I've had a second set of Vitamin D3 results back.
We're supposed to get enough Vitamin D3 from the sun each day. But after a lifetime of northern hemisphere climate, and no vitamin supplements, my first test in April 2011 was 21ug/L (or 21mcg/L). This is right down at the bottom of 'normal' lab ranges, and within the cancer and hepatitis communities is considered below normal.
My second test in November after 7 months of supplements was 81.4 nmol/L.
Two different laboratories using different values - aargh!
I got some help from the liver forum to convert the mcg/L to nmol/L in order to compare, and it seems the first test of 21 = 53nmol/L.
I'd been prescribed the recommenced daily allowance of 600IU per day of Vit D3 as Ad-cal, but this amount wasn't enough to raise the levels, so switched to purchasing my own Solgar product taken at a daily dose of 2,500IU per day.
Even at this level of well over the RDA my level of 81.4 is still below the suggested range of Vit D3 within the cancer and hepatitis communities, which is 100-150nmol/L, so I have increased to 5,000IU per day for a further 4 months to get within this band.
Gives some idea of how likely it is that most of us don't get enough Vit D3 from the sun, and that supplements do work!
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS - a diagnosis and treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) diagnosed August 2010, presumed caused by 30+ years of chronic hepatitis B. And a search for how to be healthy living with cirrhosis presumed caused by Autoimmune hepatitis (diagnosed April 2011)
Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI don't thing they have tested Steve's D3 levels through any of this. I was giving him some on my own, but ran out of it last month. I guess I'd better go get some more especially since it is winter and with all the snow and cold we are almost never outside. Not that it would do much good if we were since we rarely see the sun. Thanks for the tip.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. We are so glad you are doing well! Wish it was the same for our other friends.
Carla