Vitamin D Waste Of Time Article
Vitamin D Waste Of Time Article
06 Dec 2013 at 2:17PM
I've just been reading the article in the papers that have appeared today about Vitamin D being a waste of time taking.
Apparantly research in France show's that a deficiency in Vitamin D is age realated and also a symptom of certain illness's and not a perhaps an underlaying cause.
Here's one write up :
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2519082/Vitamin-D-supplements-dont-lower-risk-cancer-strokes-conditions.html
I take D3 daily after being advised to do so by my MS consultant, my sister also has MS and she also takes D3.
I can't find anything in the articles that mention D3 specifically, so I'm assuming these write up's mean Vitamin D in general ?
I'm, just wondering what your thoughts are these articles.
Kerry.
Apparantly research in France show's that a deficiency in Vitamin D is age realated and also a symptom of certain illness's and not a perhaps an underlaying cause.
Here's one write up :
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2519082/Vitamin-D-supplements-dont-lower-risk-cancer-strokes-conditions.html
I take D3 daily after being advised to do so by my MS consultant, my sister also has MS and she also takes D3.
I can't find anything in the articles that mention D3 specifically, so I'm assuming these write up's mean Vitamin D in general ?
I'm, just wondering what your thoughts are these articles.
Kerry.
Hiya Kerry
I'm on the fence with this one at the moment.
Currently I'm giving D3 a go. I had a blood level test in March showing a feeble level of 13. GP then put be on 3 months of 10,000 iu daily. My levels went to normal after a test in June. No supplements at all since then and I'm off for blood test next week.
Me and my GP are 'experimenting' with this. My neuro said there is no definitive evidence on this for MS last month but he doesn't mind 4000 iu daily.
My local paper regularly has an NHS adverts. Sometimes the topic moves on to vitamin D and advises to take it.
Soooo it's seems a bit of a mixture and personal choice. Blood tests are important though. Don't want toxic levels and other knock on effects.
Marty
I'm on the fence with this one at the moment.
Currently I'm giving D3 a go. I had a blood level test in March showing a feeble level of 13. GP then put be on 3 months of 10,000 iu daily. My levels went to normal after a test in June. No supplements at all since then and I'm off for blood test next week.
Me and my GP are 'experimenting' with this. My neuro said there is no definitive evidence on this for MS last month but he doesn't mind 4000 iu daily.
My local paper regularly has an NHS adverts. Sometimes the topic moves on to vitamin D and advises to take it.
Soooo it's seems a bit of a mixture and personal choice. Blood tests are important though. Don't want toxic levels and other knock on effects.
Marty
06 Dec 2013 at 5:43PM
I'm on-the-fence regarding healthy people supplementing,
supposedly to "ward off" future problems. I think many people take
unnecessary supplements - and I'm not talking just of vitamin D now -
when they're probably getting sufficient already, unless they're on a
very restricted diet.
However, whilst it may well be "a waste of time" (but more especially money, I would have thought) for most who are fit and well, I don't think the same argument extends to people who already aren't well, and know their disease has been linked with vitamin deficiencies.
I think taking as a precaution is quite different from addressing a condition you know you've got. One might be a waste of time, the other isn't.
Tina
However, whilst it may well be "a waste of time" (but more especially money, I would have thought) for most who are fit and well, I don't think the same argument extends to people who already aren't well, and know their disease has been linked with vitamin deficiencies.
I think taking as a precaution is quite different from addressing a condition you know you've got. One might be a waste of time, the other isn't.
Tina
06 Dec 2013 at 6:22PM
Have to admit that I have never been totally sold on the idea of vit d and I do not take vit d supplements.
I've seen so many theories come and go over the years that I will be surprised if vit d deficiency is the one that transforms ms treatment.
Another reason for me not being as convinced by the vit d theory is that I grew up for a while in a very hot, sunny country.
But I'm not saying that others shouldn't take vit d supplements and I think that Marty and Tina make very good points.
Cheryl:-)
I've seen so many theories come and go over the years that I will be surprised if vit d deficiency is the one that transforms ms treatment.
