Vitamin D

[Av Gorritt]

I had a message from the NHS today saying that people who are in the vulnerable age group , and who are self isolating , are probably going short on the sunshine vitamin "D" , and would be advised to take a vitamin supplement . I've no idea where it's been until now , I think it should have been delivered September / October time . ( short of sun , not going out , and well covered up even if they do ), Ought this to be a prescription thing , or is it a pharmacy buy ?

 

[steveR]

Included in most good multivit tablets or get Vit D supplement from supermarket or even eBay!

Good case that it should be supplied to vulnerable and older folks I agree, but they are not expensive for most.

A quid/month seems a modest sum?

 

[Johnnyboxer]

£2.50 for 100 tablets of 1000 iU D3, at Booths supermarkets
Don’t need to get a prescription

 

[Still Farming]

 

[milkloss]

If you’ve got sarcoidosis vit D can nearly finish you off. It’ll feel like it at least!

 

[Jungle Bill]

I’m shielding in Scotland and got 4 months of vitamin D in the post from the government at the beginning of the year.

 

[Stewie]

Ask your GP how many units a week you should take. Most people have low levels in winter anyway, it is not picked up because is not a routine test.

 

[Steevo]

You can have a test to check levels if needed:

Vitamin D Test Kit + Free Vitamin D Oral Spray

Discover your vitamin D levels quickly and easily from the comfort of your own home with this Vitamin D Testing Kit. Includes complementary Vitamin D Spray.

betteryou.com

 

[DaveGrohl]

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Mayo Clinic always tops the google charts when it comes to anything health related. Doesn't mean you should use it as an advisable source of info.

 

[Av Gorritt]

Went to the local pharmacy this afternoon and bought two months supply - easier than dicking about , and not dear either .

 

[DaveGrohl]

People should be having 1000 IU at the very least. RDI is set at 400 IU for vit D which is the absolute minimum to avoid rickets. We should be aiming for better health outcomes than the avaoidance of rickets ffs. Vit K2 should also be taken with D3 as it performs an important role in calcium partitioning, making sure the calcium gets to the correct place rather than risking it ending up in the wrong place. Plenty of products have the two together.

 

[Macsky]

It’s a very simple thing that can have far reaching consequences, it may be associated with higher incidence of MS around these parts with our short winter days and limited sunshine hours. I think deficiency is highly linked to the all out attack on our traditional diet and it’s fat sources. Oily fish, red meat, liver, eggs, all preached against vehemently for years.

 

[thorpe]

I had a message from the NHS today saying that people who are in the vulnerable age group , and who are self isolating , are probably going short on the sunshine vitamin "D" , and would be advised to take a vitamin supplement . I've no idea where it's been until now , I think it should have been delivered September / October time . ( short of sun , not going out , and well covered up even if they do ), Ought this to be a prescription thing , or is it a pharmacy buy ?

im outside all daylight hours but not seen much sunshine for 3 months! mrs thorpes got me on supplements , and the diet she feeds me is brill.

 

[DaveGrohl]

In the US blood testing can be routinely done for vit D and is indeed advisable. Levels of vit D build up over time when someone starts from a low level. Once a good level has been reached the daily dose can be trimmed to maintain that level. That's the US. My doctor would look at me funny if I asked for a vit D test. If you don't stray over around 5000 IU you should be fine. Is what I hear.

 

[Stewie]

In the US it's virtually impossible to get mik without added vit D. I think it goes back to health initiatives in the 30s.

 

[Ollie.mclean]

I wrongly assumed that working outside everyday would mean I would be getting enough Vit D in the winter. However after routine blood tests in December the doctor called me informing me my Vit D levels were worrying low and mentioned having an iv vit d. Due to the current situation with covid I declined (not wanting to catch covid in hospital with an already weakend immune system) and got some high dose and double dosed on them for a few weeks. Will definitely be taking them every winter now! Apparently even sun cream can block sufficient uptake so only having face and hands exposed through the winter isn't enough!

 

[wrenbird]

I am classed as extremely clinically vulnerable, so have been shielding since the start of the pandemic. I was told that, because of this, I am eligible for a free supply of vitamin D tablets. I’ve just had an e-mail to say four months supply will be delivered this week.

 

[Cowabunga]

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You need massive amounts, like 15,000iu/day plus over a long time to risk the above. Deficiency is very likely while excess is most unlikely unless you have an underlying condition or take handfuls of D pills daily. Especially at this time of year. It is also weight dependent, with larger people requiring much more vitD than thin people.
Vit D dose can be taken daily or a larger dose, weekly. It doesn’t matter. It persists in the body for about two weeks. Calcium balance can be maintained in bones by taking some vitaminK as well as vitD.

The commonly recommended supplement dose is unlikely to raise levels sufficiently to prevent anything but basic rickets. From my research you need between 2000 [a maintenance dose] and 10,000 iu daily. For normal weight people on our latitude, 10,000 is considered a perfectly safe dose with between 2000 and 5000iu, depending on body mass, being the required dose. Ideally regular blood tests should be done but at these moderate doses, it really isn’t worth the bother. 1000iu/day is unlikely to raise deficient blood/body levels by any detectable amounts apparently.

 

[DaveGrohl]

I am classed as extremely clinically vulnerable, so have been shielding since the start of the pandemic. I was told that, because of this, I am eligible for a free supply of vitamin D tablets. I’ve just had an e-mail to say four months supply will be delivered this week.

It's likely to be the 400 IU dose which isn't a lot of use to man nor mouse. Medical establishment in action. It took them 400 years to recommend citrus fruits for avoidance of scurvy after it was discovered to be of benefit.

 

[Cowabunga]

Hot off YouTube just now….

Summary

Good Vit D level gives 34% protection from getting Covid19

Deficient patients with Covid are 6 times more likely to require mechanical ventilation in hospital

Low Vit D levels 15 times more likely to die.