. Does the Adcal supplement you are taking also contain calcium? You could try another supplement which only provides vitamin D and see if that helps. Hope those thoughts help and good luck with finding a plan that works for you. | |
| Posted on 2013-02-03 17:39:53 |
| Name: | Tam |
| Location: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Subject: | Vitamin D and Acne |
| Hi, Very helpful article. About a year ago, I had a blood test done and found that my vitamin d levels were very low. I was prescribed three vitamin d capsules a day until my levels reached a normal number.
However, I have found that whenever I take vitamin d supplements for more than a couple of days, my skin breaks out very badly. I usually only get hormonal pimples but the breakouts I get from vitamin d supplements are much worse and more painful. As soon as I stop taking the supplements, the breakouts calm down and my skin goes back to normal. I was instructed to take liquid vitamin d to see if this was any better but unfortunately I am experiencing the same problem. The breakouts are not as bad as when I take the capsules but are still quite painful. Are there any other ways I can increase my vitamin d levels? I have dark skin and am vegetarian (lacto-ovo) so I suspect this is contributing to my low levels as well. Thank you in advance. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-15 19:38:59 |
| Name: | Cynch |
| Location: | Canada |
| Subject: | Low Vitamin D and Kidney Stone Risk |
| Results of my blood test came in today and my doctor notified me that my Vitamin D is quite low and instructed me to take 2 tablets of any over the counter Vitamin D supplement. Late last year, I had a kidney stone removed. What would my risk be now having to take Vitamin D supplements on having another occurrence of a painful kidney stone? | |
| Posted on 2013-04-03 15:35:00 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and Kidney Stone Risk |
| Hi Cynch, thanks for your question. It would depend on what caused your kidney stones before. If your vitamin D is low, it is unlikely vitamin D was the cause. However, taking vitamin D supplements would only increase your risk of kidney stones. Consider calling and consulting your doctor about it, if you haven't already. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-04 00:00:47 |
| Name: | Yoshi |
| Location: | Dietetic student UNH |
| Subject: | Kidneys Activate vitamin D, and you need to eat fat to absorb vitamin D |
| After reading all the comments and answers I have something to add. First of all it is the kidneys that activate Vit D. So if the kidneys are not functioning properly the Vit D from food or supplements can not be used by the body. There is one type of activated Vit D supplement that can be purchased and is often prescribe to people with Chronic Kidney Disease. Also if you eat low fat yogurt you will not absorb the Vit D unless you are eating fat with it. Nuts are a good source of fat without the cholesterol. So adding walnuts or any other type of nuts can increase the body's ability to absorb Vit D. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-10 02:57:12 |
| Name: | Jessica Hallam |
| Location: | Chicago |
| Subject: | Low vitamin D and prescribed 50,000 IU |
| I recently had my blood checked and was told that my vitamin D was 18. My doctor prescribed 50,000 IU per day for 12 days. I am concerned taking this level. Isn't there a more natural way of correcting my level? Also I don't swallow pills well. Is there a liquid alternative? | |
| Posted on 2013-04-10 10:19:42 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low vitamin D and prescribed 50,000 IU |
| Hi Jessica, thanks for your question. It seems like vitamin D is currently a health fad. Ten years ago, vitamin D was hardly tested and treated, however, due to recent studies, it has come to attention. Not to contradict your doctor, but you probably do not need to take the vitamin D he/she prescribed. Exposure to natural sunshine is the best way to boost your vitamin D level. Winter is ending in Chicago and the days will get longer. This alone should boost your vitamin D level. If you want, you can stop taking the supplements, and talk to your doctor about getting your level checked in summer. You can also just wait till your checkup next year, and go in summer and see if your vitamin D level is better. Frankly 50,000 IU units a day is a very high dose, though it is not uncommon. Side effects of high vitamin D include kidney stones and even heart disease. If you wish you continue the dose, liquid forms are available. Here is one from Amazon.com. However, consult your doctor about lowering your dose, or stopping supplements, till this summer or the next. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-11 00:04:33 |
