Posted by Tomatheus on April 17, 2014, at 19:37:53
In reply to Re: check your vitamin D » Tomatheus, posted by Phil on April 17, 2014, at 17:00:42
Phil,
Thank you for your reply. My understanding is that taking 10,000 IU or more of vitamin D3 a day will eventually push a person's vitamin D level too high, if one stays at that dose for a long time. Having said that, some people do take loading doses exceeding 10,000 IU for a limited period of time so they can get their vitamin D level into the optimal range more quickly than they would if they were just to start out taking a maintenance dose. But I think that Chris O was correct in saying that too much vitamin D can be harmful. Most experts seem to think that a vitamin D level of 40 to 60 ng/mL (or perhaps 40 to 70 ng/mL, depending on which expert you ask) is optimal, and if my understanding is correct, the doctors who advise that their patients take high loading doses only want their patients to take high doses temporarily so they can get into the optimal range quickly.
I tend to agree with your assessment that your GP was probably conservative in advising you to take 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day, with your level being at 5 ng/mL. Maybe your doctor figures that if you just get your vitamin D level up a bit that you'll have more energy, which will lead you to spend more time outside, allowing you to get even more vitamin D from the sun. At any rate, you could always take a higher dose later on if it turns out that 2,000 IU isn't enough to raise your vitamin D level into the optimal range. I just hope that that doesn't leave you waiting too long for any therapeutic benefits that may emerge from supplementing with vitamin D3.
Well, thanks again for responding to my reply, and good luck with the D3.
Tomatheus
Has schizophrenia with strong negative and cognitive symptoms
Taking Abilify & vitamins B3 & D3
poster:Tomatheus
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