test for vitamin D level

haley
0 Recommendations

Someone had commented she didn't know how much her level of Vitamin D3 was in her blood? The test to get done to follow Vit. D along is called "25-hydroxy"...and it's pretty quick and easy to get done. If you're low in D, it can sometimes take mega-doses of vit. D3 to get your level up to the ideal range of 50-70. I'm on 2,000 IU's a day and probably need to take more. My husband has been taking 10,000 IU for a couple of years (monitored and prescribed by a world-reknown doc, I might add). We both get the 25-hyrdroxy test regularly...usually around every 3 months. My husband's level is just now approaching 50! So, you see it can take awhile, but the 25-hyroxy test will keep you safe as you get your vit. D level up. This is VERY important for you in order to be able to utilize the calcium you comsume.

Haley

18 replies

BorisMom

I recently was told that potassium is a key supplement that should be taken with calcium and D3 which allows your body to use these supplements. Has anyone heard or read this? I was told that 1,000 mg. twice a day is suggested to enhance the useage of calcium and D3.

Joyce

catwoman

Hi Joyce-
There was a rather extensive discussion of potassium on another site I was part of. This is what I digested from it. Hope it isn't too lenthy for you. I also have a chart of calcium rich foods with the amounts they provide if you'd like that. -Nancy

Potassium
Secret to Strong Bones

Practically everyone knows how important calcium is to
bone health, but there's another mineral that is
equally critical, albeit in lesser amounts --
potassium. In fact, I've heard about a number of
research studies recently focused on the connection
between potassium and bone health, so word is getting
out. The most recent study, from the University of
Basel, Switzerland, showed that a group of
postmenopausal women with low bone density had, on
average, a 1% increase in density after a year of
taking a particular potassium supplement.

BALANCING THE EQUATION

For details of what potassium contributes to bone
health, I called Susan E. Brown, PhD, director of the
Osteoporosis Education Project in Syracuse, New York
(http://www.betterbones.com/ and
http://www.susanbrownphd.com). She told me that
"without question potassium is one of the most
important bone nutrients." Exactly how potassium
relates to bone health turned out to be fairly
complicated.

Potassium is important in helping the body achieve a
proper pH balance. In fact, when out of balance, you
can die -- really fast -- so our bodies make this
process a high priority. How does it work? As part of
its normal metabolic processing, the body creates
acids, which exit our systems via the lungs and
kidneys. To buffer the harshness of these acids and
protect delicate kidney tissue, the body neutralizes
them with diet-derived alkali (base) compounds derived
from fruits and vegetables. These are stored in our
blood, other fluids, in muscle tissue and above all in
bones. Our skeleton, in fact, is our largest
storehouse of alkali mineral reserves. Just in case we
run short, we keep extra alkali stores in our bones.

The severe lack of fruits and vegetables in the modern
American diet creates an acidic environment in many.
To neutralize excess acid, we need alkali compounds,
which the body obtains first from easily available
blood reserves, then from muscles, leading to muscle
loss, and then by reaching into the bones. When and if
that happens, we're left with bone breakdown and
mineral loss -- in other words, weakened bones.

NATURAL POTASSIUM CITRATE SOURCES

Now, back to potassium. The particular form of
potassium that serves to buffer the acids is potassium
citrate, generally found in fruits, vegetables and
legumes. People who regularly consume enough potassium
citrate through a diet rich in those foods assure
their body sufficient alkaline compounds to avoid any
need to call on emergency supplies for homeostasis. As
Dr. Brown notes, "If you eat enough
potassium-containing foods, which should not be a
problem, you have the proper pH balance." However,
people today load their diet with meat, poultry, dairy
and grains, which are metabolized as acids, creating a
greater need for offsetting alkalids. If the body
can't find these in foods, it turns to body tissue,
including bones.

Though the US "Adequate Intake" (AI) potassium
recommendation for adults is 4,700 mg per day, average
consumption by adults in this country is around 2,200
mg for women and 3,200 mg for men.

Our lack of dietary potassium consumption looks to be
a health crisis in the making, putting our bodies at
risk for "consuming themselves," says Dr. Brown. In
addition, potassium serves many other essential
functions in the body. It contributes to nerve impulse
transmission, muscle contraction and heart function,
and also helps protect against stroke, kidney stones
and high blood pressure.

GETTING IT RIGHT

Getting the right amount is trickier, however, than
just swallowing a potassium citrate supplement each
day. Though we know too little potassium is a problem,
too much can also be an issue. For example, a heart
problem can arise if the kidney is weak and the
potassium load is too great for the weakened kidneys
to eliminate excesses. In fact, by law potassium
supplements do not exceed 99 mg units to discourage
people from taking too much. Because excess potassium
can accumulate in the blood in the face of kidney
weakness, potassium supplements should only be taken
with care under proper supervision.