| Name: | Suzanne |
| Location: | New York |
| Subject: | Sun Allergy |
| Hi- I too was recently diagnosed with extreme vitamin D deficiency, and I was prescribed 50,000 IUs 3 times a week for 1 month. I would like to get more D naturally but I have an allergic reaction to sunlight (my mother had the same- hives and swelling alleviated by antihistamine pills). I also have very low calcium intake due to dairy allergies. I'd like to find the way to increase these two which is kindest to my body since the two main methods of getting them naturally are not available to me. Am I just left with taking pills? How can I figure a good dosage from foods (such as salmon, etc)? I am looking for a long term plan to gain healthy levels. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-11 15:13:45 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Sun Allergy |
| Hi Suzanne, thanks for your questions. Besides cod liver oil, and fish, fortified foods are the best source for boosting your vitamin D levels. This is not exactly a "natural" way to boost your levels, but is still better than pills. Fortified cereal and soy milk may be great options for you. As for calcium, there are many high calcium foods besides dairy foods you can try. They include almonds, green leafy vegetables, and fish. Hope those ideas help you make a good long term plan for healthy vitamin D and calcium levels. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-12 00:23:44 |
| Name: | Whisperingsage |
| Location: | N CA |
| Subject: | Vit D and cholesterol |
| OK, the author hs a lot right but then some very biggies wrong too. Cholesterol is not only high in oysters, it is high in caviar, and high in cold water fish and high in liver, and high in eggs, and high in cod liver oil. The lesson here is that cholesterol is an Essential nutrient, contrary to popular belief. Please read up on this. Cholesterol is an important health giving nutrient. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-17 15:54:27 |
| Name: | Kip |
| Subject: | Sun |
| This is a nice overview of the best sources of Vitamin D though the intake of food, but I do miss the #1 source of Vitamin D, which is sunlight! 90% of the Vitamin D is produced in the skin after sunlight exposure! | |
| Posted on 2013-05-13 07:50:34 |
| Name: | LetThemEatCaviar |
| Subject: | 6 ounces of caviar |
| That's how much you would need to eat to get the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D. -- not only would this be expensive but it would be awfully high in salt content. A better recommendation might be sushi grade fish roe, but even so I don't think it would be practical to eat enough to make a substantial dent in your daily Vitamin D requirements. Hopefully people are smart enough to think for themselves & aren't downing large amounts of caviar daily based on your advice. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-17 02:15:35 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: 6 ounces of caviar |
| Thanks for your comment. You are right that people should not try to get 100% of their DV from caviar, or fish eggs (roe), alone. (Though there are places in the world where people might eat such a quantity of fish eggs.) However, caviar can be part of a diet to get more vitamin D and guide people in their food choices. You do not need to get 100% of your vitamin D from any one food source, particularly if you get 10-20 minutes of sunlight a day. Thanks again for your comment and clarifying this point. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-17 10:57:44 |
Comments.
| Name: | Jim Moomaw |
| Location: | Rochester, New York |
| Subject: | Vitamin D Toxicity |
| Hi, I am concerned that you put 10,000 iu as a toxicity level for Vitamin D. I have been taking 10,000 iu daily for month and my vitamin D levels are only mid range. I weight 165 lbs. My Dr. commented that I am one of the few people who are not Vitamin D deficient in his group of patients.
I believe you should adjust this amount to a much higher number. I love the website...informative and well done. -Jim | |
| Posted on 2012-04-19 09:11:25 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Toxicity |
| Hi Jim, thanks for bringing up an important point. The toxicity range of vitamin D (10,000-40,000 IU) is set for most people, however, there are exceptions. As you are working with your doctor who has prescribed the supplements, and you are monitoring your blood levels of vitamin D, it makes sense for you to take such a high level. However, the toxicity level for vitamin D is set by the Institute of Medicine and is based on analysis of a variety of studies. The Institute of Medicine which set Tolerable Upper Limits states: "Very high levels of vitamin D (above 10,000 IUs per day) are known to cause kidney and tissue damage."Ref Given these valid health risks, most people should not consume more than 4,000IU (100mcg) of vitamin D, unless under guidance of a doctor or other health care professional. | |