Another reason for me not being as convinced by the vit d theory is that I grew up for a while in a very hot, sunny country.
But I'm not saying that others shouldn't take vit d supplements and I think that Marty and Tina make very good points.
Cheryl:-)
06 Dec 2013 at 6:33PM
The article I read on the BBC was talking abut Vit D for other illnesses, absolutely no mention of neurological stuff, it was on BBC news page yesterday :)
Sonia x
Sonia x
06 Dec 2013 at 7:51PM
I will keep taking my D3 until my consultant tells me otherwise.
I think though that perhaps this is half the problem, as soon a someone in "the know" ie: consultant, doctor or even another sufferer , offers advice, we tend to grasp onto every little thing he or she may say, at least I do anyway.
When I was first told about my MS, my consultant advised me to take D3, and explained his reasons behind it, so I went into my local health shop to buy some, and within 10 minutes after speaking to the health shop owner I had bought nearly every item on the shelves, in other words, even more advice from some "in the know".
I've spent days, weeks, months, reading up on D3, and in all honesty, for every positve write up you will find theres a negative one to match.
So I think it really is a grey, unproven area.
I think though that perhaps this is half the problem, as soon a someone in "the know" ie: consultant, doctor or even another sufferer , offers advice, we tend to grasp onto every little thing he or she may say, at least I do anyway.
When I was first told about my MS, my consultant advised me to take D3, and explained his reasons behind it, so I went into my local health shop to buy some, and within 10 minutes after speaking to the health shop owner I had bought nearly every item on the shelves, in other words, even more advice from some "in the know".
I've spent days, weeks, months, reading up on D3, and in all honesty, for every positve write up you will find theres a negative one to match.
So I think it really is a grey, unproven area.
06 Dec 2013 at 7:58PM
The article I read on the BBC was talking abut Vit D for other illnesses, absolutely no mention of neurological stuff, it was on BBC news page yesterday :)
Sonia x
Sonia x
I think the point these articles are making is that this "wonderful sun" vitamin, actually shows no proof of working for any particular illness.
Maybe these writers are saying if theres no proof that vitamin D works on the mentioned illness's we should bare in mind it's probably the same for MS.
I dont know, but like I say I will continue taking D3, because in my mind my consuiltant advised too.
In fact his words were when hebroke the news to me about my MS was, " If I was sitting in that chair, and I was you, I would get onto D3 immediatly" !
06 Dec 2013 at 7:59PM
Dont know how I posted that twice. LOL
06 Dec 2013 at 8:55PM
I'm not dx but was put on it by neuro as the only thing that showed in my bloods was low vit d
Quite happy to take until I'm told to stop especially coming into winter
Axx
Quite happy to take until I'm told to stop especially coming into winter
Axx
06 Dec 2013 at 9:08PM
I may be reading into this wrong, but from what I can make
out from this latest research is that they think low vitamin D levels
are a symptom of illness, rather than a possible cause of the illness.
So in other words, people with say MS, could be showing low levels of vitamin D simply because the MS is causing the low levels, rather than actually developing MS because of the low levels.
So in other words, people with say MS, could be showing low levels of vitamin D simply because the MS is causing the low levels, rather than actually developing MS because of the low levels.
07 Dec 2013 at 10:15AM
Yes Jactac, that's what I think it is saying too.
Cheryl:-)
Cheryl:-)
07 Dec 2013 at 10:47AM
I do agree that's what the article is saying. However, when I
last saw my neuro - I use the term loosely, as it was the first time
I'd ever seen that particular one - he was very confident it will soon
be established beyond doubt that vitamin D deficiency is a factor, and
not just a symptom.
He was the first medic in three years ever to mention I ought to be on supplements. Luckily for me, I hadn't waited for the cogs of officialdom to tell me what I was meant to be doing, and had been supplementing anyway, after researching it myself.
I think most neuros and most MS nurses now agree Vitamin D supplements are "a good idea", but it still seems a bit of a lottery whether they remember to tell the patient. I'm amazed that three years was the first time anybody broached the subject with me,
Tina
He was the first medic in three years ever to mention I ought to be on supplements. Luckily for me, I hadn't waited for the cogs of officialdom to tell me what I was meant to be doing, and had been supplementing anyway, after researching it myself.
