vitamin D- updated with a question

lisa42
lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
UPDATE: I added a post on the bottom here stating that I just got my vitamin D level test back & it's very low. For any of you taking vitamin D supplements, do you know about certain types, brands, etc. that are better at absorbing than others? Please read below & let me know- thanks in advance!

Lisa
-------------------------------------------------

I just clicked onto Cheryl's link from another thread that she called "interesting video clip". It was an interview with a professor from UCSD/Moores Cancer Center on a newly published study on the importantce of vitamin D and how 75% of breast cancer and colorectal cancer deaths can be stopped with boosting vitamin D levels(I think that's what it said- my chemo brain may already be getting it mixed up). I got excited because I live in north San Diego- UCSD/Moores is where I went for my liver surgery and to consult with an oncologist (and where I'd like to go all the time to the oncologist, but my insurance won't let me).

**CHERYL- it was weird- I read your post, clicked on the link you put in, watched the video clip, then tried to go back to your post and reply, but then it just disappeared from my screen. I then proceeded to go back into the discussion board and check threads, but couldn't find it again- which thread again did you post it under? I'm sure I'm just being dopey in not being able to find it again, but maybe it's important enough to give it its own thread, anyway.
*Could I possibly bother you to go to the trouble of posting the link to that video clip on this thread now so more people might see it? Thanks so much in advance if you're able to do it!
**I'm going in later today anyhow to get my usual bloodwork done, so I just called my oncologist & he's faxing over an order to add on a vitamin D test to the rest of my labwork.

Take care, Everyone!
Lisa

Comments

  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #2
    found the website
    Hi again Everyone,

    Although I still didn't find the thread where Cheryl posted the link I referred to above, I googled what I thought it was called and found the website address. This is where you can find the video of the interview with Dr. Cedric G (started w/ a G, just forgot the last name) from UCSD/Moores Cancer Center in San Diego. Anyhow, it really is interesting & I urge you all to check it out. I haven't figured out how to put the link in this (or any) thread to make it easier so you all just can click on it- maybe Cheryl will still check in and do that for us. If not or in the meantime, do look up the following website and check out the video clip! www.uctv.tv/series/?seriesnumber=520-20k

    Lisa
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    #3
    lisa42 said:

    found the website
    Hi again Everyone,

    Although I still didn't find the thread where Cheryl posted the link I referred to above, I googled what I thought it was called and found the website address. This is where you can find the video of the interview with Dr. Cedric G (started w/ a G, just forgot the last name) from UCSD/Moores Cancer Center in San Diego. Anyhow, it really is interesting & I urge you all to check it out. I haven't figured out how to put the link in this (or any) thread to make it easier so you all just can click on it- maybe Cheryl will still check in and do that for us. If not or in the meantime, do look up the following website and check out the video clip! www.uctv.tv/series/?seriesnumber=520-20k

    Lisa

    The Vitamin D video
    Hey Lisa,

    I thought it was an interesting video clip too... and I know there is a lot of study being done up here on Vitamin D and cancer prevention, as well as it helping in reducing any recurrences. The other topic I had replied to was in response to a post that was knocking ACS and saying that the Canadian Cancer Society had started a national program about Vitamin D as a prevention measure. I have not seen that program started here in Canada so I was just pointing out that any articles bashing one charity over another, you have to take the information with a grain of salt.

    BUT... I think there is something to the whole Vitamin D topic. I know since it was headline news up here last Fall, I have been taking 2000 units of Vitamin D/day. They say that you can't really get too much... your body will eliminate (like Vitamin C) any excess that you don't need.

    Good for you to get your Vitamin D tested. That was a standard blood test when I'd get the whole blood workup done and I was never told my Vitamin D was down... but hey, I'm all for pumping it up if it's going to help :)

    Here's the video clip for those that didn't catch it in the other topic:


    Vitamin D video clip

    Cheryl
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #4
    thanks Cheryl
    Thanks, Cheryl! I knew you'd come through!

    I just got back from the lab where they added a vitamin D test to my "usuals". I actually also had another lab order from my primary care Dr. to test for rheumatoid arthritis again, gout, and some kind marker for lupus as well. Since I had a "normal" test for the arthritis before, I'd be surprised if it came back with anything. Gout could be a possibility because my left big toe has been bothering me since even before I knew I had cancer. I should have my results Mon or Tuesday.

    Take care-
    Lisa
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #5
    lisa42 said:

    thanks Cheryl
    Thanks, Cheryl! I knew you'd come through!

