Taking Vitamin D? How much? And Turmeric/Curcumin?

JanJan63
JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I've been taking vitamin D every day for a few years now. I take one tablet which contains 400 IU. I was at the cancer retreat last weekend and the nutritionist advised 2000 IU. She did not have any information that was cancer specific and some of her other information was out of date so I looked up what a person should be taking and the Mayo clinic suggests 400 to 1100 for cancer patients but that was in 2010.

How much do you take if you take any? I need to pick up some more and want to make sure I'm getting enough.

Let's talk about turmeric. I've been reading up on it and I'd like to try it. I've read that the ingredient in turmeric that's purported to have anti cancer properties is curcumin. And turmeric has curcumin in it but it's better to take straight curcumin as the precentages of it in turmeric is low and varies. I've also read that to make the curcumin absorb one or two other ingredients are required as the body will only abosrb something like 1% of straight curcumin. Black pepper is supposed to be one and I think it's a fat of some kind that is the other ingredient. I just googled it but can't seem to get a firm answer. 

Does anyone know the real answer? And is there a product that includes all of it in one capsule or something like that? I'm not a good researcher and much of the information I've found is out of date. 

And what are your opinions about taking it? My understanding is that it's a main ingredient in curry. If so, do countries where curry is very popular have lower rates of cancer? It's only supposed to help with colon, breast and skin cancer, apparently.

Thanks for any help!

Jan

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Comments

  • lizard44
    lizard44 Member Posts: 409 Member
    #2
    Turmeric

    Jan, here's a link to  the Memorial Sloan Kettering site article on turmeric.  I've found their info  to be  accurate and up to date. My oncologist did not want me to take turmeric or drink turmeric tea when I was on certain chemo drugs but  said it was OK when I got off them for awhile. I'm not taking it now, but haven't asked  the onc if it might interfere with the drugs I'm currently getting.  I do take Vitamin D- 1000 IU daily. I don't know if the link will work here, you may have to copy and paste: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/turmeric

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    edited November 2016 #3
    Supplements

    I don't take any supplements and I probably never will.  Thats my own personal choice, and we are all entitled to do what our gut tells us is right FOR US. 

    I know you say you don't like to reasearch, but sometimes thats the only way to find out what is best for you. And, if you find that the conflicting studies confuse you, then you need to make the decision wether or not you should follow any one in particular. 

    I wish you luck.  

    Its a good subject for a thread, as I know that I am in the minority when it comes to not taking suppliments. Hopefully you will generate some good responses that will help you and others. 

    TRU

  • lizard44
    lizard44 Member Posts: 409 Member
    #4
    Supplements

    I rarely took supplements until recently, when  a blood test showed I was Vitamin D deficient.  Come to find out, as we age, our skin cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently and that, coupled with any medical problems such as malabsorption syndrome, lactose intolerance, reduced exposure to sunlight, diet modifications,etc. can add to the problem. I've always tried to eat a healthy diet that supplied  the proper amount of vitamins/nutrients my body needs, but since I've had to  eliminate a lot of foods from my diet lately,  I've   also needed a vitamin supplement since blood tests have shown  some  deficiencies.  As Sue said,  you should  research and do what feels right for you.  You might want to check wih your doctor, though,  before taking anything you don't actually need and that won't provide any real benefit.

    I hope you find the answers you  need.

    Grace/lizard44

     

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    edited November 2016 #5
    Vitamin D - everyone is different

    For most people 1,000 - 2,000 iu/day is more than enough.  For me, I can't maintain normal levels of Vitamin D on less that 10,000 iu/day. It turns out, my sisters are vitamin D deficient as well, and one is a farmer, in the sun all day, and the other lives in Hawaii.  Looks like we just don't make it from sunlight.  Integrative Med at Sloan Kettering followed me until I stabilized at 10,000 iu.  They wanted me on 5,000, but in my case that wasn't enough.

    As for turmeric, I just know that you need to take it with fats to absorb it properly.