The 1% increase in bone density achieved by the women
in the Swiss study is considered significant,
especially because it affected the hips and spine --
two areas especially vulnerable to fracture. Though
the study used potassium citrate supplements, it is
possible, as Dr. Brown points out, to get what you
need from dietary sources. You can achieve the AI of
4,700 mg per day by including 13 one-half cup servings
of fruits, vegetables and legumes in your daily food
intake. Admittedly, 13 sounds like a lot, but a large
salad, for example, is four to six servings, a large
apple is two. Those, plus a banana (440 mg, about
one-and-a-half fruit servings) for an afternoon snack,
and a baked potato at dinner along with a green
vegetable and other vegetables, bring you easily to
the goal of 4,700 mg.

Once again, I want to emphasize that if you decide to
take potassium citrate supplements anyway, it is
important to do so under the direction of a
health-care professional who is well-versed in
potassium needs and balance, such as a naturopathic
physician or nutritionist. Potassium levels can be
monitored by a simple blood test to be sure that you
are getting neither too little, nor too much.

Source(s):

Susan E. Brown, PhD, director of the Osteoporosis
Education Project, Syracuse, New York.
http://www.susanbrownphd.com/page/844269

www.betterbones.com

the very best source for naturally occurring potassium citrate is lemon juice! Yummy lemonade ! They recommend 4 ounces of lemon juice in 2 litres of water, with as little sweetner as you can handle!

I've been wondering about the alkaline/acid connection to osteoporosis and have done some research. Actually, a newly (legitimate) study to be published (but the results dramatic enough that pre-publication data is out) talks about a study with post-meopausal women and taking potassium citrate (NOT pot. chloride) and it was great for bone-building or preservation...and the researchers figure it's because pot. citrate is alkaline and helped negate some of the negatives associated with our western "acid" diet.

haley

Hi, I'm in a hurry this a.m. but wanted to give a quick comment. Calcium and vitamin D3 are critical for bone development. And, yes, that study on potassium CITRATE out of Switzerland is a biggie , so I've embedded my diet with potassium citrate pills (after carefully reviewing that study and computing, carefully, how much pot. citrate to take...because potassium can be deadly--too much or too little, for your heart). Yes, a diet which is more alkaline is critical for bones too...which is one of the reasons the Swiss study is assuming the citrate form of potassium helped bones...rather than the potassium chloride form. I think someone had said they were taking 1,000 of potassium (which kind?) twice a day. Wow, that sounds like alot....in fact, maybe too much? Be very careful, read that study and compute carefully. And, no, potassium citrate doesn't have to be taken WITH the calcium and vit. D3 I don't believe.

Haley (gotta run...can't spellcheck)

BorisMom

Catwoman, thanks for the info. I will read it over carefully and go from there. I appreciate your help and taking the time to send me this infor.

Joyce

catwoman

You are very welcome, Joyce. I just realized there was an error in what I wrote. I meant that I have a chart of Potassium rich foods and the amounts they contain- not calcium, as I inadvertantly wrote. You can work on addding potassium with diet, not just with supplements. -Nancy

haley

Nancy, Yes, thank you for telling everyone about that Swiss study because I think the realization of the importance of potassium CITRATE is going to be recognized in the osteoporosis field. The study did use that prescription of pot. citrate, and it's more than you can feasibly get in your daily diet. So, I think we have to add a supplement daily to get in the amount as the study used with the women. But, you're right in that we should all embed more potassium in our diets. I do drink V-8 juice as a vegetable serving BUT it has potassium CHLORIDE in it...and we know from the study that kind actually appears to compromise bone. But, I think lots of several kinds of veggies (fresh or frozen especially) will give potassium along with some supplementation. What do you think? Haley

BorisMom

Nancy,

Yes, if I can get the potassium rich food list that would be great. I know some already but would be nice to have a more complete list.

Have a good weekend.

