vitamin D

[Mulan]

Is there a better form of supplementation than that little green capsule that is doctor prescribed?

It doesn't seem to do much of anything for anybody.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Sorry, we aren't allowed to give medical advice, per the terms of service. Perhaps you could ask your primary care provider for supplement advice?

[Mulan]

Oh, come on.

I am not asking for medical advice.

[SunnyAndrsn]

What do you expect it to be doing, and why do you think it's not doing anything for anybody?

Is there a better form of supplementation than that little green capsule that is doctor prescribed?

It doesn't seem to do much of anything for anybody.

[Mulan]

I would expect a supplement to raise the level to a normal range.

The patients that I have seen on this supplement have blood levels that remain in the low or deficient range.

[SunnyAndrsn]

Interesting, what was the response of the MD? So there was no improvement in the lab values?

I would expect a supplement to raise the level to a normal range.

The patients that I have seen on this supplement have blood levels that remain in the low or deficient range.

[SharonH, RN]

I would expect a supplement to raise the level to a normal range.

The patients that I have seen on this supplement have blood levels that remain in the low or deficient range.

In my experience, docs tend to underprescribe vitamin D. I'm not surprised that blood levels are not improving.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

It is my understanding that the prescription Vitamin D is Vitamin D-2. D2 is not well absorbed in humans. In a patient with malabsorption issues, it is even more difficult for the GI tract to absorb sufficient amounts of Vitamin D2 to convert to the usable form of D3. (Depending on the individual it takes several D2 to make one usable D3)

D3 is what humans (and other animals) create from sunlight and it is better absorbed. Hence the current trend for many of the calcium supplements to include Vitamin D3, not D2. Vitamin D3 is OTC in low to very high doses. Vitamin D2 is Rx in mid to high doses.

[Mulan]

It is my understanding that the prescription Vitamin D is Vitamin D-2. D2 is not well absorbed in humans. In a patient with malabsorption issues, it is even more difficult for the GI tract to absorb sufficient amounts of Vitamin D2 to convert to the usable form of D3. (Depending on the individual it takes several D2 to make one usable D3)

D3 is what humans (and other animals) create from sunlight and it is better absorbed. Hence the current trend for many of the calcium supplements to include Vitamin D3, not D2. Vitamin D3 is OTC in low to very high doses. Vitamin D2 is Rx in mid to high doses.

Thanks.

This was informative.

[llg, PhD, RN]

How often are they taking it?

Are they taking it with meals? (It is a fat soluable vitamin and if not taken with at least a little fat, most is not absorbed.)

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

usually when someone is deficient, they prescribe 50,000 units a week for four to six weeks, then lower the dose until blood levels are stable. they're never going to raise levels with one pill (about 1000-2000U) a day.

[Mulan]

The dose is 50,000 IU once a day for ten days, then once a week.

One patient, middle aged, otherwise healthy, had a deficient level after taking it for a year and a half. The dose has been increased to twice a week.

Takes it with fat in the diet.