I think most neuros and most MS nurses now agree Vitamin D supplements are "a good idea", but it still seems a bit of a lottery whether they remember to tell the patient. I'm amazed that three years was the first time anybody broached the subject with me,
Tina
I take 5,000iu (125 mcg) of D3 a day, but only since this was
recommended on the Professor George Jelinek diet. This is a hefty dose,
but Proff GJ says that an amount many times larger than this is fine
too. I don't know about anyone else on the forum, but I have always
suspected that MS is at least in part affected by or caused by diet. I
don't stick to the diet half as much as I should, but (two years on) I
have at least improved. But with MS, you never know. Merry Christmas to
everyone on the forum.
Moira
Moira
07 Dec 2013 at 11:25AM
When I saw my consultant he immediatly advised me to start on
D3, so when I went home I rang my sister, who also has MS, and asked
her what dosage of D3 she was taking, but she had never heard of D3, not
from the consultant, or anyone else from the clinic.
I just find it a bit odd that if D3 is about to unlock some very important issues about MS, then why is it not offered as a basic starting treatment/therapy to all people with MS.
When I asked my GP, (who has been great from day one), if D3 is available on prescription because the consultant advised it, she told me it was the first time ever that she had heard D3 might play a role in MS, and she has a number of patients at the surgery with MS.
My sister now takes D3, after she rang the MS clinic to ask about it.
My point is, why is this info not shouted from the roof tops, if D3 is perhaps so important.
Perhaps I should not say this but, do you think a lot of treatments and advice varies depending on the age and attitude of the consultant, for instance my consultant comes across as youngish very positive person, so maybe he is fresh in his field and looking for answers and new options to help with MS, where as someone who has been "in the job" for many many years could just be sticking with routine.
I dont know, just a thought.
I just find it a bit odd that if D3 is about to unlock some very important issues about MS, then why is it not offered as a basic starting treatment/therapy to all people with MS.
When I asked my GP, (who has been great from day one), if D3 is available on prescription because the consultant advised it, she told me it was the first time ever that she had heard D3 might play a role in MS, and she has a number of patients at the surgery with MS.
My sister now takes D3, after she rang the MS clinic to ask about it.
My point is, why is this info not shouted from the roof tops, if D3 is perhaps so important.
Perhaps I should not say this but, do you think a lot of treatments and advice varies depending on the age and attitude of the consultant, for instance my consultant comes across as youngish very positive person, so maybe he is fresh in his field and looking for answers and new options to help with MS, where as someone who has been "in the job" for many many years could just be sticking with routine.
I dont know, just a thought.
07 Dec 2013 at 11:40AM
You might have a point there, Jactac.
This neuro I saw last time was not one I'd heard of before, or even seen around (as the MS centre is quite small, I know most of them by sight, even if we've never been formally introduced). He did seem very new and enthusiastic, so I wondered if he was newly-qualified.
Then again, I think he was over 40, because the subject of age cropped up - not in an explicit way, but that sort of understanding between people of similar ages, where one (me) says: "Well, I am over 40...", and the other answers in a way that suggests: "Haha, me too!"
It's getting difficult to tell these days. First policemen start looking younger, then doctors, and finally politicians!
Tina
x
This neuro I saw last time was not one I'd heard of before, or even seen around (as the MS centre is quite small, I know most of them by sight, even if we've never been formally introduced). He did seem very new and enthusiastic, so I wondered if he was newly-qualified.
Then again, I think he was over 40, because the subject of age cropped up - not in an explicit way, but that sort of understanding between people of similar ages, where one (me) says: "Well, I am over 40...", and the other answers in a way that suggests: "Haha, me too!"
It's getting difficult to tell these days. First policemen start looking younger, then doctors, and finally politicians!
Tina
x
Hi,
I've struggled to take supplements for years, but recently saw Michael Holick give a presentation on the importance of vitamin D on the internet, so decided to give it another go.
