Vitamin D

Kimenem

Cathlete
Does anyone take this alone, as in not included in a multi? I read yesterday where it's recommended that women take 800-1000 IU. My multi only has 400. I'm wondering if it's safe to take alone because I know some are questionable.
 
I take Dr Fuhrman's "Osteosun," which is a combo of D, calcium, magnesium and horsetail. I usually don't take it in the summer if I get enough sun exposure, but try to make sure to take it in the winter and/or when I don't get as much sun exposure (15-20 minutes a day).
 
That's right...I forgot about sun exposure. I've read lost of posts about Shaklee vitamins too. Mine has Vitamin A and Beta Carotene in it as well, which I heard you didn't really need in a multi. Now I'm wondering if I should witch to something else.
 
also

you could try those natural spectrum light bulbs from the hardware store. I use those to help with the fall/low sun blues. I don't know if you get that, but the light bulbs are cheap. I tried the vit. d but found it made me (sorry to be gross) puke. I get the vit. d in my fish oil and multi-vit. Dr. Oz suggested vit. d on Oprah and in his books.
 
I bought 1,000 vitamin D 3 to take in the winter months. I already take Calcium and the vitamin D is supposed to help the calcium to absorb (if I remember correctly).
I haven't started taking it yet, because we are still getting sunny warm days and I am getting outside but probably in November I will start to take it daily.

Becky
 
I do take a vitamin D in addition to my calcium pills and multi-vitamin. I take it because it is supposed to help with calcium absorption and because I get to spend very little time in the sun.
 
I live in a tropical climate, with sun practically 365 days a year. Regardless, I take 1,000 IU of vitamin D everyday. A side benefit for me is that it improves my mood.

Sarah
 
How has D helped in low sun months??

I had a similar question regarding Vitamin D. I live in Michigan and notice that it has been increasingly more difficult for me to wake up to do my workouts. I thought a Vitamin D supplement could help. Just went to GNC and go 1000 IU. I plan to take this in addition to my multi for women, flaxseed, vitamin C w/E and Super B. I read an article saying that fda recommends 400 IU/day but most Dr's recommend up to 2000/day when lack of exposure to the sun. Can anyone share their experience as to how it helped with energy in the winter/low sun months? Thanks in advance!!
 
That's right...I forgot about sun exposure. I've read lost of posts about Shaklee vitamins too. Mine has Vitamin A and Beta Carotene in it as well, which I heard you didn't really need in a multi. Now I'm wondering if I should witch to something else.

There are several authorities, including Dr. Fuhrman, and some Dr. on QVC , who advise not taking isolated beta carotene or vitamin A, as some studies suggest they have harmful effects, like increasing risks of some cancers (a study on the effects of beta carotene and lung cancer was halted when it turned out that the subjects' risk of cancer increased during the study).

Beta carotene (which converts to vitamin A as needed) can be easily found in foods, especially orange foods like yams, etc.
 
Natural is better, IMHO

http://www.endocrinemetabolic.com/resources/collateral/vitamind.htm

My doc has me taking a ton of D. It seems like a great supplement; I've had too many changes over the past few years to say D was the reason. ;) Everyone medical I've spoken to who has read about D (who happen to all be at Endocrine Metabolic!) says the sun doesn't give you at all what you need or can benefit from.

Actually, the sun is a great way of getting vitamin D. However, with people using sunscreen on their exposed skin, the body cannot get the rays needed to make vitamin D. My physician says it is healthier to go outside without sunscreen for up to 30 minutes a day than just popping pills.
 
This weeks chapter in my Nutrition class is Vitamins. I still have to read the whole chapter, but here is what the power point from the class says about Vitamin D.

10 minutes of sun exposure a week can give you your needs through the formation of provitamin D.

Functions of Vitamin D:
Metabolism regulation

The maintenance of a healthy brain, pancreas, and pituitary gland relies on an adequate supply of vitamin D.
Parathyroid gland produces parathyroid hormone (helps with blood calcium balance). The parathyroid hormone is reliant upon adequate vitamin D.

Calcium balance in the body

Vitamin D is needed for the proper absorption of calcium and deposition of calcium and phosphorus on bones.

Sources:

THE SUN
Fish are a great source
Herring
Salmon
Sardines
Tuna
Fortified milk
Fortified cereal


Vitamin D needs:
19-50 year old males and females need 5 µg per day

51-70 year old males and females need more as they age…. 10+ µg per day

71+ year old males and females need 15 µg per day

Upper tolerance:
For all adults, it is 50 µg per day

Interesting fact:
Breastfed babies need to get vitamin D supplements if they do not go outside and get any sun exposure
Breast milk is very low in vitamin D

Website with DRVs:
http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/special/foodlabel/dvs.html
 
OK so I'm still a little fuzzy about the Vit A and Beta Carotene thing. If my liquid multi had them, should I switch? Also I looked at the Shaklee site and have NO idea which one to get if I do switch. Since I don't take them alone, is that better?

Also, where is a good place to get it? Most of the ones I'm finding also have magnesium in them.
 
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I do!

I take it as a supplement every day. Although I live in the South, I still prefer to get additional Vitamin D.

I get them from www.lef.org. You can also find more info on supplements there.
 
OK so I'm still a little fuzzy about the Vit A and Beta Carotene thing. If my liquid multi had them, should I switch? Also I looked at the Shaklee site and have NO idea which one to get if I do switch. Since I don't take them alone, is that better?

According to what I've read, no. "isolated" vitamin A and Beta carotene just mean the forms that are used in most supplements (and not from whole foods). Even mixed with other vitamins, they are still "isolated."

There are some supplements that contain beta carotene from natural sources (like spirulina, I think). They would not be "isolated," because they come with whatever other natural elements they are meant to be with.

Most supplements still contain vitamin A and/or beta carotene, but as I said, some experts (those up on the most recent research) advise against taking them in supplement form. (I take Dr. Fuhrman's "Gentle Care," which doesn't contain them. Unfortunately, it's hard to avoid them altogether, as vitamin A is often added to non-dairy milks and some other foods).
 
I cannot find any multi's without A and Betacarotene!!! I looked at Dr. Furhman's but again, so many choices.
 

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