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Would you mind elaborating on what you mean by "wacky" levels? I can't tell from your comment if that means high or low. Asking as a Vitamin D supplement user w

by wpasc 6y ago

Would you mind elaborating on what you mean by "wacky" levels? I can't tell from your comment if that means high or low. Asking as a Vitamin D supplement user who uses 2-3k IU a day

woko 6y ago
Not a doctor, but I have had kidney stones. The answer is a loss of calcium, so high level found in urine test: if you had way too much vitamin D, then you would start releasing the calcium from your bones. I don't think that taking calcium supplements would help, because calcium metabolism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_metabolism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_metabolism) is much more complex than that.
- devaboone 6y ago
  Calcium metabolism is complicated, but there are a few things that are straightforward. 1. Vitamin D helps the intestines absorb calcium, so taking more Vitamin D can lead to more calcium being absorbed in your intestines, and thus more calcium in the blood. The excess calcium in your blood is caused by increased absorption from the intestines, not from bone release. (High calcium with parathyroid disease is caused by bone release, as well as increased intestinal absorption) 2. Taking calcium supplements along with Vitamin D will allow your intestines to absorb more of the calcium you are taking. 3. There are several reasons for having a lot of calcium in the urine. Primary hyperparathyroidism can do it, and in this case you will see high blood calcium levels also. If the blood calcium is low or normal (under 10.0 mg/dl), then you have another reason for high urine calcium.
  - pure_simplicity 6y ago
    Do you know what could be happening if taking vitamin D gives you severe headaches that last for days and gradually get weaker? If you need more information, please ask away.
    - DoreenMichele 6y ago
      As someone who has worked on various deficiencies over the years, including vitamin D, I will suggest it means the dose you are taking is probably too high. When I had similar issues, reducing my sun exposure -- which was how I was improving my vitamin D status at the time -- resolved the headaches and vomiting that I was experiencing.
      - pure_simplicity 6y ago
        Thanks for the response. I'm surprised you can even get too much D with sun exposure. The thing is: I used to take vitamin D supplements fairly regularly, but now I barely take any. I will go weeks without supplementing, but when I do, I get headaches. No increased urination though, which would happen if i had excess calcium, and no nausea/vomiting. Last time, i tried 5000IU, but this came after weeks of not taking any D supplement, and I've not taken any since. My reasoning is: that would effectively make the average dose < 400 IU, so shouldn't give me any problems, yet it does. Maybe I'm getting more from the sun than i realize :/
        DoreenMichele 6y ago
        I'm surprised you can even get too much D with sun exposure. I'm a special case. Trying to explain that is probably a can of worms. shouldn't give me any problems, yet it does There may be other factors there, which I could potentially speculate on. But A. It tends to be a can of worms when I start speculating like that and B. You didn't initially give enough info to really warrant such speculation. You only gave enough to make me feel like the safe bet was to comment on the dosage and leave it at that.
        pure_simplicity 6y ago
        I understand. Thank you :)
devaboone 6y ago
Hi, I'm the wife. High dose Vitamin D can cause elevated calcium levels (meaning over 10.0 mg/dl for adults over 40, it can be a little higher for younger adults). I usually don't see that occur with doses at 2-3 K IU daily. You can also check your Vitamin D 25-OH levels (the level that will be done if you just get a standard "Vitamin D level") and these should be in a reasonable range. What constitutes reasonable may be debatable, but in general I do not see elevated calcium levels with Vitamin D levels that are under 50 ng/ml (unless the person has parathyroid disease, another topic). The "toxic" range for Vitamin D is usually set to 100, but this is well over where most people should be. Toxicity with regard to Vitamin D means high calcium - that is the toxic effect. And I have seen this toxic effect occur with Vit D levels in the 50s.
- pow_pp_-1_v 6y ago
  What are the ill effects of elevated blood-calcium levels? Is there a way to avoid the bad effects of high dose Vitamin D supplements? Thanks!
  - xxpor 6y ago
    There's a range of symptoms, but with me it caused (or at least contributed to) a calcium oxalate kidney stone. Not fun.
- andy_ppp 6y ago
  If taking Vitamin D do you recommend Magnesium and K2 as well, as I understand it these need to be in balance?
  - fizixer 6y ago
    I don't know if K supplementation helps with calcium levels, but you don't need magnesium supplementation as long you have half-decent diet. There is plenty of magnesium in foods.
    - lostmyoldone 6y ago

by wpasc 6y ago

Would you mind elaborating on what you mean by "wacky" levels? I can't tell from your comment if that means high or low. Asking as a Vitamin D supplement user who uses 2-3k IU a day

woko 6y ago

Not a doctor, but I have had kidney stones. The answer is a loss of calcium, so high level found in urine test: if you had way too much vitamin D, then you would start releasing the calcium from your bones. I don't think that taking calcium supplements would help, because calcium metabolism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_metabolism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_metabolism) is much more complex than that.