Joyce

catwoman

Here it is-

Food Sources of Potassium ranked by milligrams of potassium per standard amount, also showing calories in the standard amount. (The AI for adults is 4,700 mg/day potassium.)
Food, Standard Amount Potassium (mg) Calories
Sweetpotato, baked, 1 potato (146 g) 694 131
Tomato paste, 1/4 cup 664 54
Beet greens, cooked, 1/2 cup 655 19
Potato, baked, flesh, 1 potato (156 g) 610 145
White beans, canned, 1/2 cup 595 153
Yogurt, plain, non-fat, 8-oz container 579 127
Tomato puree, 1/2 cup 549 48
Clams, canned, 3 oz 534 126
Yogurt, plain, low-fat, 8-oz container 531 143
Prune juice, 3/4 cup 530 136
Carrot juice, 3/4 cup 517 71
Blackstrap molasses, 1 Tbsp 498 47
Halibut, cooked, 3 oz 490 119
Soybeans, green, cooked, 1/2 cup 485 127
Tuna, yellowfin, cooked, 3 oz 484 118
Lima beans, cooked, 1/2 cup 484 104
Winter squash, cooked, 1/2 cup 448 40
Soybeans, mature, cooked, 1/2 cup 443 149
Rockfish, Pacific, cooked, 3 oz 442 103
Cod, Pacific, cooked, 3 oz 439 89
Bananas, 1 medium 422 105
Spinach, cooked, 1/2 cup 419 21
Tomato juice, 3/4 cup 417 31
Tomato sauce, 1/2 cup 405 39
Peaches, dried, uncooked, 1/4 cup 398 96
Prunes, stewed, 1/2 cup 398 133
Milk, non-fat, 1 cup 382 83
Pork chop, center loin, cooked, 3 oz 382 197
Apricots, dried, uncooked, 1/4 cup 378 78
Rainbow trout, farmed, cooked, 3 oz 375 144
Pork loin, center rib (roasts), lean, roasted, 3 oz 371 190
Buttermilk, cultured, low-fat, 1 cup 370 98
Cantaloupe, 1/4 medium 368 47
1%-2% milk, 1 cup 366 102-122
Honeydew melon, 1/8 medium 365 58
Lentils, cooked, 1/2 cup 365 115
Plantains, cooked, 1/2 cup slices 358 90
Kidney beans, cooked, 1/2 cup 358 112
Orange juice, 3/4 cup 355 85
Split peas, cooked, 1/2 cup 355 116
Yogurt, plain, whole milk, 8 oz container 352 138
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/appendix B.htm

BorisMom

Thank you for the list, I went shopping today and caught some of the items on the list. I appreciate you taking the time to send it to me.

Take care of yourself,

Joyce

zeta

Hi haley,

Thanks for giving everyone heads up on monitoring their D3 level. However, my lab and doc tell me that the upper safe limit is 57 ng/ml not 70, so I wanted others to have this information to consider. The range for D3 at my lab is 20 ng/ml-57ng/ml. I think it is important to mention in our messages to others things like ng/ml, otherwise someone might get confused. WHY does your husband's doc recommend such a high Vit D level, ie, on what basis. Does he or do you have any studies to site ? My D3 is 47 and I was taking 800 units of D3 but am now cutting back to 400 and will continue to monitor it. If it drops I'll resume the larger dose. Some medical conditions might warrant a Vit D3 level in excess of 57 ng/ml blood test, but are you certain that osteoporosis and osteopenia do? I'm the sort of person who likes hard evidence for things like this.

zeta

konyw1

I just joined this site, and I am already amazed, and happy to learn so much, from people in the same "boat" as I am. I had been didagnosed with Ostopenia, (??) long ago. About 5 years?
Percocets, morphine, etc. etc. was my treatment. Then, just last year I was given the diagnosis of Osteoporosis. Continue on pain killers, or opiods. Nothing has worked so far. My dier hasnot been a healthy one. It has been about 6 weeks, I started having difficulty breathing in. terribly painful. I thought it was my heart. Finally I had to go to the Hosptal this past Thursday. My heart,
believed was my problem, is in great cndition. My doctor, at the e.r. said, it is my arthritis, and I might add, also my osteoporosis,right? Well, I now got kind of scared, the pain can be so dreadful. I need to know all these new kinds of health aids, to make my condition a better one, or not continue growing, as I think is advancing. Can the walls of the bones, surrounded by
the heart, create this kind of pain? can it be a killer? what can be a killer, if nothing is done?
My doctors have never come up with any kind of help, other than opiods. Can somebody help me? I am kind of worried. I also have GRD, and Reflux, and was thought these two health issues, could have been the pain in my heart. Have a lovely evening,kony1

