I have been on 20 mg of a PPI for a couple of years. I did not have obvious symptoms, but after an endoscopy which showed severe acid reflux my GI put me on Omeprazole. I was so worried about some of my vitamins not being absorbed and after my visit the other day he thought I could start weaning down and get off altoghter and use as needed. We'll see how that goes.
I asked him to test my B-12 levels and D3. My B-12 came back at 1244 so he suggested I not take a supplement. I had been taking 1,000 mcg lozenges every day. My D3 came back at 97 and I've been taking between 4,000 and 5,000 IU's a day. So, I guess I was still absorbing the vitamins even though I was taking a PPI. My magnesium levels were also very good (0.87) and only taking that topically.
My question is do you think I should be taking B-12 occasionally and should I cut back on the D3? We will be leaving for Florida in two weeks and will be there for a month getting more sunshine.
Nancy
Vitamin D3 and B-12
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Hi Nancy,
It's claimed that the liver can store enough vitamin B-12 to last for up to 5 years, so even if there is no B-12 in your diet, you should be able to coast for a while without taking a supplement. Your diet probably contains a significant amount of vitamin B-12, so as long as your malabsorption problem is under control, you probably won't need to be concerned about B-12 in the long run.
With a serum vitamin D level that high, you obviously are absorbing it well. It would probably be a good idea to reduce your supplementation rate, especially if you plan to spend that much time in sunny Florida. And if you happen to be taking a calcium supplement, it's especially important not to overdo the vitamin D supplement (because of the risk of hypercalcemia — too much calcium in circulation in the blood). It's impossible to produce too much vitamin D from sun exposure, but it's certainly possible to take too much vitamin D in supplemental form.
I'm speaking from experience, because I believe that my serum calcium level was increased (to near the top of the normal range) when my vitamin D level was in the range you mentioned, resulting in the development of a couple of kidney stones. Vitamin D appears to be a very powerful way to boost one's calcium absorption. To prevent and treat osteoporosis, supplemental calcium is not a practical approach. It may even be dangerous. Extra vitamin D (and magnesium) will promptly resolve calcium absorption problems.
Tex
It's claimed that the liver can store enough vitamin B-12 to last for up to 5 years, so even if there is no B-12 in your diet, you should be able to coast for a while without taking a supplement. Your diet probably contains a significant amount of vitamin B-12, so as long as your malabsorption problem is under control, you probably won't need to be concerned about B-12 in the long run.
With a serum vitamin D level that high, you obviously are absorbing it well. It would probably be a good idea to reduce your supplementation rate, especially if you plan to spend that much time in sunny Florida. And if you happen to be taking a calcium supplement, it's especially important not to overdo the vitamin D supplement (because of the risk of hypercalcemia — too much calcium in circulation in the blood). It's impossible to produce too much vitamin D from sun exposure, but it's certainly possible to take too much vitamin D in supplemental form.
I'm speaking from experience, because I believe that my serum calcium level was increased (to near the top of the normal range) when my vitamin D level was in the range you mentioned, resulting in the development of a couple of kidney stones. Vitamin D appears to be a very powerful way to boost one's calcium absorption. To prevent and treat osteoporosis, supplemental calcium is not a practical approach. It may even be dangerous. Extra vitamin D (and magnesium) will promptly resolve calcium absorption problems.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thank you Tex, that is very helpful. I am taking a calcium supplement, it's calcium hydroxyapatite with no magnesium, I take 3 caps a day instead of the recommended 4 because I drink plenty of almond milk and get it in foods too. I thought I would either cut back to 2,000 IU's of D3 a day or the 5,000 IU every other day. Does that sound reasonable?
Once again, thanks for you help.
Nancy
Once again, thanks for you help.
Nancy