I've been taking 5000IU a day now for about a week and am currently reading his book "The Vitamin D Solution". I also started following a paleolithic diet in August, and I'm sure that's helped my body accept D3. Lots of good fats.
I can honestly say that I do feel small benefits - I overall have a bit more energy and I feel more alert.
I've read so much now that I'm sure that my MS was triggered by a leaky gut and lack of vitamin D. I'm now working towards healing the leaky gut and rectifying the vitamin D. I'll arrange for a blood test in the new year, see how things are going.
Heather
I've struggled to take supplements for years, but recently saw Michael Holick give a presentation on the importance of vitamin D on the internet, so decided to give it another go.
I've been taking 5000IU a day now for about a week and am currently reading his book "The Vitamin D Solution". I also started following a paleolithic diet in August, and I'm sure that's helped my body accept D3. Lots of good fats.
I can honestly say that I do feel small benefits - I overall have a bit more energy and I feel more alert.
I've read so much now that I'm sure that my MS was triggered by a leaky gut and lack of vitamin D. I'm now working towards healing the leaky gut and rectifying the vitamin D. I'll arrange for a blood test in the new year, see how things are going.
Heather
07 Dec 2013 at 2:58PM
Hi I thick it does depend on the Neuro / years of experience/
how active they are in research and staying up to date. I've been
advised vit D supplimentation by 2 MS specialists. If I remember
correctly it is part of the NICE guidelines for MS also. So it is
something that should be being suggested to MS patients.
As to whether it really does make a difference - I'm not sure. There's so ,uch about MS we don't know - only time will tell.
Reemz
X
As to whether it really does make a difference - I'm not sure. There's so ,uch about MS we don't know - only time will tell.
Reemz
X
07 Dec 2013 at 7:06PM
Heather, that's really interesting, I look forward to your update and hopefully also be following your lead with the book,
Thankyou
Sending hugs x
Thankyou
Sending hugs x
07 Dec 2013 at 7:17PM
Jactac,
I've read your comments with interest. The problem seems to be that not enough information is shared among professional on this whole subject. That's the reason it takes so long for us all to get the help we need.
I'm sorry to sound like a moaner but I joined this site 2 days ago and have learned so much more than I have from professionals in this field in 7 years!
But then perhaps we are the professionals as we are the ones going through it and keen to share anything that might help someone else.
What a great site, thankyou all, I'm so happy to be part of it and so pleased I finally decided to check it out.
Sending smiles
I've read your comments with interest. The problem seems to be that not enough information is shared among professional on this whole subject. That's the reason it takes so long for us all to get the help we need.
I'm sorry to sound like a moaner but I joined this site 2 days ago and have learned so much more than I have from professionals in this field in 7 years!
But then perhaps we are the professionals as we are the ones going through it and keen to share anything that might help someone else.
What a great site, thankyou all, I'm so happy to be part of it and so pleased I finally decided to check it out.
Sending smiles
07 Dec 2013 at 8:28PM
hey awkward
8 years ago my gp said to me i have limited medical knowledge but u have the body so we will work together to do our best for you. neuro seeing me once in a blue moon doesnt know owt re me (def not his fault!)
so i reckon u are right-we are the experts of our own body requiring support from someone medicaly trained and who has professional access to neuro and who can communicate on our behalf the neuro appt is often(not always) a scary experience whereas gp appt is generally more relaxed. i know there are many exceptions to both scenarios!
i believe that no-one knows it all for definite-ms is so complicated and affects us all so differently. the thing that i appreciate most is honesty-professionals saying they dont know is ok by me-prefereable to false hope or fibs!
glad u r benefiting from this site, ellie
8 years ago my gp said to me i have limited medical knowledge but u have the body so we will work together to do our best for you. neuro seeing me once in a blue moon doesnt know owt re me (def not his fault!)
so i reckon u are right-we are the experts of our own body requiring support from someone medicaly trained and who has professional access to neuro and who can communicate on our behalf the neuro appt is often(not always) a scary experience whereas gp appt is generally more relaxed. i know there are many exceptions to both scenarios!
i believe that no-one knows it all for definite-ms is so complicated and affects us all so differently. the thing that i appreciate most is honesty-professionals saying they dont know is ok by me-prefereable to false hope or fibs!
glad u r benefiting from this site, ellie
07 Dec 2013 at 8:57PM
Well peeps, from reading all the replies to my question, it
seems as though D3 is a good choice, well, as far as the consultants are
concerned anyway.
