I’ve just finished reading Tex’s book about Vitamin D and I’m completely mind blown. Particularly because I was told my Vitamin D levels were low almost 3 years ago, right around the time I started having “new” digestive problems. My GP at the time (different to the one I now see) told me to take a supplement “every day for the rest of my life” and left it at that. Unfortunately I decided to stop taking them about 6 months ago (WHY???!!) and wouldn’t you know it, that’s when my D became a daily problem. My latest blood tests showed my Vitamin D levels were only 46 nmol/L (with normal showing as 50-250nmol/L). My GP said nothing about this result even though it was below normal so I asked him about it and he said that Vitamin D had to be “really low” for it to cause any problems and as mine were only just below the normal range, it wasn’t an issue. So independently I decided to restart my supplement. Now I discover from Tex’s book that the true lower limit of normal should really be 75 nmol/L so I am actually significantly below normal.
My question then is, should I continue taking only 1 tablet per day (1 tablet gives me 1000IU/25mcg of colecalciferol) or should I take more for a short while to get my levels up quicker??
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Sarah
Questions about Vitamin D
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hello Sarah,
In my opinion, 10,000 IU daily should be more than adequate. Anything over 5,000 IU per day should increase your level, and 10,000 IU per day should increase your level at a relatively good rate. Your immune system will use a lot of vitamin D while you're healing, but as healing progresses, your level will tend to build up faster, so be sure to have your 25(OH)D level checked after 2 or 3 months to make sure that it isn't getting too high. Levels in the excess range can cause diarrhea or other digestive system problems.
Glad you found the book interesting. Most doctors tend to deemphasize the importance of vitamin D levels, as higher levels are not good for long-term business. I find it incredible (and rather appalling) that all the world's infectious disease experts who get regular TV coverage continue to fail to even mention the importance of keeping vitamin D levels up in order to keep COVID-19 patients out of the ICU. But that behaviour seems to be typical for the medical community.
Tex
In my opinion, 10,000 IU daily should be more than adequate. Anything over 5,000 IU per day should increase your level, and 10,000 IU per day should increase your level at a relatively good rate. Your immune system will use a lot of vitamin D while you're healing, but as healing progresses, your level will tend to build up faster, so be sure to have your 25(OH)D level checked after 2 or 3 months to make sure that it isn't getting too high. Levels in the excess range can cause diarrhea or other digestive system problems.
Glad you found the book interesting. Most doctors tend to deemphasize the importance of vitamin D levels, as higher levels are not good for long-term business. I find it incredible (and rather appalling) that all the world's infectious disease experts who get regular TV coverage continue to fail to even mention the importance of keeping vitamin D levels up in order to keep COVID-19 patients out of the ICU. But that behaviour seems to be typical for the medical community.
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.
Sorry, I misread your post. I thought that was what you were taking. 
Most of us take 5,000 to 7,000 IU per day (depending on how much sun we get), but 1,000 IU per day is way too low. At that rate your 25(OH)D level will never increase to a safe level. And we tend to need a lot more when we're still recovering. Now that I've been in remission for many years, I take 5,000 IU in the winter and half that (a 5,000 IU capsule every other day) in the summer. That keeps my 25(OH)D level in the 50-80 ng/ml (125–200 nmol/L) range. But everyone has a somewhat different response to most supplements.
Tapering the dose is not necessary when increasing or decreasing the dose. Be sure the labeled ingredients are safe.
Tex
Most of us take 5,000 to 7,000 IU per day (depending on how much sun we get), but 1,000 IU per day is way too low. At that rate your 25(OH)D level will never increase to a safe level. And we tend to need a lot more when we're still recovering. Now that I've been in remission for many years, I take 5,000 IU in the winter and half that (a 5,000 IU capsule every other day) in the summer. That keeps my 25(OH)D level in the 50-80 ng/ml (125–200 nmol/L) range. But everyone has a somewhat different response to most supplements.
Tapering the dose is not necessary when increasing or decreasing the dose. Be sure the labeled ingredients are safe.
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.
Thanks for the clarification and thanks for advising me to check the ingredients too. I had a look at the bottle and couldn’t find any mention of full ingredients but after a google search I discovered the ones I’m using contain soy 
In fact, every brand I could find that is available in Australia also contain soy (and only come in a maximum of 1000IU dosage without a doctor’s prescription). So I’ve had no choice but to order some soy-free 5000IU tablets from America. I’ve paid an absolute fortune for postage to get them here as quickly as possible but it still may be close to the end of the month before they arrive.
So now I have the choice of either going without supplemental Vitamin D or taking the ones that contain soy. Neither is a good option...
In fact, every brand I could find that is available in Australia also contain soy (and only come in a maximum of 1000IU dosage without a doctor’s prescription). So I’ve had no choice but to order some soy-free 5000IU tablets from America. I’ve paid an absolute fortune for postage to get them here as quickly as possible but it still may be close to the end of the month before they arrive.So now I have the choice of either going without supplemental Vitamin D or taking the ones that contain soy. Neither is a good option...
Hi Sarah,
Can you simply take advantage of the good old free vitamin D that's available from the sun, the way our ancestors did? Just soak up some sunlight, being careful to limit your exposure time, depending on the angle of the sun and the season, so that you tan rather than burn. This information is all in the vitamin D book, but the beauty of getting your vitamin D from the sun is that it's impossible to overdose, even though it's a very effective way to increase your vitamin D level.
Don't use sunscreen, of course, as that's one of the main reasons why so many people are vitamin D deficient today.
Enjoy the sun. As an added advantage, there's something about sunbathing in the fresh air that makes us feel better, in general.
Tex
Can you simply take advantage of the good old free vitamin D that's available from the sun, the way our ancestors did? Just soak up some sunlight, being careful to limit your exposure time, depending on the angle of the sun and the season, so that you tan rather than burn. This information is all in the vitamin D book, but the beauty of getting your vitamin D from the sun is that it's impossible to overdose, even though it's a very effective way to increase your vitamin D level.
Don't use sunscreen, of course, as that's one of the main reasons why so many people are vitamin D deficient today.
Enjoy the sun. As an added advantage, there's something about sunbathing in the fresh air that makes us feel better, in general.
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.
Unfortunately it’s Winter here and I live in a cold state which means there’s not a lot of natural sunlight available most days. It’s usually very cloudy and grey. I’m very pale skinned so it doesn’t take much sun to burn me in Summer though so once Summer comes around I will definitely be able to make use of natural vitamin D. I don’t tan at all. I just burn. 10 minutes of full sun would be enough. I’ve just got to get through the next few months until the sun comes back!!
I thought maybe winter was coming to an end there by now, but if it's still too soon, and its usually cloudy, sunning won't work. Try to take at least 3.000 IU of vitamin D daily, if you have enough on hand.
Tex
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.
Probably, unless I knew for a fact that I was sensitive to soy. If your reactions seem to be worse when you take them, then stop. Normally I wouldn't take such a chance, but vitamin D level (along with magnesium) is so vitally important for proper immune system functioning that I would take a chance (on the possibility that you may not be sensitive to soy), in this case. Not only is vitamin D critical for proper healing of cells, but a low vitamin D level makes you very vulnerable to COVID-19.
Those cold, sunless winters really deplete your vitamin D. I live in sunny Texas, and I take 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily during the cold months.
Tex
Those cold, sunless winters really deplete your vitamin D. I live in sunny Texas, and I take 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily during the cold months.
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.