vitamin D poll

My  D level ws at 36 at my 6 month exam.  I started taking 50,000 IU D3 three times a week .  At my 1 Year exam my D level was at 134.  My NUT had a fit and told me to stop taking the suppliments.  I, of course, ignored her!  I did go down to two days a week instead of three.  I have my next labs done in May...I think it should be right around 80....fingers crossed!

 I take 5000 IU daily, and mine is tested every 6 months, and the last time I went, it was somewhere in the 130's. I don't have my labs in front of me, so I can't give the exact 13-, but it was in the 130's. :D

Wow - I better talk to the doc....mine was 38 - but the lab slip said that was 'normal'.  the range on the lab slip was 35 to like 480 or something.  So mine was low but still in the normal range.  I take 2 multi vit with vit D and 4 calciums with vit D.  I don't take extra vit D - but maybe I should.  Can you take too much?

The reference range on the lab slip isn't exactly what you're thinking it is by "normal."  You are assuming that means the range it should be in for good health, right?  That's  not what it is.  The lab tests a bunch of apparently healthy people, often people that work for the lab, and whatever the average is, they use that for their reference range.  So if a bunch of the people tested had D levels lower than needed for optimal health, then their reference range is lower than what's needed for good health.

Um, yeah, you should take extra.  Yes, you can take too much.  I think it was the Vitamin D Council that said taking more than 200,000 IU D3 per day over a period of time could lead to toxicity.

By the way, what's the dose of your calcium?  We need 1500-2000 mg a day.

I'm going to check all the bottles at home and see what it adds up to.  Thanks for the info.

Just checked my labels....I get 800 IU vit D in each multi vit = 1600 and 500 IU vit D in each calcium tab = 2000 for a total of 3600 IU vit D. Calcium tabs 630 mg - 4 each day = 2520 mg + Multi vit has 450 - 2 each day = 900.  Total calcium = 3420 mg.

What do you think?

Mine was 31, and the form said 30-100 is normal.....I know I should be around 80 (thanks to Kelly)

I take 5,750 IU per day now (since Nov when I got my labs) and will be re-tested in May.  If it isn't greatly improved, I'll increase more.

Mine was 36 with optimum ranging from  30 to 80.  This particular test measures D3, D2 and 25 hydroxy. 

I don't like it at 36, and I have not been placed on additional supplements.  I need to research what kind I need.  I know it should be the dry form.

My labs were run 3 weeks ago.

The optimum is not 30-80.  The optimum is above 80.  The reference range on the form is not the range needed for optimum health - it's the average of a group of people they tested to get a reference range.  If most of those people were lower than optimal, then the reference range comes out lower than optimal.

You need dry D3.

Is there more than one test where they test for D3 only, or does the test always include D3, D2 and 25 hydroxy?  I notice people name different ranges.  I agree with you.  I think I need D3 too.  All the nurse said was there are no concerns at this time.  But from everything I have read on here, it is much more difficult to bring levels back up once they are deficient versus keeping them optimum.