Like I've already said, I take D3 (5000iu) daily, and so does my sister now. And we will continue to do so until told otherwise by our consultants.
I did ask my MS nurse about the size of the dosage and he said it's ok.
I really do think that having a positive MS team behind you definitely helps, not just with the physical problems that MS brings but also with the mental/depressing issues aswell.
The positive attitude that my consultant and his team had just made me feel like I was his only patient and they were all in my corner helping me.
As soon as he said "Take the D3", that was it, I was on them like a shot.
He could of said eat dog poo and I would of gone out with my pooper scooper looking for a fresh one. LOL
Anyway, I hope you all have a great xmas, and thanks for your replies.
Like I've already said, I take D3 (5000iu) daily, and so does my sister now. And we will continue to do so until told otherwise by our consultants.
I did ask my MS nurse about the size of the dosage and he said it's ok.
I really do think that having a positive MS team behind you definitely helps, not just with the physical problems that MS brings but also with the mental/depressing issues aswell.
The positive attitude that my consultant and his team had just made me feel like I was his only patient and they were all in my corner helping me.
As soon as he said "Take the D3", that was it, I was on them like a shot.
He could of said eat dog poo and I would of gone out with my pooper scooper looking for a fresh one. LOL
Anyway, I hope you all have a great xmas, and thanks for your replies.
07 Dec 2013 at 9:06PM
Sorry, bit off topic, but how do I stop the site sending me an email everytime theres a reply to a thread.
I find it easier to keep this forum in my favourites, so I dont need an email alert,.
i've tried looking in settings but cant see where to turn the "alert" off.
Thanks in advance.
I find it easier to keep this forum in my favourites, so I dont need an email alert,.
i've tried looking in settings but cant see where to turn the "alert" off.
Thanks in advance.
07 Dec 2013 at 9:13PM
hiya
when u started the thread i am guessing u must have ticked to get emails alerts so am guessing there must be an unsubscribe button.....dunno if that helps?
hopefully a computer literate person will be able to help/explain better!
e
when u started the thread i am guessing u must have ticked to get emails alerts so am guessing there must be an unsubscribe button.....dunno if that helps?
hopefully a computer literate person will be able to help/explain better!
e
07 Dec 2013 at 9:15PM
Hi Jactac
You can unsubscribe from your email inbox I think.
My GP did bloods and immediately prescribed vit D3, Bvits and magnesium before referring me. She said shouldn't take D3 without magnesium. She prescribed 20,000 iu every other day. Proves some GPs are on the ball.
You can unsubscribe from your email inbox I think.
My GP did bloods and immediately prescribed vit D3, Bvits and magnesium before referring me. She said shouldn't take D3 without magnesium. She prescribed 20,000 iu every other day. Proves some GPs are on the ball.
07 Dec 2013 at 9:20PM
Blimey Dinks
I'm on vitamin D but no magnesium. Used to take it so I am sure I have a spare supply somewhere so will restart.
Thanks
Min xx
I'm on vitamin D but no magnesium. Used to take it so I am sure I have a spare supply somewhere so will restart.
Thanks
Min xx
08 Dec 2013 at 10:12AM
When I started on D3, I also started Magnesium the same time,
but only because the person in the health shop where I bought my D3
from advised taking Magnesium along side D3, about 2 months I had a home
visit from my MS specialist nurse which was a standard "how's things"
type of visit.
Anyway we went through everything, like how I was feeling, diet, getting around ect, ect, I told him I was still taking the D3, which he confirmed was good and to stick to the 5000iu daily dosage, but when I said that I've also included Magnesium to my daily meds he sort of pulled a face and said "if you think it's a benefit then carry on, but personally I would spend the money on something nice for myself instead, D3 definitely, but Masgnesium not unless you can feel it's making a difference" , those were his exact words !
