Posted by Elainep on March 1, 2005, at 14:28:59
In reply to ROFL! I didn't notice that. (nm) » tealady, posted by gardenergirl on February 28, 2005, at 9:46:21
Hi all, thanks for your interest in my posts. I just got back from a holiday so that's why I haven't replied before now. Actually it was to drop my daughter (the one who had the depression) off at University: she's busy clubbing every night now and generally being a young and foolish freshman and I can't tell you how delighted I am about that: compared to a year ago!
Okay, Carlos, you asked about initial doses etc etc so I'll be far more specific here. I'll send you my email address directly too if you want to correspond further, I just like the idea of this further info being available to everyone. Please remember I'm no medical doctor, but I'm very happy to share whatever I know.
When 'jo' got tested in June last year she came back at 16 nmol/l in her blood, that's the English measurement not the American. I don't know what the American equivalent is or how it's measured. Anyway the 'normal' range is 50-150. So she was serously low. We got the first pills from the doctor, there were 6 of them, and they were 50,000 iu each, or a total dose of 300,000 iu. They were tiny little reddy pills, very innocuous looking. Apparently in Europe they dose up the old people with about that dose regularly, I guess it's the same here. Jo is small framed, probably weighs about 52 kilos or so, and her level went up to 86 nmol/l from that dose. (her blood level was measured a month later). Jo's sister 'Pat' came out at 22 nmol/l, also well below the recommend level. She's a bigger girl, weighs about 70 -75 kg,and was also given 6 pills of 50,000 iu, and her level went up to 72 nmol/l a month later. So obviously the dose is different depending on how big your body is. It was July last year when the second tests were done.
I then supplemented Jo on the Solgar brand 400iu a day, and 6 months later (in January) got both girls tsted again, as well as myself. Pat took no supplements, just 'basked' in the sun everyday for 10 minutes. This time the tests showed that Jo was down to 68 nmol/day, and Pat was down to 67nmol/day. I came out at 48 nmol/day. Rememnber this is halfway through our summer here, and even though it was a cold December, there was still more sun around than the winter before.
So after these results, Jo, Pat and I are all dosing at 1000iu a day, but we won't have our blood tested again until July. That's with the solgar brand, the pills are tiny oil filled capsules, not nearly as big as omega three oil pills or anything like that. But to get the initial megadose you'd need to swallow 3 bottles of pills!
I really would recommend getting a blood test done, I hate the idea of anyone rolling the dice in the dark when the measurements are easily available. REALLY. I'd hate to be responsible for anyone doing anything without full knowledge of their own body. But if you want further info about people who have been supplementing, here is a post I came across that may interest you. There's all kinds of info in here, it's basically a set of people experimenting with vit d supplements for their SAD symptoms. I just wish they did it with the measurements, then the scientist in me would be satisfied.
What is worth noting, is the mention of all the things associated with vit d deficiency: there are a ton of them. I personally have noticed a lessening in carbohydrate craving since starting my own supplements some three weeks ago.
To 'fires', who noted a difference in eyesight, I'm not sure about clearer vision,but on this post I've attached below there seem to be several who say it has had an impact on their headaches, maybe the two are related. I don't entirely trust the medical profession's knowledge of vit d and what it does. I DO know that vit D is a powerful agent in the body and it affects all kinds of things.
Okay, here's the new link.
Cheers
Elainep
http://forum.lowcarber.org/archive/index.php/t-215413.html
poster:Elainep
thread:451955
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050225/msgs/464970.html