| Posted on 2012-04-19 12:20:35 |
| Name: | Kim |
| Subject: | Kidney Stones |
| If you do not get enough vitamin D will this cause you to get kidney stones due to too much calcium? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-07 20:33:09 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Kidney Stones |
| Hi Kim, thanks for your question. Actually too much vitamin D can cause you to increase calcium absorption and increase your risk of kidney stones. One study found that post-menopausal women taking 1,000 mg/day of calcium supplements and 400IU/day of vitamin D supplements experienced a 17% higher chance of developing kidney stones over 7 years.Ref | |
| Posted on 2012-05-07 23:29:06 |
| Name: | Joe |
| Location: | New York |
| Subject: | Kidney Failure |
| My chld has very bad kidneys, could this be from vitamin D? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-16 21:29:04 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Kidney Failure |
| Hi Joe, thanks for your question and sorry to hear of your son's condition. Vitamin D deficiency has not been associated with causing kidney failure, however, having chronic (long term) kidney disease can lead to a vitamin D deficiency.Ref In other words, low vitamin D does not cause kidney disease, but kidney disease can cause low vitamin D. Very high amounts of vitamin D can increase chances of kidney stones, but this does not appear to be an issue with your son. Hope that information helps and your son quickly recovers. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-17 02:55:20 |
| Name: | LaDonna |
| Location: | Texas |
| Subject: | Just Wondering |
| My Dr. just put me on 50000 units of D. 1 CAPSULE A WEEK. Just wondering if this is absorbed into the body slowly? Thank you. | |
| Posted on 2012-06-01 16:19:34 |
| Name: | Latoya |
| Location: | Virginia |
| Subject: | Vitamin D Deficiency |
| I recently had lab work done because I have been having muscle aches and my bones click and pop every time I move. I am only 30 years old but I have a poor diet and I am always covered up because I am cold. My test resluts cam back and my vitamin D level was 7.8 way below the minimal range of 30. I'm always tired and I'm very afraid something else could be going on. I went to a doctor for the first time and all he said was buy some over the counter vitamin d and come back in six months. I guess my questions is how much vitamin d should I be taking? What's the best source for me? | |
| Posted on 2012-07-15 19:22:33 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Deficiency |
| Hi Latoya, thanks for your question. To raise your levels of vitamin D, try to get at least 20 minutes of sunlight a day, and eat the foods high in vitamin D listed here. You can also take a supplement. Start with 1000IU of vitamin D3 a day, and see how your level changes after 6 months. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2012-07-16 02:37:19 |
| Name: | Teresa |
| Location: | Virginia |
| Subject: | Malabsorption |
| I had gastric bypass 17 years ago and now I'm having major issues with my Vitamin D levels. It seems I'm not having any luck on getting my levels back up. I've tried eating the right kinds of foods, prescription vitamin D and sun light, but nothing seems to be enough. What else is there? | |
| Posted on 2012-07-31 06:28:36 |
| Name: | Leslie Gon |
| Location: | Lincoln, CA |
| Subject: | Allergic Reactions to Vitamin D |
| Having a Vit. D deficiency, my doctor prescribed 50,000 IU Vitamin D 1 pill a week twice. I broke out in a severe case of a rash which was diagnosed originally as scabies and I went through the whole nightmare regiment of that. It took 4 mos. to determine the allergy was to D. Now I am trying to get the D naturally through food intake. I live in "sunny" CA but for whatever reason do not absorb enough D through the sun. I was thinking about getting organic Vit. D pills. | |
| Posted on 2012-08-23 17:19:58 |
| Name: | Sue |
| Location: | WI |
| Subject: | Vit D deficiency |
| Recent lab work indicated I am very Vitamin D deficient + I suffer from muscle, joint aches and pain. I eat salmon, tuna, mushrooms, cheese all good things for me, I was given a 50,000U rx to take only one every other week - my question is how long before I start to feel better?
