Friday, January 21, 2011

Vitamin D

Went to the Dr. yesterday to review my blood work.  Absolutely everything was ok except for Vitamin D.

66 nmol/L

Doctor says that +75 is good, but +100 would be better since I have Osteopenia in neck and tail bone and you need Vitamin D to absorb Calcium.  I take pills with Vitamin D/Calcium and eat a lot of dairy, but I'm going to have to up the Vitamin D supplements.

Slight addendum for everyone (I tried to find a more forceful source to back up what my doctor said, but the best I could find was SUNLIGHT, VITAMIN D AND HEALTH by Laurance Johnston, Ph.D):


"Exposure to vitamin-D-producing UVB light can vary greatly depending upon many factors, including time of day and year; and the latitude, altitude, and prevailing weather conditions of where we live.
"Latitude is especially important. For example, if you live north of about 37° (roughly, a line from Richmond to San Francisco), you will be exposed to little UVB from at least November through February because the sun’s zenith angle is so low that the atmosphere absorbs most UVB before it reaches you."

What do you guys use?




Some Childish Humor for the Start of the Weekend

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Deena Kastor blames her foot break at the olympics for lack of Vitamin D, she was so consumed with staying out of the sun due to cancer and taking lots of calcium, but Vitamin D was neglected. I just take multivitamins, and drink a ton of milk and am poor at staying out of the sun. Hope you get it fixed, you need to stay healthy! :)

Anne said...

Because of the corticosteroids I take, I take 10,000 units of Vitamin D once a week and of course, calcium twice a day. Stay strong Andrew!

Teamarcia said...

First, I'm impressed that your doc actually measured vit D. I have to request that. I think it's common (especially for those of us getting on in years) to have low vit D because we don't absorb it as well. I supplement with 5,000 IU of D3 most days.

Shawn said...

Cod Liver Oil pills....1 a day only or you start growing gills and have nasty burps.

Unknown said...

i take 4000 IU (100 mcg) D3 - kirkland brand from costco. I would probably take more if my D was measuring low in my blood, to get it back up to normal levels quickly and then settle in at this amount after that.

you'll notice that vitamins like calcium are D fortified, but only have like 200 IU.

You get over 10,000 IU in about 30mins on a sunny day, so I feel the 4000 IU is safe. REALLY changed how I felt when I started taking it. Best wishes.

bobbi said...

I must be the only immature one here...vitamin D bla bla bla...that video was hilarious!

Still Running said...

I love those videos..."D#$% in a Box" is my all time favourite.

Anonymous said...

I use the sun - oh crap, you're in Canada. Sorry...

Caratunk Girl said...

ha ha. Good one.

Shawn said...

Also beer...Vitamin D must exist in beer...Jamoosh, back me up on this one!

Jill said...

You send me your daily list of attire for a run - I don't even think radium could get through those layers let along Vitamin D from the sun!

Hopefully a little extra D will give you a little extra spunk in those runs!

Jill said...

I mean "alone" - I am tired!

Adrienne said...

I, like Jamoosh, use the sun. Maybe I can bottle some for you and send it to you for a small fee.

Jennifer said...

Come visit Mississippi!

Paul said...

Vitamin D is way more important than just for bones...as a friend of ours found out.

I wrote about it on my blog

http://50-is-the-new-30.blogspot.com/2010/11/dr-sunshine.html

BrianFlash said...

My wife is taking 4000 units a day. She measured out low on the blood test and the extra D has really helped her energy levels...

Nitmos said...

Chuck Norris doesn't need vitamin D.

Wait, what site am I on here?

Bob said...

2000 units a day. No calcium. And nude sunbathe whenever I can.

misszippy said...

I love sunshine, so whenever I can, I'm in it, fwiw. I also am very good about using fortified milk, etc. Get outside and soak up some of that warm, Canadian sun!

Ewa said...

Sun and then more sun. Of course it is not always possible to get enough of that in northern latitudes so you might need supplements. I seem to recall reading that excess of vit A might interfere with calcium absorption but can't recall the source of that info.
There was lot of information about vit D on marksdailyapple.com especially on forums. But like with all forums one has to sift though some junk science.

RockStarTri said...

My doc told me to start with the Vitamin D too recently.

Karen R said...

Vit D - sunshine.

I know you can't copy my version of getting Vit D but just to let you know, most mornings, I put on my sparkly running headband, shorts and tank top. Since it's winter, I put on knee socks with my running shoes. That way I can sit outside of Starbucks in the sunshine, getting my vitamins!

(I sunscreen my face only so I don't get wrinkles!)

Good luck doing my routine in your neck of the woods! :)

Lily on the Road said...

Vitamin D, Calcium & Magnesium, along with C...up here in the frozen north, we need all the help we can get.

Chris K said...

Move to San Diego.

Staci said...

I also use the sun, but my mom had issues with her Vit D and supplements seem to have helped. But, take as much daylight as you can - remember the rays don't penetrate glass so you gotta be outside as much as you can.

Johann said...

Living and running in South Africa I get mine with the sun. I don't think many South Africans will have low vit D.

Kandi said...

Is it wrong that I love that song? And the word jizz... it has a nice ring to it... yea, maybe it's only me. hehe
And I get my Vitamin D from the sun but I do live north of Richmond so maybe I'm lacking in the winter... who knows.

Kim said...

I take 4000 int units of Vitamin D daily.

Tortuga_Runner said...

Glad Vitamin D is an easy fix. Thanks for the YouTube video, where do you guys find this crap? My husband sitting across from me knew what I was watching without even looking and was already laughing by the time I figured out what they were signing.

Tortuga_Runner said...

*singing