7 ms·
Slightly off-topic, but related to a vitamin mentioned in here: For Vitamin D, I read a post on Reddit a while back on a subreddit that was intended for older
by stevenjohns 8y ago
Slightly off-topic, but related to a vitamin mentioned in here:
For Vitamin D, I read a post on Reddit a while back on a subreddit that was intended for older people. Someone asked a question along the lines of 'what is something you wish you were told earlier' and at least one person mentioned Vitamin D deficiency.
They said that for most of their life they were deficient and that it had a significant impact on their life-long depression, and their stress and focus if I recall correctly. Once they began taking Vitamin D supplements it drastically changed everything and completely changed their mood: it turned out that they had Vitamin D absorption issues and never picked up on it. They said they take 12,000 IU/day, now, and it has changed their life.
Most Vitamin D supplements seem to come (in Australia at least) at anywhere from 300 IU to 1000 IU. I looked into safe Vitamin D levels and it appears that you can take up to 50,000 IU a day before you start seeing adverse affects, and just being in direct sunlight for an hour or so is about 15,000 IU for my skin type.
With this in mind, I've began taking 7,000 IU a day (I get about an hour of direct sunlight a day at least on most days). I can't say for sure that it has an effect on my mood, but on the days where I feel a bit worse than usual it's usually because I haven't taken my supplement stack for a couple of days (i.e ran out and hadn't yet bought supplies).
- adventured 8y agoOn top of its potential benefits, it's also very inexpensive. One of the least expensive supplements you can take. The 360 count of 5000iu D3 that I take costs $11 (about $0.03 per day).
- lultimouomo 8y agoPlease be aware that vitamin D being fat-soluble you can actually overdose on it (while with water-soluble vitamins you simply pee them away). Excessive dosage of vitamin D can have very nasty effect (e.g. severe kidney damage). Your skin stops synthesizing vitamin D when you have enough so you can't overdose by staying in the sun, but you can by taking supplements.
- hinkley 8y agoPeople hear of doctors prescribing 50k UI and don't understand that the liver is supposed to store surplus vitamin D for the winter. If you're deficient it will mop up a great honking dose of it, but that's not the same as already having adequate reserves and then taking a megadose.
- Scoundreller 8y agoVitD will store in fat. It’s b12 that’s stored in liver.
- ntsplnkv2 8y agoI'm vitamin D deficient, and have been taking 50k UI a week in a single weekly dose. It has done little to boost my levels, though, and I am overweight - so I wonder if that is why my Vitamin D levels are low. Since then I've lost 20 lbs, we'll see if my numbers change at my next blood test.
- mark_l_watson 8y agoBest to have your doctor check vitamins D levels first. That said, over 60, many people have vitamins D deficiency -- well worth getting a simple test to measure it.
- Scoundreller 8y agoThe test may be simple, but was costing the government about US$40 equivalents per test. Because everyone was asking for it, they’ve stopped making it so easy to get free tests based on lack of cost-benefit. If in doubt, or at risk, just supplement.
- lultimouomo 8y agoThe test costed me less than 20€ in a private lab in Italy, I assume the price is similar in most western countries. Is it such a high price not to fuck your kidneys?
- 8y ago
- 6nf 8y agoIf you're not getting much direct sunlight, and you think you may be affected, it's a really good idea to get your Vit D levels tested.
- baccheion 8y agoDeficiency/Insufficiency is also a common reason for seasonal depression. Less sunlight = less vitamin D. 40-60 ng/mL is a commonly preferred range and is usually achieved with 50-100 IU/kg vitamin D3 (ie, 3500-7000 IU at 70 kg). Dose calculator (assume 0 ng/mL if current level unknown): http://vitamindservice.com/node/87 http://vitamindservice.com/node/87.