I work inside 40 hrs a week and try to get out into the sun whenever I can - I am really pushing myself most days just to stay upright and not having any cartwheel days, heck most days I am not even able to accomplish a summersault. I might be able to get down there but can't roll around like a normal person should. I don't get the dosing logic behind taking 50,000U every other week for a lab result of 7 when I know people with the results of 24 taking the same dose every week. Either???? The only difference is they are much older than I am - does age affect doseage too? | |
| Posted on 2012-08-27 16:05:13 |
| Name: | Deb |
| Location: | Central Coast, CA |
| Subject: | Vit D Supplements |
| I too, like LaDonna of Texas, take 1 pill of 50,000 units of Vit D. I noticed no response to her question of whether or not it can cause potential damage. I am diagnosed with Diabetes 2 due to vitamin D deficiency. Would it be better for me to take a daily dosage of 7,000 units since I drink lots of water (one of the symptoms of Diabetes) and worry that I may be flushing my weekly dosage too soon. Please respond. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-10 15:07:54 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vit D Supplements |
| Hi Deb, thanks for your question. Taking 50,000 IU once a week should be fine, but after 6 months, may start to cause damage. To be safe, do not take any calcium supplements while taking that much vitamin D. There is no standard way to supplement vitamin D, a doctor is likely to start with a mild dosage and then get more aggressive depending on your levels. 50,000 IU of vitamin D has even been subscribed on a daily basis, but usually this aggressive plan of supplementation will not last more than a month. Taking 7000 IU daily may be better, but it depends. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, meaning drinking water will not affect your vitamin D levels. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-10 22:38:43 |
| Name: | Nicki |
| Location: | San Francisco, CA |
| Subject: | Psoriasis and Oral Vitamin D |
| Hi, I have a mild case of psoriasis, but it's very unpleasant as it mainly affects my scalp (itchy, painful, and ugly - but treated with steroid shampoo it clears up quickly). When I was first diagnosed, my dermatologist explained that people with psoriasis are unable to absorb vitamin D by ingesting it orally, and can ONLY get D from the sun or topical creams. Anything taken orally will go in and come right out without being absorbed by the body. Now, this week, I went in to get my prescription refilled, and spoke with new doctor who told me to up my oral ingestion of vitamin D (to 4,000-10,000 IU, but that's not important). And of course, I brought up what my previous dermatologist told me. The new doctor basically said that the thinking on that issue has changed due to new research, but I couldn't tell if this was fact or theory. Is that true? Could upping my oral ingestion of D help with my psoriasis? | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 01:01:19 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Psoriasis and Oral Vitamin D |
| Hi Nicki, thanks for your comment. There are studies which suggest that oral vitamin D is a valid treatment for Psoriasis. Vitamin D seems to be more and more prominent in medical thinking and nutrition studies these days. Time will reveal its efficacy and power as a nutrient and supplement for all the current proposed benefits. For now, you probably want the oral supplement to be supplementary to your current treatment. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 01:24:36 |
| Name: | Ellen |
| Location: | Portland |
| Subject: | Vitamin D Supplements and Constipation |
| I have struggled for several years with very low vitamin D levels (ranging as low as 20 for several years at a time.) I am 56, so post-menopausal. I have tried daily over-the-counter vitamin D supplements in varying amounts, and they are all uniformly constipating for me -- I can feel my bowel/colon "shutting-down" and I have to use Miralax to get unconstipated! My body does not seem able to adjust. Do you have any suggestion? Should I try a prescription dosage, but once a week? (I am also on alendronate sodium for osteoporosis.) | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 20:52:07 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Supplements and Constipation |
| Hi Ellen, thanks for your question. Vitamin D supplements in themsevles should not cause constipation, however, constipation can be a sign of extremely high levels of vitamin D. Do you have any of the other symptoms of vitamin D toxicity like nasea, or poor appetite? It seems unlikely as your levels of vitamin D are consistently low. Constipation can also be a sign that your calcium levels are too high, this would especially be true if you are taking vitamin D, and is a bit dangerous. Have your blood checked and work with your health care provider to determine the source of your constipation. As for a suggestion, have you tried cod liver oil? It can be a good source of vitamin D, hopefully without the consptiation. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:22:43 |
| Name: | Qwerty |
| Location: | EU |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D Supplements and Constipation |
| @Ellen,Portland - constipation could be caused by magnesium deficiency. Your body needs magnesium to make use of the vit.D you're taking so if you're already low/deficient to begin with, taking vit.D will quickly deplete your body of magnesium and cause constipation. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:25:18 |
| Name: | Dee Smith |