A week later I had a phone call from the same nurse, he had spoken to my consultant about the D3 and the Magnesium, and he said that the consultant had agreed I should continue with the 5000iu daily dose of D3, but he also felt that the Magnesium was more of a personal choice and not something he would of told me I should rush out to buy, unlike the D3.
So I stopped with the Magnesium, and personally do not feel any different to when I was taking it.
Having said all that, my sister who also has MS, and has had it far longer than me, started taking Magnesium when I first started taking it, only because that person in the health shop advised it to me and I told my sister about it, however, she finds that it has helped slightly with twitching when she's trying to get some sleep, She takes it a couple of hours before bedtime.
I never get twitching or jerking so maybe this is why I wasnt seeing a benefit from taking it ?
I think the bottom line is we are all very different, and we should do / take, whatever makes us feel better as an individual.
Anyway we went through everything, like how I was feeling, diet, getting around ect, ect, I told him I was still taking the D3, which he confirmed was good and to stick to the 5000iu daily dosage, but when I said that I've also included Magnesium to my daily meds he sort of pulled a face and said "if you think it's a benefit then carry on, but personally I would spend the money on something nice for myself instead, D3 definitely, but Masgnesium not unless you can feel it's making a difference" , those were his exact words !
A week later I had a phone call from the same nurse, he had spoken to my consultant about the D3 and the Magnesium, and he said that the consultant had agreed I should continue with the 5000iu daily dose of D3, but he also felt that the Magnesium was more of a personal choice and not something he would of told me I should rush out to buy, unlike the D3.
So I stopped with the Magnesium, and personally do not feel any different to when I was taking it.
Having said all that, my sister who also has MS, and has had it far longer than me, started taking Magnesium when I first started taking it, only because that person in the health shop advised it to me and I told my sister about it, however, she finds that it has helped slightly with twitching when she's trying to get some sleep, She takes it a couple of hours before bedtime.
I never get twitching or jerking so maybe this is why I wasnt seeing a benefit from taking it ?
I think the bottom line is we are all very different, and we should do / take, whatever makes us feel better as an individual.
08 Dec 2013 at 11:27AM
To quote my granny - she was a wise wee woman (sometimes) 'I would take poison if I thought it would help me.'
To translate (she was a wee Irish granny after all) - if it helps you then take it, who cares what anyone else thinks'
On a side note if Vit D is linked to MS then this increase in rickets could be worrying. Are we going to have an sudden increase in MS in 15 or so years time cause of the lack of vit D that kids are suffering from now.
I don't know enough the whole vit D thing so I'll just stick to the words of Grandmotherly wisdom
JBK xx
To translate (she was a wee Irish granny after all) - if it helps you then take it, who cares what anyone else thinks'
On a side note if Vit D is linked to MS then this increase in rickets could be worrying. Are we going to have an sudden increase in MS in 15 or so years time cause of the lack of vit D that kids are suffering from now.
I don't know enough the whole vit D thing so I'll just stick to the words of Grandmotherly wisdom
JBK xx
08 Dec 2013 at 11:30AM
I think the magnesium is more a question of keeping your
nutrient intake in the correct proportions, rather than being of direct
benefit for MS. I believe that if you drastically increase vitamin D
intake, you should also increase magnesium - not
because you'll feel better, but if not, you're creating an imbalance, as
these two nutrients interact.
Tina
Tina
08 Dec 2013 at 12:25PM
I agree with Tina the 2 interact which is why I presume the
doctor told me to take them together. Don't know about humans but in
horses magnesium is a main ingredient in calming supplements so maybe
there is a link between twitches and magnesium, interesting thought.
08 Dec 2013 at 1:08PM
I've read loads of places that Magnesium is a calming
vitamin. Apparently before "modern" sleeping meds were introduced, it
was a big ingredient in sleeping pills.
So then this leads me to my next questions, In what way though does D3 and Magnesium interact, and what sort of dosage do you take of Magnesium ?
So then this leads me to my next questions, In what way though does D3 and Magnesium interact, and what sort of dosage do you take of Magnesium ?
08 Dec 2013 at 1:10PM
Oh no I've done it again, posted twice 
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