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,289 Member
    #6
    I had to look at the "silver"

    I had to look at the "silver"  multi-vitamin I take and it lists the vitamin D at 600 iu's, so I've been doing that for the nine years, what I take I do every day, without fail. I don't know about curcumin, but I guess I'll check it out. The onc suggested I might need to take iron now. I guess I'm near the anemia line, and have been since they scoped me and treated for H. pylori in my gut, last year. Apperantly low iron levels can be a sign of recurrance, so they watch that stuff........................................Dave

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #7
    Interesting responses so far,

    Interesting responses so far, thank you. So there's no real amount of vitamin D to take? I take B12 because a blood test showed I was low. I take vitaimin D because I just think it's a good supplement and we live where there's no much sun in the winter and it's not a vitamin that causes trouble if you take more than you need. I've also seen it suggested for those battling cancer and it's cheap so why not try it.

    As for the curcumin, I need more information before I go that route. As I said, I'm just not good at research on line, I'll leave that to the experts.

    I don't mind trying supplements that are cheap and easy to take. When they get expensive or difficult to take or involve yucky tasting stuff, count me out unless it's a for sure assistance to fighting cancer.

    Jan

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #8
    My husband just played a show

    My husband just played a show for me about supplements. In it they said 600 IU was the usual standard for most adults because we do get some from other sources such as sunlight and foods we eat. So I guess I'll stick with the ones I take now. I wasn't told I needed to take vitamin D, I just think it's a good idea.

    My doctor told me to take the B12 because I was lacking it and subsequent blood tests have shown that just taking pills for it does work for me so at least I don't have to have the shots like many people do.

    Now onto the curcumin. After watching the show about supplements and how many have little to none of the ingredients listed or some things that aren't listed and how the industry isn't regulated I'm not sure I want to even try to find one.

    Jan

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #9
      I take 2000 units of vit d

      I take 2000 units of vit d a day. . I am on powerful immuno-suppressants. They make me sun-sensitive so I am getting very little vit D naturally. I was taking 4000 units of curcummin a day as an anti inflammatory. After four months my pain levels were still the same. It was costing me $50.00 A MONTH so I gave it a miss. I take a calcium supplemnt every day because of osteo-penia from high dose steroids. My Nephrologist does not like it. He said that most people who eat fish and dairy get enough. Extra supplements can lead to the formation of stones. I do take 4000 mg of fish oil a day to help osteo and psoriatic arthritis. I think it may help with cholesterol by thinning the blood. Ron.

  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    #10
    Vitamin D etc

    i take 2000IU vitaminD, 1 cucumin, 1. B12 and I eat a cup of yoghurt, the good kind.

  • zx10guy
    zx10guy Member Posts: 273 Member
    edited November 2016 #11
    You really should not be

    You really should not be guessing at this and just ask for a blood test.  Guessing at how much Vitamin D you should take is foolhardy.  I'm taking Vitamin D supplements but only after blood work done by my general practicioner showed I was severely deficient.  The recommended dose of 5000IUs I take daily was based on that test and not annecdotal evidence/discussions on the Internet.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #12
    The experts say that most

    The experts say that most people out there do not get enough vitamin D so that's why I've been taking it for years. And I have always avoided the sun so I'm not getting it that way. I was always sun sensitive and now after treatents I'm much worse.

     

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    edited November 2016 #13
    thingy45 said:

    Vitamin D etc

    i take 2000IU vitaminD, 1 cucumin, 1. B12 and I eat a cup of yoghurt, the good kind.

    So you're already taking

    So you're already taking curcumin? Where do you get it? And how do you know how much to take and if the one you buy is any good?

    Thanks!

    Jan

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    edited November 2016 #14
    ron50 said:

      I take 2000 units of vit d

      I take 2000 units of vit d a day. . I am on powerful immuno-suppressants. They make me sun-sensitive so I am getting very little vit D naturally. I was taking 4000 units of curcummin a day as an anti inflammatory. After four months my pain levels were still the same. It was costing me $50.00 A MONTH so I gave it a miss. I take a calcium supplemnt every day because of osteo-penia from high dose steroids. My Nephrologist does not like it. He said that most people who eat fish and dairy get enough. Extra supplements can lead to the formation of stones. I do take 4000 mg of fish oil a day to help osteo and psoriatic arthritis. I think it may help with cholesterol by thinning the blood. Ron.

    I have a non-cancerous tumour

    I have a non-cancerous tumour on my parathyroid which elevates my calcium level and leeches it from my bones although so far it's not significant. I asked about taking additonal calcium because of it and was told that the body won't put it back into my bones, it'll just possibly cause kidney stones, as you mentioned. I wonder why that is.