| Location: | East London UK |
| Subject: | My 2.5 year old has low Vit D levels that I am told may also be affecting his liver |
| Hi, I recently have noticed that my 2&1/2 year old seemed to be urinating very frequently 1 after another to the point where I thought he may have a urine infection. I took him to be tested, and they came back negative, a blood test has now been done which has come back with low levels of Vitamin D, and low liver function levels, could this be because of the lack of Vit D? He has been prescribed 1000mg of Baby D, but I don't know if this is sufficient or if there is anything else I can do? Does anybody else have any similar experiences with children? | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:28:58 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: My 2.5 year old has low Vit D levels that I am told may also be affecting his liver |
| Hi Dee, thanks for your question. Low liver function could lead to your son's vitamin D deficiency, but a vitamin D deficiency does not really affect the liver. During the wintertime, a lack of sunlight can also cause a deficiency of vitamin D. Try make sure your son gets more sun exposure on his skin! How much vitamin D does the Baby Vitamin D that you have provide? The tolerable upper limit of vitamin D for a boy your son's age is 2,500IU (international units) or 63mcg (micrograms). Check the label to be sure he is not getting more vitamin D than that. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-29 23:40:12 |
| Name: | Kasia |
| Location: | London, UK |
| Subject: | Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Hi, I just got my blood test results-my cholesterol is too high and my vit d is far too low. I don't know why? I eat healthy,avoid animal fats, eat plenty of friut and veg and huge amount of yogurts. I am confused of what should I eat now. Most of the foods high in vit d are increasing cholesterol levels as well. | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 08:12:49 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Hi Kasia, thanks for your question. Since vitamin D is fat soluble, people taking cholesterol lowering drugs can experience lowered vitamin D levels. High cholesterol can be caused by genetic factors, or a lack of exercise. For tips and ideas see the article on cholesterol lowering foods. Also, be sure you are avoiding all these high cholesterol foods. In regards to getting more vitamin D without eating cholesterol, try supplements. Getting plently of sunshine is also a great natural way to boost your vitamin D levels. Hope those thoughts help. | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 08:47:20 |
| Name: | Kasia |
| Location: | London,UK |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Thanks!I just bought some vit d tablets, will try to have them every day. Also planning to buy yogurts and milk with vit d. Hope it helps. I am only 26 so am a bit worried. Have a good weekend everyone! | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 14:57:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and High Cholesterol |
| Hi Kasia, that is great. Just remember to buy milk and yogurt that is low fat, or non-fat, to avoid cholesterol. Full fat milk and/or yogurt is high in cholesterol also! In regard to vitamin D, try not to worry. Vitamin D is something of a nutrition fad right now, and "healthy levels" of vitamin D are still being established. Likely you are ok. At your next blood test, check to make sure you calcium is not too high. Having high calcium, due to the vitamin D supplements, is not healthy either! Hope that helps, and have a good weekend too! | |
| Posted on 2012-12-01 21:02:51 |
| Name: | Jeanette |
| Location: | Florida |
| Subject: | Vit D for my child |
| Hi, I went to the doctor today and he prescribed 10,000 IU of vit. D a day for my 19month old child. Should I be questioning this? | |
| Posted on 2012-12-31 13:20:39 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vit D for my child |
| Hi Jeanette, thanks for your question. Unless your child has some other condition, like rickets, or is on chronic seizure medication, that dose does seem too high, particularly since the Office of Dietary Supplements states that the tolerable upper intake level of a child 1-3 years old is 2,500 IU. Seek a second opinion and watch for signs of vitamin D toxicity like weight loss and/or heart arrhythmias. Also, at your child's next blood test, check for elevated calcium levels. | |
| Posted on 2012-12-31 13:56:47 |
| Name: | Mika |
| Location: | Azerbaijan |
| Subject: | Storage of vitamin D |
| Could you tell me how long body stores vitamin D? Thank you. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-09 16:54:12 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | Storage of vitamin D |
| Hi Mika, thanks for your question. Vitamin D is fat soluble and can be stored in your body fat for months. However, if you do not get enough vitamin D, these stores will be used and can be low. So it does depend somewhat on diet and lifestyle factors. Crieghton University has created this great PDF to answer these and other vitamin D questions. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-09 17:01:55 |
| Name: | Emine |
| Location: | UK |
| Subject: | Sun light through window |
| Is exposure to sun through the window as effetive as direct sunshine? | |
| Posted on 2013-01-15 16:48:29 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Sun light through window |
