5 ms·

did you get tested for having low vitamin d or something? how did you end up deciding to take that much?

by tayo42 8y ago

TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
I didn’t bother with a test, the symptoms, when I finally connected the dots, were indicative enough for me to give it a go. It’s not uncommon for doctors around these parts to prescribe pharmastist depended 20,000IU gel caps, after a test of course. Also, there was an article doing the rounds a few months back indicating we neee way more vitamin D than the current guidelines. I’ll see if I can dig it up. Edit to add: here we go https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15867918 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15867918
- fpoling 8y ago
  One is strongly advised to measure D to get the levels of both D25 and D1,25 forms of D when one suspects D deficiency. Normally only D25 is tested, but that may miss the case of low D25 and high D1,25. This happens with some chronic infections when the body shifts D towards D1,25 to rise immune system activities. Taking D supliments then suppresses immune system. As a result one may feel better as there is less dead bacteria or viruses that the body needs to get rid of and that may cause allergic reactions and even depression. But then the underlining infection continues unchecked and long-term effects can be bad.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
    I haven't heard of this axis before. Can you point me to some further reading, thanks. I'm not in any high-risk categories for asymptomatic chronic infections, so I'm not sure this is a concern. There remains a question: should health, asymptomatic, fit / active, non-smoking, non-drinking, individuals, undergo a barrage of tests at Medicare's (public health insurer in Australia) expense? Also, I studied nutritional medicine in a formal setting for four years, so I consider myself sufficiently qualified to make that call. Otherwise, you're probably right, it makes sense, in general, for people to have tests for nutrient deficiencies, especially if there are comorbidities.
    - fpoling 8y ago
      See [1] or just search for “vitamin D immune suppression”. I very much agree that a healthy person should not do random tests. But when there is a suspicion of deficiency, one should investigate thoroughly before taking big doses of a steroid hormone that may suppress immune system otherwise known as “Vitamin D”. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/
      - TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
        Thanks for the link, will have a read tonight.

did you get tested for having low vitamin d or something? how did you end up deciding to take that much?

by tayo42 8y ago

did you get tested for having low vitamin d or something? how did you end up deciding to take that much?

I didn’t bother with a test, the symptoms, when I finally connected the dots, were indicative enough for me to give it a go. It’s not uncommon for doctors around these parts to prescribe pharmastist depended 20,000IU gel caps, after a test of course. Also, there was an article doing the rounds a few months back indicating we neee way more vitamin D than the current guidelines. I’ll see if I can dig it up. Edit to add: here we go https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15867918 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15867918

fpoling 8y ago
One is strongly advised to measure D to get the levels of both D25 and D1,25 forms of D when one suspects D deficiency. Normally only D25 is tested, but that may miss the case of low D25 and high D1,25. This happens with some chronic infections when the body shifts D towards D1,25 to rise immune system activities. Taking D supliments then suppresses immune system. As a result one may feel better as there is less dead bacteria or viruses that the body needs to get rid of and that may cause allergic reactions and even depression. But then the underlining infection continues unchecked and long-term effects can be bad.
- TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
  I haven't heard of this axis before. Can you point me to some further reading, thanks. I'm not in any high-risk categories for asymptomatic chronic infections, so I'm not sure this is a concern. There remains a question: should health, asymptomatic, fit / active, non-smoking, non-drinking, individuals, undergo a barrage of tests at Medicare's (public health insurer in Australia) expense? Also, I studied nutritional medicine in a formal setting for four years, so I consider myself sufficiently qualified to make that call. Otherwise, you're probably right, it makes sense, in general, for people to have tests for nutrient deficiencies, especially if there are comorbidities.
  - fpoling 8y ago
    See [1] or just search for “vitamin D immune suppression”. I very much agree that a healthy person should not do random tests. But when there is a suspicion of deficiency, one should investigate thoroughly before taking big doses of a steroid hormone that may suppress immune system otherwise known as “Vitamin D”. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/
    - TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
      Thanks for the link, will have a read tonight.