devaboone 6y ago
Calcium metabolism is complicated, but there are a few things that are straightforward. 1. Vitamin D helps the intestines absorb calcium, so taking more Vitamin D can lead to more calcium being absorbed in your intestines, and thus more calcium in the blood. The excess calcium in your blood is caused by increased absorption from the intestines, not from bone release. (High calcium with parathyroid disease is caused by bone release, as well as increased intestinal absorption) 2. Taking calcium supplements along with Vitamin D will allow your intestines to absorb more of the calcium you are taking. 3. There are several reasons for having a lot of calcium in the urine. Primary hyperparathyroidism can do it, and in this case you will see high blood calcium levels also. If the blood calcium is low or normal (under 10.0 mg/dl), then you have another reason for high urine calcium.
- pure_simplicity 6y ago
  Do you know what could be happening if taking vitamin D gives you severe headaches that last for days and gradually get weaker? If you need more information, please ask away.
  - DoreenMichele 6y ago
    As someone who has worked on various deficiencies over the years, including vitamin D, I will suggest it means the dose you are taking is probably too high. When I had similar issues, reducing my sun exposure -- which was how I was improving my vitamin D status at the time -- resolved the headaches and vomiting that I was experiencing.
    - pure_simplicity 6y ago
      Thanks for the response. I'm surprised you can even get too much D with sun exposure. The thing is: I used to take vitamin D supplements fairly regularly, but now I barely take any. I will go weeks without supplementing, but when I do, I get headaches. No increased urination though, which would happen if i had excess calcium, and no nausea/vomiting. Last time, i tried 5000IU, but this came after weeks of not taking any D supplement, and I've not taken any since. My reasoning is: that would effectively make the average dose < 400 IU, so shouldn't give me any problems, yet it does. Maybe I'm getting more from the sun than i realize :/
      - DoreenMichele 6y ago
        I'm surprised you can even get too much D with sun exposure. I'm a special case. Trying to explain that is probably a can of worms. shouldn't give me any problems, yet it does There may be other factors there, which I could potentially speculate on. But A. It tends to be a can of worms when I start speculating like that and B. You didn't initially give enough info to really warrant such speculation. You only gave enough to make me feel like the safe bet was to comment on the dosage and leave it at that.
        pure_simplicity 6y ago
        I understand. Thank you :)

devaboone 6y ago

Hi, I'm the wife. High dose Vitamin D can cause elevated calcium levels (meaning over 10.0 mg/dl for adults over 40, it can be a little higher for younger adults). I usually don't see that occur with doses at 2-3 K IU daily. You can also check your Vitamin D 25-OH levels (the level that will be done if you just get a standard "Vitamin D level") and these should be in a reasonable range. What constitutes reasonable may be debatable, but in general I do not see elevated calcium levels with Vitamin D levels that are under 50 ng/ml (unless the person has parathyroid disease, another topic). The "toxic" range for Vitamin D is usually set to 100, but this is well over where most people should be. Toxicity with regard to Vitamin D means high calcium - that is the toxic effect. And I have seen this toxic effect occur with Vit D levels in the 50s.

pow_pp_-1_v 6y ago
What are the ill effects of elevated blood-calcium levels? Is there a way to avoid the bad effects of high dose Vitamin D supplements? Thanks!
- xxpor 6y ago
  There's a range of symptoms, but with me it caused (or at least contributed to) a calcium oxalate kidney stone. Not fun.
andy_ppp 6y ago
If taking Vitamin D do you recommend Magnesium and K2 as well, as I understand it these need to be in balance?
- fizixer 6y ago
  I don't know if K supplementation helps with calcium levels, but you don't need magnesium supplementation as long you have half-decent diet. There is plenty of magnesium in foods.
  - lostmyoldone 6y ago