| Hi Emine, thanks for your question. According to this study, various factors can reduce the synthesis of vitamin D (cholecalciferol), including sunlight through windows. Environmental factors which harm vitamin D synthesis include increased skin pigmentation, aging, sunscreen, latitude, time of day, season, and ozone pollution. For example, sunlight in the U.S. city of Boston from November to February will not result in any significant vitamin D manufacture. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-15 16:57:25 |
| Name: | André |
| Location: | Brasil |
| Subject: | Algae |
| Hi, I think you should add microalgae oils to the list, as they are the source of vitamin D for FISH (fish cannot produce vitamin D from the sun like we do, so they get it from these microalgae). | |
| Posted on 2013-01-15 20:15:01 |
| Name: | Terri |
| Location: | Pittsburgh |
| Subject: | Low Vitamin D levels, but High Calcium Levels |
| Recently I had to have blood work done and was told that my Vitamin D levels were low and my calcium levels were too high. For the past year I had been taking Vitamin D supplements but since Christmas have stopped taking them. Would this have affected my readings? | |
| Posted on 2013-01-29 12:52:25 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D Levels, but High Calcium Levels |
| Hi Terri, it seems unlikely that stopping the supplements would have such an immediate effect. However, given your high calcium levels, stopping supplementation was likely the right thing to do. Too much calcium absorption can really be damaging. Vitamin D seems to be a nutrition fad these days, and what justifies a "normal" level is a matter of debate. However, as your level did not increase on supplements, you may want to take a look at what could be the cause of your low levels. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-29 19:35:52 |
| Name: | Chrissie |
| Location: | UK |
| Subject: | Vitamin D and Severe Nausea |
| Hi there, I have a vitamin d level of 5.7 I have been prescribed Adcal-D3 that's 1500 mg/400 IU. I'm supposed to take these one tablet twice a day, but they make me so nauseous I can do nothing but lie down. I'm aged 64 and have stopped taking them, for that reason. I am trying to find foods to eat instead. Do you think my Vitamin D level is too low at my age to improve with just food and what little sunshine we get here in the UK, I'm very depressed with it, plus I also have Fibrmyalgia. Doctors in this country are only now starting to realize that we have a bid problem with Vit D deficiency. Regards, Chrissie. | |
| Posted on 2013-02-03 17:31:32 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin D and Severe Nausea |
| Hi Chrissie, thanks for your questions and sorry to hear about the nausea, which is a possible side effect of vitamin D supplements. You might be able to raise your level with diet and sunshine, particularly if you focus on fortified foods like soymilk and cereal. Further, you could try reduce your vitamin D dose, maybe taking just 1 pill a day, or even half a pill. Unfortunately 400IU is about the smallest vitamin D supplement manufactured. Does the Adcal supplement you are taking also contain calcium? You could try another supplement which only provides vitamin D and see if that helps. Hope those thoughts help and good luck with finding a plan that works for you. | |
| Posted on 2013-02-03 17:39:53 |
| Name: | Tam |
| Location: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Subject: | Vitamin D and Acne |
| Hi, Very helpful article. About a year ago, I had a blood test done and found that my vitamin d levels were very low. I was prescribed three vitamin d capsules a day until my levels reached a normal number.
However, I have found that whenever I take vitamin d supplements for more than a couple of days, my skin breaks out very badly. I usually only get hormonal pimples but the breakouts I get from vitamin d supplements are much worse and more painful. As soon as I stop taking the supplements, the breakouts calm down and my skin goes back to normal. I was instructed to take liquid vitamin d to see if this was any better but unfortunately I am experiencing the same problem. The breakouts are not as bad as when I take the capsules but are still quite painful. Are there any other ways I can increase my vitamin d levels? I have dark skin and am vegetarian (lacto-ovo) so I suspect this is contributing to my low levels as well. Thank you in advance. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-15 19:38:59 |
| Name: | Cynch |
| Location: | Canada |
| Subject: | Low Vitamin D and Kidney Stone Risk |
| Results of my blood test came in today and my doctor notified me that my Vitamin D is quite low and instructed me to take 2 tablets of any over the counter Vitamin D supplement. Late last year, I had a kidney stone removed. What would my risk be now having to take Vitamin D supplements on having another occurrence of a painful kidney stone? | |
| Posted on 2013-04-03 15:35:00 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low Vitamin D and Kidney Stone Risk |
| Hi Cynch, thanks for your question. It would depend on what caused your kidney stones before. If your vitamin D is low, it is unlikely vitamin D was the cause. However, taking vitamin D supplements would only increase your risk of kidney stones. Consider calling and consulting your doctor about it, if you haven't already. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-04 00:00:47 |
| Name: | Yoshi |
| Location: | Dietetic student UNH |
| Subject: | Kidneys Activate vitamin D, and you need to eat fat to absorb vitamin D |
