I keep things simple on the supplement front but am pretty vigilant about taking my daily multivitamin (high-potency) and plus selenium. Over the summer, I also took a vitamin D supplement but haven't kept it up much. I just had some bloodwork done and my family doctor now also tests for Vitamin D deficiency and sure enough, I am deficient!
I think the DRA falls somewhere around 200 which is kinda laughable. I was taking 400 to play it safe. My family doctor himself takes 1000/day! I will up mine to 1000-2000. Apparently, it takes a long time to get the levels back to normal.
You might want to ask your oncologists about this and see if you can get tested, and what they recommend. Here is in interesting article about this latest research:
http://www.womentowomen.com/healthynutrition/vitamind.aspx
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
Vitamin D
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Taxol Menopause Falls Osteoporosis Depression Skin cancer
20 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By lifeisgrand
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 5:43 pm
- Report post
You're not alone. Most americans are deficient in vitamin D. We've been so afraid of skin cancer that we smear the sunscreen on every time we go outdoors and this has attributed to lower levels of vitamin D that we would normally get from exposure to the sun. I have never had mine tested but I do take 1,000 a day along with my calcium. Losing our ovaries makes the chance of osteoporosis even higher so it is essential for us. Low vitamin D has also been linked to increased depression.
- By ohmama123
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm
- Report post
Thank you for reminding me that I also wanted to ask for this blood test - my onc keeps telling me that we can get enough vitamin D from food and 20 minutes of sunlight but it just doesn't seem like enough when vitamin D has been shown to help in so many cancer studies. Thanks!
- By annebert
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 7:19 am
- Report post
When my blood test showed a D deficiency, my doctor prescribed a once a week pill of 50,000 units. This was after I had been taking 2,000 per day for months. This suggests that 1-2,000 per day may not be high enough.
- By FavoriteAunt
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 7:47 am
- Report post
It's very important to take the Vitamin D supplements because it's hard for women to get enough from the foods we eat, in the quantity we need. I've been taking 2 calcium & D pills per day for years on the advice of my doctors and still try to consume enough in foods. Osteoporosis is a big factor when you go into menopause, so it should not be taken lightly.
- By MAG
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 7:50 am
- Report post
Wow - my onc told me not to take more than 400 per day. I have to question him again on this after reading all the posts.
Mar
- By Milashka
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 9:07 am
- Report post
The dilemma is sun exposure without sunscreen. Sunscreen blocks vitamin D. So the dermatologists don't like to hear that at all. But I think you only need 10-15 minutes (arms and/or legs) sun exposure a day to get your vitamin D.
That said, I spend a lot of time in the sun in the summer especially, I swim outdoors, I take photos, I am out with the dog, still have deficiency. Of course, now with shorter days, and lots and lots of rain this fall, and working in an office, I don't ever see the sun, so I will ask my oncologist if those high dose shots would be beneficial. I will let you know what he thinks.
- By lifeisgrand
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 2:18 pm
- Report post
So that reminds me when I see my gyn next month to ask for the bone density test and vit D along with my mammogram...
- By Plonanon
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 3:03 pm
- Report post
You should not be exceeding 1000 IUs a day without consulting with your doctor. I was taking 1000, and then an endocrinologist I see for the bone loss I've suffered since my oophorectomy told me to take 2000. She also had me do some test (calcium in urine?) and she told me to go down to 1500 because my test result was borderline high.
But it is supposed to have anti-cancer effects, so that is good.
- By Plonanon
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 3:04 pm
- Report post
One more thing. It is my impression that many, if not most people have low levels, even if they live in a sunny climate. You can get your vitamin levels checked.
- By Shearaw
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 3:18 pm
- Report post
I'm a D-taker, too. I had my Vitamin D checked this summer, since I'm on chemo and need to avoid the sun. It was fine.
I take Citrical Plus D - 2 tabs twice a day. There are generics, but I have found them to be larger tabs that are difficult for me to swallow. The vitamin D enhances the uptake of calcium, and it is recommended to take the two together. Also, I've read and heard that it is important to take calcium and D at a different time from any other vitamins, as the calcium will interfere with the body's absorption of the vitamins. I have heard that calcium citrate is easier on the digestive tract than calcium carbonate, and more efficient for the body to take up.
- By reddynamo
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 4:24 pm
- Report post
My naturopath, who is affiliated with the alternative medicine department within the oncology department of a major local hospital, besides having her own private practice, has me on 3,000 I.U. vitamin D per day because I tested low for serum vitamin D. 2,000 I.U. is included within the multi-vitamin capsules she has prescribed for me and I take an additional 1,000 I.U. at a different time of the day with a meal. She swears by the higher dosage of vitamin D, especially for helping ward off the neuropathy associated with chemo drugs. For those who lack sufficient vitamin D in their system, who can get their physician to subcribe it, she recommends a different option of obtaining a prescription for 20,000 IU Vitamin D once weekly for 8 weeks.
- By Shearaw
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 5:44 pm
- Report post
reddynamo, that is very interesting about D and neuropathy. I will add that have haven't had neuropathy issues through any of my treatments, either. I get about 1000 IU per day.
- By quacker
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 11:35 pm
- Report post
I take 6,000 units of Vitamin D a day. My serum level is 38 which is in the normal range, but just read that cancer patients should aim for a value between 50 and 70.
- By Mom82
- Posted October 29, 2009 at 9:36 am
- Report post
I would be very careful with such high amounts of Vit. D and this should only be done under a doctor's supervision. Also, the important thing with D is to take D3 - not D2
1000-2000 IU of D3 is ok on a daily basis - and for those who are deficient - shown by doing the test - they can even take more.
400 IU on the other hand is totally insufficient for most people.
- By Milashka
- Posted October 29, 2009 at 11:27 am
- Report post
I find it a little annoying that oncologists don't do any routine checks such as vitamin deficiency. Heck, my oncologist doesn't even run a CBC - I have to go to my family doctor for that. I think he once said that the insurance only covers specific gyn/onc issues related to my cancer, and not anything general that he would run.
Still, you would think keeping an eye on your white blood cells or other deficiency would be beneficial to the cancer patient...
- By Shearaw
- Posted October 29, 2009 at 12:38 pm
- Report post
Mom82, Glad you added the distinction to look for D3. I realized after I pushed "post" that I should have added that in.
- By Shamrock2009
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 8:57 pm
- Report post
Be careful regarding how much Vitamin D you ingest. Vitamin A,D, E and K are all fat soluble vitamins therefore can be stored in your body and can lead to overdose. Unlike Vitamin B and C which are water soluble and released quickly through the kidneys.
- By missdeb
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 9:37 am
- Report post
There is apparently a study out linking an improvement in diabetic neurapathy from taking Vitamin D. Does anyone have any info on Vitamin D and improvement from neurapathy caused by Taxol?
Add to the discussion