Vitamin D

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

Member
Mixed Farmer
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?
 
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Still Farming

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Wales UK
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DaveGrohl

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cumbria
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

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Highland
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

Member
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

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cumbria
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.
 

Ollie.mclean

Member
Livestock Farmer
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

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
HR2
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

Member
Location
Ceredigion,Wales
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.
 
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DaveGrohl

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cumbria
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.
 

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