Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Vitamin D Drops


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It seems almost every week I read a new article about the importance of vitamin D in protecting against autoimmune disease and preventing its progression for those who have it.  A straight forward discussion of some these findings can be found here.

I've heard from many of my fellow bloggers and readers that when they were diagnosed with autoimmune disease, their vitamin D levels were low.  The same was true for me.   One of my doctors suggested a couple months ago that I try to move from taking 50,000 IU of D once a week to supplementation of 2,000 IU daily.  A huge difference of 36,000 IU weekly.  I figured this would be an experiment--a vitamin D challenge of sorts to see if my levels could stay within normal range.

Last week's doctor's appointment was the moment of truth.  And it turns out that my D levels have plummeted  since changing my dosage.  As a result, I'm back up to 50,000 IU weekly, at least for the next 12 weeks.

What is particularly interesting is that over the last month, I noticed my energy levels had dropped and my brain fog was more apparent.  I was definitely spending more time resting trying to fight that intense autoimmune fatigue.  I'm wondering if there's a relationship here -- did lower vitamin D lead to more Sjogren's symptoms for me?  It also left me thinking whether there is something about autoimmune disease that makes it difficult to metabolize or absorb Vitamin D, leading to the need for higher supplementation. But this is of course a question for the research physicians and scientists out there.

It is true that I don't spend much time in the sun and when I do, I always wear sunblock to prevent evil flares.  However, I was still taking more than twice the Institute of Medicine's current daily recommended dosage as shown below in this chart from the National Institutes of Health Vitamin D fact sheet

Table 2: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Vitamin D 
Age
Male
Female
Pregnancy
Lactation
0–12 months*
400 IU
(10 mcg)
400 IU
(10 mcg)


1–13 years
600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg)


14–18 years

600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg
19–50 years
600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg)
51–70 years
600 IU
(15 mcg)
600 IU
(15 mcg)


>70 years
800 IU
(20 mcg)
800 IU
(20 mcg)



I now know that regular supplementation even with a conscious effort to eat foods high in D like fatty fish just doesn't cut it for me.  I'll have to see what my doctor suggests in three months to try and keep these levels normal. 

Have you noticed a relationship between your autoimmune symptoms and vitamin D levels?  

5 comments:

  1. I have most definitely note a difference in myself in regards to my vit D intake. In the summer I can usually get away with 50,000 IU once a week. In the winter I have to do 50,000 IU twice a week to keep up my energy levels.

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    1. It seems that many of really have to watch our D! I had never heard of taking 50,000 IU twice a week so it is good to know this is another option if my levels don't improve.

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  2. I have to take 5,000 units a day or I have more autoimmune issues as my D levels plummet.

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  3. I was definitely having more problems autoimmune-wise on the lower dose too. I guess it makes since D is involved in immune regulation. Do you take the 5,000 IU as a prescription or through over the counter supplements? Thanks for writing!

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  4. I was just recently diagnosed and before I got my diagnoses my doctor said that my vitamin d levels were half what they should be. My thyroid was also low and my liver values were elevated so it's interested to see that the findings from my 1st blood work (before the blood work that determined I had Sjogren's) is so similar to others with SS.

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