The All-Encompassing Vitamin D Thread - Page 3

IronMaidenfan#1 · 12-12-2008, 02:46 PM

This has been a good thread to read and thanks again Vedic for raising the topic. I'm thinking about following Josh's idea of taking 4,000 units per day and seeing if I notice any changes. I've actually gotten my first cold in 3 years at the moment and I also experienced depression for the 1st time in my life within the past 4/5 months. I'm generally feeling better now but the depression came from nowhere, didn't see it coming. Do you guys think that part of what happened to me could have been to do with a Vit D deficiency? , or am I putting too much emphasis on this issue. Of course, I know that taking a Vit D supplement won't help with serotonin production but the Vit D would likely help me fight colds and similar now and in future.

*wishes he lived in a sunnier place than England*

**MikeMartial** · 12-12-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noise666

So - question, how long does it take for the deficiency to show?

Great question, Noise. From what I've read, numbers on the half-life vary from 30 days to 8 weeks. Makes sense in regards to seasonal Affective Disorder, since that's about the time after summer we start staying indoors are get less direct sunlight. I think a lot of factors come into play, though, such as age and nutrition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noise666

I'll be having a physical done in the beginning of 09 with fresh blood work and what not. I'll see if I can get my vitamin D levels checked as well :- ) I'll keep you all posted on the results.

That'll be very cool to see, with your being the resident level-headed Sherdog Vegan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asherc

is there a particular brand of vitamin D supplements that are better than others?

From Animal Pharm:

The brands that I've tried (I'll be posting later as well) are:
--NOW Vitamin D 400, 1000, 2000 and 5000 IU daily
--Carlson's Solar D Gems 4000 IU (though a patient told me they're on backorder)
--Costco's Nature's something dry tablet (I didn't like it)
--Nature's Blend 2000 IU dry tablets (at most drug stores)

Ones I haven't tried but are likely to be reputable:
--Vitacost.com NSI brand 4000 IU capsules
--Liquid drops (highly concentrated) -- Anna at againstthegrain (blog) likes this

Dr. Davis prefers capsules because he finds that often tablets don't yield consistent blood results.

I'm using the Health Balance (Costco) small 1000IU dry tabs right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronMaidenfan#1

Do you guys think that part of what happened to me could have been to do with a Vit D deficiency?

Totally possible, but it's more than likely a combination of S.A.D, vit D deficiency, possible overtraining, adrenal fatigue, work/personal stress versus just one thing. In my experience, though, sunlight is a HUGE factor. I've been fortunate enough to be able to take some form of tropical vacation every winter for the past couple of years. Sitting on a beach soaking up the sun for a week seems to have a long carry-over effect into summer (or at least spring) for me.

I've battled depression in the past also, and one of the major factors that's kept it at bay has been light---either sunlight, or a high-lux artifical light used in the morning. I have yet to pull it out of the closet, but then again, I'm supplementing with more vit D this year than ever before. Coincidence? Who knows. In hindsight, it would have been nice to have my 25OHD levels pre-depression, during, after, and now.

joshetc · 12-12-2008, 10:48 PM

Wow, I didn't even realize they had 5,000 IU vitamin d. It fuckin sucks, at my drug store (CVS) our shelves only have 400 IU w/ out being stacked with calcium (that is 1,000 IU) and our ordering warehouse is only able to get up to 1000 IU over-the-counter. We do have 50,000 IU RX only but that is out of reach and way too high a dose.

Centaur · 12-13-2008, 12:07 AM

Wow, great thread.

MikeMartial - Didn't you do a thread on this last year about this time? I remember saying to myself after "I really need to take advantage of that free tanning I have."

**MikeMartial** · 12-13-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Centaur

Wow, great thread.

MikeMartial - Didn't you do a thread on this last year about this time? I remember saying to myself after "I really need to take advantage of that free tanning I have."

Yup.

GhostDog · 12-13-2008, 01:59 PM

I read on Dr. William Davis' blog (a big Vit D advocate) that Vit D tablets have pretty much no effect (test have shown that they don't raise your blood level) and that one should only take gel caps.

I want to switch to gel caps, but they are hard to come by.

Here's a link where he talks about in an online artice => Heart Disease - Vitamin D: Explosive new player in heart health

I'm having trouble finding where he said this on his blog (The Heart Scan Blog)

I've recently increased by Vit D intake to 4000IU + the 400IU I get from my daily multi.

**XTrainer** · 12-13-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostDog

I read on Dr. William Davis' blog (a big Vit D advocate) that Vit D tablets have pretty much no effect (test have shown that they don't raise your blood level) and that one should only take gel caps.

I want to switch to gel caps, but they are hard to come by.

Here's a link where he talks about in an online artice => Heart Disease - Vitamin D: Explosive new player in heart health

I'm having trouble finding where he said this on his blog (The Heart Scan Blog)

I've recently increased by Vit D intake to 4000IU + the 400IU I get from my daily multi.

Really? Sort of on an impulse, when I was in Rite Aid today, I picked up some 1000 I.U. nature made soft gels. And I had a lot of other options to choose from.

joshetc · 12-13-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XTrainer

Really? Sort of on an impulse, when I was in Rite Aid today, I picked up some 1000 I.U. nature made soft gels. And I had a lot of other options to choose from.

Do they have calcium in them too? If not, you mind giving me the UPC# so I can try to see if I can order them to my store?

GhostDog · 12-13-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XTrainer

Really? Sort of on an impulse, when I was in Rite Aid today, I picked up some 1000 I.U. nature made soft gels. And I had a lot of other options to choose from.

I haven't been able to find any at Costco, or Shoppers Drug Mart up here in Toronto. I still have to check some of the local health food stores that I frequent.

If any knows of any stores in Toronto that carry the gel caps, let me know.

**XTrainer** · 12-13-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshetc

Do they have calcium in them too? If not, you mind giving me the UPC# so I can try to see if I can order them to my store?

The ones I bought do not. Coincidentally, however, I happen to have some Nature Made Cal+D softgels (that are new in packaging/I don't take calcium). I got them for free:

Nature Made Vitamins, Nutritional Information, Health and Wellness Topics and Herbal Supplements

Actually, if you look, you can also get FREE D soft gels at this website. I took advantage of their free supplements offer awhile back when I was going to start taking calcium+D...by the time they arrived at my door a few days later, I had changed my mind lol.