    I just got back from the lab where they added a vitamin D test to my "usuals". I actually also had another lab order from my primary care Dr. to test for rheumatoid arthritis again, gout, and some kind marker for lupus as well. Since I had a "normal" test for the arthritis before, I'd be surprised if it came back with anything. Gout could be a possibility because my left big toe has been bothering me since even before I knew I had cancer. I should have my results Mon or Tuesday.

    Take care-
    Lisa

    got vitamin D results- very low
    Hi everyone,

    Well, I got my vitamin D level test back today along w/ the rest of my bloodwork.
    My vitamin D level is only at a 13 and to "be healthy", it should be at at least a 32. Wow- I couldn't believe mine has been so low, especially since I have been taking vitamin D supplements! I guess I haven't been faithful everyday, but most days I've been taking 800 mg- a 400 mg tablet in the a.m. and another in the p.m.
    I'll have to discuss it w/ my doctor, but I don't trust him to know a lot about it because I'm the one who had to ask him to test my vitamin D level.

    Does anyone know of a good way to get the vitamin D to absorb better? Are there any brands or ways of taking it that are better than others? It seems like I remember seeing a Dr. Mercola ad for "spray vitamin D". Anyone know anything about it?

    Lisa
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #6
    lisa42 said:

    got vitamin D results- very low
    Hi everyone,

    Well, I got my vitamin D level test back today along w/ the rest of my bloodwork.
    My vitamin D level is only at a 13 and to "be healthy", it should be at at least a 32. Wow- I couldn't believe mine has been so low, especially since I have been taking vitamin D supplements! I guess I haven't been faithful everyday, but most days I've been taking 800 mg- a 400 mg tablet in the a.m. and another in the p.m.
    I'll have to discuss it w/ my doctor, but I don't trust him to know a lot about it because I'm the one who had to ask him to test my vitamin D level.

    Does anyone know of a good way to get the vitamin D to absorb better? Are there any brands or ways of taking it that are better than others? It seems like I remember seeing a Dr. Mercola ad for "spray vitamin D". Anyone know anything about it?

    Lisa

    Vitamin D
    Lisa,

    Vitamin D is a fat soluable vitamin so you need some fat for it to be absorbed well. I have a high amount of malabsorption so I take a special 'dry' version (water soluable) in high doses. You will probably have the best luck with those capsules that are filled with oil. I don't have a suggestion on brand specifically because those are the ones my body won't absorb. Maybe go to a vitamin store (GNC?) and ask for help.

    Vitamin D is measured in IU's instead of mg's. The recommended daily allowance right now is 400 IU's a day but most doctors are now recommending 2000 IU's daily if you live in a northern climate or don't spend time in the sun without sunscreen.

    Because it is fat soluable, normie's like you CAN get too much but I find it doubtful that you would/could. But, it is possible so be careful. Other fat soluable vitamins are A,E and K.

    HTH,

    Kimby
  • dmdwins
    dmdwins Member Posts: 454 Member
    #7
    kimby said:

    Vitamin D
    Lisa,

    Vitamin D is a fat soluable vitamin so you need some fat for it to be absorbed well. I have a high amount of malabsorption so I take a special 'dry' version (water soluable) in high doses. You will probably have the best luck with those capsules that are filled with oil. I don't have a suggestion on brand specifically because those are the ones my body won't absorb. Maybe go to a vitamin store (GNC?) and ask for help.

    Vitamin D is measured in IU's instead of mg's. The recommended daily allowance right now is 400 IU's a day but most doctors are now recommending 2000 IU's daily if you live in a northern climate or don't spend time in the sun without sunscreen.

    Because it is fat soluable, normie's like you CAN get too much but I find it doubtful that you would/could. But, it is possible so be careful. Other fat soluable vitamins are A,E and K.

    HTH,

    Kimby

    2,000 i.u.
    I take 1,000 i.u 2x a day. That was the doseage recommended from my naturopath nutritionist. There is a warning label on the bottle that states that if you take more than 2,000 i.u. per day that you should have your blood levels monitored.
    I get my supplements through the nutritionist because they are pharmaceutical grade and don't contain coatings,binders,shellacs,dairy wheat,yeast gluten,sugar,preservatives,hydogenated oils etc. etc.
    I don't feel knowlegeable enough yet to purchase them from somewhere else.

    Hope this helps

    Take Care,
    Dawn
  • wanxia58
    wanxia58 Member Posts: 8
    #8
    lisa42 said:

    got vitamin D results- very low
    Hi everyone,

    Well, I got my vitamin D level test back today along w/ the rest of my bloodwork.
    My vitamin D level is only at a 13 and to "be healthy", it should be at at least a 32. Wow- I couldn't believe mine has been so low, especially since I have been taking vitamin D supplements! I guess I haven't been faithful everyday, but most days I've been taking 800 mg- a 400 mg tablet in the a.m. and another in the p.m.
    I'll have to discuss it w/ my doctor, but I don't trust him to know a lot about it because I'm the one who had to ask him to test my vitamin D level.