catwoman

HI-
I'm sorry you are having such a hard time and are in such a lot of pain. I don't know a lot about pain associated with osteo-I do have some low- back pain, but think it comes from muscle tension rather than bone problems. Have you tried other approaches to pain management like massage, acupuncture, hypnosis? I know reflux and GRD can cause pain that can be mistaken for heart attack symptoms, so it is possible that was what was going on for you and that it was not in any way connected with osteo. If you are on medication for reflux and GRD, those medications can also increase your risk of osteo. If all your doctors have done is prescribe painkillers for you, you might want to re-evaluate your doctors! You say your diet has not been healthy- so I'd try to addresss that. Have they talked to you about what should be in your diet? exercise to promote bone-building? balance exercise to help prevent falls? What about supplements- like calcium, vitamin D, strontium? acidity levels in your body? osteoporosis treatments like fosamax, actonel, boniva, reclast, forteo? Has your vitamin D level been checked and is it normal? How bad are your DEXA scores? This might have some bearing on which treatments or approaches you choose to follow. But take heart- yes, there is more you can try than pain killers.
Some books that have been recommended to me are the following: I'd suggest you read as much as you can and gather as much information as you can absorb. That way you will be beetter able to talk with and question your doctor about other possible approaches. Good luck!! -Nancy

*Better Bones, Better Body : Beyond Estrogen and Calcium by Susan E. Brown, Susan E. Brown PhD, and Russell Jaffe MD


*Strong Women, Strong Bones: Everything you Need to Know to Prevent, Treat, and Beat Osteoporosis by Miriam E. Nelson and Sarah Wernick

*Mayo Clinic on Osteoporosis: Keeping Bones Healthy and Strong and Reducing the Risk of Fractures by Stephen, M.D. Hodges

*Osteoporosis For Dummies (For Dummies (Health & Fitness)) by Carolyn Riester O'Connor

*The Osteoporosis Exercise Book : Building Better Bones by David Gelbart


*The Book of Exercise & Yoga for Those with Osteoporosis: Using Movement & Meditation for Better Bones, Balance, and Posture by Lori Newell

*WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS- by Dr. Felicia Cosman.

jerryd3001

There is a recent study on this topic in PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView& TermToSearch=17935548&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed. Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum.
Or you can look it up by pasting 17935548 in the query block at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez.

This author uses nmol/l as his reference and appears to be happy with around 50-60 nmol/l as a target for individuals. Here is a comment from the actual article on page 1898: "Published reports indicate that vitamin D toxicity does not occur until serum vitamin D concentrations extend above 500 nmol/l." That is not a typo, it is 500 nmol/l before toxicity develops. This converts to 200 ng/ml before toxicity develops.

To convert ng/ml to nmol/l ( or vice versa) do the following: 1 ng/mL = 2.5 nmol/L. So nmol/l / 2.5 = ng/ml or ng/ml X 2.5 = nmol/l.

The bottom line from the study cited above is that people taking one set dose of vitamin D, e.g., 1,000 I.U./day, have differing serum vitamin D levels. Thus, you need to titrate the dose of vitamin D to obtain an adequate serum level. One dose does not fit all. And, I would add that it is important to read you lab results to know if ng/ml or nmol/l is the test standard. You have to have the correct standard to understand the results.

imfishing

Hi Joyce,
I'm not sure which writing is Susan Brown's and which is yours towards the end. But I am fascinated. I am taking Potassium chloride 20 MEQ ER because I am also on HydroClorThiazide 25 mg for borderline Hypertension. I had no idea that potassium would also be very helpful for treating my Osteoporosis. Now you (or Susan) mention that there might be additional advantage by taking Potassium Citrate instead. You mentioned about new research on this matter and some preview press about it. Can you lead me to that or write more about that issue. Any link?
imfishing/Sue

SequoiaHealth

Hi Zeta:
One of the best sites for current information on vitamin D testing, safe levels and supplementing is http://www.vitamindcouncil.com run by Dr. Cannell, MD. Hope this helps. Woody

rosaflor

I would like to share something that I have learned the hard way: doctors don't usually know much about diet. Find a registered dietitian. If your doctor refers you, insurance may pay, otherwise buy yourself an hour's consultation. A "dietitian" must have a degree and state licensure, while a "nutritionist" can be anything, so go to a registered dietitian. You will get good guidance and specific science-based information that will be helpful every day.

rosaflor

To BorisMom: If you are looking for dietary potassium (another poster has already listed souces) think of chili not as junk food but more like health food because it is absolutely loaded with potassium. Tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, and the thick juice that cooks out of kidney beans, are all rich potassium sources. If you make your own (rather than open a can) you can control the fat and salt, in case that's a concern.

Another good source of potassium is Low-Sodium V-8, to which extra potassium is added (compare label amount with what's in regular V-8). You can sprinkle on some salt if you don't need the Low-Sodium-ness.

One more thing: go to "USDA Nutrient Database" for searchable database, very useful.

Blues

I had my vit. D level checked twice but was told by Medicare that they would not pay for the test in the future. I'll have to check my test but I don't think mine was in the 50-70 range but was in the range the lab (Quest) showed acceptable.

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