| After reading all the comments and answers I have something to add. First of all it is the kidneys that activate Vit D. So if the kidneys are not functioning properly the Vit D from food or supplements can not be used by the body. There is one type of activated Vit D supplement that can be purchased and is often prescribe to people with Chronic Kidney Disease. Also if you eat low fat yogurt you will not absorb the Vit D unless you are eating fat with it. Nuts are a good source of fat without the cholesterol. So adding walnuts or any other type of nuts can increase the body's ability to absorb Vit D. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-10 02:57:12 |
| Name: | Jessica Hallam |
| Location: | Chicago |
| Subject: | Low vitamin D and prescribed 50,000 IU |
| I recently had my blood checked and was told that my vitamin D was 18. My doctor prescribed 50,000 IU per day for 12 days. I am concerned taking this level. Isn't there a more natural way of correcting my level? Also I don't swallow pills well. Is there a liquid alternative? | |
| Posted on 2013-04-10 10:19:42 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Low vitamin D and prescribed 50,000 IU |
| Hi Jessica, thanks for your question. It seems like vitamin D is currently a health fad. Ten years ago, vitamin D was hardly tested and treated, however, due to recent studies, it has come to attention. Not to contradict your doctor, but you probably do not need to take the vitamin D he/she prescribed. Exposure to natural sunshine is the best way to boost your vitamin D level. Winter is ending in Chicago and the days will get longer. This alone should boost your vitamin D level. If you want, you can stop taking the supplements, and talk to your doctor about getting your level checked in summer. You can also just wait till your checkup next year, and go in summer and see if your vitamin D level is better. Frankly 50,000 IU units a day is a very high dose, though it is not uncommon. Side effects of high vitamin D include kidney stones and even heart disease. If you wish you continue the dose, liquid forms are available. Here is one from Amazon.com. However, consult your doctor about lowering your dose, or stopping supplements, till this summer or the next. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-11 00:04:33 |
| Name: | Suzanne |
| Location: | New York |
| Subject: | Sun Allergy |
| Hi- I too was recently diagnosed with extreme vitamin D deficiency, and I was prescribed 50,000 IUs 3 times a week for 1 month. I would like to get more D naturally but I have an allergic reaction to sunlight (my mother had the same- hives and swelling alleviated by antihistamine pills). I also have very low calcium intake due to dairy allergies. I'd like to find the way to increase these two which is kindest to my body since the two main methods of getting them naturally are not available to me. Am I just left with taking pills? How can I figure a good dosage from foods (such as salmon, etc)? I am looking for a long term plan to gain healthy levels. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-11 15:13:45 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Sun Allergy |
| Hi Suzanne, thanks for your questions. Besides cod liver oil, and fish, fortified foods are the best source for boosting your vitamin D levels. This is not exactly a "natural" way to boost your levels, but is still better than pills. Fortified cereal and soy milk may be great options for you. As for calcium, there are many high calcium foods besides dairy foods you can try. They include almonds, green leafy vegetables, and fish. Hope those ideas help you make a good long term plan for healthy vitamin D and calcium levels. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-12 00:23:44 |
| Name: | Whisperingsage |
| Location: | N CA |
| Subject: | Vit D and cholesterol |
| OK, the author hs a lot right but then some very biggies wrong too. Cholesterol is not only high in oysters, it is high in caviar, and high in cold water fish and high in liver, and high in eggs, and high in cod liver oil. The lesson here is that cholesterol is an Essential nutrient, contrary to popular belief. Please read up on this. Cholesterol is an important health giving nutrient. | |
| Posted on 2013-04-17 15:54:27 |
| Name: | Kip |
| Subject: | Sun |
| This is a nice overview of the best sources of Vitamin D though the intake of food, but I do miss the #1 source of Vitamin D, which is sunlight! 90% of the Vitamin D is produced in the skin after sunlight exposure! | |
| Posted on 2013-05-13 07:50:34 |
| Name: | LetThemEatCaviar |
| Subject: | 6 ounces of caviar |
| That's how much you would need to eat to get the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D. -- not only would this be expensive but it would be awfully high in salt content. A better recommendation might be sushi grade fish roe, but even so I don't think it would be practical to eat enough to make a substantial dent in your daily Vitamin D requirements. Hopefully people are smart enough to think for themselves & aren't downing large amounts of caviar daily based on your advice. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-17 02:15:35 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: 6 ounces of caviar |
| Thanks for your comment. You are right that people should not try to get 100% of their DV from caviar, or fish eggs (roe), alone. (Though there are places in the world where people might eat such a quantity of fish eggs.) However, caviar can be part of a diet to get more vitamin D and guide people in their food choices. You do not need to get 100% of your vitamin D from any one food source, particularly if you get 10-20 minutes of sunlight a day. Thanks again for your comment and clarifying this point. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-17 10:57:44 |
Related Aritcles
References
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