    Does anyone know of a good way to get the vitamin D to absorb better? Are there any brands or ways of taking it that are better than others? It seems like I remember seeing a Dr. Mercola ad for "spray vitamin D". Anyone know anything about it?

    Lisa

    Bio-D-Mulsion Forte
    This is the name of my Vitamin D, prescribed by my herbalist. It's by BIOTICSs Research Corporation. I once asked my PCP to prescribe it so I can get it from my pharmacy instead of buying it from my herbalist. My doctor said it wasn't covered by my insurance. It's in the liquid form. I take it by drops. I think it should be pretty easy to absorb.
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #9
    wanxia58 said:

    Bio-D-Mulsion Forte
    This is the name of my Vitamin D, prescribed by my herbalist. It's by BIOTICSs Research Corporation. I once asked my PCP to prescribe it so I can get it from my pharmacy instead of buying it from my herbalist. My doctor said it wasn't covered by my insurance. It's in the liquid form. I take it by drops. I think it should be pretty easy to absorb.

    spray kind
    Hi,

    Thanks everyone for the input and advice. I ended up doing a lot of online research on vitamin D3 and I ordered the spray form of it (which you spray under the tongue) from Dr. Mercola's website. I will start using it as soon as I get it, which should just be a few days. Interestingly, I my sister in law just told me that she has heard a vitamin D deficiency is also linked to bone and joint pain. Well, I'm wondering now (with all my bone and joint pain recently) if upping my vitamin D might end up helping with that too- at least somewhat.
  • polarprincess
    polarprincess Member Posts: 202
    #10
    d
    i had my vitamin d levels checked last week and they came back at 11. (normal is 17 or higher) i could not get my onc to test them because she only tests them for breast cancer. My family practice doc was willing to and sure enough i was right about them being low.I live in a very cold northern climate and have never drank milk either. My niece also has low levels at 13, and has chronic pain so that is why her doctor tested her.. now my siblings are going in to get checked... both my niece and i were put on 50,000 iu's of vit d 1 x weekly for 6 months.. and come back in 2 months to see if they are improved. If your levels are significantly low..the 2,000 a day probably will not do the trick. There are alot of good articles out there too about how low levels also contribute to depression, immune system dysfunction, type 1 diabetes which my niece has and other automimmune disorders like MS. pretty scary stuff
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #11
    polarprincess said:

    d
    i had my vitamin d levels checked last week and they came back at 11. (normal is 17 or higher) i could not get my onc to test them because she only tests them for breast cancer. My family practice doc was willing to and sure enough i was right about them being low.I live in a very cold northern climate and have never drank milk either. My niece also has low levels at 13, and has chronic pain so that is why her doctor tested her.. now my siblings are going in to get checked... both my niece and i were put on 50,000 iu's of vit d 1 x weekly for 6 months.. and come back in 2 months to see if they are improved. If your levels are significantly low..the 2,000 a day probably will not do the trick. There are alot of good articles out there too about how low levels also contribute to depression, immune system dysfunction, type 1 diabetes which my niece has and other automimmune disorders like MS. pretty scary stuff

    upped numbers for "normal" vitamin D levels
    Hi Everyone,

    Polarprincess- I'm surprised to hear your oncologist wouldn't test your vit D levels because "she only tests them for breast cancer". You should print and show her the info now out from UCSD/Moores Cancer Center on how it affects breast AND colorectal cancer. The study info was recommending that ALL people get their vitamin D levels tested to determine if they have a deficiency or not to PREVENT breast and/or colorectal cancer (and to help those who already have those cancers). Also- different labs differ on what's a normal vitamin D level. You said normal is 17. *It's important to note that recently the recommended "normal" levels of vitamin D have been changed to much higher. The LabCorp lab where I had my blood drawn shows the normal range as between 32-100, which is a far cry different from 17 being considered as normal. With us being quite low (you 11 and mine was 13) we have a lot of vitamin D to start building up. Here, I live in sunny southern Calif and do spend time in the sun each day. I also have already been taking vitamin D supplements and still have a level of 13. I couldn't believe it! I've also recently heard that people with colon "issues" (Chron's IBS, etc.) do not absorp vitamin D very well. I imagine that could be a lot of us! I just ordered some "spray vitamin D" from Dr. Mercola, which is supposedly better at absorping. We'll see how that goes once I get it and start using it!
    I'm going to continue to get my vitamin D level checked every month, along with all the other regular bloodwork I do related to the cancer.

Discussion Boards