    Jan

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #15
    JanJan63 said:

    I have a non-cancerous tumour

    I have a non-cancerous tumour on my parathyroid which elevates my calcium level and leeches it from my bones although so far it's not significant. I asked about taking additonal calcium because of it and was told that the body won't put it back into my bones, it'll just possibly cause kidney stones, as you mentioned. I wonder why that is.

    Jan

    I had that as well

    And I was told to avoid extra calcium until they removed the affected parathyroid gland.  They didn't want me to have kidney stones.  The surgery was out-patient.  "Primary Hyperparathyroidism" was the dx.

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #16
    zx10guy said:

    You really should not be

    You really should not be guessing at this and just ask for a blood test.  Guessing at how much Vitamin D you should take is foolhardy.  I'm taking Vitamin D supplements but only after blood work done by my general practicioner showed I was severely deficient.  The recommended dose of 5000IUs I take daily was based on that test and not annecdotal evidence/discussions on the Internet.

    I've heard that up to 2000 iu/day is safe for almost everyone

    Many say up to 5,000iu is safe.  I take 10,000 iu per my dr, as my Vit. D levels continued to drop on 5,000 iu/day.  The Rx vitamin D did nothing for me.  That's D2; the OTC is generally D3.  I don't absorb D2 or vitamin D in the sunlight (it's a familial deficiency.)

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #17
    abrub said:

    I had that as well

    And I was told to avoid extra calcium until they removed the affected parathyroid gland.  They didn't want me to have kidney stones.  The surgery was out-patient.  "Primary Hyperparathyroidism" was the dx.

    You've had this? I wish I'd

    You've had this? I wish I'd dealt with it years ago. I've had it for about five years and now they're not sure whether I can have the surgery because I'm on blooc thinners. I see a new endocinologist on Tuesday to see about a drug that can be administered by IV. The problem is it's not covered by health care and costs $800 a dose. Because I havem't tried it yet they don't know if I'd need it once a week, once a month or once a year. My doctor is trying to see if I can get it covered based on that I need it for the parathyroid because it's usually used for something else.

    Did you feel alot better after? I've been told that it's why I have no energy and have fatigue so badly.

    Jan

  • mozart13
    mozart13 Member Posts: 118
    #18
    Curcumin

    I have dropped curcumin out of my supplements. Went through some posts on this board, 

    and found that some people that have been using it, didn't do much for them, let's 

    leave it at that.

    Calcium, I always have strugled with that, never liked milk or milk products, except Ice Cream.

    About 6,7 years ago broke one of the bones on my foot, took egg shell, it is very rich 

    in calcium, and is closer to our bones than any other form of calcium.

    Grind it in coffe maker, mixed with small amount of ice cream, once daily, literally

    felt healing of the bone, never looked back.

    Egg shell needs to be washed well

    Calcium alone , side effect is constipation, magnesium is must, also vit d3 in order to 

    absorb calcium.

    Your situation is complicated, endocrinologist is good source of info, also Intern medecine specialist

    would be good idea to check, they tend to look at big picture, not only one system.

    Wish you well.

     

     

  • Bellen
    Bellen Member Posts: 281 Member
    edited November 2016 #19
    Curcumin

    Hi Jan - I used to take curcumin yrs ago - broke open the caplet and put powder in my smoothies. You can buy tumeric powder (much cheaper than the caplet in health store) and add 1/2 tsp or so to your smoothies.  It is spicy, so I would not have used more.  It is supposed to be anti-inflammatory, but other than that not sure of its other benefits.  

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #20
    Thanks everyne for the help

    Thanks everyne for the help and suggestions! As for the vitamin D, it turns out that I have to start taking a drug that has vitamin D in it for my parathyroid tumour because otherwise it won't absorb so that issue is taken care of.

    Regarding the circumin, I think I'm going to pass for now. Sounds like  a hassle if it has to be taken with something else and I'm not convinced there's any point anyway.

    Jan

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    edited December 2016 #21
    Chemo put me into menopause

    Chemo put me into menopause so I take the 2000 recommended and also 1200 calcium as per my GYN.  The best person to ask is an internist or your GYN.  They can run your bloodwork and give you a specific amount.  I get my blood tested for both of these annually now.  There was a period of time I had to do 5000 vitamin D and 2400 calcium.  I don't see the sun very much so I had a serious deficiency.  

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